It has been a habit of mine to very rarely read book’s description before I read it. It most cases, this does not make much of a difference, but Grace and Fury pleasantly surprised me. There is a trope within the YA genre (a trope of which I am generally NOT a fan) where a young commoner girl enters some kind of competition to become the true love of the handsome prince. When I first started this book, I immediately thought that it would fall into this category, but relatively early on the story took a rather large turn, and I realized instead that this novel is a pro-feminist play on the aforementioned trope for a post #MeToo world.

It is the story of two sisters, Serina and Nomi, who live in a world where women have no rights and every aspect of their lives is decided for them. Serina has been trained her entire life to become a Grace, a demure and perfectly-behaved companion to the heir to the throne. But when Nomi is unexpectedly chosen as a Grace in Serina’s place, and Serina takes the blame for an act that Nomi has committed, Nomi is the one to end up in palace while Serina is taken away to a place where she has to fight for her very survival. Both girls are thrust into a world of deception in which it is impossible to know who to trust, and even surrounded by people they are utterly alone.

Though this novel is pretty typical in its tone and prose, I still found myself very entertained by the story it told. Not only is it a love-letter to feminism, but also contains many surprises and twists that kept me turning the pages. Serina and Nomi have alternating POV chapters, and even after they are separated their stories blended rather seamlessly. They also both show incredible growth as characters, though I found most of the secondary characters to be rather static.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for an easy and enjoyable read, or anyone who is interested in a feministic take on an old trope. 3.5/5

I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Grace and Fury is a wonderful mix of The Hunger Games and The Selection — 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.

When Serina is chosen to compete to be one of the Prince’s Graces, her sister, Nomi, goes with her to serve as her handmaiden. But in a twist, the Prince chooses Nomi as one of his three Graces. Serina reluctantly agrees to stay to be Nomi’s handmaiden. On their first day in their new roles, Serina is caught holding a book and reciting the story from memory. Seemingly being caught reading, she is sentenced to life on a prison island where the guards force the all-female prisoners to fight to the death for rations.

Both girls are forced into situations they were not trained for, have no experience with, and are ultimately afraid of. But the bond of sisterhood keeps them going — each has the hope that they can survive and find and save their sister. I cannot recommend Grace and Fury enough. It also should be known it is set to be a duology, with the second book coming out next year.

If you loved The Hunger Games and The Selection, and also fangirl over love triangles, strong women fighting oppression (and each other), and beautiful world-building, chances are this book is for you.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Quick Summary:

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi face two very different fates. Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace. The shinning subjugated example of the perfect woman. While her headstrong younger sister Nomi was trained to be her handmaiden. However things dont go as planned when Nomi is chosen to be a Grace instead, and Serina takes the fall for Nomis rebellious secret. With her sister sent to an all female prison, Nomi has to surrender to a role shes never wanted in the hopes of using her position in time to save her sister from the deadly fights that go on at the prison.

My Thoughts:

I found both sisters story line super engaging, but Nomi has always been rebellious so Serinas character developpement was even more amazing. I loved her transformation. How she goes from following all the rules and accepting the way things are to finding the strenght to stand up for herself and other women. Nomi on the other hand goes from being defiant to having to hold her tongue and play the part of a subjugated Grace. The contrast and even the similarites despite their different postions was really interesting. I could also tell how much they loved each other and how they would do anything to protect one another.

As for the side characters, I actually preferred the Heir Malachi over Prince Asa which was weird for me since I usually like the sweet characters more. At the palace we also meet another Grace named Maris. We only see the start of a friendship between Maris and Nomi, but Im hoping for more of it in the sequel because I really want to get to know Maris better. She seems like such an interesting character. Meanwhile at the prison, Serina makes some great friendships with Jacana and Petrel. In a place where the women need to rely on one another we get to see some strong bonds form. Serina also gets friendly we a guard named Val that I ended up really liking.

