A new fantasy romance featuring a new take on a few of the classic fairytales while following the journey of one girl as she tries to change her fate, save her mother, and discover romance she never expected, all the while trying to escape death. Clara has known all her life that she was destined to die, ever since she was young and her grandmother read her fortune, Clara knew she was connected to the deadly Forest Grimm and that she would die by a fanged creature. When Clara's mother suddenly disappears Clara is willing to do anything to get her back. Clara leaves in a world where there is the Forest Grimm and a magical book called Sortes Fortunae, the Book of Fortunes, which has the power to reverse the curse that has been set on her village and allow her to save her mother. The Forest Grimm has become deadly after a evil wish was made by someone to the Sortes Fortunae, and now the book itself has become lost, and in order to reverse the curse on the village, someone will have to find the book. Clara has only one goal in mind: find her mother, but that means venturing into the deadly forest which has been killing people and driving them mad. Along for the journey is her childhood friend Axel, a handsome and charming boy who is determined to find his fiancee who disappeared into the forest the day before their wedding. Henni, Axel's fiancee's sister and Clara's best friend also comes along, hoping to get her sister back. The trio venture into the woods in hopes of breaking the curse and finding those they lost, yet the forest is dangerous and the tensions rise. Will what they find kill them or are will they be able to survive? Clara has a curved spine and it was a nice little detail to add in, however if I'm being honest she was a bit annoying. Axel on the other hand also was a bit irritating, the romance kind of comes out of nowhere but then he explains everything and I guess I understand, but honestly it just didn't feel that organic or well, romantic. Henni was the worst of the bunch, for someone claiming to be Clara's best friend she was just a hindrance during the entire journey. The story itself had a bit of odd pacing and a lot of the character decisions were not the best, but I want to say it's because they are teens.... but still. The ending leaves way for the sequel (but it can also be read as the end since it wraps up in a nice way). I am interested in seeing where the second book goes and how the characters grow from here. I did find the unique twist on fairy tales a fun thing about this book and would say, if you're a fan of young adult fantasy romances with fairytale twists, give this a go, it definitely would be for you!

Spoiler

Clara discovers that the red rampion plant allows her to enter into the forest so she takes Axel with her but then Henni follows them. Axel and Clara's feelings for each other awaken and then it is revealed that Axel broke off his relationship with his fiancee Ella on the night before their wedding because he's been in love with Clara the whole time. He feels guilty for breaking it off so he hasn't told anyone and makes it seem like he's the dedicated fiancee to her family and wants to find her. When they do find Ella she's basically become a mad version of Cinderella and was poisoning people. They also find another missing villager named Fiora who has been killing people with her hair (she's the rapunzel), and then Clara discovers that her grandmother is the Grimm Wolf ( essentially she can transform into a wolf and since Clara wears a red cape shes the little red riding hood story). They also encounter two kids who are Hansel and Gretel who have been eating people. Clara finds the book and finds her mom who has become a vampire and she ends up killing her mom and escaping the forest with Axel and Henni. The story ends with Axel and Clara getting together and Henni getting a new prophecy from the Book of Fortune which would mean that the trio would have to venture back into the forest, i.e. this is the opening to the sequel book). Also the curse is broken for most of the villagers but the book is missing a page still.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*