4.5 Stars. Best enjoyed with a handful of berries and clean glass of water

I. AM. BLOWN. AWAY. Don’t let the pink cover fool you like it did me at first, although it’s a perfect representation of the world that Liggett built: pink, pretty, but also with a very gritty vibe. Things aren’t always what they seem.

I finished this book at 4 am yesterday and it’s been invading my dreams and thoughts ever since. Other reviewers have said that it’s a cross between Handmaid’s Tale and Lord of the Flies, and I agree, but it’s also got a healthy dose of MK Ultra and survival horror, but it also fully feels like this could happen in our world and this preys on the fears of many women these days–which makes this a wild and visceral experience. I’m a complete sucker for survival horror.

Tierney is 16. In our world, that means sweet 16 birthday parties, getting to drive, and finding freedom. In Tierney’s world, in ‘the county’, that means becoming a women in a society where women are seen as dangerous and only have a chance at few jobs within society: as a wife, as a servant, or as a laborer, working in factories or the fields. Otherwise, they are dispelled into the Outskirts to work a sex workers. Women aren’t allowed to wear their hair down, or dress immodestly, gossip, or even dream. It doesn’t help that society and the magic of the Grace Year have seemingly pitted them all against one another.

During their 16th year, they are sent to ‘the encampment;’, an unforgiving fenced-in island far in the woods away from the county, to dispel the magic that crawls under their skin and makes them irresistible to men. If you come back and haven’t dispelled your magic, it means death. They call this the ‘grace year’. And the grace year is like fight club: You don’t talk about it. You don’t talk about what happens there, and no one escapes without scars.

Tierney just wants to get through her grace year. She’s always rebelled in small ways against the way things are, and the last thing she wants is to become a wife. She’d rather work in the fields, where she can reach into the dirt and do something real. But even the best laid plans often go awry, and Tierney finds herself going into the grace year with a target on her back, as if avoiding starvation and the poachers, sons of the Outskirts women that hunt grace year girls down to carve up their bodies to sell back to the county in bottles–for the ‘magic’, of course–wasn’t enough.

If it seems like there’s a lot going on in this book, there is. The world building is amazing and the story is absolutely enrapturing. I went through the entire gamut of emotions with this one and when I started reading, I could not stop. I had to know if my hunches were correct. I had to know if they would make it out alive. I had to know how this would end, but I also was left wanting more.

I think when the release date hits and more people have the chance to read this, I will most likely have to post more. There is so much to say about this story, but I don’t want to give too much away. All I will say is that we have power and we need to start using it.

Kim Liggett's The Grace Year has been described as Lord of the Flies meets The Handmaid's Tale, setting up high expectations that are a fair comparison. The setting feels historical, yet something is just a bit off -- this dystopian misogynistic patriarchy takes puritanical zealotry to the next level. While Liggett's plot needs some tightening (there are a few moments of What? Where did that come from?) her story is generally well-crafted and paced. Female characters are fully fleshed and artfully drawn, while some of her male characters deserve a bit more depth. The exception is our heroine's love interest, who's mysterious introduction is slowly, but deftly revealed and exposed in layers , as he is to the protagonist. . A satisfying foray into a repressive culture where the "grace year" is anything but graceful.

Wow. I'm speechless. This YA dystopian novel is what my book dreams are made of! It's dark, mysterious, & keeps the reader questioning what‘s real. Pub date 10/8- go preorder this!

16 year old girls are sent to a remote camp every year for their “grace year.” The men in society believe women to have magical powers & must spend this year of exclusion in order to rid themselves of the dangerous magic. But what really happens during this year? No one knows; discussing grace year is strictly forbidden.

This is a haunting, page turner. I've seen comparisons of this book to The Handmaid's Tale. I can see the similarities, but this book by far reigns above and beyond. A full 5 star rating from me. I'm excited to see the buzz and traction this book gets closer to pub day, because I'm eager to talk about it! Excellent writing & story telling.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett - a cross between Handmaids Tale & Hunger Games with a bit of a witchy feel to it, is a MUST read.