I was expecting a fantasy going into this, but it was more of a dystopian. I appreciated the backstory we got as to why women are so oppressed. I enjoyed the quick pace and short chapters. I found it super easy to read. Despite predicting the ending, I was still on the edge of my seat and felt vindicated when I turned out to be right. I dont think the plot is necessarily predictable, its just my brain working over time. Expecting a certain ending made the characters decisions leading them in that direction frustrating. However, those decisions were reasonable and once it came down to it they made the right decisions. Ill definitely be keeping an eye out for that sequel.

I'm so unbelievably shook.

"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!"

Obligatory Summary

So, this is a hard book to really nail down. It's not fantasy, but it's not science fiction either, and it's not contemporary or historical fiction. It's somewhere in between. You won't find post-apocalyptic America in these pages, or teenagers wielding infernal powers. This isn't the world you know, but it's frighteningly similar. It's a merge between The Selection, Maze Runner, Throne of Glass, and The Hunger Games, but is uniquely distinct from all of them. This is a feminist story about the power of rebellion, love, and agency.

This book revolves around Serina and Nomi, two sisters divided by their belief in the role of women in society. Nomi believes that women should have the right to read, to cut their own hair without permission, to do pretty much anything, tbh. Serina, on the other hand, is content to become a Grace; in other words, a concubine for the Superior and his Heir, the rulers of Viridia, and a symbol of feminine beauty and, well, grace. Things go horribly wrong, though, when the Heir chooses Nomi, not Serina, as his Grace, and Serina is imprisoned for a crime Nomi committed. Now Nomi must brave the Heir and his world, where one wrong word would seal her doom, and Serina is trapped on an island where guards force the inmates to fight to death for food and water.

The Writing and Worldbuilding

I was not a huge fan of the non-dialogue prose. It tended to run exposition-y, especially in the early chapters, and was particularly redundant sometimes. For example, in the same exact chapter, it said the Nomi always did Serina's makeup before like three times. Besides that, though, I loved it! The plot was masterfully crafted, and I was on the edge of my seat literally the entire time. That ending KILLED ME.

Pet peeve time though: I HATE IT WHEN AUTHORS SAY "GOOSEFLESH" INSTEAD OF "GOOSEBUMPS" LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. I'VE LITERALLY NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE HEARD SOMEONE SAY "GOOSEFLESH" UNIRONICALLY. PLEASE, WRITERS, S T O P I T. NO ONE IS WORRIED YOU'LL SOUND LIKE R.L. STINE. N O O N E.

Like I said in the Obligatory Summary, the world itself was really unique. I've never read anything quite like it. It was a made-up world, but there wasn't any magic or fancy science fiction devices. It seemed, if anything, like a parallel world of early 1900's Europe, Italy in particular.

The themes were really well done, and I particularly liked that it was a feminist story, but like actually (not a SJM kind of feminist, in which it actually isn't but it really wants you to think it is). No, this is real, quality feminism. The kind that advocates women helping each other, supporting each other. The kind that doesn't shun men for existing, or try to elevate its female characters above them. It shies away from stereotypes, and even pokes some fun at other books in the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found myself actually feeling empowered by its messages, which is amazing, because honestly, I rarely do--tbh most "feminist" stories fill me with unbridled rage, because a lot of them completely miss the point. This one, though. This one totally gets it.

The Characters

Serina: Proud, poised, and a remarkably quick study without coming across as a Mary Sue, Serina is pretty hardcore. Her resolve to survive, both body and soul, was amazing. She grows so much as a character, becoming so strong by the end, but still recognizably herself, without sacrificing her feminine attributes.

Nomi: At first, I found Nomi annoying (back when I thought this might just be a SJM kind of feminist book), because of how brash and reckless she was, how immature she could be, not seeing or understanding her place in the world, as if she was just a book character who was just plopped there instead of a living, breathing person, born and bred in this fictional land. Once the plot really started, though, her true character explained itself, and I found that she was definitely my favorite character. I found her relatable, and I was most eager for her chapters of the book. She's headstrong, and thinks after she speaks sometimes, but she grows a lot too, and I really admire her.

