Beautiful photo by @literaryreadit!
Hi fairies!
Happy Wednesday and welcome to day 3 of our readalong of The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it!
But before we start reading, we have our secret giveaway! What’s that? Oh, just a chance to get your next FairyLoot for free as a reward for reading! Doesn’t really get better than that! And your chances are so good too! We don’t really announce this anywhere else as we truly want the person from the readalong to win! If you’d like to try your luck, all you need to do is follow these steps!
- Take a photo of our edition of The Forest Grimm.
- Include the hashtag #GrimmFairy
- Do all of this by the end of December 1st.
- Mention down below in your comment that you have entered and include your Instagram handle (also super important!)
Good luck!
I hope you’re all having a fun time reading so far!
Today we’re reading from chapter 17 to the end of chapter 24. Let’s do this!
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie from Chapter 17 to Chapter 24. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
!SPOILERS!
Well, the start of today’s reading is off to an intense start. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do in Clara’s situation. Just reading it is making me scared…
The Grimm Wolf drags her what turns into a tunnel that then leads to some sort of clearing or hollow. But suddenly a woman appears and throws a spear at the wolf, chasing after it and leaving Clara all alone. That is until a little boy appears.
He tells Clara that there is an old tree in the forest that used to be a man which is strange since she has been seeing faces in the trees. Could these be lost ones or something else entirely? 👀
The boy’s name is Ollie and it turns out he passed away in Clara’s village from a sickness that spread. I have SO many questions. How is it he is alive in the forest? How did he end up there? Is he a ghost? I need answers! The magic seems to be so unpredictable in this story and I love the elements of surprise it brings!
He then tells Clara that the ‘woman in red’ said she might be one of the rare people magic touches. Could this woman be her lost mother? Does this mean someone is watching Clara in the forest? I wonder if this is all linked to her fate and if she is maybe the only one who can break the curse for some reason.
As we move onto the next chapter I have so many questions, my biggest one being why was Ella’s veil in the tree, is she close by?
After Ollie disappears back into the forest Clara decides to leave the clearing to try to find her way back to Axel and Henni. However not long after the mysterious woman with the spear returns and it turns out not to be a woman at all, but a girl. And it’s Ella!
Clara goes back to Ella’s ‘home’ where Ella tells her that her name is Cinderella and how when she used her one wish using the book (Sortes Fortunae), it told her to dye her veil red and now she is waiting for her prince charming to come and find her – presumably Axel.
Shortly after Axel and Henni appear, both are in a state of shock at seeing Ella again and finding her with Clara. Axel is relieved that Clara didn’t get hurt.
Ella completely ignores Henni and is transfixed by Axel believing him to be her prince charming. However, she does let slip that she remembers part of her past which is odd when she doesn’t even remember that her name is Ella.
Ella provides them with some stew which turns out to be poison; the three of them begin to hallucinate and become almost paralysed. She then tells them that she and Axel will be married by midnight tonight.
Clara and Axel enter the meadow together where the wedding will take place. Still under the effects of the poison, they begin to dance together; both hallucinating that they have wings. And not just any wings, but swan feathers like the Pierced Swan card! Eeeekkk! I knew it!
The two are about to kiss when Henni and Ella appear and the wedding proceedings begin. By this point, Clara is hallucinating herself and her mother and having a conversation with them about whether Axel is doing the right thing. Eventually, she comes to her senses enough to take the bottle of tonic out of her pocket that should help with the effects of the poison.
Before the two can get married Clara intervenes and tells Axel he should only go through with this if he truly loves Ella and isn’t just doing it out of duty to her family. Axel then confesses that he ‘tried to love’ Ella but he doesn’t love her. Ella then tries to trick him into making vows.
Axel’s refusal to marry Ella enrages her and she tries to force him into drinking poison, and when that doesn’t work she attacks them with a knife. In a panic, Clara grabs the red veil from her face and they run. Could the red veil be significant later in the story?
After escaping Ella the three of them conclude that the only way to truly save her is to find the book Sortes Fortunae and break the curse. They continue on their search for the book with tensions rising between Henni and Clara.
As we come to the last chapter Axel reveals that this isn’t the first time he has broken off his marriage with Ella. The night before they were supposed to get married the previous summer he called it off telling her he didn’t truly love her; she reacted very badly and was heartbroken. Axel never told anyone and I wonder if she went into the Forest on purpose.
