The Deathly Grimm

The Forest Grimm duology #2

by Kathryn Purdie

The spellbinding sequel to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling dark fairytale, where our main characters must return to the forest—and its monsters.

The story hasn't ended yet.

After surviving the Forest Grimm and defeating the Wolf, Clara and Axel have made it back to their village, the one place they can be safe behind the forest's borders. But when the forest itself begins luring in more villagers, it's clear that Clara and Axel have only treated the symptoms of the forest's curse, not the cause—and it's getting worse.

Burdened with visions of the past and learning to navigate her fragile new relationship with Axel, Clara finds herself entering the forest with Axel yet again to discover the truth once and for the identity of the murderer who caused the curse. As they fight murderous woodsmen with incomprehensible riddles, ladies who will drag you into an eternal dance, and ghosts with the power to wield the forest against them, Clara and Axel realize the stakes are higher than ever. If they don't survive the dark, deadly twists of the forest once more, not only will they never escape, they may also no longer have a home to escape to.

Romantic, eerie, and beautiful, The Deathly Grimm is the triumphant conclusion to Kathryn Purdie's bestselling Forest Grimm duology.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, Audiobook, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2025

About the author

Kathryn is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the BURNING GLASS series, the BONE CRIER'S MOON duology, and the THE FOREST GRIMM duology. Her love of storytelling began as a young girl when her dad told her about someone named Boo Radley while they listened to the film score of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Kathryn is a trained classical actress who studied at the Oxford School of Drama. She also writes songs on her guitar for each of her stories and shares them on her website. Kathryn lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children.

Instagram: @kathrynpurdie
TikTok: @kathrynpurdie

Reviews

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't think that The Forest Grimm was a perfect novel, I enjoyed the plot, setting and eerie tone enough that I wanted to finish the duology. Unfortunately, The Deathly Grimm fell short for me. I didn't feel like the plot was as interesting as in book one, and a lot of the novel felt like filler. I almost think that these two books could have been condensed into one standalone. Additionally, I didn't love the love triangle elements, or the new antagonist. I much preferred how book one set up the forest itself as an antagonist, compared to the flesh and blood villain of this book. And finally, the emotional scenes just didn't impact me. While I am glad that I got to see how this series wrapped up, I feel like there was decline in writing quality between books one and two.
Thank you to the publisher and Macmillan Audio for the eARCs in exchange for an honest review!

[Maria Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

MALDICIONES + MAGIA SINIESTRA + BOSQUES TENEBROSOS + ROMANCE + CUENTOS RETORCIDOS + UN TOQUE DE OSCURIDAD = EL GRIMM MORTAL🔥.

Ya te lo digo de entrada, este libro tiene todos los ingredientes para que se hubiera convertido en una de mis historias favoritas de este año, pero no ha terminado de ser para mí.😜

¿Te lo recomiendo😏?

Por supuesto, con esos ingredientes, es ideal para las amantes del ROMANTASY OSCURO❤️‍🔥

Uno de sus puntos fuertes es Clara. Me ha gustado un montón que tenga una dependencia física; que no sea “perfecta”, ni un cuerpo de escándalo…🤭

De Alex…, bueno, creo que me ha gustado todo de él jajaja…🔥

Y la historia… es muy retorcida, oscura y, hasta, según como, tiene su lado cruel😈

Vamos, que seguro que la devoraaaasss….🤭🔥

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

After surviving the Forest Grimm and the dangers that lie within, Clara and her friends are devastated to find that they have not fully broken the curse. They must find the missing page from Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes and find who was responsible for killing Bren Zimmer. When villagers are being lured into the forest again, Clara and Axel must enter the forest and finally find the truth. With the help of Clara's visions and some of the Lost, the story of the curse's beginning starts to be revealed, but Clara and Axel must hurry. If they cannot break the curse in time, their home will be destroyed by the Forest Grimm.

