Like with Fight Club, I am going to break the rule: You do not speak of the grace year…. Well I won’t be giving specifics on the grace year…. To find out everything, you must read this book!

In this dystopian world we can say goodbye to “Sweet Sixteen” and hello to “The Grace Year”. When all girls turn sixteen, they are sent away to fend for themselves for a year….Wait! I mean the girls are sequestered together to cleanse themselves of the magic they possess that will drive men crazy with lust and women crazy in anger and jealousy. Once the girls are cleansed they are then ready to become wives, if they have been previously chosen. This is also if they survive their grace year, which not everyone does.

Our protagonist is Tierney and it is time for her grace year to begin. We go on her journey of preparing for her grace year. She knows what she wants her future to hold and knows it will be that way despite the grace year; but will it be as she wants? Tierney is a tomboy in a world where women are the ‘weaker’ gender, so she isn’t your typical female. I liked Tierney and was rooting for her to pull through and survive her grace year despite the odds against her.

The Grace Year is a mix of The Handmaid’s Tale and Lord of the Flies with a dash of The Hunger Games. This is a world that today’s woman would not want to live in. It is a dark, disturbing, and violent novel that also pulls you in and you don’t want stop reading. While reading it you will feel a variety of emotions and it also leaves you thinking about so many things. Then we have that ending which leaves you open mouthed and hoping that Liggett writes a sequel. Movie rights have been optioned and I hope they treat the novel right.
I would suggest this novel for ages 15 and up given the violence that occurs.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for granting me an arc copy via Netgalley. It was an honor to read and review The Grace Year.

When I first saw this book, I was intrigued. This book sounded like maybe, just maybe, it could finally be a breath of fresh air in the YA book world. Imagine my excitement when I received an ARC and could finally dig into the story. From the first few pages, I was enchanted by the story and the author’s writing. However, I made the mistake of reading it on my lunch break at work and was itchy and annoyed until I could go home and crack open the book again. Fortunately for me, it was a Friday that I started this book. Unfortunately, it was an extremely rare occurrence that I had to work the next morning. I did not want to put this book down. Ok, let’s be honest. I couldn’t put this book down. It was that good. Finally, I told myself that as much as I needed to finish this book for my own sanity, I had to get up in the morning. That was one of the longest shifts I think I have ever had at work. Eventually it was time to go home. I finished that book like a crazed bookworm.

Tierney James’s Grace Year has arrived. Her two older sisters have both survived, but it’s different when it’s your turn, knowing that you could walk away to your unknown destination and never return... well, never return alive or in one piece. Tierney struggles with her want for change; for things to be better for the women of her county. They are seen as nothing more than property for their husbands, and if they do not receive a veil, a promise of marriage, before they leave for their grace year, they will return to be used as laborers. The most unfortunate ones, the girl’s whose sisters do not come back alive or dead, are casted out to the borders to a life of prostitution. Sounds horrible, right? But there is hope. Where there is life, there will always be hope.

Before the girls arrive at the destination for their grace year, a leader is already forming. This leader believes only in herself and will lead the girls down a dark, dangerous path that nothing can prepare them for. There is blood, death, a loss of hope for some, and let us not forget about the poachers. If you are unfortunate enough to be caught, well, let’s hope you have a good pain tolerance because they do not give you the mercy you cry out for. This is a dark book, but oh so beautifully written. This is the kind of book all girls need to read. I wish this book was around when I was sixteen.

The women hold all the power. After all, isn’t their magic the reason that they are cast out for a year at sixteen years of age? They hold the power and yet the men suppress them. Fortunately for Tierney, there is love of many forms that she will find and learn to cherish. Tierney was the perfect main character for this story. I bonded with the goodbye with her at the end of the book was bittersweet.

This is a book I feel honored for receiving. The publishers entrust us reviewers to read their books and spread the word about them, to give them feedback on our read experience. This book though...this book I need, not want, need a physical copy of. I need to hold it in my hands, put it on my bookshelf and read over and over again.


