Although I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for a review (via netgalley), all opinions remain my own.

This was a book I could not put down. Talk about book hangover with this one. More then one day with dark circles under my eyes from staying up too late reading "just one more chapter".

One thing I did not love was the cliffhanger ending. While I love the idea of trilogy books, I hate it when they cannot stand alone. This is one of those books. Well, I guess it kind of stands alone, but it leaves a HUGE HUMONGOUS cliff hanger. Plus, you have to wait another YEAR for the answer. UGH! So frustrating. One reason that I like finding books like this after the author is finished with the entire series. I can read them all together.

Alas, that was not this case with Grace & Fury. This gem came out on July 31. That means you have a whole year to read it before book two is due for release and you are for sure going to want to read this one. While one sister is in the palace, the other in in jail. Just read the overview on the cover. Who wouldn't want to read that one? There were a couple plot twists that I loved and didn't see coming. Nothing so huge that it seemed "out of character" for our protagonists but just wild enough to keep you turning the pages. There were enough characters to keep me interested but not so many as to have me confused. PLUS their names weren't so confusing that I didn't remember who was who. I have had books with names that were so wild, so out there that I got them mixed up the whole book. SO frustrating and so not the case with this one.

Overall this is a great read if you love the dystopian type books. I loved it and plan to buy my own copy as well as the next two as they come out.

All her life, Serina has been taught what it takes to become a Grace. It is finally time to go before the heir and see if he will pick her, but when her reckless younger sister catches his eye and is chosen instead of her, Serina’s world is turned upside down. Now Serina is in prison for an action her sister committed; Nomi is stuck in the palace in a position she never wanted and is trying to determine if there is a way to save her sister. With all of the palace intrigue, who can Nomi trust? Will the sisters be reunited or will they run out of time?

Grace and Fury is the first book in a series with the same name. The story alternates between the sisters’ points of views, yet readers will easily be able to follow the story through the pages. Banghart has created characters that are easy to relate to and brings out hidden depths as they struggle to cope with their situation. Grace and Fury has two strong female protagonists which gives the novel just a little something extra for the reader to enjoy. I will be looking forward to the next installment in this world where women are too often overlooked.

Just finished #GraceAndFury by @tracythewriter and wow!! what a book!! It's been a while since I've read such a captivating fantasy. Lots of feminism and political intrigue. Absolutely loved Serina and Nomi's story. I'm already dying for the sequel because I NEED MORE

GRACE AND FURY by Tracy Banghart is a young adult fantasy novel told in alternating points of view, following sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro. The world reminds me of Renaissance Italy, with words like palazzo and gondola making appearances, and an island featured prominently in the story with a cataclysmic event akin to Mt. Vesuvius in ancient Pompeii. The sisters must navigate the patriarchal society where women are allowed to have only two jobs—in a factory or as a wife and mother—and cannot do anything without a man’s permission.

Serina has been groomed all her life to become a Grace—a woman selected by the royal monarch to live within the palace harem—so when she’s chosen to attend the Heir’s birthday ball, she believes her life is made. She’ll be able to provide for her family, allow her mother to retire from the textile factory, and give her family much needed wealth and rest.

Nomi has hated the idea of her sister becoming a Grace since she was old enough to talk. She longs for a life of her choosing, but when Serina is chosen to attend the Heir’s ball, she thinks her life as she knows it—or as she dreamt it—is over. No longer can she dream of her own life with her own choices, but she must attend her sister at the palace.

But when Nomi catches the Heir’s eye instead, and Serina takes the fall for Nomi’s dangerous secret, both of their worlds are forever changed.

I adored GRACE AND FURY. It’s a smaller novel at 320 pages, but it’s jam-packed with action and intrigue and survival. This isn’t <a href="http://tracybanghart.com/books">Banghart</a>’s first novel, and I hope it won’t be her last. I loved the setting and the world—grimy factory towns, gorgeous courts, splendid palaces, dangerous jungles, gritty jails. The places felt so real and realized, each lending a quality of grounded realness to the story.

<a href="https://www.lbyr.com/titles/tracy-banghart/grace-and-fury/9780316471411/">GRACE AND FURY</a> tackles themes such as misogyny, patriarchy, sisterhood, and survival through the dual narrative. Though at first I thought I knew who was Grace and who was Fury, it turns out that the two sisters are not quite what they seem. You’ll have to read the book to find out, but I think you’ll be surprised at the reveal as well.