The Forest Grimm was a 5-star read for me last year. I loved the different characters that Clara and her friends found in the forest and was eagerly waiting for the sequel after reading the cliffhanger. The Deathly Grimm was the perfect conclusion of The Forest Grimm duology. I loved the new characters that we find in the forest and enjoyed reading about Clara's character growth as she learns to use her visions in the forest to help break the curse. Clara and Axel's relationship is also put to the test as new discoveries about the curse is brought to light. The conclusion was beautifully done and although not everyone gets a Happy Ending, it was the perfect ending to this story.

The Deathly Grimm is available on March 25th.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review The Deathly Grimm. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[DianaRose · Rating 3 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

3.5 stars

while i actually enjoyed the second book more than the first, i do still feel that this duology was lacking something in the storytelling. the author included waaaay too many different fairytales/folklore characters, thus the plot felt too rushed and mashed together.

as for the narrator, she did a fantastic job!

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Deathly Grimm was decent wrap up to this duology. Story felt way too long-winded, especially with slow pacing. But if you are looking for a slow paced story, give this series a try.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniela González · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ es un libro innecesario, la historia se pudo haber terminado en el primer libro sin problema, tiene mucho relleno y no explica bien muchas cosas. Es muy lento y aburrido en general.

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ for my favourite of the two books in this duology.

Kathryn has a beautiful descriptive style of writing, but Axel and Clara's relationship is the big winner in this book.
Yes, we are reading fantasy, but the reality of this troubled relationship is so well described. It was a pleasure to read about a couple who had love but learned that love isn't enough sometimes and that there needs to be more. I'm very glad I read this duology.

[Gabi(Ravi SinghxPip Fitz-Amobi's version)]

I need premise,i need to know more

[Weronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology. I love the creative direction and twists on well-known fairytales. The fantasy aspect really appeals to my inner child, growing up with these stories it just added a cozy feeling to the overall experience for me.

Clara went through a lot of growth in this book and came into her own magic. The murder mystery on top of all the riddles and curses created an explosive finale. The last quarter of the book was fast paced with a satisfying happy ending and I couldn’t ask for more.

Narration by Sarah Ovens had a great atmosphere that complemented the story very well. I really enjoyed her accent and delivery for various characters. It was clear, whimsical, and captivating.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the free review copies.

[Londa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I would have liked this one more if I would have read the first in the series. I love a good fantasy/fairy tale, but this one just was not my cup of tea. I never connected with the characters and the story seemed to take a long time to get nowhere. The repetitive unnatural writing was also unnerving. I kept thinking, if Clara complains about her S-curve one more time, I am going to lose it! Who would keep saying that instead of "My back hurts" Anyway, I could see this working for some readers, and I really loved some of the fairy tale tie ins and the shape shifting element of the story. It just didn't hold my interest, and I was glad to finish it.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and provide an unbiased review.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I forgot that I read the first book and didn't care for it. I also overlooked the fact that this novel is part of a duology. And although I vaguely remembered events from the first book, it wasn't enough for me to grasp the events occurring in the second book.

Some parts of the novel were interesting. But there were a lot of missing pieces that made for a confusing read. That being said, you really need to read and enjoy the first book to truly appreciate the second. One star DNF for me.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically don’t read books out of order, especially fantasy books for obvious reasons. However, I didn’t realize that this was book two when I started it. The beginning was slightly slow for me, which makes sense since I hadn’t read the first book. But after that, it really did pick up and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The whole fairy tale stories weaved throughout was very interesting. I thought the adventure aspect was fun and I wasn’t expecting the ending at all. This turned out to be a really good book for me. It felt a little long at times, but overall was a good read. If you love fairy tales, fantasy reads with adventure, then you might enjoy this one.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, which doesn’t impact my review.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

After partially breaking the curse in "The Forest Grimm," Clara Thurn returns to finish what she started and break the curse over Grimm's Hollow completely. But in order to do that, she must solve a years-old murder and face the very real possibility of losing the one boy she cannot live without, and the last living member of her family. In addition, the Lost Ones she faces in the forest will be far more dangerous and treacherous that any she faced last time. Can Clara break the curse, or will she fail to even make it out of the forest alive?

