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The Grace Year

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The Grace Year

By: Kim Liggett
Narrated by: Emily Shaffer
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The resistance starts here...

No one speaks of the grace year.
It's forbidden.
We're told we have the power to lure grown men from their beds, make boys lose their minds, and drive the wives mad with jealousy. That's why we're banished for our sixteenth year, to release our magic into the wild before we're allowed to return to civilization.
But I don't feel powerful.
I don't feel magical.

Tierney James lives in an isolated village where girls are banished at sixteen to the northern forest to brave the wilderness - and each other - for a year. They must rid themselves of their dangerous magic before returning purified and ready to marry - if they're lucky.

It is forbidden to speak of the grace year, but even so every girl knows that the coming year will change them - if they survive it...

The Grace Year is The Handmaid's Tale meets Lord of the Flies - a feminist dystopia about a young woman trapped in an oppressive society, fighting to take control of her own life.

©2019 Kim Liggett (P)2019 Penguin Audio Dark Fantasy Dystopian Fantasy Fiction Magic Science Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
Fantastic highly recommended. Great story and plot themes. I got attached to the characters quickly!

Great story and plot themes. I got attached to the characters quickly!

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I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this story, the setting, the survival and romantic sub-plots. Everything worked in unison, every moment felt necessary and the narrator was a pleasure to listen too. My only grip was that a few side characters voices were annoying, but in the end this piece moved me to tears.

Enthralling

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I honestly loved this book! Finally something that was a bit different. I really enjoyed the characters and the development of the storyline

Captivating from start to finish

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This hits the notes in all the right places: the plot is straightforward enough with a very relatable protagonist; there are just enough haunting bits and they are quickly recovered; and the ideas run deep into our social and gendered realities.
I definitely concur it's a Handmaids Tale for older teen readers, and adults. I love the interview with the author at the end.

Women everywhere, listen up...

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Stunning! I loved every bit of this. Handmaids Tale crossed with Lord of the Flies. I broke, I healed, I cried, I smiled. I will be recommending to anyone who will listen. Amazing story Kim Liggett. Bravo.

My favourite book for the year

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Loved this. Unexpected. Empowering. With a strong message. I hope to take something away from this that will make me better.

Profound

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It was easy to listen to and enjoyable. There were some things that were predictable and other twist that threw me way off guard in the most excellent way possible. I did struggle to understand the metaphors and meanings behind a lot of the story but it was still enjoyable and good.

excellent book

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This was really more like Hunger Games meets Lord of the Flies, it doesn't bear comparison to The Handmaid's Tale. The Handmaid's Tale. was so believable that it gave me nightmares in which I was in! On the other hand, The Grace Year was difficult to take seriously and went from bad to worse in the believability range. The situation of the girls in the woods was so poorly described and illogical, and the injuries received, and survived, was a little hard to accept as possible. The society did not seem to be a sustainable one.

However, it does move along well, a real page turner. The narrator is excellent, certainly the true voice of Tierney, and Tierney herself is a strong and very appealing character.

Best not to compare it to the Handmaid's Tale

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must listen narrated perfectly the storyline never drops you never bored its simply a must listen !

amazing

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The narration was not very good at all, often not fitting to context. Regardless, the story kept me coming back to listen.

Good Story.

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