Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

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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!

Grace and Fury by Tracy BanghartTitle: Grace and Fury
Series: 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: four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

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❃ 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

Image of 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.

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About The Candid Cover

Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.

15 thoughts on “Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

  1. Jaime Lester says:

    This has been on my radar since I first heard of it. So now, I am looking forward to it even more!

  2. Luna & Saturn says:

    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

  3. Kelly @ Wandering Through Books says:

    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

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