This sequel hits the ground running, with very little backstory, assuming you've already read the first book if you're reading this one. There are hints here and there, but you do need to remember at least parts of the first book for this one to make sense. I actually don't mind when books do this, but I know some like to be caught up since it can be a while between books in a trilogy or even a duology. Fair warning you won't get a recap here.

Clara and Axel have a believable relationship curve thrown at them - since they've decided to be together, now what? They're very young, and marriage might not be a feasible next step. Their choices and their struggles feel real when viewed from the standpoint of their youth.

The new main side characters added were more enjoyable than Henni in book one, and figuring out the mystery with Clara was also quite intriguing. On the other hand, this sequel leans a lot more heavily into the supernatural than the first book. There are less of the fortune telling cards mentioned in the first book, but they do still play a role, and ghosts appear more heavily than in the first book and are more involved in the plot. I'm not a fan of these elements, just like I wasn't a fan in the first book. I do like that Clara can see the past, and her grandmother is bonded with a wolf whose body she can take over, and I feel like the story would have been enough without the added elements of ghosts and tarot cards. I feel like they weren't and aren't necessary.

That said, I did feel like the ending was a satisfactory conclusion to the duology, and most loose ends were tied up. I give it a 3-3.5 out of 5 stars. I would be interested to see Ms. Purdie's work again. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[BKC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.25/5

This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year but I did not enjoy it. I was initially intrigued by the story, but the forest parts dragged, which sucked because they made up most of the book. The mystery was interesting but the whole forest section was irrelevant, and then we got the truth in one chapter. It felt like such a waste of time and on top of that, I hated most of the characters.

Clara was the absolute worst. She was stupid beyond belief and an absolute hypocrite. Avoiding her fate was a stupid decision and her grandmother was right - it would have been better to know. Additionally, she should have been upfront with Axel about everything from the start. She took him for granted and cheated on him! She also wanted Ollie's help constantly, whilst ignoring his misery. Why the hell did the author do this?! Clara was wonderful in The Forest Grimm and her character assassination ruined the book for me.

I loved Axel but he became a bit like Henni in the sense that he focused on his dad, rather than the quest, but he was still fair to Clara. In fact, he was too kind to her throughout and could have done without her. She was an absolute liability. I was glad that Henni was left behind this time though. Ollie was annoying but it was understandable, and Harlan was so creepy. I didn't trust him at all from the start and I couldn't believe Clara fell for his obvious tricks. He was obviously bad. Unfortunately, I didn't care about any of the side characters in the book.

At least everything concluded properly. It was very fast to conclude and some things were convenient, but it was a good ending. I wished this book had gone a different way but oh well.

[Madison ✨ (mad.lyreading) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to the second one. However, this book lacked the mystery that the first book had, and this book read significantly younger to me. The angst from the love interest got annoying enough that I couldn't finish the book - as a 32 year old, I can only handle YA to an extent. This book missed the creepiness of the first book, and there was little compelling me to want to know what would happen next. Sadly a miss for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've grown up with fairytales, like a lot of readers in this world, and no matter how many retellings I read, I just never grow bored of them. I want more and more and more. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I was therefore really happy that I could get an arc from Magpie of this sequel through Netgalley. But, even better, today, on release date, I also received my physical copy and I just had to read the last few chapters holding the hardcover in my hands.

At the start of this book I was a little afraid that this book would repeat a lot of what was done in the previous book. The curse wasn't entirely broken after all. And although my favourite elements of the previous books were all there, the retold fairytales, the people of the town and their connections, the dark magic, the author added an extra element that made the book even more interesting: A murder mystery.

However, that also means that I can't give too much away in this book. I can just say that the author did an amazing job connecting all the individual elements of the story. The characters we meet in this book are wonderfully connected to the characters we've already met before. And the curse, the murder mystery and the tales we encounter in this book also connect in a beautiful, heartbreaking and kinda dark finale.