If you loved books such as <em>The Valiant</em>, <em>The Handmaid’s Tale</em>, and <em>Caraval</em>, you’ll enjoy the political intrigue, the familiar setting, and the fierce sisterhood GRACE AND FURY has to offer. And the best part? This book is out now, so check out your favorite retailer or local library and grab yourself a copy!

Thank you to Hachette Book Group and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a review copy.

At times this YA book reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale. Woman have no rights and are trying to be the heirs Grace. When Serina is found with a book she is sent to Mount Ruin to serve her punishment where the guards try to break you. Nomi her sister is forced to become a Grace even thou she doesn't want too. I enjoyed this book but I wish there was more to ending. I wanted to know more about what happened to these sisters.

Curse you Tracy for writing such a crazy good book and drawing me into the pages the way you did haha.

I loved this book so much.

I'm such a fantasy junkie and this book gave just what I was craving.

To start, I loved the sisterhood between Nomi and Serina. The two showed how much they love and cared for each other throughout the entire story. And I really appreciated a story incorporating that so much inside it. That sisterly love that was so much of the driving force behind both of their actions.

I didn't want to put this one down. I t had me flipping pages as fast as my eyes could read, and I was held in such suspense waiting to see what would happen. If someone wouldn't survive. And I love a book that can do that to me. I don't even mind the lack of sleep I got before finishing this one. It was so worth it by the time I got to the last words haha

Most definitely a 5 star read!!

Excellent! This was an almost non-stop adventure right through to the last page, and I loved every minute of it. The characters were fantastic. I was frustrated that Nomi's choices led to so much trouble for Serina, but I loved all the ways Serina developed and changed through the course of the book. No resolution really, so readers will have to wait for the sequel. It will be a must-read for me.

Grace and Fury is one of those books that caught me by surprise. I don't get taken by surprise by books. I can usually see a plot twist coming a mile away. I can usually see when an author is foreshadowing. I can usually see who the bad guy is in the book. I can usually call who is going to die. But not in Grace and Fury. The author did a fantastic job at keeping me in the dark with everything I stated above. And I loved it!!!

Grace and Fury starts off with Serina being chosen to go to Bellaqua to compete with other girls to become a Grace. Serina has worked her entire life to become a Grace. That dream is shattered when Serina's younger sister, Nomi, is chosen instead. It is further shattered when Serina takes the blame for something that Nomi did. That something has Serina shipped off to a prison island. There she is forced to fight to the death for food. Back on the mainland, Nomi decides to embrace her role as a Grace. She does that with the hopes that she will get Serina off the island and back with her. But Nomi is soon caught up in a dangerous plot. A plot that could end everything that she has worked so hard for.

I couldn't believe the injustices that the women in that society endured. They weren't allowed to go to school. They were dominated by the men in their lives. So, I loved it when Nomi bucked the rules. Learning to read was her way of thumbing her nose a the society that was keeping her down. Even as rebellious as she was, she was loyal to Serina. Using her position as a Grace, she did try to get her sister off that island. I was as surprised as she was when everything went down the way it did.

I didn't like Serina, at first. She had trained to be a Grace since she was a child and had no clue how the real world was. Being a Grace meant that her family would never go hungry. She also loved her sister. My turning from not liking her to liking her happened when she took the fall for Nomi. She could have taken Nomi down with her. And when she got to the island. Instead of having a breakdown, she did what she had to do to survive.

There are several twists and turns in the plotline. I wasn't ready for any of them. I thought that this was going to be one of those typical YA fantasy book that would be heavy on the romance and teen angst but would have no twists. Yeah, I was wrong. This book had more twists than a mountain road.

The fantasy angle of the book was fantastic. Set in an Italian-like country, the author did fantastic world building. The world was 3D, as was the character.

The YA angle I didn't feel. Yes, Serina and Nomi were in their late teens but it didn't read like it. If I didn't know their ages, I would have placed Serina in her mid 20's and Nomi as the teenager. This book also didn't have much angst that most YA books. Which was refreshing.

I do want to touch upon the amazing girl power vibe that was going on in this book. It was fantastic and I loved it!!!

