Genre: Girls & Women

The Grace Year by Kim Ligget

Published on by Charli
The Grace Year by Kim LiggetThe Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on 10/08/2019
Genres: Dystopian, General, Girls & Women, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

The Instant New York Times Bestseller!A speculative thriller in the vein of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power. Optioned by Universal and Elizabeth Banks to be a major motion picture!
“A visceral, darkly haunting fever dream of a novel and an absolute page-turner. Liggett’s deeply suspenseful book brilliantly explores the high cost of a misogynistic world that denies women power and does it with a heart-in-your-throat, action-driven story that’s equal parts horror-laden fairy tale, survival story, romance, and resistance manifesto. I couldn’t stop reading.” – Libba Bray, New York Times bestselling author
Survive the year.No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to 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 a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a 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.

I’ve been meaning to read The Grace Year for quite a while now. I’d tried for it on NetGalley but had been declined. No surprise there. But then, there just seemed to always be other books I wanted to buy or check out of the library. So a couple weeks ago, I bit the bullet and checked it out of the library. Definitely not mad that I did.

The Story

I had a hard time deciding if I could actually call this book a dystopian novel or not. For one thing, most of the dystopian novels I read are set in a more modern era, usually after some sort of apocalyptic catastrophe has happened. The Grace Year seems to be set in a less modern time than most. But the ideas presented are definitely dystopian – and very misogynistic. But that’s actually kind of the point.

Leave it to men to decide that women possess some sort of magic that lures men into their beds. Like really? While I realize it is a central concept to the book, I found myself rolling my eyes every time the people of Garner County or the girls in their grace year mentioned the girls’ magic. I guess I’m a lot like Tierney, since she didn’t believe in any of that bull either.

The Characters

Tierney was a great main character. I loved seeing the story told from her point of view. I especially loved this part of the book:

I wonder what I’d see if I came across Tierney James today. And now I’m talking about myself in the third person.

Tierney James, The Grace Year, Winter, pg 180

I can imagine the sarcasm with which she thought it to herself.

I also enjoyed Ryker quite a bit. The fact that he was willing to sacrifice everything for someone he was taught to fear says a lot about his character.

The Ending

I have to admit, the ending kind of bugged me. I wasn’t expecting it to end the way it did. However – I would love to see a sequel because I really think we need a continuation of the story.

Final Thoughts

This book reminded me a lot of The Handmaid’s Tale. The plots are totally different, but the idea that women are little more than property. That women have one specific purpose and must be useful. It’s kind of why I want a sequel – we all know what happened to Gilead after The Handmaid’s Tale ended thanks to The Testaments. I want to know if Garner County gets taken down in a similar fashion. I know I’d like to read that story.

I gave this 4 stars. If you liked The Handmaid’s Tale, I think you’ll enjoy this.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Published on by Charli

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley to facilitate my review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel GriffinThe Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
Also by this author: Wild is the Witch
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on June 1, 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Girls & Women, Wizards & Witches, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads

One of the Most Anticipated Young Adult Debuts of 2021!
From a stunning new voice in YA comes the fierce, romantic story about a world on the brink of destruction, the one witch who holds the power to save it, and the choice that could cost her everything she loves.
For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic—losing the ones she loves—is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves...before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
"A bright, fresh read from a glowing new voice, THE NATURE OF WITCHES is both timely and stirring. Griffin's emotional writing that cuts to the heart will make her a new YA favorite."—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Fable
"The forces of nature and magic blend perfectly in this masterfully told story... I couldn't love this book more."—Shea Ernshaw, NYT bestselling author of The Wicked Deep and Winterwood

Content Warning:

Death

When I first requested to be allowed to read The Nature of Witches, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve long been a fan of books that have magic in them, and if they tie that magic to witches, I’m especially intrigued. So, I was super happy to be given the chance to read this book before it was released. I was so not disappointed.

The Concept

Rachel Griffin’s concept of witches and magic in this book are unique and beautiful. The concept of witches being tied to the sun and that they each have their own season in which their magic is strongest makes a lot of sense. The concept of the Everwitch, whose magic is strong year-round – but with the current season’s magic – is brilliant.

The Dose of Reality

In The Nature of Witches, we get a taste of reality. The atmosphere is going crazy – because just like in the real world, the people are destroying the planet. We also get a dose of reality in the way that Clara hates herself and her magic when we first start out. We get to see her learn to deal with her trauma, love herself, and love her magic. We get to see Clara grow. Rachel Griffin handles these topics in a masterful way.

My Favorite Characters

Clara is my favorite character. Her struggles mimic a lot of people in the real world’s struggles – although hers are tied to magic and ours aren’t. But the lessons can still be learned from Clara’s journey. She’s a complex character and I loved reading about here. She’s smart, sassy, and has anxieties and fears just like the rest of us.

