Wow! This story packed a punch! A story of a misogynistic world causing severe abuse to women, pitting women against each other and yet with a tender love story. Girls are told that they have magical powers in them which are dangerous to men and so they are banished for their sixteenth year to rid themselves of the magic and become purified. After that year, called the Grace Year, some girls will become wives and others not chosen will become workers in the fields or servants. In any case, even being a wife is not something to be desired. Tierney is a strong girl and wants more from life, both for herself and others. During her Grace Year, the girls fight against each other, believing they have magic powers, but fighting for survival, just to survive that year. What follows is an amazing story of survival, belief, strength and love. It will make a stunning movie!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want YA Dystopias to be back, but this feels like a recycling of everything we've seen before. The writing is good, the plot is meh, and the characters didn't drag me in like The Handmaid's Tale and Lord of the Flies , or The Hunger Games, which it's been compared to. It was okay. Not great. Okay.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and kept my interest the whole time. I liked the theme and don’t think I’ve read anything else like it.

This is a really good dystopian YA-book, especially for young woman. The story is gripping from the first pages and continues to shock and surprise. It leaves you on a hopeful note. A page turner!

I told someone about this book by saying it was like Lord of the Flies, but for girls, but also with a very old-fashioned edge. It's really much more than that.

I teetered on the edge of giving this 3 or 4 stars.
The only reason I considered giving it 3 stars is because of the pacing. Some parts seemed to take for-ev-er, and arcs/scenes that I thought needed more time to develop were rushed, and I was left wondering: wait, what just happened?

That being said, the story is being told from the perspective of a teenage girl, and I'm not so far removed from adolescence that I can't recall what it was like for me. Anticipation made time tick by more slowly, and definitive and important moments flew by, leaving me with fuzzy memories and raw feelings. Everything was amplified (and you couldn't pay me to revisit that time in my life lol).

In the protagonist's world, young women are feared and desired for their "magic." In an effort to keep women the weaker sex, 15/16 year old girls are sent out into the wilderness for an entire year, so they can rid themselves of their evil magic, and come back to the county as docile and obedient (read: broken) wives, mothers, & workers.

But where do the physical scars come from?
Why are some girls missing parts of their bodies when they return?
What happens to these girls when left out in the wild?
Is the magic a real thing that must be released so it doesn't destroy them?

Don't know, because talking about The Grace Year is forbidden.

If you want to know, you have to go on Tierney's journey with her - as she tries to gather clues as to what to expect, how to survive, her feelings about what her future holds for her, and how she fits into the grand plan and expectations that her community has for her.

But not everything is as it seems: madness descends violently, mercy comes from the most surprising sources, but be careful in who and what you place your trust - the other girls aren't the only ones out there with you.

While the story takes place in a type of puritanical, patriarchal society, I feel as though it could be an allegory for today's culture - the traditional and usually unattainable expectations society places on females from a very early age (Barbies, baby dolls, fashion magazines).

Liggett also accurately depicts the stereotypical Queen Bee and how - from little girls to grown, established women - females are always in constant competition with each other (prettiest, thinnest, most successful, best partner, etc). There is also a mob mentality with this group of young women, and if you go against the status quo, then you're unacceptable. Unfortunately, this is still a very real issue among many.

Read this book to find how Tierney brings change and hope to a sad, stagnant, and suffocating way of life. Get ready to be sucked into this world and experience the fear, the heartbreak, the resilience of the human spirit and refusal to be broken.

P.S. I wouldn't call this a light read, really, so be warned if you're squeamish - there is a great deal of blood and violence, but the horror serves to spur the characters to strive for change.

I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend.

This may be one of my top 2019 reads! This book certainly packs a serious, hard, punch. A very strong story line that keeps you hooked the entire time. The concept is different, and its something that you as a reader will not forget about this book.

"Your eyes are wide open, but you see nothing."
This book was not an easy read. I struggled with it, not because of the writing, but because of the theme.
I went through phases when reading this. At first, I was angry with the unfair patriarchy. Then I was angry with the women who just looked at the injustice, but did nothing, even took part in it. And in the ending, I was proud of those who sacrificed their safety to help build a better world.

I would recommend this book to everyone, who can deal with these weighty topics.

TW: cannibalism, violence, brutality

There's something entirely haunting and beautiful about this book. It also teeters on the edge of being either a young adult or an adult dystopian story. The Grace Year describes the events before, during and after a year when girls of age live together alone on an island to release their magic and return pure to be married or take up hard labor for the rest of their lives. Tierney James is different. She does not want to be married and plans to work in the fields when she returns home from her grace years. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a veil before being sent away.

The next part of the story follows Tierney and the other girls as they attempt to survive for an entire year without any rules or individuals to watch them. This, of course, turns into a conflict between Tierney and Kiersten, who is upset that her intended ended up choosing Tierney over her. She eventually turns the camp against Tierney by telling the other girls that Tierney is attempting to keep their magic locked away. However being turned out of the camp is dangerous because poachers, who hunt and skin the girls, lurk on the edges of the woods. So, Tierney determined to survive, lives on what she can before venturing outside the safety of the encampment.