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is one of the top five books I have listened to this year. I am blown away by how hard Liggett’s writing hit me. This story is one that will stay with me for awhile and definitely would be one that I am happy to revisit either via audiobook or physical print book. It is that good.

Liggett’s The Grace Year is set in this community where every year all of the sixteen year old girls are rounded up and set to live outside the community in this compound on their own. The reason being that everyone thinks the girls have this magic that makes them irresistible to men and so going to this compound allows them to use up all of their magic and return home ordinary.

Tierney is about to start her grace year and just wants to get it done and over with. She thinks when she’s done she’ll be working the fields. A wrench is thrown in her plans and she receives a veil, however, which means she’ll have to marry when she gets back from her grace year. It all mostly gets worse from there. So, anyways, what ends up happening is a Lord Of The Flies type situation where the girls are pitted against each other (this is the own doing of the girls) while they also have to fear these men outside the compound called poachers.

What ends up happening is that The Grace Year makes you think about the patriarchy. It makes you think of how women can be oppressed by society while also being complicit in that oppression. Yet, you also end up having empathy for them as well. Personally, there’s one character who is not all that nice who drives a lot of the horrible things Tierney goes through, yet I could totally understand how she became that way and why.

The audiobook is narrated by Emily Shaffer. It is 11 hours and 42 minutes. My goodness, those 11 hours go by quick. This is one of those audiobooks that I felt compelled to always be listening to. I appreciate that so much because I had been in a bit of a funk and this audiobook helped me get out of that funk. Shaffer is a perfect choice for Tierney and narrator. Of course, production values are on point. If you need a recommendation for your next audiobook pick this one out.

“𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚞𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚠𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚜, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗.”

𝙺𝚒𝚖 𝙻𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚝, 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars!!

It took me a few days to properly get my thoughts together to review The Grace Year, but I’m still thinking about this book days later!

Compared to The Handmaid’s Tale, (while I myself have yet to read, I know.. I know..) I can’t comment since I haven’t read, but I loved this society that exists in the fictional town of Garner County, as we see a group of young women, on the cusp of their sixteenth year embark on a journey to unleash their magical powers.

With a mix of suspense, empowerment, and survival, The Grace Year delivered in a big way, and I loved it! The writing grabbed my attention and never let up, and I was so curious about this mysterious, secretive Grace Year that the girls were not allowed to speak of afterwards.

This book is dark and twisted, with atmospheric, seasonal elements. I can see how this novel is compared to Hunger Games, based on the girls being in the wilderness, with the height of “poachers” on the outskirts of the encampment, and the uncertainty of what is actually going on, but it was also so different from anything I’ve read.

Main character Tierney shows all the signs of a feminist, but there are also shades of “mean girls” in some of the other girls, where I was hoping for more themes of the young women building one another up.

*thank you to publisher, netgalley and Libro.fm for this gifted copy

The Grace Year
By Kim Liggett

Read: August 2nd-3rd, 2019
Edition: ARC e-book, NetGalley
Pre-Ordered: YES


I was provided a free copy of The Grace Year through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I regret that it has taken me this long to write my review for The Grace Year, but this book isn't like other books. The Grace Year has now become apart of me. It happened slowly, I didn't even realize it was happening at first, day after day, week after week The Grace Year kept digging into my subconscious, ingraining itself with my inner soul, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Grace Year is a mystery. I mean, seriously, we have NO IDEA what is going to happen in this book. All we know is that 16 year old girls have to go into the woods for a year. That's it. Well, color me intrigued. I requested the book upon immediate discovery and the rest is history... No no no. I got the book, I read it in less than 24 hours and I'm still thinking about it over a month later. The Grace Year is multi-layered, and sewn together perfectly, it's no wonder the rights have been sold for a movie. With extreme highs and extreme lows, The Grace Year will take you on a ride for your life. It will open your eyes, frighten, and inspire you. The Grace Year is made to make you look at your inner self and how we interact with the people around us. It also teaches us about love and loss and the secret language of flowers. 5/5 everyone and their families should read The Grace Year.

