The Forest Grimm: A spellbinding new YA fairytale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie

Mit „Fantasy“-Büchern ist es halt so eine Sache…manchmal stolpert man über eine Geschichte, die sich lebensverändernd anfühlt – so ein richtiges Wow, das bleibt bei mir. Und manchmal landet man bei einem Buch, in dem ein Mädchen in einen verwunschenen Wald spaziert, nur um sich am Ende von ihrer Oma, die plötzlich ein Wolf mit französischem Akzent ist, den komplette Familien-Lore anhören zu dürfen. Man weiß wirklich nie, worauf man sich einlässt. 😂

„The Forest Grimm“ is a dark fairy-tale–inspired novel that draws on motifs and atmosphere associated with the Brothers Grimm. The story follows a group of characters who become entangled in a cursed forest shaped by old magic and the consequences of classic fairy-tale logic. As secrets surface and the forest tests each character, the narrative aims to explore fate, fear, and the cost of surviving a world where stories can be dangerous. I was genuinely looking forward to this book. I love fairy tales (especially dark retellings) and I am particularly fond of the Grimm tradition. Unfortunately, „The Forest Grimm“ did not work for me at all. My main issue was a complete lack of emotional connection to the protagonists. I never felt bonded to the characters, and as a result, their decisions and struggles failed to resonate. On top of that, the storytelling felt confusing: at times, important moments seemed to be skipped, while events happened without clear motivation or narrative buildup. I often struggled to understand why things were happening the way they did, because I could not identify a consistent through-line in the plot. By around 80% of the book, I found myself skimming pages simply because my interest had faded. 🫣 That said, this is clearly a matter of personal taste. The concept may appeal to readers who enjoy fragmented, atmospheric storytelling and are less focused on character connection or narrative clarity. I would genuinely be interested to hear from anyone who loved this book or had a different reading experience - so please feel free to share your thoughts. ☺️ For me, however, „The Forest Grimm“ was simply not the right book.

Das Buch ist für alle Liebhaber von Märchengeschichten mit einem gewissen Twist. Es war sehr spannend geschrieben und die Märchenfiguren aus den Grimm Geschichten wirklich gut interpretiert und gruselig fertig gemacht. Ich bin gespannt auf die Fortsetzung ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️