This book is all about female relationships and how men manipulate them to turn women against each other. Here, Liggett uses magic and the grace year as the catalyst for this and shows how the girls hate and fear each other as they descend into the wilds. Kiersten is the prime example since she manipulates the other girls into 'using' their magic and even makes them believe she can make them do what she wants. The girls follow her and turn upon each other as the story progress all because of men encouraging a belief in their dangerous magic. Tierney acts as the voice of reason, who wants them to work together to survive. The ending of the book is truly emotional and I loved how Ligget brought them full circle.

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me enthralled all the way through. Some parts of the story were not explored enough for the main characters choices to make sense, which took me out of the story a bit but that was a small part of the story. Would definitely encourage others to read if they like dystopian YA.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow. This book was such a pleasant surprise and an incredibly fast read!

"The Grace Year" follows a group of young girls that have only few things in common - they are female and they are the same age meaning that their so-called Grace Year is upon them. In this year of age the girls have to leave the safety of the county to get rid of their cursed magic so that they bare no threat to the men of the society. They have to survive alone in the forests, and those who stray from the path will be hunted and dismembered by Poachers. When the surviving women return they are usually exactly the way men want them to be - silent, obedient and submissive.
The story is narrated from the point of view of Tierney, who has always been kind of a rebel, not intending to be molded into the shape of woman that is required by the society. She is a strong character with a mind of her own, but as her expectations for her grace year change on the eve of her departure, she needs to fight twice as hard to get through the year alive.

There are many dystopian elements in the novel that are largely inspired by biblical themes, most prominently the crimes committed by Eve and the subsequent punishment for mankind. In this way the Grace Year can be interpreted as kind of a punishment for every woman, since in the novel there is no escape from it as every woman has to go through with it.
On the other hand this story definitely has some dystopian elements, especially criticising male-dominated leadership, promoting female empowerment.

What I especially enjoyed in this novel were the strong characters - not just Tierney as a leading lady, but also Kiersten was despicable but fierce. I also liked some of the male characters, but I won't go into detail.
The book is gripping, dark and extremely thrilling. I couldn't put it down, and even though the book is set mostly in a forest where the girls spend their grace year, the story never gets boring or drab.

Entertaining and exhilarating read. Could not put the book down.
Honestly when a book irritates you and excites you all at the same time
is that not the qualities of a great read?

A very thought-provoking novel, definitely well described as a mix of The Handmaid's Tale and Lord of the Flies. First half of the novel is decidedly darker and more political, while the second half shifts a bit and does take on a bit more of the YA dystopia/ romance feel.. The ending did leave me feeling slightly unsatisfied, but that may have been the author's intention. The Grace Year was a quick and engrossing read, and I would highly recommend it, even if it is outside of your normal genres.

Such a beautiful, harrowing story. WILDER GIRLS meets HANDMAIDS TALE. Heartbreaking and brutal, it will fill you with restless, helpless anger and then restore your hope.

I thought I'd end my current Dystopian binge with a real page-turner. This novel was thoughtfully written and well-executed. Despite some violent and gruesome scenes, which I personally always struggle with, Kim Liggett threw in some surprising twists and concepts that truly made me reflect. The society she concocted is so disturbing as to make one lie awake considering the likelihood of such cruelty. She showed the dangers of mob mentality exacerbated by fear and illuminated the untapped power in all of us to create positive change. It definitely exuded girl power as a main theme.

There were times when the pacing was askew; a scene would end and then suddenly propel forward too quickly. There were also scenes that were incongruent, causing mild confusion for the reader. The main characters could also stand to be a bit more developed. As always in YA fiction, the love scenes are somewhat exaggerated. On that note, I definitely caution young readers and would say this novel is best-suited for much older teens and young adults. However, for the most part, I was invested from beginning to end, and would certainly consider reading the sequel which the author allowed for... it ended with quite the cliffhanger.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for gifting me with this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This title will be released on October 8, 2019.

Review on Goodreads.
Story was great however the style of writing was a little long winded for me..I think cutting 50 pages would have made it more exciting
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy

* I was provided an arc by NetGalley in exchange for a review*

Don’t let this pretty little book fool you into thinking it’s not going to rip out your soul, because it definitely did mine. It is intriguing and beautiful and hard and brutal, and I flew through it in a matter of hours, holding my breath till the last page.

This book reminds me of The Handmaid’s Tale and Hunger Games, and as in those books, you hurt and cry and fear for the main character, Tierney, but above all you hope for her. The story is captivating and it’s so well written. It is an excellent book, one that needs to be read.

