The Grace Year by Kim Liggett is a thought-provoking YA novel set in a near future society where 16-year-old girls are banished to an isolated camp for a year to rid themselves of a perceived magic that grows within them. The story follows Tierney James as she embarks on her own Grace Year, facing physical and emotional challenges while unraveling the mysteries of the society she lives in. The book explores themes of control, survival, sisterhood, and the resilience of women in the face of societal expectations and oppression.

Characters:

The characters are multifaceted, showcasing a range of responses to their oppressive environment, from strength to betrayal.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is gripping and emotive, effectively conveying the dark themes and emotional weight of the characters' journeys.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows young women sent to the wilderness as a rite of passage, exploring themes of control and survival while revealing the harsh realities of their society.

Setting:

The setting portrays a grim and isolated society where women are oppressed and controlled under a patriarchal system.

Pacing:

Pacing varies throughout the book, balancing between slow, tension-building moments and quicker, action-driven sequences.

I follow her through the woods, a well-worn path I’ve seen a thousand times. Ferns, lady-slipper, and thistle, the mysterious red flowers dotting the path. Five petals, perfectly formed, like they wer...

Notes:

The Grace Year is set in a dystopian society where women are viewed with suspicion and fear due to their supposed magical powers.

Girls are sent away for their sixteenth year, called the Grace Year, to purge themselves of their magic before returning to society as brides.

The novel draws comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, Lord of the Flies, and The Hunger Games for its themes of power and competition among women.

The story is told in four parts corresponding to the seasons of Tierney's Grace Year: autumn, winter, spring, and summer.

The book explores themes of misogyny, internalized oppression, and the dynamics of female relationships in a patriarchal society.

Magic is used as a metaphor for women's anger and emotional expression, which is suppressed in their society.

Tierney James, the protagonist, is portrayed as a strong and independent girl who rejects the traditional path laid out for her.

The Grace Year highlights the dangers of competition among women, suggesting that patriarchal societies pit women against each other to maintain control.

The narrative delves into how women can be both victimized and perpetrators of violence against each other, reflecting real-world dynamics.

The absence of modern technology in the story's setting suggests a historical or timeless quality, making the themes universally relevant.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for The Grace Year include misogyny, homophobia, violence, suicide, and emotional trauma.

From The Publisher:

No one speaks of the grace year. It's forbidden.

In Garner County, girls are 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.

Tierney James dreams of a better life-but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that there's more to fear about the grace year than the brutal elements and the poachers in the woods.

Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

With sharp prose and gritty realism, Kim Liggett's 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.

Ratings (39)

Incredible (9)
Loved It (12)
Liked It (10)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (115):

Read It (43)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (53)
Not Interested (18)

3 comment(s)

coutup315

Incredible

1 month

This book was beautifully written with a satisfactory ending that brought tears to my eyes. I highly recommend !!!

cmoluv806

Incredible

2 months

Such a good book, the feminism and strength of the girls on the island is something to behold.

marluv424

It Was OK

3 months

I read this book high AF on an edible. I’m writing this review high. I can’t tell if it’s the weed that’s making me feel like this was some hazy magical realism dream shit or if it was the book. I guess we’ll never know. But I think it was the weed, and that this wasn’t the second coming some of love on other demons shit.

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About the Author:

Kim Liggett, originally from the rural Midwest, moved to New York City to pursue a career in the arts. She's the author of Blood and Salt, Heart of Ash, The Last Harvest (Bram Stoker Award Winner), The Unfortunates, and The Grace Year. Kim spends her free time studying tarot and scouring Manhattan for rare vials of perfume and the perfect egg-white cocktail.

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The Grace Year

Kim Liggett