This book absolutely blew me away! It was haunting and left me with quite the book hangover. On a girls sixteenth year - their "Grace Year" they are banished to fight for survival in order to purge themselves of their dangerous "magic". The Grace Year is set in this oppressive and claustrophobic little world. I think the world building was exquisite, it was vague but very fitting for the story because you never quite knew what is lurking and was going to come next. I just thought it was amazing and a rare opportunity to see world building done right.

I really like the metaphor this book told and was a unique take on describing the patriarchy, that is forces women into a position where they are enemies, constantly competing and measuring themselves against the other. It can make women automatic enemies that have to tear down and consume one another get ahead. It's powerful because it's all too true.

I wish would could have gotten a little more storyline revolving around the inner workings of the camp. I was just so curious to know what it was like. Other than that small thing, I thought the novel was amazing and haunting. I would highly recommend it.

It is rare that I read a book that has been compared to other books and agree with the comparisons. This book has been compared to The Handmaid's Tale and Lord of the Flies. It certainly combined themes from both, but honestly I enjoyed it more than either.

I thought the storyline was interesting and the writing was engaging. I liked the characters even though they were not perfect and I worried for their safety. I did not agree with all of their decisions, but was not rolling my eyes at their stupidity because even though I didn't love a decision, I could see how the character could make that choice, which made it believable. I loved how you slowly got to know things about different characters and your perspective changed regarding some people. I also loved watching the growth of the MC as she also discovered these different aspects of people.

I expected some of the things that happened in the book, but there were plenty of parts that I didn't see coming as well. It was a difficult book to put down and I continued to think about it long after I stopped reading.

The only issue I had with this story was that I didn't love the end! Without giving anything away, it is a type of ending that I generally can't stand, but it worked in this book. However, even though I think that it worked, I just still didn't love it.

Overall, I think this book is absolutely worth a read and I will be looking for future work from this author. I definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in YA dystopian stories. 4.5★

If you ever wanted to read the love child of Lord of the Flies and Handmaid's Tale, this is your book. Fantastic read in a macabre style that this author is fantastic at. I felt like one major part was kinda rushed as it just hits you in the face without subtle clues leading up to it, but still a great read with a thought provoking provocative and relatable content for the current climate women are going through. Very power story.

Thank- you to NetGalley, Libro.Fm and  Wednesday Books for my copy. All opinions are my own. The Hunger Games meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this haunting and disturbing tale. At the age of sixteen, all women must go into the wild for a year to release their magic.  The people of Garner County call this the Grace Year and speaking of it is forbidden. As Tierney James Grace Year approaches, she dreams of a world in which women aren’t pitted against each other in a battle to survive.  This book is eery, completely creepy and I could not put it down. More than just another psychological thriller, this book has a deeper message in a well-written unputdownable book.

I’m not sure what irked me more in the world The Grace Year, the fact that women were not allowed to socialize with one another, or that women were not allowed to dream. Set in a dystopian reality, the Grace Year follows sixteen-year-old Tierney James, as she enters into her “grace year”, where she and the other sixteen-year-olds are sent away into the woods to rid themselves of their “magic”. Facing the perils of poachers, wildlife, and most of all each other, the girls must find a way to survive and return home.

I devoured this book. On multiple occasions I stayed up much later than I should have, glued to the page, ravenous for more. The book is set up in 5 sections, a prologue, and the four seasons. It was difficult to find a stopping point because there were not traditional chapters, and the plot just continued propelling me forward.

I loved Tierney’s character. She knows the society she lives in is not the life she wants for herself, yet she’s acutely aware of the consequences to others, especially her sisters, if she steps out of line. She tries her best to keep her wits about her while in the encampment (the area the girls are sent during their grace year), even as the other girls lose their minds and turn against her.