I received a copy of THE GRACE YEAR on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

FIVE stars and here’s why:

HOLY MOLY! I found the story extremely hard to put down. Absolute YA Contemporary Fiction in its finest. I had total whiplash from the plot twists that I had no idea that were coming. It’s an addictive story and I’ll bet we’ll see it in the movies or television some day. It’s just that darn good. It should be required reading in schools. Each person experiences life in their own unique way. It’s feminism and girl power and love for each other wrapped up in a big dystopian bow. The author portrayed emotionally raw characters who are dealing with anxiety in different ways, and I loved that the heroine was not a sappy female, but empowered to solve her own problems without a guy swooping in and doing it for her. I found the book to be a real page-turner, and honestly, I had a total book hangover. I read it in one night. It’s one of these stories that stay with you long after you finish reading it. It’s been a few weeks and I’m still thinking about it, and am left wondering if there will be a sequel or a series or if it will remain a stand-alone book. It’s just that darn good. Highly recommend.

When I saw quotes from "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Lord of the Flies" -- two classics I have incredibly mixed feelings about -- on the first page of "The Grace Year," I had a hunch that this would either be a book I loved or one I hated. Probably just to be difficult, I ended up not quite at one of those extremes, but the two works that Liggett pays homage to at the start of this story are a very accurate indicator of the kind of story that the reader is in for.

"The Grace Year" is technically a dystopian novel but it feels more like a fever dream. The characters felt like real people while the world they inhabited was just familiar enough to seem strange -- like seeing a building in your dream that you both believe is your house and know to be something else entirely. The unsettling balance between familiar and strange made "The Grace Year" a book I struggled to put down.

It's hard to tell when criticizing an ending whether my issue is with what happened not fitting the rest of the story or just not fitting with what I wanted to happen. With The Grace Year, I think this falls into the category of the latter. I found the conclusion to be a bit trite, especially after how unflinchingly dark most of the book was.

Overall, the atmosphere was delightfully eerie, the writing was great, and the characters leapt off the page. It's so nice to come across a book that reminded me how enjoyable a great dystopian novel can be.

|#partner @wednesdaybooks|
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“That’s the problem with letting the light in—after it’s been taken away from you, it feels even darker than it was before.”
Kim Liggett, The Grace Year
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Oh my good gravy. This book y’all. I need to start by saying this is a YA dystopian fiction novel. If I am being honest, YA has not worked for me for a long time. I’m not sure why....this book however. I adored it. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 huge stars.
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I want to talk about what I didn’t like before I gush about how much I loved this book 😉.
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It does not have chapters. It is broken into four sections. This was a hard adjustment for me. I like stopping in a natural spot. I’m one of those people who fits chores into my reading time. I need you to be aware...it’s worth the unusual format!
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Now, let’s move to the things that brought it to a five star novel for me.
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The way the story ended. Is it odd that I’m starting at the end? Maybe 🤷🏻‍♀️. The way Liggett ended the story was more than I was hoping for.
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I adored the romance aspect. To be clear this is not a YA Romance...but the connections were amazing. It was perfectly executed.
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The new spin on The Lord of The Flies premise...the issues presented were what I would want my daughter (if I had one) to read.
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The twist. That’s all I can say 😂. There is an amazing twist that I did not see coming. At. All.
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I could go on and on. Bottom line. If you want to read something different. Something that seeps into your mind to where you are constantly thinking about it...this is it. Again. Don’t pick up this one for the Romance. Or for the fact it’s a YA....pick it up to read a very original spin on The Hunger Games meshed with Lord of the Flies. It’s amazing and has flown to my top 5 of 2019!
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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The How do you review a book that you enjoyed reading immensely yet it has glaringly poor execution?

The plot is sooo good.
Welcome to a world where girls are banished to an isolated camp for their sixteenth year of life (The Grace Year) to vanquish the "magic", or power, they hold over men, only to be married off or assigned duties as an indentured worker upon their return.

"White ribbons for the young girls, red for the grace year girls, and black for the wives. Innocence. Blood. Death."

This camp sounds like a great setup for some serious nightmarish drama, huh?

Well, we'll never know because very little of the storyline revolves around the day to day inner workings of the camp.

I found it difficult to get on board from the beginning because there is no background, no history to tell the reader how we got to this point in time. Little to no character development.

The pacing is so off. Months pass by with the turn of a page. Months that I wanted to hear about.

The MC had so much potential. She is painted to be a strongwillled forward thinking girl in a backwards world. Yet at the camp she allows herself to be mercilessly bullied to the point of near death with no attempts at defending herself. In the end she does little to advance the plight of the women.

I don't think I'm giving anything away here when I ask why does EVERY YA book feature a romance? There's no room for it in this storyline. It's another eye rolling insta-love that does not fit the girl power theme.

This book has been compared to a marrying of Lord of the Flies and The Handmaid's Tale and I think that's a fair assessment in as far as the plot goes. However, The Grace Year doesn't quite reach the level of tension and abject horror found in those stories.

This book lands flatly in the YA genre and teen girls are going to eat it up, thus I suspect it will be an instant bestseller upon release.

5 Stars for entertainment
3 Stars for execution

You do the math.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.