And although this book is mostly focussing on the fairytales, there's also a lot of heart and emotion in this novel. The last chapter of the book was heartbreaking and beautiful at once. The fights and struggles our couple were facing while on their quest also felt realistic. And throughout the book I just kept on hoping that one way or another there would be a happy ending for everyone. But, would it be a real fairytale if there were? Probably not.

[Rebecca Dee Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in a completed duology so some story spoilers for book 1, but not this one.

After surviving the Forest in the first tale, Clara and Axel go back to their village home, but the curse that plagued the town is not yet fully broken.

They figure out the have to go back into the Forest to solve a mystery to have a hope of breaking the curse fully.

Clara and Axel thought they know what went on in the forest, but with new Lost Ones and their own fairytales, the stakes are even higher this time!

I really enjoyed this, as with book 1, I loved the dark Grimm fairytale esque vibes of the book and seeing more of these link into the story!

I love a duology and this was a good one! Thanks to the Harper Collins for the review copy, all opinions my own!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Absolutely loved the conclusion of the series. It built on Axels and Clara relationship. I do wish that her friends were in it more but the 2 of them are so sweet. The mystery of the forest and the book. The inclusion of so many fairy tales into one story was splendid. It made for an epic conclusion that kept you guessing on why the forest was the way to was. The magic and world are amazing and great ending.
I received an E-arc and thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutely loved The Deathly Grimm, the second book in this duology. It’s even eerier and more haunting than the first, and it brings back characters we’ve met before in such a satisfying way.


What makes this installment so powerful is how it finally reveals the truth behind all the misery—what set everything in motion, and how the wheel keeps turning. The story ties together beautifully, deepening the sense of dread while also offering much-needed answers.


A chilling, atmospheric conclusion that kept me hooked until the very end.

[court ౨ৎ librarycutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.75
plot: 3..5
characters: 4
writing: 4
romance: 3.25

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

“Sortes Fortunae, hear my voice. Understand my heart and its deepest desire. My name is Clara Thurn…"

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

°•*⁀➷ what to expect
fairytale character references
dark magical forest
she can see visions of the past
solving the mystery
breaking the curse

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

°•*⁀➷ the rundown
this is the sequel and conclusion of The Forest Grimm, a very intriguing and magical read from start to finish! I’ve been anticipating this book since reading the last page of the first book! Clara, with her red cape, goes with Axel again through the forest to attempt to find the missing page and the m*rderer who started the curse. those who wonder in the forest with no protection usually become lost easily and succumb to the magic, becoming a dark form of what they are lost for.

in the first book we discover some characters that are lost inspired by Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and others i’ve forgotten. In this one we get Jack and the Bean Stalk, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, and even Princess and the Frog. but it’s all twisted and in a merely subtle form or mention, definitely not a disney vibe.

I really enjoyed this one for the most part, i did feel like it was a bit dragged through, i was hoping for some more forest intervention like in the first book. I was genuinely surprised from the twist in the end! and am glad Axel and Clara finally get to be happy together.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

°•*⁀➷ thank you Netgalley and St. Martens Press, Wednesday Books, and Macmillion Audio for the early copy! I’ve enjoyed this magical duet so much!

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC -

As this being my most anticipated reads, I was super excited to read a murder mystery with twisted grimm tales in Kathryns duology of The Forest Grimm!

Down to nit and grits - I was hoping more of the twisted tales mentioned in the story. The page count could have been a bit shorter, I felt like the riddles were overworked with the guessing and I was eagered to figure out who was the murderer... I think I had a pretty good idea of who it was when reading around 60% of the novel. The story was clever itself and having Clara figure her own talents. I was hoping for more magic or magic elements in the story but I think it would drown out the mission of the story. Ollie was absolutely my favorite character and this book definitely pulled some heart strings.