I’ve heard this book referred to multiple times as The Handmaid’s Tale meets Lord of the Flies, and while I think that’s an accurate description, it doesn’t quite do it justice. The Grace Year is entirely original. Set in a society that’s expertly designed to favor men, and turn women against each other, it completely marveled me by its depth and complexity.

At times I was positively infuriated at the events and the injustice in the book. At others, I felt hopeful and happy for the characters. I would recommend the Grace Year to anyone who likes dystopian stories and suspense.

5 out of 5 stars

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

The sixteenth year of Tierney James life as she prepares to go on her Grace Year she dreams of a better life. A more promising life away from the county, in the outskirts working in labor as she would rather do that if she survives. You see, in the county each Autumn every sixteen year old girl is given the chance to receive a veil from a male in the county. Those who do not get picked are sent out to become laborers or become prostitutes to service the men from the county. After the veiling ceremony the girls are sent out to spend a year far from the county to fend for themselves and to find their magic and get rid of it. You see, all the men in the county believe that girls and woman are the source of evil. Eve was the first woman and she tainted all woman that came after her. She carried with her a terrible magic and the only way that the men of the county can feel safe is to send the girls off. Not every girl makes it back. There are poachers that will happily capture the girls and skin them alive to collect their "magical" blood to sell to the county. Plus they want the bounty. The girls that make it back are never allowed to even discuss the Grace Year.

When I read the premise of this book I was very excited to read this but as I started reading it took me a bit to get into this. I must say that after a little bit I was completely hooked. There is more to it than that though. There is something really special about this book. Even though this is a dystopian mystery in the climate that we are living now this is a very important novel. When I read The Hand Maid's Tale I remember thinking that could never happen, even in the distant future. Now, not so much. I can see this happening sometime. This is more than a cautionary tale. It is gruesome, bloody,bold and sometimes very hard to read but in the best way.

Let's start off with what I did not like about The Grace Year: The breakdown of the plot, mainly the main character Tierney. She was steady and relatable in the beginning but by the time she leaves for her grace year and new relationships and new motives form, personalities change. I really didn't like how things went.

What I liked about this book: I love dystopians and I really thought that this had a pretty unique concept. I love books with survivalist elements so I loved the grace year scenes and thought they were extremely well-written. And speaking of well-written, there were so many twists and turns in this book I could hardly keep my head on straight at times. Sometimes this was bittersweet but overall that's mostly what kept me reading.

This book was stunning, let’s just get that out of the way now. I adored every second of it and I know that it’s one that I’m going to read again. I was a fan of the other books that I’ve read by Kim Liggett, and this one sounded like the exact type of dark and creepy book that I love, and I’m so glad that it didn’t disappoint.

There’s so much going on in this story, but it’s so scary and twisted because it’s entirely about the characters and the patriarchy that rules this society. Women are believed to be full of magic that they use to manipulate and seduce men, so when they turn 16 they’re forced into the woods for a year in order to get rid of all their magic so that they can return to be good wives and mothers, or workers if they aren’t chosen to be a wife by one of the eligible men. They can be accused of anything and put to death without a trial and small things are forbidden like talking to other women outside of church, or dreaming, or leaving your hair down. It’s a really oppressive society and the tone of the book and the world these characters are living in is set from the very first page.

Tierney is the absolute best main character, she’s smart and resourceful and questions everything. But I also really like the way that she doesn’t automatically hate the other girls for not doubting things and for wanting to just be safe and carry on with the way they’ve been raised. She knows that she wants to change to happen, but also realizes that it’s dangerous and that it’s not something she can force. The other girls are really good characters as well, and they all play a different part in the story.

The book takes place from right before the grace year and all the way through it, and it shows the growth and the desperation and the darkness within each and every character. It was so heartbreaking watching the girls as they struggled through the year, and there are definitely some gory bits, so if you don’t like that beware. But it’s also a really well laid out and well written story. It’s a fascinating and terrifying premise but it’s also all about these girls and how they cope with the little bit of freedom that they’re given for once in their life.