Malachi: He was such a surprise, honestly. I really appreciated where his character went, and the depth that is explored in him.

Asa: He's a little like Nikolai Lantsov and I'm SO hyped to see where he goes in the sequel (GIVE IT TO ME NOW, TRACY!!!)

Val: He's a bit of a cinnamon roll, and I like him <3

Conclusion

I NEED THE SEQUEL!

"You must be as strong as this prison, as strong as the stone and ocean that hem you in. You are brick and barbed wire. You are iron."

In a world where it's illegal for women to read, they are fated to work in factories, bear children or aspire to be a Grace, a woman who is to be near the Heir to the throne as the ideal woman. It has always been Serina Tessino's dream to be a Grace, and her younger sister Nomi railed against the way the world worked. Serina might have been chosen to be sent to the capital to see if she could catch the eye of the Heir, but it's Nomi who actually does. Serina is sent away to fight for her life on a distant island when she's caught with Nomi's book, and she has to learn how to be a Grace and use the position to save Serina. There are dangers lurking in both places, and neither sister is safe.

This is a fascinating book, and my only complaint was that it ended on a cliffhanger! Serina and Nomi are wonderfully fleshed out characters, sniping at each other like sisters, then coming together as a team at the beginning. We see them grow into themselves in ways they never dreamed they could, and there's a bit of the revolutionary in both of them. It was fascinating to see the dynamics on the island, with the different teams jockeying for power, which would get them rations and protection from guards intent on abusing the power they were given. Serina still managed to keep her ideals, a difficult feat even in the best of conditions.

Nomi, for all that she felt unable to do the tasks of a Grace, was far better at it than she thought she could be. The politicking with the other Graces and the royal sons was difficult to read because of their histories and stories; they were all trapped in this society, and few even realize that they are. It leads to a lot of nuance in the characterization, and plot twists until the cliffhanger finale. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, because there absolutely has to be a way to wrap up the story.

What a fantastic story! This book was full of plot twists and had interesting, strong characters. Started off a bit slow but it picked up later on.

I don't like it when I'm able to easily discern how a book is going to end, but I love when I make an assumption that turns out to be right based on the tiniest of details. Grace and Fury was not in any way predictable, but there were certain people that felt off. I feel a little like Sherlock Holmes right now! The revelations at the end of this book were satisfying, but I'm going to pretend like there wasn't a cliffhanger, because ugh.

At the beginning, I didn't like Nomi or Serina. They kept making decisions that benefited themselves, so it wasn't a surprise when their world's came crashing down. However, I have a lot of respect for them both. They were thrown into unfamiliar (and sometimes hostile) environments and thrived. Nomi's situation was a gilded cage, while Serina fought for her next meal. Nomi was supposed to be the rebellious sibling, but she seemed to lose her confidence when it really mattered.

I want to kick so many people in the face! I hated how the women were treated, and what some of their punishments were. They're not allowed to do anything and are required to be sickeningly submissive to men. Some of the girls lived for that life, while others refused to accept their fate.

Nomi and Serina learned a lot from their new roles, and they both became stronger in their own way. Although, I think Serina should have hated her sister a little more, because Nomi didn't suffer nearly as much as she did. Serina was groomed to be a Grace, and she is... but not in the way she expected.

In the end, Grace and Fury was a quick and exciting read that kept me on my toes. It takes a lot for me to enjoy and respect characters that I don't like, but the author does just that. I understand Nomi and Serina's situation, even if I disagree with some of their choices. The story is solid and the world is great, but that cliffhanger was brutal.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? On July 31, 2018.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While it was exciting and kept me reading (I finished the vast majority of it in a single sitting), there were still a few things I didn't love. I've read enough YA fantasy to know this wasn't exactly the most original book out there. It reminded me quite a bit of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. It's pretty much what you'd expect from a dystopian fantasy. It was pretty predictable. I think there was one twist I might not have expected, but the synopsis gives it away. I also don't like when first books in a series ending on huge cliffhangers, and this one definitely does. It kind of forces readers to pick up book two, which isn't out yet.