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Deathly Grimm is book 2 in the Forest Grimm duology. I would definitely recommend reading the first book prior to starting this one. It picks up right where the first left off. The pacing with this one was slow compared to the first, I kept anticipating something happening and it didn't. I just wanted and needed more. It lacked mystery and intrigue, also I did feel it was written even younger than the first which felt off to me. Also, Clara complained about the S-Curve in her back, it was a little much and started to become repetitive.

The love interest was just annoying to be honest, the back and forth. I felt like the beginning lingered too long before pulling us into the action of the story, which it should've done as this is the second in the series. I wanted more forest encounters and a faster pace to keep the momentum of the story going.

Overall, it's a fun and original read, I just feel I might've not been the right audience for it. I can see why a lot are loving it, if it's your style you should definitely give it a shot.

✨️Thank you to @wednesdaybooks & Kathryn Purdie for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 2 out of 5]

First and foremost I’d like thank thank NetGalley and the Publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. I am so thankful to give an honest review of my feelings towards this book.
Return to the Forest and find out the truth about the beginning of the Curse.
I will be 100% I sped through this book and honestly didn’t remember a lot from book 1 of this duology. I did remember enjoying the nostalgia from seeing the grim fairytales sprinkled throughout the book and this sequel was about the same.
Following Clara and Axel on their return to the forest was kind of a mixed bag for me. I honestly feel that this duology could have been just one book in my opinion It was pretty repetitive and outside the references to fairytales was one noted. This could also stem from speeding through it CuaSe it was about to expire.
If this duology interests you in anyway, read it! You could have a completely different opinion from me.

[Sammi · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Deathly Grimm" is the conclusion to Purdie's The Deathly Grimm duology, a riff off of the Brothers' Grimm stories. I adored the first novel in this series, which felt like a darker "Into the Woods" and was quite looking forward to seeing how this story ended. Unfortunately, "The Deathly Grimm" was a disappointment. It felt like the characters were just rehashing the same thing over and over again, there becomes a trope/skill obtained in this second half which felt a little too forced and convenient to explain the backstory and what was happening. There were too many unreliable narrators and ultimately it felt sloppy and like we lost the plot.

Pub Date Mar 25 2025 | thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the gifted copy.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Deathly Grimm by Kathryn Purdie is a first person-POV conclusion to The Forest Grimm duology. Life seems to have gone back to normal for Clara, Axel, Henni, and Ella after returning from the forest, but when Henni makes a wish to end the curse once and for all, Clara learns that their business in the woods isn’t over. She and Axel head back into the woods to finally finish what they started and uncover who the murderer was that started it all.

All is not well for Axel and Clara’s relationship in this book. While they do fulfill the traditional romance structure and end up together, they have a lot of struggles before they can finally get the happily ever after. Axel was kicked out of Ella and Henni’s parents’ house as he is no longer Ella’s fiance and he wants to live with Clara as husband and wife but she’s not quite ready for that step. Axel isn’t disrespectful towards her at all for not being ready, but it is obvious he is a little disappointed. I think a lot of this is because he’s been aware of his feelings for Clara longer than Clara has been aware of her feelings for him. Once they are in the woods, there’s also someone else trying to get between them and it is frustrating but also makes sense that it would create an issue when there’s already this bit of tension going on.

The fairy tales featured this time include the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the Princess and the Frog, and Snow White as well as further expansion on Red Riding Hood. The way Snow White was integrated within the plot was really interesting and I appreciated how it used white, black, and red in repeating prophecies that slowly revealed the truth the more they were told. It felt like something I would read in an actual fairy tale as the Rule of Three and changing things ever so slightly every time they come up is something I have read in at least one collection.

The mystery elements continue with Axel and Clara needing to unravel who is who and what their motivations are. Clara’s grasp of the truth gets further and further obscured as she receives visions that don’t tell her everything but reveal bits and pieces. This contributes to her struggles with Axel as she becomes convinced that his father was the murderer who set everything in motion and Axel refuses to believe it. Nothing is quite what it seems and Clara will need to learn how to trust Axel’s instincts more.

