Review: The Forest Grimm Duology by Kathryn Purdie

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What's The Vibe?

dark fairytale

eerie woods

distorted truths

slow building tension

splash of romance

There’s something magical about a story that pulls from familiar fairy tales without feeling trapped by them, and The Forest Grimm does exactly that. It borrows from the bones of Grimm’s stories while still carving out something entirely its own. The result is nostalgic and unpredictable, which made it an engaging read from the start.

One thing I especially appreciated was the representation. Clara’s scoliosis is woven into the story in a way that feels natural and respectful rather but a little performative. It adds depth to her character without defining her entirely, which is always something I love to see done well.

Clara and Axel absolutely carried this story for me! Their dynamic felt realistic, and I found myself fully invested in their journey. Henny, on the other hand, took me a bit longer to warm up to. She initially came across as a bit selfish, and while that didn’t immediately endear her to me, her growth over time was exactly what I needed to see to get me interested in her character arc.

Knowing this was a duology, I found myself wondering how the story would keep its momentum into a second book. The Forest Grimm answers that question. It builds just enough intrigue and unanswered questions to leave you wanting more without feeling incomplete.

Both books stood out to me because it felt like something entirely new. I had not read anything quite like it before, which made the experience feel fresh and memorable.

A Deathly Grimm continues the story with that same enchanting pull, though it takes a little longer to fully settle into a rhythm. While the first book immediately immersed me, this one drew me in more gradually. Once I was invested though, I was fully there. I ended up reading most of it in one long stretch, then finishing the rest the next day because I needed to know what would happen to these characters.

The tone feels slightly different in book two. It does not always match the darker edge of the first book and at times feels a bit more surface level when it comes to certain character arcs. Even with that shift, the story does an excellent job of building tension and keeping you guessing.

One of my favorite elements was the use of visions and fortune telling. This is something that can easily feel overused or predictable, but here it is handled in a way that makes it feel uncertain and unsettling. Clara’s visions into the past were especially powerful. They are written with a subtle sense that something is not quite right, which creates a lingering unease. You are never fully able to trust what Clara is seeing, and that unpredictability adds a strong layer of tension throughout the story.

The world building continues to shine in the details. Grandmère’s tarot deck stood out. The descriptions were so vivid that I could clearly picture each card, and it is the kind of detail that makes the story feel immersive.

The characters remain at the heart of the series. Henny completely won me over in this book. Where I once found her frustrating, I now found myself fully on her side. The friendships that carried over from the The Forest Grimm added warmth and consistency to the story.

Some of the most emotional moments came through smaller character beats. Little Oli’s ghost was one of them. His presence added a layer of emotion that I felt was missing elsewhere, and I just wanted to reach into the story and hug him. His storyline was wrapped up and I don't want to say more without spoiling things.

Axel’s character was more complicated this time around. His focus on his father is understandable, but it creates distance between him and Clara. What made that harder was the lack of accountability on his part, which made their relationship feel more strained.

While the stakes are technically higher in this book, they do not always feel that way. The pacing is slower, which softens some of the urgency, even as important things are happening. Still, the tension is there. It builds in a quieter way rather than through constant intensity.

The ending brings everything together. It does not rush, and it gives proper closure, especially when it comes to Oli’s story.

If The Forest Grimm stood out because it felt entirely new, A Deathly Grimm succeeds by deepening the mystery and leaning into uncertainty. While I preferred the first book overall, this sequel delivers a beautiful and satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this series feels like stepping into a dark, enchanting forest where every path holds a familiar story that has been subtly changed. It is imaginative, atmospheric, and just unpredictable enough to keep you turning the pages.

If you're interested in fairy tale reimaginings I highly recommend checking out The House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin Craig if you're looking for the creepier side, or For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten for another Red Riding Hood tale.