mciryam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, and Violence
jennastopreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't read a loy of dystopian, but when I do, I always think to myself, "Why don't I pick up this genre more?"
Reading THE GRACE YEAR was no different. This story was engaging, compelling. and layered. I really enjoyed Tierney's character, what she stood for, and the way the timeline unraveled. The ending had me reeling a bit, and I kind of like an unsettling ending? It won't be one I forget, that's for sure.
In a nutshell (and yes I'm rating out of 10's instead of 5's because I do what I want):
10/10 on listenability. The narrator fit the MC well, and it was so fun to listen to - you don’t have to focus super hard.
6/10 on the storyline/writing. There were a few areas where I got bored.
8/10 on the MC. Really liked her strength and how she used her rebellious streak for good!
And 7/10 on the ending.
Reading THE GRACE YEAR was no different. This story was engaging, compelling. and layered. I really enjoyed Tierney's character, what she stood for, and the way the timeline unraveled. The ending had me reeling a bit, and I kind of like an unsettling ending? It won't be one I forget, that's for sure.
In a nutshell (and yes I'm rating out of 10's instead of 5's because I do what I want):
10/10 on listenability. The narrator fit the MC well, and it was so fun to listen to - you don’t have to focus super hard.
6/10 on the storyline/writing. There were a few areas where I got bored.
8/10 on the MC. Really liked her strength and how she used her rebellious streak for good!
And 7/10 on the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Torture, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Vomit, and Pregnancy
d0505's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Gore, Child death, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Stalking and Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy
kgorobets's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I think this book had real potential to be a five star read for me, and there are many aspects that I appreciated despite the one flaw that knocked off a star. This one flaw is the pacing. As I read the story, I felt that I was missing time, like we skipped over "boring" parts and jumped from action to action. Seasons flew by very fast, and I wish the book was longer and made me feel the passage of the year, rather than skipping around to action. However, it did add to the overall atmosphere of disorienting madness, so it may be a very intentional choice - it just did not work for me.
Other than the pacing, I really enjoyed the story. I appreciated that it didn't feel cliche - despite very clear inspiration material and parallels to the lord of the flies, hunger games, the crucible - I still could not ever predict what would happen next. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book the most, I think the author did a very good job setting scenes and painting imagery. Again, if I wasn't disoriented about seasons, it would have been even better.
Overall, a great dark feminist read that has a more nuanced and subtle take on female oppression than many other books I've read. Definitely recommend for the Crucible vibes ✨
Other than the pacing, I really enjoyed the story. I appreciated that it didn't feel cliche - despite very clear inspiration material and parallels to the lord of the flies, hunger games, the crucible - I still could not ever predict what would happen next. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book the most, I think the author did a very good job setting scenes and painting imagery. Again, if I wasn't disoriented about seasons, it would have been even better.
Overall, a great dark feminist read that has a more nuanced and subtle take on female oppression than many other books I've read. Definitely recommend for the Crucible vibes ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Death, Animal death, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
kgregz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Maybe I’m getting old but the sheer violence in this book took me by surprise. I thought the book concept was interesting and it reminded me of a mix between Running Out of Time (underrated story) meets feminist Lord of the Flies meets Hunger Games. Though I think I’ve seen someone say in their review that they saw the same comparison between the latter two mentioned.
I didn’t love it at first, then got into it just out of curiosity, and then it disappointed me with its ending. As much of a fighter as the main character was I cannot believe it ended the way it did. Hugely disappointing for me.
My main issue with the story is thinking that the YA audience is dumb and cannot grasp concepts such as feminism or systemic inequalities. The tone was aggressive and in your face—I wish it was a bit more subtle and let the reader use their brains.
I also found fault with it just because I don’t identify with thinking people are inherently evil and willing to kill each other at the first drop of societal norms like The Grace Year and Lord of the Flies suggests. I think people have more empathy and drive to survive than just flat out murdering/torturing others. But this is my own soapbox.
All in all it was pretty fascinating, a bit aggressive, but written well.
I didn’t love it at first, then got into it just out of curiosity, and then it disappointed me with its ending. As much of a fighter as the main character was I cannot believe it ended the way it did. Hugely disappointing for me.
My main issue with the story is thinking that the YA audience is dumb and cannot grasp concepts such as feminism or systemic inequalities. The tone was aggressive and in your face—I wish it was a bit more subtle and let the reader use their brains.