The end of Grace and Fury was insane. Everything happened at once. I was surprised at what happened with Nomi. Very surprised. Surprised to the point that I had to wake up BK and tell him about it. He wasn't impressed...lol. I will say that the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Which means that I need to read book 2 when it comes out.

Onto why I gave Grace and Fury a 4-star rating. I loved how I was taken surprised time and again in the book. I liked Nomi and her rebellious ways. I loved the strong girl power vibe throughout the book. I didn't like how the women were treated in the book. I didn't like Serina at first. I also didn't like the cliffhanger.

What I liked about Grace and Fury (to recap):

A) Being taken surprise by the different elements of the book

B) Nomi

C) Girl Power

What I disliked about Grace and Fury (to recap):

A) How the women were treated in the book

B) Serina, the first half of the book

C) The cliffhanger

I would give Grace and Fury an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is kissing (that's about it). There is violence, sometimes graphic. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Grace and Fury. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read and review Grace and Fury.

All opinions stated in this review of Grace and Fury are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This book was intense! I was hooked instantly from the beginning. The story of two sisters and their place in the kingdom. Naomi thinks women should be more than what they’re merely supposed to do.
I greatly enjoyed this fantasy novel. One thing I loved about it was how the chapters switched back and forth and were told from the two sister's perspectives. I couldn't wait to fly through each one to see what happened to the other sister I had left behind just moments before!
I absolutely cannot wait to see what will happen in book two! Hurry up 2019!

I love the book. Great characters and world development. I love the character development in the book, it is what makes the story. The progression from scared girls to strong heroines is a great one and I can't wait to see what happens!

Spoilers!
Once Nomi found out who hid the book I knew Asa was no good. This was the only real predictable piece of the book.
As a reader I wish Serina had cut her hair, I feel like it would have lent more towards her breaking free of the rules.

Opening line:
Serina Tessaro stood on the steps of the fountain in Lanos's central piazza flanked by nine other girls her age, all in their finest gowns."

Serina and Nomi have been raised in a country that puts women down to the point of punishing them if they do anything besides grovel, make meals and babies. Nomi is rebellious and learns to read; Serina follows the rules and is chosen as a Grace for the Heir. As their roles reverse, they find they have strengths they didn't know they possessed and they use them to help each other.
The chapters alternate between the sister's points of view and that was interesting to read their different characters and style. And I really enjoyed their individual journeys to becoming stronger.
There is romance, too. Plus, a lot of fighting and death.
It was easy to predict the twists but I kept reading.
I was annoyed with the constant "women are oppressed!" "stay with the status quo!" "Fight the man!" I didn't need to be reminded of these themes every chapter. Woven through the story subtly would have been enough. At one point in the story, both girls are rescued by a man, sooooo...
I still wanted to keep reading.
I will read the next book, too. I want to know what will happen to the sisters!

To the sensitive reader: fighting, death, cuts, bleeding, stabs, gunshots, talk of spending the the night with the Heir, threat of a rape.

Thanks to netgalley for the read!

Wow I'm speechless, what a great read, what a great world.It's not fantasy, but it's not science fiction either, and it's not contemporary or historical fiction. It's somewhere in between.In a world ruled by men, women are forbidden to read or even own books. Nomi Tessaro has rebelled and learned how to read from her brother, but she must keep it a secret. Serina chose not to break the law, knowing that her ultimate goal was to serve as a Grace to the Prince — a sort of wife/concubine role in the castle.Both girls are forced into situations they were not trained for, have no experience with, and are ultimately afraid of. The story line is unique and brilliant.It's like nothing else, I just couldn't get enough of this story.

This book was surprisingly refreshing! For some reason, I wasn’t expecting to love it quite as much as I did. I went in with certain expectations—even just from the title—and found that most of them were surpassed or turned upside down. I ended up flipping the pages furiously because I just didn’t want to put the book down!

What Fed My Addiction:

Sisterly affections.
The sisters’ relationship was complicated. In fact, I spent much of my reading time debating over which of them was “Grace” and which was “Fury.” I thought I knew at the beginning, but then things got turned upside down rather quickly. (In the end, I decided that Grace and Fury might both refer to both sisters after all.) I loved the fact that these were sisters who loved each other with a fierce, protective sort of love. But that didn’t mean that they didn’t have issues. You were never quite sure if the book was going to be about two sisters who are fiercely loyal or sisters who end up hating each other—sometimes those closest to us are the ones who hurt us the most.

