Grace and Fury

I didn't actually have high hopes for this book - the description hits a lot of standard YA tropes. Sisterhood, switched roles, Royal/pauper juxtaposition...but WOW. No, this book blew me away.

In Serina and Nomi's world, women are second-class citizens, forbidden to read, have romantic relationships with each other, or have careers of their own. Serina plans to be a Grace, effectively a concubine to the Prince, with her sister as her handmaiden. But it is Nomi who catches the Prince's eye when she stumbles into him in a hallway, and Nomi that he picks. In a moment of weakness, Nomi's secret is discovered and thought to be Serina's, and rather than jeopardize Nomi's new position, Serina capitulates and takes the fall. She's sent to a volcanic island prison while Nomi struggles to tame her own rebellious nature long enough to gain enough influence to free her sister.

The book is about oppression and sisterhood, whether it be with those that share your blood or not. Along the way, we discover a different history of the nation than what is normally taught, and find a few men who sympathize with the women's plight. (And eventually step up to take action alongside the women.)

It's a quick read - the action starts on page one and never stops. Chapters alternate between Nomi in the palace and Serina on her island prison fighting for food, and both girls learn that what they saw as weakness in each other can be strengths in different circumstances.

The only downside to this book is that it ends with things unfinished. Not a cliffhanger, exactly, but the story is most definitely not done, and the sequel doesn't come out until July of 2019! I will be snapping that up as soon as it releases because I NEED to know how these two sisters overcome their trials.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

This book was so good guys!! Y'all know I'm not a huge fantasy reader. I recommend it for people that aren't big on fantasy to read it. Because, this book was easy to read and the world isn't as complicated. This book was filled with girl power, that “what's going to happen next” feeling, and a sprinkle or two of drama. The romance was well done honestly y'all know I'm not a romance-y person too. But I was literally screaming when anything cute happened.

This book was more about the two sisters and their own struggles after they were separated. Nomi was always a little bit of a rebel she questioned society and didn't want to live the social norms. Serina on the other hand lived her whole life training to be a Grace, never questioning society and their misogynistic ways. But when Nomi, who only trained to be a hand maiden, is tossed into the world of being a Grace instead of her sister. All at the same time Serina is sent to a prison for a crime she did not commit. Nomi is left in the palace without her sister having to be something she doesn't want to do.

I loVED the feminism and girl power in this book. In this world women are oppressed and have NO rights. They're literally treated like crap. Imagine not having a right to read or to have an opinion. I bet you're like johely... sis? Where the feminism at? You're going to have to read it to find out ;). I will say this it is kind of slow at the beginning. And you won't really connect with the characters until almost halfway through the book. But I really recommend you to push through because it is SOOOOO good! And I really need an arc of book 2 because I NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT GOES DOWN AFTER THAT ENDING