Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart is the kind of book that draws you in the second you pick it up. The plot is filled with intrigue and feminism, and the main characters are equally enjoyable. The world is also clearly developed, and it is surprisingly easy to picture as our own reality. I definitely enjoyed this one, and I am eager to get my hands on a sequel!
Title: Grace and FurySeries: Grace and Fury #1
Author: Tracy Banghart
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Rating:
Series Rating:
In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.
Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace - someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir's eye, it's Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.
Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
This book tells the story of two sisters, one being treated like royalty and the other being held prisoner on an island. What is interesting is the fact that the sisters’ roles are switched, and the one fighting to survive was actually training to live in a palace her whole life and please the heir. I found the story to be a bit like The Selection and The Handmaid’s Tale with some feminist messages and some surprising twists. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love this book at first, but once I got into it, I was pleasantly surprised.
❀ Enjoyable Main Characters
Both Nomi and Serina are enjoyable main characters, and I liked getting to read each of their differing perspectives. The sisters are defiant and determined to stand up for their rights in their new roles. I actually enjoyed both of them equally, which is pretty rare for me. I typically have one main character that I connect with more than the other, but I was glad that both girls have their own characteristics and intriguing arcs.
❀ Intriguing World
The world of Grace and Fury really intrigued me. The societal norms and cultural expectations are clearly outlined, and the world is logical. The settings like the perilous island and the palace are also developed, and I could clearly visualize them. What I enjoyed about this book is the fact that the oppressive society isn’t so far-fetched, and the lack of women’s rights is shockingly believable. This contributes to the overall feminist message, and it made me reflect on our own world.
❀ A Powerful Novel
Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart is a powerful fantasy novel about two sisters with very different realities. I enjoyed both the main characters’ narrations, and the world is very believable. I would definitely recommend this one, especially to those looking for an empowering read.
About Tracy Banghart
Tracy Banghart grew up in rural Maryland and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All of that isolation and lovely scenery gave her the time to read voraciously and the inspiration to write her own stories. Always a bit of a nomad, Tracy now travels the world Army-wife style with her husband, son, cat, and sweet pupper Scrabble.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
Ahh~ i was curious about this book, now i know I’ll buy it :>
I hope that you enjoy it as mush as I did! 🙂
Wonderful review! <3 I'm so, so happy you enjoyed this one so much, I have heard great things about it so far and I can't wait to read it 😀
Marie recently posted…I’m the worst at keeping up with series ft. 10 series I want/need to continue
It is such a fantastic start to a series! I hope that you love it. 🙂
I’m so looking forward to read this book and I’m glad you loved it! This really sounds like a great read! Thanks for the wonderful review! I hope you enjoy your next read! 🙂
Raven recently posted…Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2) By Mark Lawrence [Review]
I have a feeling that you are going to love it! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Olivia. I love stories featuring sisters in one way or another so this sounds great!
Yes! The sisters aspect is one of my favourite parts. 🙂
This has been on my radar since I first heard of it. So now, I am looking forward to it even more!
Glad that you think this is a nice book – it’s great that there’s both intrigue and feminist aspects to the book. We love the idea of a believable world, so this novel sounds like the type of read we’d like. As always, nice review! 🙂
~ Luna & Saturn @ Pendragons
Yessssss. I can not WAIT to read this!
Great review! I hadn’t heard much about this book prior to reading your review, but I’m all for empowering reads so I’ll have to check it out.
I felt a little iffy on this one just based of the synopsis but I’m seeing such good reviews (and I do like my fantasy novels with feminism in them…)
It’s good to hear that both main characters were equally compelling, since I have the same habit of getting more engaged in one main character than the other one. This sounds like a really good read, I’m looking forward to the release!
Kelly @ Wandering Through Books recently posted…Review: Ayesha at Last
It is one that I think you might enjoy! 🙂
I’m halfway through this book and loving it! I can’t wait for the sequel. 🙂