I also loved Paige. Although we only get to see bits and pieces of her, she’s a fun character. She’s as cold as her season, but that’s to be expected… she is a winter after all. She’s just an amazing character because you can tell that beneath the cold exterior she cares for Clara.

Sang is probably my second favorite character. His love, his patience, and his refusal to give up are the reason Clara is able to grow as much as she does during the course of the book. He’s a character who is easy to fall in love with and he’s the perfect companion for Clara.

The Conclusion

The Nature of Witches is Rachel Griffin’s debut novel and this novel is set to be a smash hit of a debut. I was blown away by this book – all of it’s twists, all of it’s turns, all of the emotions you feel as the book goes on. The turmoil Clara holds inside herself, the guilt, the trauma will break your heart and warm you as she learns to let go of it all.

You can find Rachel Griffin on Twitter & Instagram as @TimesNewRachel.

Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao

Published on by Charli
Blood Heir by Amélie Wen ZhaoBlood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao
Series: Blood Heir Trilogy #1
Published by Random House Children's Books on November 19, 2019
Genres: Epic, Fantasy, General, Girls & Women, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 496
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Library

The first book in an epic new series about a princess hiding a dark secret and the con man she must trust to clear her name for her father's murder.   In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.
When Ana's father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father's murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.
A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all.
“Cinematic storytelling at its best.”—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back
“Zhao shines in the fast-paced and vivid combat scenes, which lend a cinematic quality that pulls readers in.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Zhao is a master writer who weaves a powerful tale of loyalty, honor, and courage through a strong female protagonist. . . . Readers will love the fast-paced energy and plot twists in this adventure-packed story.”—SLJ

In case you didn’t know, this book is basically a retelling of Anastasia with magic and fantasy built in. Let me tell you, it works.

I love the concept of the Affinites and their affinities. I love that it isn’t just your basic elements, but that Affinites could have any number of things for their affinities. We see marble affinities, flesh affinities, blood affinities, grain affinities, as well as the basic elements. So the concept of having an affinity for a particular element has been taken much further than normal, which is awesome.

Ana is a great character. She’s tough, but she loves with all her heart. She loves her empire and she loves her people. And yes, she is naive when it comes to some things because she did spend the majority of her life living behind the Salskoff Palace walls. So there are things that she doesn’t know regarding the empire she loves.

I also liked Ramson’s character. He’s no stranger to tragedy and he knows exactly what goes on with the Affinites and how they are treated. He gives Ana a rude awakening to how things really are in her empire, which helps to move the story along very well.

As for the story, again, it’s a retelling of Anastasia and it’s very well done. I found no issues with the writing style as it was easy to read and the plot made me want to keep reading the book.

Now, to address the controversy that surrounded this book. You can read an explanation of the controversy here. There are some things that I can see – such as people feeling that the author took things from other books. There’s a sentence that is the same as in a Tolkien novel, as well some “copying” from The Hunger Games. I don’t think it’s actually enough for people to accuse her of plagiarism, because let’s face it, some of these things are found in multiple books, but it gave people something to gripe about.

The other issue was that the book was seen as anti-black. Part of this is due to May, a character that started off as a slave, and ended up as Ana’s companion. May is a little girl who came to the Cyrilian Empire with her mother – both were Affinites – and her mother was contracted to a different employer than May was. Ana was trying to help May find her mother.

At one point in the book, May does something that causes her death while attempting to save Ana. This is construed as a black girl being killed to allow a white girl to live. Ok, first, descriptions of May have her as “tan” skinned and “ocean blue” or “aquamarine” eyes. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t see too many black people who are just “tan” and have “ocean blue” eyes. I also don’t get where they get that Ana is “white” because she is described multiple times as having olive colored skin – which is a trait that several Middle Eastern and Asian cultures would be described as having.

I also heard some things on social media about how insensitive she was when she portrayed slavery. Well, slavery isn’t something that you can portray sensitively, and frankly, she portrayed it in a way that was very common at one point – indentured servitude. An employer would “buy” someone and that person would have to work to pay off their employment contract and gain their freedom. It wasn’t right in real life, it isn’t right in a book. And just like in real life, people didn’t like that it was going on and wanted to change it.

The controversy surrounding the book caused the author to delay the release of the book. She considered editing the book to fix what people said was wrong and ultimately decided to release the book as originally written. I’m sure people “cancelled” her because that’s what social media does – they cancel everything and everyone they think is wrong or they don’t like. But I’m glad she didn’t change her story. Because if she had, it wouldn’t be the amazing book it is.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Published on by Charli
Wilder Girls by Rory PowerWilder Girls by Rory Power
Published by Random House Children's Books on 07/09/2019
Genres: General, Girls & Women, School & Education, Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Library