It’s a brutal, yet heartwarming love story as well as a story of survival in a bleak world! I devoured this masterpiece and wish everyone would read it! It will stay with me for a long time - and I was sucked in 110%!

I. Loved. This. Book. ❤️🖤😭

8/5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for previding me with this ARC copy
Holy shit. That story... the cover is pink, but this is far from anythwarm and fuzzy. I wanted to keep reading to know what happens next but life got in the way and I finally finished it but ohmygods it was absolutely intense and amazing and breathtaking.

The Grace Year is more gruesome than I like, but I could hardly put it down! The story is so compelling. As details of the County’s history are revealed, the Grace Girls become more complex, and the County Citizens, Poachers, and Guards become more intriguing. I’m still thinking about the end, and am tempted to re-read the book knowing what I know now.
Thanks for the advanced reader copy!

This story of Tierney’s Grace Year, which is an almost apocalyptic, Hunger Games-esque free-for-all in which women come of age and “release their magic,” is absolutely riveting. I found myself unable to put this down, and spent a couple of truly late nights just flying through the galley I was provided of this book. Tierney is a headstrong character, and I found myself really rooting for her a ton through her trials and hazards she encounters along the way trying to survive her Grace Year. This book reminded me of how truly difficult it is to go through puberty, come of age, and make mistakes until you finally reach the point where I am now, Grown Up. Such an awesome novel, very fast-paced, with interesting character development and a heart-poundingly tense story.

Loved this book!

I stayed up all night saying "just one more chapter" . I smiled, I cried, I wish I hadn't read it yet so I could start it anew.

Is this book for everyone? Probably not. It's dystopian in nature. It's dark in places. It's bittersweet.

But if you like dystopian novels, if you liked the handmaidens tale, if you like stories of women, you will love this.

Thank you so much to net galley for an advanced copy. This didn't affect my review. Did I mention that I loved this book?

When girls turn 16 they come into their magic, an ability to tempt men and fill women with jealousy. They believe their bodies emit the very essence of youth, a "product" which poachers outside their village bottle and sell on the black market. In order to protect the village, the girls are forced to partake in the grace year, a ritual in which they are banished to the woods for one year to dispel the magic inside of them. What occurs during the grace year is forbidden to discuss, those who make it back alive will take their place as either wives, or workers among their people. Tierney "the terrible" James seems to be a constant disappointment to the village and her mother. She dreams of returning to work in the fields outside where she can feel some semblance of freedom but unforeseen events place a target on her back. As she prepares to embark on her grace year she soon discovers that the biggest threat isn't the magic or the poachers but each other.

The Grace Year is a fantastic new dystopian YA fiction that I'm giving all the stars. Warning this novel is fairly violent and feels a bit like a combination of the Salem witch trials and an all-female Lord of the Flies. The story takes place in a male dominated village where women are more or less disposable or used for their bodies (in more ways than one). Our main protagonist is a bit of a tomboy and rebel who does not wish to be married or confined, a boldness that borders on shaming her family. Although the mysterious grace years are forbidden to discuss, some secrets have been passed down between the women. I enjoyed seeing how the characters evolve throughout the story as truths are revealed. I devoured this story in a day and a half because I didn't want to put it down. This is definitely one of my top reads this year and will be added to my personal library once released.

From the first sentence you are transported to a land where women are considered an entity to be feared. The men that fear them control what they wear, what they think, what they do, and their place in society. Girls, when they reach their Grace Year of 16, are considered to possess a powerful magic. A magic that will cause men to do immoral things such as cheat on their wives.  To dispel this magic, they send these teenagers into the wilderness alone for a year. Banished to a fortress in the woods with poachers, who want to harvest  them, lurking just outside, these girls do unspeakable things to survive.
Tierney is now facing her Grace Year. She has no idea of the challenges she will face. She dreams of a girl in the woods, a girl who will save them all. What Tierney discovers about the Grace Year and about this girl  shocks her to her core.
This story is a mix of The Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, and Lord of the Flies. It is a story of how one person can make a difference. It is a story of repression and of survival.
I read this in two days because I could not put this book down. I felt as though I was living alongside Tierney and fighting with her. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

I have to say, I was completely intrigued with this book. The cover, which is very bright, doesn’t even begin to showcase the intensity that is between the pages. I am a newbie to this author, and know from here on out that I will not miss any of her future releases.