So much happens in this story, and a lot of it will make you sad and angry, but it’s really hopeful and beautiful in the end. I could probably talk about this one forever and all the intricacies in the story but honestly, you should just read it. It’s beautiful and dark and heartbreaking and gruesome and I loved it.

Defiantly one of the best books I've read this year! This is reminiscent of "The Handmaid's Tale" but with a magical realism twist. A highly compelling read that I didn't want to put down.

From the minute I read the blurb for The Grace Year, I knew that I wanted to read it. It had all the earmarks of a book that I would love. A strong female main character and a storyline that seems to be fantastic. I am glad that I read The Grace Year. It ended up being all that and then some!!

The plotline of The Grace Year sucked me in. It was well written and fast. Yes, quick. This book took place over the girls 16th year, and it flew. Oh, man, it did fly. I loved it!!

I liked Tierney. She was one of the most influential female main characters that I have read to date. I liked that in a society that viewed women as the lesser sex, she wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion. I loved that she didn’t want a man to make her happy. But I felt that her behavior in the last half of the book contradicted that. But that is what made me like her character so much!!!

Tierney and Ryker’s storyline was interesting to read. I am not going to get into it because there are some significant spoilers. All I have to say is that there were times where I was heartbroken and then times where I was elated. I know, such a contradiction but once you read the book, you will understand.

The plotline with Hans surprised me. I was not expecting him to do what he did. I put the book down and said, “No way.” Then picked the book back up and continued reading. It explained so much. So much!!!

I do want to comment on the women in the village. I thought one thing when I started reading the book. By the end of the book, my view about them changed. Tierney’s mother was a huge one.

The end of The Grace Year made me cry. All I have to say is that it was bittersweet. Because of the way it ended, I am hoping that there is a book 2.

The Grace Year is haunting and beautiful. It kept me up way too late, reading for hours until I finished it–it is absolutely unputdownable. The writing is evocative, and Liggett masterfully paints at an atmospheric and disturbing world that rings true, despite its horrors.

This book is extremely readable and entertaining, but I must say something was missing for me. The character development fell a little flat, and I found myself wishing for more focused character development for Tierney and her peers. In addition to the lack of character growth, a romance appears about halfway through the book and seemed to nearly derail the entire anticipated plot.

Instead of focusing on the girls and their survival, the book narrows in on Tierney's romance. While it was an interesting way to add a layer to the worldbuilding by portraying another perspective through Tierney's relationship, it overall feels like a complete change of direction in terms of tone and plot.

Of course, the romance is alluring and fun to read about. I don't think I would have enjoyed the novel quite as much as I did if it hadn't been included. I love romance, it just didn't feel like a perfect fit the way it ended up in this book. I just wanted Tierney's development to be stronger and without the influence of a love interest. Can you tell I'm conflicted?!

Don't get me wrong––I really enjoyed reading this book. It's a thrilling, dangerous adventure that builds up to a nearly satisfying conclusion. I think I just wanted a book with a stronger and less subtle feminist message.

However, with each horrifying misogynistic practice in THE GRACE YEAR, our attention is drawn to a similar, sometimes less exaggerated version of it that exists in our reality. Liggett expertly draws metaphors and explicit imagery for the horrors girls face every day–in the real world.

The verdict? In the end, the subtle and the sharp way that Liggett directs attention to the ridiculousness of how misogyny exists and operates in our world does pack the punch I was looking for. With beautiful writing and an intensely thrilling story, readers will be glued to the book until the very end.

This book gave me a lot of feelings, and not all of them were necessarily good.

I'll start with the positives!

I really loved the world building in this story. Our setting is something similar to The Village, with a whole lot of Handmaid's Tale mixed in. The rules of this world are similar to both stories, as well. Don't go into the woods, lest ye be poached. Obey the men. Don't have dreams.