Clara FINALLY comes to the realisation that her and Axel are the Pierced Swans and star crossed lovers.
Every chapter is getting more and more tense! I loved all the action and new bits of information we learned and cannot wait to read on!
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
I’m so excited to see what will happen in tomorrow’s chapters, see you there fairies!
Love,
Jodie
Joey is right: 😮
The wolf didn’t hurt Clara, Ollie is Axel’s ghost cousin and Ella is cray cray.
Fantastic section!
About the names, I don’t know. Cinderella is a nickname given to Ella only until after she entered the forest.
Side note: Good on Axel standing up for himself and calling of the first wedding, and the second.
I think she will tell him about the other cards but only when her sacrifice is on the cusp of happening so as to `convince’ Axel that this is what is meant to be.
The woman in Red is Clara, I don’t think it’s her mom. How did the woman in red speak to Ollie? I don’t know. Maybe a future version of Clara.? I still think the Wolf has to do with the mom, or is the mom. She would be the most changed so…
Can’t wait for the tomorrow’s read.
Happy reading everyone!
I just posted about the book. ☺️
My handle is @v.m.brewster ! ✨️
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
I have no idea – all I can think about is that the author based the book on fairy tales so that’s why they have those names!
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
I think she’ll have to at some point because he’s obviously got his hopes up that they will have some kind of future! I’m glad he’d already broke off the wedding the summer before though! I’d cringe if he’d still been engaged to Ella while he’s had this romance starting between him and Clara! I think Ella’s wish was that Axel would fall in love with her, but I think she might have told someone – maybe Henni and that’s why she’s acting so defensive about the wedding – and that’s why he called it off, because the wish reversed.
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
I don’t know. I think if Clara’s mother is still alive and in the forest she’ll be Lost like the others. She’s the most likely of all the lost villagers to be wearing red as she was obviously aware of the protection of the red rampion, but the effects clearly wear off – Ella had her red veil but still went mad in there!
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
– wild thought but maybe the names are their original names and the book gave them life from the book and has now taken its gift away so they return to the characters they once were (inkheart vibes)
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
Going from my theory above perhaps “Clara” will die and her alter ego will live??
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
Yes I still think the wolf is Grandmere so the women in red aka red riding hood is the mother.
Forgot to mention I posted on my IG for the secret giveaway! 📚
Handle @gracefullywise
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them? I have no idea, maybe the forest gives everyone a fairytale and they assume that’s who they are
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death? I think it’ll come out at a terrible time when she’s injured or something
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother? I think so, or maybe her grandmother?
Oooo I like the theory that the Grimm Wolf could be Clara’s Grandmother, interesting!
Also forgot to mention I posted a photo on Instagram 🙂 my handle is @mybookishbeing
1) That is a good question. They’re all obvious twisted fairytales to us, but those stories obviously don’t exist in the world of the book.
2) I’m not so sure she’ll need to…he seems pretty perceptive and it wouldn’t surprise me if he comes to the conclusion on his own based on her behavior.
3) Nah I still think her mother is the wolf.
I’ll be entering the giveaway as @sonata_ix
Yes, it’s very clever and adds so much more to the story!
Ahhhh oh my gosh what a GREAT section! I’ve been eagerly awaiting when we would meet Ella and it happened. I LOVE how creepy she was, I think this is one of my favorite renditions of Cinderella hahaha. I loved the entire scene with Ella and the reveals about Axel. I KNEW he didn’t love Ella that way. My guess is the people who are “Lost” are people who made selfish wishes on the book, or wishes that attempted to control other people. So Ella wished for Axel to love her and since the magic of the forest was finally fading because of the curse, he was able to break free from the wish and tell her he didn’t want to get married the night. Or something along those lines. For instance, my guess is Clara’s father didn’t become lost, because his wish had to do with their Sheep and them being able to produce high quality wool (since he had to shave his beard). So since his wish wasn’t used to control or hurt anyone, it was more harmless? Just a thought.
I loved how Axel confessed to Ella he couldn’t marry her, and that he also told her before they were married in the first place!! that was such a great reveal.
I’m curious where the lost ones get their names from? It feels like they get it from the forest. I am inclined to think that you keep going crazy the longer you’re in there. (which is also why I think Clara’s mother might be the wolf since she could potentially have been in the forest so long she morphed into something else entirely.)
AHHH the moment between Axel and Clara at the end was so GOOD. I want him to convince her to not worry about the cards so much! She needs to fight against her fate!!