Wow, what a wonderfully haunting story. The author weaves an intricate story, full of many moments where you’re on the edge of your seat. It’s a story that makes you really think; making you want to dig deeper until the answer is there. It’s truly one of the best stories I’ve read; from beginning to end.

The writing style of the author was different. I’ve yet to read a book written this way. It consisted of going from day to day, without a page break or without a new chapter starting. It also starts off very slow, I’ll be honest here, I didn’t think I was going to continue reading because of that pace and the writing style; but shortly before the end of the first chapter, things amped up. And continued that pace through the end of the book.

This book is packed full of moments where you’re not only rooting for the main character, you’re rooting for change. You’re rooting for everything. What a wonderful story!

Here it is June and I may have found my 2019 favorite already. The Grace Year was everything I wanted it to be, possibly more.

A haunting story made rich with vivid descriptions, eerie characterization, and nail-biting suspense. With multilayered characters and intimate writing, Kim Liggett set my imagination ablaze. This is thriller at its best.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book!!

WOAH. Going in blind, I had all the questions about what “The Grace Year” was and what the magic was, that the Grace girls possessed. Thoughtfully provoking, compulsive and suspenseful!!

“Your eyes are wide open, but you see nothing.”

It’s not what you think and it’s better than you can imagine! Don’t start it unless you’re prepared to finish it in one sitting!!

5 STARS!!

Is it safe to say this is one of the best books I have read in a long time? Honestly, I just finished it about a minute ago and I am still in shock. I am blown away.

I've read some of the reviews comparing it to The Hunger Games, and while I could see where the similarities are, The Grace Year is so unique and so different and so chilling and so eerie. It is in it's own class of Dystopian novels.

This book was everything. It was written in a way that honestly took my breath away. It was beautifully written. The descriptions were perfect. It was scary, I won't lie. I had to put it down for a few minutes here and there because it was terrifying. It was terrifying because it felt so real, yet at the same time it felt so unreal. I am having the hardest time putting my feelings into words because, like I said, I am blown away.

Tierney is everything I could want for a main character. Everything she felt and how she responded felt so real and authentic and my heart broke for her the entire book. The love she felt and the absolute hatred she felt was something I felt reading along. The other characters, you just loved them or hated them. Ryker, for example, is a character I am absolutely in love with and I just wish I had more.

I am trying to put my feelings into words, without any spoilers, because if you are reading my review deciding if you should read this book, I do not want to spoil an ounce of it for you, but just know, you NEED to read this book.

Think of every Dystopian novel you've ever read and then go beyond, because this is so much more than what you've expected from the genre. This story was captivating; I couldn't put it down. The details of the characters and their lives are thrilling and entrap you completely . I felt pensive, angry, scared, proud and then hopeful. I would read it and it's sequels again and again. 15 stars. An absolute piece of fine literature.

The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Hunger Games, The Grace Year is a memorable dystopian story of the resilience of the female spirit.

When the young women in Tierney James’ county turn 16, they’re banished to a fenced-in reserve on an island where they’re expected to spend 13 cycles of the moon releasing the “magic” into which all girls of this age grow — a period called the grace year.

Before they depart, the eligible men have their pick of the women, and many of them will leave for the year betrothed to a man they barely know who has decided to lay his claim on her. Tierney has other plans for her life, and, unlike most of the young women, she looks forward to a life without a husband or children working with her hands in the fields. But when her friend Michael chooses her to be his bride, the women will depart on a tumultuous grace year filled with drama, danger, love, and murder.