The girls are all rounded up in their sixteenth year to "release" their magic into the wild, otherwise the men become bewitched or something. Only Teirney, our main character, doesn't feel magical. She just wants to survive her grace year, come home, and work in the fields. She doesn't want a husband to wait for her to come home. She doesn't want to bear children. She wants her freedom.

That's all well and good.

But then things get really freakin' murky.

Kiersten, the mean girl (because there's always a mean girl), claims her magic gift is making people do whatever she wants them to do. She claims this on their way to the encampment where they're supposed to spend the next thirteen months.

There's a LOT that happens at the encampment, but without going into major spoiler territory, this part sticks out the most to me as something that doesn't line up properly.

Plus, the poachers. Why are they the way they are? Who are they? What does their near cannibalism even mean? Maybe it's because I so wanted this to be an incredible story about feminism that can carry over to now, but...it fell short.

While there are some super important themes in this story, it fell a bit flat. I give The Grace Year 3 out of 5 red flowers. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing a copy in exchange for review.

The Grace Year is the best of old-school YA dystopia. Kim Liggett serves up suspense and gore alongside sharp ideas on the paradoxes of female power.

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I love it when a book lives up to its comps perfectly.

I first heard The Grace Year pitched as The Handmaid’s Tale meets Lord of the Flies with a dash of The Hunger Games. That’s precisely what I got. Dystopian version of Puritanical New England, kids left to create a society on their own… win-or-die and wilderness survival… tons of gore… it’s exactly what I was promised.

The Grace Year is the best of classic YA dystopia. I gobbled the entire thing down in one evening–it’s been a while since a book lit up the part of my brain that needs to read on to see the character through her current peril. Apart from anything else, this was just a great horror-infused adventure–suspenseful, exciting, and frightening. The dash of romance doesn’t hurt either.

And on top of all that, the book actually had–oh, happy day!–a point.

I’ve had a lot of bad luck in the last year or so with feminist dystopias. I get frustrated with reads like Vox and Grace and Fury that dwell in “oppression porn” without any specific perspective. The ones that work for me (Girls of Paper and Fire, The Power) have something to say besides “sexism = bad.”

And The Grace Year has a lot to say. Most interestingly, the book illustrates a paradox of this oppressive culture. Women are called the “weaker sex” and denied agency, but at the same time, believed to have immense power over men that needs to be controlled. They’re entirely helpless and far too threatening. That’s a fascinating paradox, and Liggett explores it with clever imagery and a sharp eye.

Yes, The Grace Year lacks any semblance of subtlety (the author won’t stop pointing out symbolism!) but I can forgive that. It’s not terrible to come right out with your point in YA. Liggett succeeds in getting a fair amount of nuance across.

Even better, she writes about girls experiencing (and doing!) terrible things in a way that is still empowering.

I’m going to borrow a quote from Emily May (one of my favorite Goodreads reviewers) in her discussion of The Grace Year:

"But what is so odd about The Grace Year is that it’s about women going wild, being jealous, viciously hurting each other, and yet it somehow manages to be a celebration of women and the ties between them. Mothers and daughters. Sisters. Friends. It’s quite incredible how Liggett takes these women to their very worst so that we can eventually appreciate them at their best.”

That sums it up perfectly. By the end, we have a new paradox that builds off the first: Women have unique and profound capacities to wound one another and to heal one another. They can orient themselves against or with one another by the same qualities.

I won’t give spoilers here, but I have to note that the ending was something special. Liggett perfectly tied all the threads together into something moving, unexpected, and smart.

That said, The Grace Year is not a perfect book.

I enjoyed the reading experience immensely, but can’t quite give five stars.

The book lasts an entire year, and that can be a real challenge for pacing. Liggett doesn’t quite pull off the magic trick it would require to make the pacing feel natural and even while still pushing the reader on to important moments. The jumps in time often seemed disjointed, and sometimes the detail was too much or too little.