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy that mash-up fairy tales and readers who like a strong mystery element in their fantasy

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tras regresar del bosque con algunos de los Perdidos y averiguar lo que le ocurrió a su madre Clara no está conforme ya que la maldición aún perdura en el valle de Grimm y algunos de sus habitantes siguen atrapados allí. Cuando algunas jóvenes del pueblo son hechizadas y se adentran en el bosque la joven decide emprender un nuevo viaje al bosque acompañada de Axel para liberarlas e intentar poner fin a la maldición. ¿Estará Clara preparada para enfrentarse de nuevo a los peligros del bosque? 


Esta es la segunda parte de la bilogía que empezó con El bosque Grimm y la historia continúa justo donde terminó el primer libro. En general es una buena bilogía ya que la historia es entretenida, tiene acción, misterio y romance a partes iguales. Lo que más me gustó fueron todas las referencias que hay en la historia a personajes de los cuentos de los hermanos Grimm y el aire un poco macabro de la trama ya que en las historias de estos hermanos eso era una seña de identidad. Otra cosa que me gustó fue la ambientación, la autora describe muy bien el valle Grimm y el bosque con lo que puedes sentir perfectamente la naturaleza tenebrosa, agobiante y asfixiante de esos lugares y esto hace que te metas de lleno en la historia. En cuanto a los personajes decir que están bien pero sin más, todos ellos son muy extraños ya que casi todos ellos sufren una maldición que los convierte en personas erráticas y con comportamientos violentos. Por destacar alguno mencionaría a Clara y a Axel porque son los protagonistas pero tampoco me gustaron mucho quizás porque son demasiado jóvenes para mi gusto (17 años). En cuanto al romance a mi personalmente me sobraba ya que creo que la historia era suficiente con toda la trama del misterio del libro Sortes Fortunae, el tema de la maldición del valle y el tema de la loba Grimm. La pluma de la autora me gustó ya que te atrapa desde el minuto uno ya que va desvelando los misterios muy de poco en poco con lo que hace que no puedas dejar de leer hasta el final. En definitiva, un libro que os recomiendo leer si os gustan las historias llenas de misterio y acción.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first book in this duology, Clara and her friends survived the Forest Grimm in order to break the curse. They are devastated to find out that although they saved some of the townspeople, they didn't break the curse. Clara's grandmother is ill and dying, but is able to tell her that they must find the missing page from the Book of Fortunes as well as find the person responsible for killing Bren Zimmer. With villagers once again being lured into the forest, Clara and Axel must enter again and finally find the truth. With the help of Clara's visions and some of the Lost (previous villagers that were lured into the forest), the story of the curse starts to be revealed. There is a time limit to break the curse, so Clara and Axel must hurry. They are being blocked at every turn, but they continue their quest to keep their home from being destroyed by the Forest Grimm.

I was looking forward to this story, to see which fairytale characters we would meet. I enjoyed the way Rumpelstiltskin was reimagined, as well as Jack from the Beanstalk stories. This was a coming of age story for Clara as well. She had to learn how to use her visions, and fight to save her friends. Clara and Axel also had some issues in their relationship in this book and they had to work through that. With lots of riddles and clues, along with trying to solve the mystery, Clara and Axel were definitely busy. The book moved at a slower pace at the beginning, but picked up with the last quarter really picked up the pace. With a curse, you know there will be dark magic, so everyone doesn't receive a happily ever after, but I was satisfied with how this book ended. The audiobook was narrated by Sarah Ovens. She did a great job with the voices, giving them individual personalities from stern to young children to whimsical and a bit scary. I enjoyed the tone she gave the book.