Strong women.
Serina and Nomi both exude strength—in different ways. And they both discover that they are a whole lot stronger than they ever thought they were. I went into the book blind (I think I read the blurb at some point, but it was a long time ago), so I loved discovering the crazy circumstances that both women got themselves into and wondering how the heck they were going to get out!

Romance is a side story.
There was a bit of romance in this book, but it never took complete center stage, which I appreciated.

Engrossing.
Like I said, I couldn’t put this book down. It kept me up late because I needed to know what was going to happen to these two women. I think I read the whole book in two or three sittings. It was wholly engrossing and more than satisfying! I was so connected to these characters that I was eager to follow them on their journey, wherever it led!

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Slightly predictable twist.
I knew pretty early on how one major aspect of the book was going to pan out, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story as it unfolded. And some aspects of the book definitely took turns I wasn’t expecting or happened in ways I didn’t predict.

Fantasy? Dystopian?
This is more of a warning than a negative. This is one of those YA fantasies that’s almost more of a dystopian than a true fantasy—there’s no magic or truly fantastical elements. But it takes place in a make-believe world that feels like fantasy (along the lines of The Selection).

With an engrossing plot and complex characters, Grace and Fury is a win. Banghart managed to take some familiar tropes and make them fresh and new in this book. And she left me hungry for book two!!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

When I got to the end of this book, I didn't want it to end! Grace and Fury is the story of two sisters, Serina and Nomi, living in a world where woman are completely subjugated, good for only two things: to be a Grace to the Superior who rules the country, or to stay home and take care of the family. Grace's are examples of perfect womanhood: beautiful, docile, graceful. But women aren't educated, and even reading and writing is forbidden. Serina has been raised with the expectation and hope that she will become a Grace, to the benefit of her family. Nomi is expected to be Serina's handmaid. But when the two girls get to Viridia, Nomi is unexpectedly selected by the heir to be one of his first Grace's, a job for which she is wholly unprepared and unwilling. Serina is to be Nomi's handmaid, a reversal of what they have expected all of their lives. When Serina is caught with a book and sent to Mount Ruin, she thinks her life is over. But both Serina and Nomi are stronger than they think as they navigate the terrifying and dangerous new roles they have been thrust into.

This is a great book for young women and for all women.The dedication says it all: For every woman who has been told to sit down and be quiet...and who has stood up anyway. It is inspiring to watch Serina and Nomi as they step up to meet challenges, and discover the brains and courage they have never been allowed to use...it belongs in every YA library!

A truly outstanding read!

Grace and Fury is the first installment in what appears to be a duology by author Tracy Banghart. This story delivers a high-stakes plot, along with commentary on feminism and sexism. In Viridia, women are offered few choices. They are not allowed to read, or write. They are not allowed to have their own choices with whom to marry, or whom to love, or which job they are chosen to work as their profession. For sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro, they couldn't be any more different had they tried.

As the story opens, Serina, is chosen to represent her town of Lanos in this years competition. Grace's are held to the highest standard of beauty, elegance, and obedience. 3 Grace's (concubines) are chosen every 3 years. After being chosen, Serina and Nomi, who gets the unwanted job of being handmaiden to her sister, travel to the capital of Bellaqua. For Serina, it is a dream come true. For Nomi, it is a nightmare waiting to happen, especially if she can't keep her secret from being exposed.

Things quickly change when it is Nomi, not Serina, who is chosen to become one of the Heir's chosen Grace's. Nomi is someone who doesn't mind being invisible, but fate has other ideas for her. In an even more shocking twist, Serina finds herself in deep trouble after being discovered reading from a book. A book that belonged to Nomi! In this world, this feat gets a woman sent to the harshest prison in all of the land. A prison called Mount Ruin.

The story alternates each chapter between Nomi and Serina. It is fair to say that I preferred Serina's POV much more than Nomi's. Serina trained for years to become a Grace, while her sister carried a huge secret, and tossed fits every time she was prevented from going to school alongside her brother. While Nomi hates everything about the world she lives in and rages against the constraints forced upon her. Now, it is Nomi, not Serina who is living the high life & trying to find a way to save her sister.

