The Grace Year by Kim Ligget
Book Description:
No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
Girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for their chance to grab one of the girls in order to make their fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
My Review:
This book was excellent. I'm not sure if I can say I "enjoyed" it, because the whole thing was pretty stressful. But I was completely riveted through the whole thing. This was completely different from what I was expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put it down, and some instances actually had me holding my breath in anticipation. This is the first time I've read anything by Kim Ligget, and I'm definitely interested in checking out her other works now.
There were some dystopian tropes present, but I thought everything was given a unique twist that kept it interesting. When I started reading I wondered if the somewhat distant, disillusioned tone would keep me from connecting with the characters, but it was handled very skillfully, and I ended up caring deeply for them. Overall this storyline was unique, intense, and very well written. I don't want to give anything away, but this was so much more than I expected in every way. I really can't do this book justice, but I’m excited for everyone to get a chance to read it.
*I received a free ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
5 stars