The world in this book is a weird mix of The Hunger Games and a royal court fantasy. It was definitely creative, but I really wanted more of the history. We get a brief glimpse, and it's not enough. Beyond that, though, the society in this book is like a fancy version of The Handmaid's Tale. The dynamic between men and women honestly made me very uncomfortable, and it took me a good half of this book to stop cringing. I know that fighting against that is the point of this story, but I just wasn't a huge fan of how the society in this book was structured.

I did like the characters, despite them being somewhat predictable. I went in thinking Nomi would be my favorite, but Serena surprised me by upstaging her sister. Nomi's half of the story was a bit more fun to read - maybe because I have a soft spot for outrageously fancy gowns, but I liked Serena better as a character. I can't really discuss the others much without spoilers, but they weren't bad. I want to see more character development, though.

This book was definitely entertaining, and I absolutely flew through it. While I don't think it's anything groundbreaking, it's a good addition to the genre.

Grace and Fury is a Young Adult Fantasy novel that is told in alternating points of view from two sisters. Now, to be honest, I don’t find this book incredibly unique. But I do find it so well done. Gripping from the very first page, it seems this book upped the ante with every chapter ending. Nomi was my favorite sister from the get-go, but it quickly changed to Serina. By the end of the book, I was so invested in both of these sisters goings on that I couldn’t finish each chapter fast enough. I found it interesting that of the two, it was Nomi (who gave the appearance of being more worldly,) who was more naive. Serina, even in harsher circumstances, seemed to adjust better than her sister. She was the one who showed the most character growth, and I’m excited to see what this series has in store for her. There wasn’t a lot of world building in this book, but I don’t feel like there needed to be. This book focused on the oppression of the women in this society, and the premise lent itself to being more character driven that plot driven. There was a lot of deception in this book, and right up until the very end, I wasn’t sure who was a ‘good’ guy and who was a ‘bad’ guy. Especially because the foreshadowing was so prominent that I felt maybe it was leading us in the wrong direction on purpose – but I won’t tell you if it was or wasn’t! I really enjoyed how the entire story was leading up to one event, and that we, as readers, were aware of what that event was. It made me even more eager to reach the end! Each of these girls made mistakes – colossal ones, but these are young women who were extremely sheltered their entire lives – to the point where Serina spent hers training to be the heir’s lover, and essentially, arm candy. The pacing of this book was relentless, for Serina and Nomi as well as the reader. Neither girl has had a chance to take a breath, and I have a feeling that when things catch up to them, it’s going to be ugly.

As I mentioned before, I thought Grace and Fury was so well done. Nothing felt overdone or exaggerated here; just extreme circumstances where you knew the girls were going to be lucky to get out alive. It was such an adventure, and by the time I was done reading, it felt like this book was the YA Fantasy I’ve been waiting for. Grace and Fury was a fantastic start to this series, and I think it goes without saying that I’ll be reading the next installment!

I really enjoyed this story overall. This is more of a dystopian novel where women have no rights and men are in power. We follow two sisters who are very different. Serina has been training her entire life to be a Grace that is chosen by heir and Nomi has always done everything to take care of the family. I will admit that I did figure out some of the plot twist before they happened. However, this book was compulsively readable and I really cared about the characters and was so interested to see where the plot was going. I felt like the setting was very well explained and the characters did feel like real people. The romances were a little typical but I still enjoyed them. Overall, I do recommend this book and I can't wait to see the release date for the next book because the cliff hanger had me interested to where the story was going.

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart is the kind of book that draws you in the second you pick it up. The plot is filled with intrigue and feminism, and the main characters are equally enjoyable. The world is also clearly developed, and it is surprisingly easy to picture as our own reality. I definitely enjoyed this one, and I am eager to get my hands on a sequel!