While Serina is fighting for her survival, Nomi allows her indignity, anger, fear, and defiance to rise up against a broken system that treats women like second class citizens and in my opinion, walks right into a waiting nightmare. Serina, meanwhile, takes her own kind of stand. A stand that was the better half of the two story's. Serina's story is much more action packed, while Nomi's is painful at times knowing that she is going to do something absolutely stupid.

This is a story about the oppression of women by men, and how the only way “up” in the world is to marry the rich or royal. It is a story about willpower, sisterhood, camaraderie, and survival. Apparently, this is a two book deal. That's a good thing. It means that the author needs to quickly gather readers back into this world, and explain to them how she is going to get Nomi and Serina out of their current predicaments, and not wait 2 more years to wrap up the series. Also, as a warning, Grace and Fury ends on a cliffhanger with the lives of both sisters hanging in the balance.

*eARC kindly provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley*

I wasn't expecting to finish this today, but the book was so readable, even if there wasn't as much action or exciting plots. It's on the quieter side, more about finding your strength and your lines and having faith in who you are even when everyone is telling you that what you think and believe is wrong. It was about two sisters whose worlds are turned upside-down. They're both thrown into lives that are the complete opposites of all they'd been taught and raised to be, but the two of them are fighters. And they love each other so much that they're willing to do almost anything to save the other. I loved their relationship, the complicated-ness of it just felt real and genuine, and so did how they just wanted each other to be safe and happy even when it directly conflicted with their own predicaments. I wasn't as sold on the romances. I just didn't CARE enough, and I was more invested in the sisters' love, and in these groups of women who have learned to survive in a society that hates them and turns them into competitors. It was very feminist at its core. The world-building wasn't as good as it could have been, but I still really enjoyed it. It's like a futuristic Italy. And I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel!

Rating: 3.5 stars

“It isn’t a choice when you don’t have the freedom to say no. A yes doesn’t mean the same thing when it’s the only answer you’re allowed!”


Grace and Fury is the first book in an untitled new series by Tracy Banghart. It tells the story of two sisters in a world where women have limited prospects and no societal rights to speak of. Sweet and obedient Serina has trained her whole life to be a Grace, seen as the epitome of the “perfect woman” (essentially a concubine to the heir to the throne); her younger sister, Nomi, has always been rebellious and has a terrible secret which, if anyone were to find out, would be disastrous.

My biggest problem with this book was that it just felt bland. Yes, I enjoyed it for the most part and was able to read it rather quickly, but I didn’t feel that it had the depth that I was promised. If you read through the synopsis (I wouldn’t, because I think it gives too much away), we are promised a book of political intrigue and physical danger, but they were shallow representations, and it didn’t really delve too much into anything. The characters were bland, the world-building was vague, and the themes presented were superficial. I did like the sisters, though, and how they had to adapt to their changing circumstances.

I will most likely continue the series, though, because I do want to know what will happen…

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review!

Grace and Fury is a book about two sisters going down two very different paths. Two very different turny, plot twisty paths! These girls are fighters from the beginning, and their sistership is strong. Alternating POV books don't always work for me and this was a prime example. To me, Nomi and Serina had very similar voices. Still, I loved the deviousness of the villain in this book, and oh, were the characters addicting. I especially loved Asa!

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart is a story set in a world where women and girls have no rights. Serina has been groomed and coached to be the perfect Grace for the heir. To stand by his side and be his, or at least one of his. Serina's sister Nomi is to be her handmaiden and really wants nothing to do with the world that has set so many limits on those like her. In a twist the heir chooses Nomi and Serina ends up imprisoned for a crime Nomi commits. Now each must fulfill the role that the other had intended in order to save them both.

This is a story that is kind of hard to explain without either giving too much away or doing a poor job. There are twists and turns, both expected and surprising. The characters of Serina and Nomi are both strong (fury) and graceful, as the need arises. As I was reading it, one page just kept following the other as the story drew me in. The characters were dynamic and complex and rose to every occasion.

Overall I very much enjoyed Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart and how it created a story that while fantastic was just grounded enough to make it one that you can connect with more than you might otherwise think.

(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

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This book had me from the beginning. Two sisters trained their whole life to each have their place but when something horrible happens and their places are reversed things go wrong. Couldn't wait to find out what happened to each and how the survived their situations. Would definitely recommend this to my friends and can't wait to see what this author has in store for us next.