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!"The perfect kind of story for our current era."—HypableFrom the author of Burn Our Bodies Down, a feminist Lord of the Flies about three best friends living in quarantine at their island boarding school, and the lengths they go to uncover the truth of their confinement when one disappears. This fresh debut is a mind-bending novel unlike anything you've read before.
It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her.
It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.
But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.
And don't miss Rory Power's second novel, Burn Our Bodies Down!
Praise for Wilder Girls:
4 STARRED REVIEWS!
"Take Annihilation, add a dash of Contagion, set it at an all-girls' academy, and you'll arrive at Rory Power's occasionally shocking and always gripping Wilder Girls."--Refinery29
"This thrilling saga...is sure to be one of the season's most talked-about books, in any genre."--EW
"Fresh and horrible and beautiful....readers will be consumed and altered by Wilder Girls."--NPR

When I saw the cover to this book, I was intrigued. It’s the August book for the Barnes & Noble YA Book Club and I was anxious to see what the book was about.

I can’t say the story was terrible, because it wasn’t. But there was no feeling, no emotion between the characters. Reese, Byatt, and Hetty are supposed to be such great friends, best friends, but the story doesn’t convey that. You’re told that they’re best friends, but you just don’t get that feeling from the story.

Honestly, I think the only thing that truly kept me reading was wanting to see if an explanation for anything – the Tox, why they were being kept on the island – would be forthcoming. It does, but not in a very satisfactory way.

Then there is the ending of the book. The end of the book left me feeling like the story hadn’t been finished. Like the author didn’t know what to do after the closing scene, so she just decided to leave it there and hope for the best. I sincerely hope there is supposed to be a sequel, because otherwise the end is just a huge letdown.

I gave this book 3 stars because the author definitely has room for improvement. The writing style could use some work, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships between characters and ending a book properly.

Again, but Better by Christine Riccio

Published on by Charli
Again, but Better by Christine RiccioAgain, but Better by Christine Riccio
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on 05/07/2019
Genres: Contemporary, Friendship, Girls & Women, Romance, Social Themes, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Library

**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**
From one of the most followed booktubers today, comes Again, but Better, a story about second chances, discovering yourself, and being brave enough to try again.
Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents...sounds ideal -- but Shane's made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance...what’s that?
Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time's a ticking, and she needs a change -- there's nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She's going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure!
Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart.
Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic - the possibilities are endless.

I read this book for Barnes & Noble’s new YA Book Club. I hadn’t even heard of the book and didn’t know who the author was, although once I saw her YouTube channel name, I vaguely recognized who she was. I have to say, I wish she’d gone back and watched some of her own videos when writing this book.

The biggest problem is that the characters don’t grow and develop, they either stay exactly the same or they devolve. The character development was great in the beginning and then just started to fall apart. You’re not only still cringing at Shane in Part 2, you might find yourself cringing even more than you did before. And don’t even get me started on Shane’s parents. I get that there are parents like that in real life, but seriously, Shane’s father is just plain scary at times. Also, in the words of our facilitator tonight… he makes you want to say “choke you” to him.

The plot of the story is great. You start out thinking you’ve got a cool contemporary YA novel and then BOOM, plot twist! The execution of the plot twist itself was awesome, it was just the execution of the rest of the story. Shane is a highly relatable character because you can honestly think of some time in your life when you’ve acted in that type of cringe-worthy manner. Pilot is a great character but we don’t get to know much about him until Part 2. Just try not to face palm when you read his last name for the first time. Babe, Sahra, and Atticus are more or less just there, even though they’re all friends. It’s one of those weird things where the characters just didn’t get the type of development they should have.

I gave the book 3 stars because it’s not horrible, but it’s not great. Would I re-read it? Sure, because there are some seriously funny parts in there. But if I hadn’t already bought it, I’d just check it out from the library. It really wasn’t worth buying the book.

Shadow Frost by Coco Ma

Published on by Charli

I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss+ to facilitate my review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Shadow Frost by Coco MaShadow Frost by Coco Ma
Series: Shadow Frost #1
Published by Blackstone Publishing on 10/01/2019
Genres: Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Girls & Women, Romance, Sagas, Thrillers & Suspense, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: Edelweiss+

In the kingdom of Axaria, a darkness rises.
Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes.Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm.Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.Not one has ever returned.
When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields—though has yet to fully understand—Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless trained soldiers have failed.
To kill it.
But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known.
That is ... if the demon doesn’t get to them first.
From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.

Pianist Coco Ma has a second passion in which she is just as talented – writing. Her first novel, Shadow Frost, is an absolute wonder.

The world Coco Ma has built is reminiscent of Earth, but with magic added. It seems most people have the ability to use magic, each person having at least one magical affinity. The use of stones to assist them with using their magic is an interesting concept and not one often seen.

This novel definitely reads like a seasoned author wrote it, which is amazing for a debut novel. Coco Ma did an excellent job of building characters, the world, the magic system, and creating plot twists to keep you on your toes.

I sincerely hope a sequel is coming as cliffhangers are to be had in this book. I gave this one a solid 5 stars because this debut novel is truly amazing.