This book tells the story of two sisters, one being treated like royalty and the other being held prisoner on an island. What is interesting is the fact that the sisters’ roles are switched, and the one fighting to survive was actually training to live in a palace her whole life and please the heir. I found the story to be a bit like The Selection and The Handmaid’s Tale with some feminist messages and some surprising twists. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love this book at first, but once I got into it, I was pleasantly surprised.

Both Nomi and Serina are enjoyable main characters, and I liked getting to read each of their differing perspectives. The sisters are defiant and determined to stand up for their rights in their new roles. I actually enjoyed both of them equally, which is pretty rare for me. I typically have one main character that I connect with more than the other, but I was glad that both girls have their own characteristics and intriguing arcs.

The world of Grace and Fury really intrigued me. The societal norms and cultural expectations are clearly outlined, and the world is logical. The settings like the perilous island and the palace are also developed, and I could clearly visualize them. What I enjoyed about this book is the fact that the oppressive society isn’t so far-fetched, and the lack of women’s rights is shockingly believable. This contributes to the overall feminist message, and it made me reflect on our own world.

Grace and Fury is a powerful novel about two sisters with very different realities. I enjoyed both the main characters’ narrations, and the world is very believable. I would definitely recommend this one, especially to those looking for an empowering read.

With little choices to choose from for women, Serina has been raised and groomed to be the heir's grace, with her sister Nomi as her handmaiden. But in a twist of fates, it is Nomi that is chosen. Serina is also mistakenly accused for a secret of Nomi's. Both girls feel trapped in their situation and must fight to be reunited as well as fight to make changes so that girls no longer have to endure what they are going through.

The Story
Told from both girl's POV we are given the story of two very fierce girls who are driven to fight in ways that didn't imagine they could. Forced into situations with their back against the wall, they must not only survive but also save each other. Because we are hopping between the two different stories, there really isn't a lot going on. Relationships seemed a little rushed, and sometimes trust was given a little too easily, among all the characters. 

Now, while the story was entertaining, I found the twists wildly predicting. However, despite that, there were still a few parts that I was pleasantly surprised. There were enough scenes that had the girls in precarious situations that I never really got bored. 

Some trigger warnings could include: violence, attempted rape, and implied pleasure houses. 

The World Building
I was intrigued by the culture of the oppression against women. Unfortunately,  I sort of think that the reasoning for the oppression was a little bland, and relied too heavily on the basis of fear and insecurity. I expected a dynamic world, but felt it was fairly standard.

I really liked the Italian inspiration of the capital, and it certainly created a little bit of color to where the palace was. I was really hoping to see more of it on Serina's end.

The Characters
This book was definitely character driven. While both girls were a bit naive, I just adored their sisterly bond. Even though both sister felt like they had received some part of the shorted end of the stick, both were frightened and cornered, they still were so concerned with protecting the other. I think what I loved most was how each girl reacted when their world was crumbled. Again, and again they both got back up and did not cower down.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this, I found myself unable to put this down. I read it in just under 24 hours. I really enjoyed the writing, so much so we'll forgive the cliffhanger ending :) I really loved this and highly recommend it!

Grace and Fury follows two sister, one is trained to be a Grace, poised and submissive and selected to be a consort of the Heir of the realm. The other is her handmaiden, she is stubborn, outspoken, and everything a woman of this time is not supposed to be. Women in this kingdom suffer from severe oppression. They cannon learn to read or write, they hold only the most basic jobs deemed appropriate for women, and their only real goal in life is to marry a man, be subservient to him, and have children. Serina, has trained to be selected as a Grace her entire life. She has had etiquette and dance lessons, play the harp, wears beatiful dresses, and is the picture of poise and perfection. Nomi, is none of those things, she hates that women have no rights and cannot make t heir own choices. Upon their arrival at the palace, Nomi runs into the Heir and cannot says something outlandish. She is chosen as a Grace in place of her sister which causes them both pain and turmoil.