I DO think Clara is going to have to tell Axel that she’s planning on dying according to the cards, and I want him to help her push through that and not rely so heavily on them.
The woman in red is a mystery to me… maybe it was Clara’s mother early on? But that doesn’t feel correct.
Anyway, can’t wait for more, I’m super invested!
Yesss! The dark spin on Cinderella added a sinister vibe to the story and also added to the mystery! So happy to hear you’re enjoying it. 💜
I’m late! Hello! Sorry I got sick and could hardly stay awake yesterday, let alone read. I’m feeling a bit better today though so hoping to catch up.
Posted my photo last night on @brincollects
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them? Rapunzel was another name for the flower, so I guess that ties to that. But Clara mentioned before that the villagers called Ella Cinderella after she left because she dragged cinders with her wedding gown, so idk how she knows about the name out in the forest.
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
Probably when it’s super dramatic and she’s already dying?
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
I think it’s likely. She’s the only character left that we’re looking for.
That section got me questioning everything I was thinking up to this point and now I have no idea what I think about anything!
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
I wondered if it had something to do with the book and the gifts they received because of their wish. I feel like it might have something to do with the wolf – maybe the wolf is someone we know already, like the mother or grandmother.
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
Yes, eventually
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
I feel like it might be Clara? Like in the future, or a version of her, or the grandmother? I feel like everything comes back to the grandma…
I posted my photo too on @cosy_daze
*I’ve already posted my #GrimmFairy photo under @TupaKitty_Reads 🤞🏼🤞🏼*
So far I love how some well known fairytales are incorporated in this story!
I’ve entered the giveaway. 😊 my IG handle is @feedmefairytales
1. Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names? Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
I think Clara was right when she told Rapunzel that she lost herself. By losing themselves, they lose their memories of who they were before and can take up “new” identities, guided by the forest.
2. Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
I don’t think she will as long as she won’t have to. But she’ll also keep him at length to not get his hopes up.
3. Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
I think it’s Clara herself, since she is the one in the red cloak. If her mother had one, she wouldn’t be lost (which I do believe she is)
Also entered the giveaway via my account @lisashelves
The forest is definitely mysterious, all the lost ones have new names while they forget their real names and lives. I think the forest is somehow behind it and giving the new names to them, probably just messing with their head and creating some kind of an illusion. It’s obviously not just about the names, I believe the forest is behind everything – the new names, magic (like living hair), even turning people who wonder into the forest to them by changing the trees and places in the forest.
I think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death, most likely in the next section and then Axel will be all like “yeah no, I don’t believe it, you are tempting the fates and you will not die” or something like that.
It seems likely that the “Woman in Red” is Clara’s mother but maybe it is thrown into the book so that we would believe her to be Clara’s mother but in reality it’s someone else… But it would make the most sense if the woman was Clara’s mother.
I’ll be entering the giveaway as well, my handle is @theadventuresofgerda
Entered at @hayleys_readss 🤞
Posted my photo on Instagram @sami341reads 😍
Why do you think all the lost ones forget their names and life before and go by new names?
I really have no idea. I do think the book or forest is doing that to them. Not sure why they forgets but maybe they’re being punished for something. Like making a selfish wish?
Where do they find these names, does the forest give them to them?
I think the forest does give it to them.
Do you think Clara will tell Axel about her fated death?
I think she will by accident. She will let it slip.
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
Maybe but I also thought that about the wolf.
Also posted a pic on instagram @slarless_eyes_books
I have entered with my post and my handle is @because.my.mother.read!
I’m not sure about the new names—it seems to be built into the curse because if they don’t know their real name it is one more step in forgetting who they are.
Yes I think the woman in red is her mother! I’m a little scared to find out what has become of her though!
I entered the giveaway @_bookishlovernicho
I think it had something to do with the book and the wishes they do, maybe the gift they received is their new lives. Cara will try to hide the truth about her father death but I think it’ll come out at a terrible time. It seems likely that the “Woman in Red” is Clara’s mother. I do find it more logical that she will be Clara’s mom but it interesting to hear that she should stay away from her.
Do you think the ‘Woman In Red’ could be Clara’s mother?
This book is so good I’m joining in with the fairyloot readalong but a little behind had a mad few weeks but catching up slowly I am I am entering the competition #GrimmFairy my Instagram handle is @relax_with_a_good_book