I read up to 34% before calling it quits. I never connected with the characters and it felt like I was an outsider viewing what was happening instead of actually being in the story. There are three narrators and the story is told from third person so even when a chapter started with one character it would randomly switch to another. Too much detail sprinkled the pages which further made me uninterested in the slow moving plot.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I thought this book was strong especially the characterization. However, I found the final confrontation scene hard to follow and I thought it was kind of cop out that we didn't learn what the new bargain was.

I also thought the forest god's relationship with the main character's mother was confusing. Why did he want a relationship with her? Was it just a physical attraction? Did she even know who/what he was? Did she know he was the father of her child or did she truly think it was the saint's kid. Why did she die at the end? Did he kill her?

In summary, I really liked this book but thought it needed more clarity at the end.

Mysterious, diverse, creepy, unique, and dark. In short 'Strange Grace' - simply put - is one of those perfect Fall/October reads!

In a town free of illness or bad fortune, a deal has been struck with the devil. Their easy living comes at a price, a saint who enters the woods every seven years, seldom to return. What happens in those woods is a mystery. We follow a trio of amazing characters united in their love for one another, Mairwen, a Grace witch; Rhun, the expected saint; and Arthur, a moody outcast who will each have a role to play as the devil demands a heart be sacrificed to the forest to fill the bargain.

This book is EVERYTHING I wanted Uprooted and Sawkill Girls to be! This is the scary forest and the devil in the woods that everyone should fear. This book captures the spooky remote town and mob mentality vibe so well and those two things terrify me. The setting is rich, the writing is stunning, and the characters are phenomenal. I adore some of the side characters, too (Haf for life).

<b><i>"He chose the worst parts of boys, thinking they were the strongest when they were only the least girl."</b></i>

This town sacrifices strong boys and there's a discussion about toxic masculinity that I was living for! Arthur has some trauma in his childhood that has him acting overly rough and Mair calls him in it in beautiful quote worthy moments. There are strong women, brave women who feel called to action and don't back down and I adore that, also. Mair is brave and bold and she doesn't shy away from sexuality, power, or magic. She's freaking amazing!

<b><i>"If love can protect Rhun, if that's all she can do, she must not divide her heart!"</b></i>

Not only does Tessa deliver on the spooky setting but she also offers up an amazing relationship between Mair, Rhun, and Arthur that made me feel all the feels. We got a YA polyamorous relationship that is legit goals. Ruhn and Arthur are precious and Mair is so freaking strong and amazing with both of the boys. I legit couldn't love them more.

My one complaint with this book is that there were predictable parts of the story, especially at the climax where I wished that Tessa would do something a bit more unexpected. Did she write the scenes and ending well, absolutely, but it didn't feel incredibly original. That said, this book is still stunning and I'll be grabbing myself a finished copy for sure and I 11/10 would recommend for a witchy/spooky or just highly atmospheric and diverse read.