Just as both of the sisters begin to adjust to their new roles in the palace, Serina is caught with a book and sent to Mount Ruin, a horrible prison island where women are sent for breaking the rules. Serina has known nothing but softness, but on Mount Ruin she must put her Grace training to use in order to survive the brutality that awaits her on the island. Meanwhile back at the palace, Nomi must learn to hold her tongue and play the part of a Grace or else she too will find herself punished. Both of the sisters vow to rescue one another and find unsuspecting allies along the way.

I loved the twists and turns this book throws at you. The author takes her time setting things up and developing the characters. Both of the sisters do alot of soul searching and they both have to find their inner strength to fight mentally and physically. I do like that there is no magical or paranormal element to this story. None of the characters have special powers to help them fight, they will fight because it is the right thing to do. There are some great quotes in here about women being smart and powerful and men being scared of smart and powerful women. I think this is a great book for young girls to read. Women need to stand by other women and be supportive of each other instead of tearing each other down when we have success. The society in this book is built around a history of oppression because a strong woman was in charge and when she was defeated, the men made sure nothing like that would ever happen again. While this book leaves off with a major cliffhanger, I'm ready for the next one to see where the rebellion takes us and how the sisters overthrow the awful government and horrible oppression that is all they've ever known.

I received an advanced copy of Grace and Fury through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of Grace and Fury through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This might be my favorite read on the month! I found Grace and Fury to be so engaging and fast paced. I never wanted to stop reading, but had to because of a family emergency that happened the day I began reading it.

I loved the dual perspective from Serina and Nomi. I think it should more insight into the story than if it had just focused on one of the sisters. I enjoyed that the sisters were so different and that each one worked for the story in it's own way. While Serina has been trained her whole life to be a Grace, Nomi has been in the shadows and been the rebellious one. I loved the character progression for Serina! It was amazing to see her go from someone who was trained her whole life to basically just stand there and look pretty to this fierce and strong woman who speaks her mind. I found the story lines with the princes to be so intriguing. I never knew who to trust or what was going to happen.

I absolutely did not expect the twist at the end of story to happen! I went to go to the next page and saw the acknowledgements and was so shocked that was how the story ended. Absolutely can't wait to see what happens next.

Girl Power!!!

First, I want to start by saying that I truly didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. I am so glad I picked this one up to read, I was completely captivated!

What would you do if you lived in a world where women had no rights? Well, sisters Serina and Nomi live in that world and face that fate every single day: one in a palace, the other one in prison.

Serina Tessaro has been groomed her entire life to become a Grace - the perfect woman that stands by the heir to the throne. Nomi Tessaro, the rebellious sister, has trained her entire life to become Serina's handmaiden. But, unfortunately, Nomi captures the heir to the throne's eye and has been chosen Grace instead of Serina. Now Serina takes the fall for the extremely dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Nomi feels trapped, being a Grace and living life in the palace is like a death sentence to her. But she has to save Serina, and there is only one way she can do that: embrace her role as Grace until she can use her position to save her sister. Darkness walks the halls of the palace and time is running out for Serina. One wrong move can cost Serina and Nomi Tessaro their entire life. Will time run out before Nomi can save Serina?

I absolutely loved this book and can not wait for the second book in the series! I highly recommend this book if you are looking for some girl power action mixed in with some fantasy.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for the advance Kindle copy of this 7.31.18 release. All opinions are my own.
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In a world where women have no rights, the male rulers and heirs to the throne select Graces every year. These women have one job - to stand by the heir or ruler and cater to his every whim. Serina has been preparing her whole life to become a Grace. When she is chosen, she brings her sister Nomi to be her handmaiden. Nomi has a dangerous secret though, and when it is revealed Serina takes the fall for it. Suddenly Serina finds herself sent away to prison, while Nomi is promoted to Grace. They each must find it in them to survive, while trying to find their way back together. I would have liked to see more world building, but I think students will enjoy it. Recommended for grades 7+.