[Jade Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
This reiterates how much this series would be perfect for fans of the show Once Upon A Time. It had the same vibes of everyone having a secret second fairytale identity and being evil and curses and etc. I was reminded of the show a lot while reading while still feeling wholly like its own thing.
This was a very enjoyable ending to this duology. It made me appreciate how the first book solved a big part of the mystery but reminded you at the end that there’s still a few more. The mystery aspect of this was very entertaining. Definitely had me on my toes guessing. And my guesses would switch and be wild and crazy as we steadily learned more.
My only complaints is that it felt like we were sort of rushing. We never stayed in a scene long enough to truly feel emotions. While I enjoyed myself, I didn’t feel the fear or romance like I did in the first one. My other complaint is in regard to the main characters “s shaped spine.” It was meaningless. It never did anything for the plot or the character. It could’ve been really cool if it affected the character or made aspects challenging and frustrating. Instead it was just thrown in. And it was thrown in so often that it threw me out of the story with frustration. Constantly, oh no my back hurts. But nothing else. This really could’ve done something amazing, instead it felt like half-assing checking a box.
In the end, I would still recommend this duology. I think I liked the first book more. But compared to other YA fantasies I’ve read in the last year, this was definitely very enjoyable. Minus my two complaints, I had a great time. I really think if you’re a fan of Once Upon a Time, you’ll like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deathly Grimm is the second book in Kathryn Purdie's The Forest Grimm Duology. It's one of my most anticipated books of this year, and let me tell you, this book was freaking epic!


Once again Purdie has astounded me with her world of Grimm’s Hollow. I'm still a believer that this duology is a Grim's Fairytales origin story. I got up to a count of six different curses turned fairytales. I won’t mention them, because where's the fun in that? I will say that this book was more character-based, whereas the previous book was more magical forest, trying to eat the main characters alive-based. Clara and Axel thought that they were ready to go back into the forest, but they had no idea. They each had their own shocking truths and challenges. At least they had each other.


I loved how Purdie twisted well-known fairytales into these torturous curses. Besides the fairytales coming to life, there was the murder mystery subplot, which I really enjoyed. Who killed Bren Zimmer? What happened to the missing pages? What about the other Lost Ones? The best part had to be Clara's visions. They become so intricate to the story. The visions are shown in only little snippets, from different perspectives and possibly different timelines, revealing things we didn't know. By the end, it was a mind-fudge, if you get my drift.


There are so many great questions, and we get the answers in the most magical and darkest way possible. It was amazing how everything connected. I couldn't help but picture one of those murder boards posted with clues, arrows, and red string forming connections and making timelines. When everything was revealed, I was completely shocked. It was so worth the read. The Forest Grimm duology is now one of my favorite fairytales. Absolutely stunning!

[Ellie Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Age rating: 12+

Thank you to Kathryn Purdie and NetGalley for the e-book ARC!

*Spoilers for The Forest Grim*

I enjoyed this book. With the many mysterious elements, I almost feel as if this book crossed into the fantasy-mystery area, in the best way.
We pick back up in the village, after Henni, Clara, and Axel have returned home. As we know, they have made great progress in breaking the curse and have also managed to bring home several of the Lost, sanity restored.
In spite of all this, the villagers are still harboring grim feelings toward our trio—Henni, especially—for not breaking the curse completely.
As tempers rise and frustration turns to fear, Henni is put in danger and forced into hiding. To save her and finish breaking the curse, Axel and Clara have to venture back into the Forest Grimm, where even more dangers await than last time. The Lost they encounter this time around are, if anything, even more aggressive. Riddles are posed, tricks are played, and the Forest becomes more…creative with its threats. To top it off, the cards Clara drew in her most recent reading show of love lost—and when she and Axel begin bickering early on, she can’t help but wonder if their relationship is coming to a close.
Will they be able to solve the mystery of who killed Bren Zimmer, breaking the curse? Will their relationship survive the epic test?
Or will they even make it out alive?
I liked this book. Cozy, fun, but still thought-provoking, I enjoyed the many twists and turns, high stakes, and new fairytales woven into the story.
Not an emotional read, and I would have liked to see some character development that was a little lacking, but I enjoyed the experience.
The release date is March 25–Order your copy now!
Happy reading!