I also found fault with it just because I don’t identify with thinking people are inherently evil and willing to kill each other at the first drop of societal norms like The Grace Year and Lord of the Flies suggests. I think people have more empathy and drive to survive than just flat out murdering/torturing others. But this is my own soapbox.
All in all it was pretty fascinating, a bit aggressive, but written well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Sexism, and Violence
jane_austyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
pregnancySpoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Confinement, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Violence, Suicide attempt, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Lesbophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic friendship
braelynm_22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book started out slow, but there was no way I was gonna put it down. It totally draws u in!! It is super dark and the ending was a total plot twist!! I honestly enjoyed this book so much! I don't think I could even reread it bc it just wouldn't hit me the same way.
"Heaven is a boy in a treehouse, with cold hands and a warm heart."
"Heaven is a boy in a treehouse, with cold hands and a warm heart."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
Minor: Cannibalism and Medical content
This book is super dark and gruesome at times, but it helps the plot along a lot.hopemarie_f_hughes's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, Bullying, and Drug use
her_little_library's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was marketed as a feminist "Lord of the Flies"/"Hunger Games"/"The Handmaid's Tale" retelling... it was definitely a LOTF retelling, that's for sure. The story beats were almost identical, it was eerie. I actually got my copy off the shelf and noted down the events and they matched up a bit too closely for my liking, especially when the author was trying to tell an original story.
All in all, this novel was a LOTF retelling, but worse. The feminism was barely there, and when it was, it was destroyed by ridiculous plot decisions. If you're looking for a Hunger Games retelling, look elsewhere.
Spoiler
I think the romance in this book was ridiculous and completely undermined the whole feminist aspect of this novel. You're telling me Tierney, who for the whole book has been determined to survive the grace year and return home for her sister's sake, is going to throw it all away for a poacher who has a map of her body and where he would cut her up if she died? Like, she admits that if she runs away with Ryker, her sisters will take the fall for her and be sentenced to the outskirts away from their family, and she's all "as long as I'm happy with the love of my life". You're joking. And for Ryker to go on this rant about how he's only a poacher for money (even though he admitted he's never actually done his job, so he lied) and he's doing it for his family, for him to pawn them off on Anders so he can be happy. Also, the fact that Kiersten, who caused most--if not all--of the deaths in this book, survived. Tierney had this like super-saviour complex, which made her insufferable AND stupid. I would've let Anders kill Kiersten. Her mind was so far gone that she couldn't even feel remorseful or apologise for all the pain and death she caused. She literally scalped a girl for daring to side with Tierney. Even when she was starting to get herself back, she made Tierney drink the well water mixed with another girls blood (?!?!). But Tierney had to be the hero in the end and spared her. When they said that they're the only gods on the island, I think the author took it literally and made Tierney too powerful. The Hans reveal was so stupid and contrived it made me want to eat rocks. Literally NOTHING pointed towards him being the worst person ever, and yet there he is at the bottom of the pit, bleeding out and yelling at Tierney for not loving him back. I was choking back venom. AND THEN THE PREGNANCY REVEAL? You're telling me Tierney is showing and had zero symptoms? And then Michael saved her????? I think her dying on the stake would've been such a poetic ending and would've absolutely started a riot against the men. Also, she literally said she's scared of Michael when she comes home and yet he's such a "good man" for taking care of her and burning the cabinet with the grace year girls in the apothecary. The fact that those girls were brutally murdered by men for men... for Michael to be the one to decide that they should burn (a dishonourable death for a woman in Garner County) instead of being buried is sickening. Every aspect of their lives were controlled by men, and they couldn't escape that in death, either. And then, when Tierney gave birth to the girl from her dreams... giving birth to the saviour. The god-complex in this novel is ridiculous. The fact that the magic was eventually explained to be giving life is disgusting to me and is literally just a "women are only good for having children" statement. It goes against the original idea of feminism existing in this universe.All in all, this novel was a LOTF retelling, but worse. The feminism was barely there, and when it was, it was destroyed by ridiculous plot decisions. If you're looking for a Hunger Games retelling, look elsewhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Death, Suicide, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/injury detail, Confinement, Blood, Hate crime, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Lesbophobia
sleeson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay. As an adult I enjoyed this book. Amazon says the book is suitable for grade 7-9. I’m not sure if that was the author’s intent, but this is absolutely not appropriate for that. It’s too mature of a storyline for a middle/high schooler to be reading. There was courage, heartbreak, unity, love and friendship. It was a quick read. I will be looking for more books written by this author. No swearing but moderate sexual content. I say moderate because of the age group that this book seems to be meant for.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Torture, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Physical abuse