GRACE AND FURY. GRACE. AND. FURY. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"A yes doesn't mean the same thing when it's the only answer you're allowed!"

My feelings cannot even be contained over this amazing ARC. Thank you SOOOO much to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a chance to read this beast of a book prior to its release.

Synopsis before I start to gush uncontrollably – Grace and Fury follows the story of two sisters who live in a place called Viridia where women literally can’t. do. shit. EVERYTHING is forbidden except for being a lady and agreeing to any and everything the men say. In a word – it’s horrible. Serina doesn’t mind this horrible world, she is a darling who follows the rules and wants nothing more than to be one of the Kindgom’s Graces (an elite group of women who in a slightly Selection-esque way vye for the Heir’s affection). She’s been training for this all her life, she can curtsey, she can sew, she can walk with a book on her head. You name a trait of being a lady and she can nail it. Nomi, on the other hand, is having none of your oppressive shit, Viridia. She’s a rebel, she hates the system, hates the king, his Heir, and the kingdom.

Serina is selected from her village to go forward as one of the kingdom’s Graces and she takes Nomi with her to be her handmaiden, however in a bizarre twist of events, the Heir chooses Nomi to be the Grace, which of course neither sister is happy about. They swap roles but it doesn’t last long because the Head Grace catches them doing something they shouldn’t have and the blame is placed all on Serina and she is sent away. Now it’s up to Nomi to play the part she never wanted to play in order to get the answers and find a way to rescue her sister.

Okay, now we’re over that part and it’s time for my favorite part – my thoughts  I’d say mild spoilers at best, but nothing that’s a dead giveaway to the story.

- “I’ve never highlighted a damn dedication before. The bar has been set high.” (btw, the dedication is AMAZING. For every woman who has been told to sit down and be quiet…and who has stood up anyway.)
-2% - this is starting out very Selection-y
- tbh I keep reading Piazza as Pizza
- Holla, LGBT representation
- @62% this fight is evvvvverything. I am 9,000% here for this
- Malachi seems like one dull ass dude tbh
- yassssss get both those brothers girl
- Oh lawd which is the bad brother because now my opinions flip flopped. I don’t trust Asa
- So. Many. Feels. OMG.

(any quotes presented in this review were from an advanced copy and subject to change before final publication)

A fast-paced fantasy, about two sisters who refuse to give up on each other. It’s riddled with feminist ideals - focusing on women’s roles in society. Emphasizing the importance of choice, of freedom. The writing was rather average, but it was interesting enough to keep me engaged. And I’m curious to see what will happen once the sisters finally reunite.

Now I read a lot of YA fantasy, and this was pretty much what you'd expect from one. A world where women are oppressed, a rebellion to change it, balls and princes and inevitable betrayal. If you've read the Red Queen this is that but feminist instead of magical.

What makes it unique though, is that instead of having one MC doing what we're used to: unexpectedly going from rags to riches or riches to rags, we get both sides. One sister is meant for royalty (aka Grace) and the other for serving, and their roles reverse where one becomes a Grace and the other goes to prison island to compete in the 'Hunger Games'. It's a 2-for-1 deal!

I enjoyed reading it, though I think it's meant for the younger side of YA (13-16). While teen girls will definitely relate to the sister's thoughts and actions, to me it felt too dramatic.

Overall, a great book to purchase for a teen girl, full of feminism and girl power (you can preoder it now as it releases on July 31!). If you're older and like more mature main characters in your YA (17-19), you'd probably be rolling your eyes a lot, but it's still worth checking out for a guilty pleasure read (think The Selection).

And of course, tons of thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book wasn’t for me. I did not appreciate the treatment and portrayal of women. I’m not a fan of the demeaning of women and how many books are telling stories of how women are so impoverished and less than where they rise to the occasion. Not my cup of tea, but may be for others.