A Journey Through the Enchanted Shadows: A Review of The Deathly Grimm (The Forest Grimm, #2)
From the moment I cracked open The Deathly Grimm, I felt as though I was stepping back into a treacherous, magical forest filled with dark secrets, just as I had months before in the first installment of the series by the talented author, Chris McKristin. The enchanted yet eerie realm pulls readers in with whispers of forgotten fairytales, and I couldn’t help but be drawn back into this web of intrigue and peril.
As I settled down with Clara Thurn and her steadfast companion, Axel, I felt an immediate connection to Clara’s palpable determination to break the curse plaguing the forest. This sequel is a gorgeous tapestry of referenced fairytales—Jack and the Beanstalk, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, and even a nod to Princess and the Frog—all woven together into a rich narrative that is decidedly not your typical Disney experience. Instead, McKristin immerses us into a world where light clashes with dark, and the magic lurking in the shadows can lead to peril or revelation.
One of the standout elements of The Deathly Grimm is Clara’s ability to see visions of the past, which provides a compelling plot device as she and Axel seek out a missing page of a fairytale book, unraveling layers of the forest’s sinister lore. The pacing of the story had its moments of drag—at times, I yearned for the wild unpredictability of the forest to intervene more forcefully, a vibrant element that left its mark in the first book. But it was in the quieter moments of character development, particularly Clara and Axel’s blossoming relationship, that I found real depth. Their journey toward happiness amidst resolving the forest’s curse left me both satisfied and hopeful.
McKristin’s prose throughout the novel is exquisite—lyrical yet precise—and adds a lyrical rhythm to the dark, unsettling atmosphere. I particularly loved the moment when Clara calls out, “Sortes Fortunae, hear my voice. Understand my heart and its deepest desire." This line reverberated through me; it encapsulated the essence of longing and the human connection to fate and destiny. The moments of darkness are certainly interspersed, but there are glimmers of light that keep readers rooting for Clara and Axel, reinforcing the importance of love and bravery in the face of overwhelming adversity.
As I turned the final pages, I was pleasantly surprised by the twist that capped off Clara and Axel’s story, proving that true joy can emerge even from the most tangled of fates. While I found the pacing occasionally uneven, I think fans of sophisticated fairytale retellings or those who enjoy dark fantasy will revel in this duology. Its stunning writing and relatable characters make for a deeply engaging experience that lingers long after the last page is turned.
If you’re drawn to stories that intertwine enchantment and mystery, steeped in unique interpretations of classic tales, The Deathly Grimm deserves a place on your shelf—if not for Clara and Axel’s journey into the magical forest, then for the beautiful, haunting prose that McKristin so skillfully crafts. I’m leaving this reading experience with a heart full of yearning for more adventures in enchanted realms, and I hope you find that magic, too.
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