During the grace year, the women are expected to care for themselves using only a county-issued pack each. There’s a well for water, but it doesn’t take long for the well water to start having strange effects on the group, who drinks from it constantly. Kiersten, who had hoped to be chosen as Michael’s bride, quickly convinces the group that her magic is real and she’s powerful enough to control them if she likes. Her manipulation coupled with the effects of the well water leads to a Hunger Games-esque story line in which Tierney is alienated from the women and no one is truly safe from each other — or the poachers lurking just outside the gates hoping to sell the girls’ dead bodies for their “magical” powers.

Liggett does an astounding job drawing the reader in to Tierney’s story, her struggle against the way of life she’s been taught, and her desire for something more than a Handmaid’s Tale-style life of docility and subservience. While I rooted for Tierney, I also rooted for the women who were afraid to speak up for themselves and simply wanted to please their parents and future husbands or bosses. The characters outside of the main group of girls added some fun suspense and romance to the story that really added to the overall plot, and I couldn’t wait to get back to this story each time I put the book down.

Liggett offers us an important new piece of modern feminist fiction, and I recommend this one for fans of dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Lord of the Flies.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have been interested in reading this since I started seeing mention of it on Twitter, in the writer-verse. As soon as I found out NetGalley had it up for grabs, I was so there. And I don't regret being hyper about it at all.

**NO SPOILERS**

The story follows Tierney, a tomboy in a world of girls who are basically expected to be primed to be walking incubators, more or less. Very much heeds back to Handmaid's Tale, eh?

All girls in her world need to be sent away for a year, to rid themselves of a magic that brings men to their knees, can make them control the men. Which is where our story begins, essentially.

The book follows the girls in her year who are sent away, and the things they discover about themselves, each other, and the world around them. Horrifying though it may be.

There's loads of surprises, twists and turns, all of which I loved, and all of which actually worked well for the story. The ending wasn't what I was expecting either, but I really enjoyed it, instead of being disappointed for not getting what I wanted!

Definitely something to look forward to!

This book was so good, so much better than I thought it was going to be actually. Initially I was not going to read it but it was available to read on NG to I took a chance and I am glad I did because I really liked it. I am not a big fan of dystopian books in general which I was I didnt want to read this one. However, from page 1 I was drawn in. Tierney is an amazingly strong and well-written character. She is 16 and this society, the girls in their 16th year are first put through a veiling ceremony where they are possibly chosen for marriage by their male counterparts or other available older men, and then sent to an island in the wilderness for an entire year to discover their magic and basically survive on their own with very little help from anyone. They are given some supplies shelter and some really gross well water that is infested with algae or something.... Tierney is the only one of the girls in her year with any common sense or any survival skills, who can actually lead them to survive in the "Lord of the Flies" type atmosphere they are sent to live in. The magic is all in their heads and Teirney figures out what is really going on eventually. Poachers are paid handsomely to kill the girls who leave the fenced in area where they live for the year so survival is not in their favor. There are many other things involved in this amazing novel of survival and learning to love & live with each other in spite of out-dated and ridiculous beliefs. I highly recommend this book! I loved it! THANKS so much to NG for the ARC!!!

I had no idea what to expect beyond seeing it compared to The Handmaid’s Tale. I’ve also been struggling to review it because it’s not the kind of book I normally read!

As the opening chapters played out, I found myself thinking, “WTF am I reading?” and yet I couldn’t put it down.

It was like The Village crossed with The Handmaid’s Tale crossed with magical realism but not really?

I loved Tierney, she is fierce even if a little naive. She doesn’t accept what the patriarchal society around her tries for force her to be, but she doesn’t entirely understand how to navigate everything.

“Your eyes are wide open but you see nothing.”

I would have liked to see more world building, as there weren’t any explanations that I recall of how the County came to be and would have like a few of the characters to be fleshed out a little more.

This book isn’t for everyone, it’s pretty intense. But if you’re looking for a suspenseful fast read thriller with themes of rebellion, feminism, survival and a whole lot of girl power with a healthy dose of weird - this book may be up your alley!

I ended up rating it 4 stars because it did read like a fantasy novel for me and the writing pulled me in so quickly and wouldn’t let go.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for the review copy of this book for an honest review.