There are also some real struggles with characterization. Tierney isn’t exactly a groundbreaking YA heroine (“I was a willful child, too curious for my own good, head in the clouds, lacking propriety,” she tells us), but I still had some trouble understanding her choices. She’s also got the same problem as the heroines of Grace and Fury. Tierney seems like she’s been plucked out of 2010s America and dropped, at 16, into this setting. I don’t have any sense of how growing up in this culture shaped her. She feels strongly that her world is ordered completely wrong, but I never saw how she came to that conclusion.

I do have one major reservation.

I have some quibbles with the world building and writing, sure, but my main reservation with The Grace Year is this: Where are the non-white, non-cis people?

Setting up a dystopia based on strict gender roles and sex segregation naturally without even a passing mention of the existence of transgender or nonbinary people… it raises some questions.

I actually mean that question seriously. I’m working on a full post to parse out why people of color and trans and nonbinary people are absent. (I don’t mean that I want to excuse it. Digging into the lack of diversity in this book might be able to tell us a lot about the genre.)

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Content warnings for The Grace Year include sexual assault (discussion and some on-page groping/threatening), death (on-page death of teens, on-page public execution), graphic violence (detailed on-page depictions of bodily violence, some gore and body horror, mutilation, scars/body part loss), misogyny (sex-segregated oppressive community, forced marriage, sex-shaming language, predatory behavior, all challenged), homophobia (homophobic language and violence, threat of punishment for same-sex relationships, public outing), transphobia (scene of grabbing a teen girl’s crotch to “check”). The book contains moderate language, fade-to-black sex scenes among consenting teens, frank discussion of sex, and discussions of prostitution (including forced prostitution). The book contains a first-person scene of childbirth, discussion of infertility (and shaming for same), and many scenes of pregnancy and menstruation.

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Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an advance review copy of this title. No money changed hands for this review and all opinions are my own.

I can see why people are saying it’s kind of like The Handmaid’s Tale. It also reminded me a bit of that movie The Village. Overall I thought it was pretty good, but I think there could have been more.

I personally wish we had gotten more background on the town itself. This is how it’s been, and that was all that was said. I was just left wondering if it was like this everywhere. There are some hints towards it not being all the same in other places, but I think if we had find out more, it would have helped me answer some of the questions I had while reading. Not just from an information standpoint, but there were just parts of the story that either went too fast or too slow. I found myself not invested in the story during portions of it.

I did, however, like the style of writing and the fact that we do have a strong female lead. I also liked the ending and the last portion of the book. I think Tierney finds her strength and we see a glimpse of the revolt that is happening among some of the smaller characters. I wish that had been seen more within the plot though. The ending is where I finally felt connected and wanted to understand and learn more about the town that was built, and what the future held.

Grace year is a survival horror tale that nails it completely. It is dark, disturbing, and unsettling. It kicks off with just how grim the setting is as we meet Tierney James, our protagonist. We learn how women are forced in to a grace year at 16 to dispel their magic as they survive together and against each other, as well as other dangers lurking around them. We see how women who have gone through the grace year now comprise their roles as good, subservient wives, or they are shipped off to labor jobs, outcast, or even killed.

Tierney is a strong willed main character, who wants to buck the rules, be her own person, and lead her own life. Yet when she is handed a veil before she heads off in to the Grace Year, she now has a target on her. Thus begins a year of violence, backstabbing, survival, and just trying to maintain her own sanity.

I won't discuss the book much further, because I feel like a lot of details, even if small can give away a lot with this book. It is also a book I can describe in terms of just how dark, gritty, and horrific it is, but struggle to explain it to someone wanting me to tell them about it. It's one of those books where I just end up saying, "You just have to read it, you won't be disappointed".

The best way to describe it is, this book is a tale of strong women taking on a patriarchal society that has brutally kept the women in line. Learning to realize the true dangers surrounding them, which is not just the dangers of nature and The Grace Year, but the thoughts ingrained within them from birth, and the society built to keep them in line and benefit off them.

This is a can't miss YA title, that everyone should take note of and read.