Challenge Corner discussion

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.

a little late to this one, but should be starting tomorrow or tuesday!

Starting this one today!

End of Autumn
Ok well, I went into this one blind and did not expect what I got.

(view spoiler)[I'm listening to this one and enjoying it.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I'm pleasantly surprised. It's giving lord of flies.

It's an interesting concept that the girls have to take a year to get rid of their magic prior to being married off. The magic is interesting and I'm trying to figure it out. It doesn't seem real.

Kiersten is a nightmare!

Can't say I was overly surprised that Michael asked her. I was a little nervous that he wasn't going to go through with it when she said she would never want that. While I don't love that the men get to claim each of the girls who don't get a say, I do kind of hope that they work it out.

Her mother is interesting and I'm wondering if she's one of those...things? I can't remember the name right now. What the other woman was hanged for.

Overall, I'm surprised by this one and I haven't stopped listening, which is a good sign. (hide spoiler)]

End of Winter
(view spoiler)[Ok...very intrigued by Ryker. He's been so kind to her, and I know he technically made a deal with her father, but there's certainly more to it for both of them. I'm curious how all of this will play out.

With her living in the blind with him, how does she return? I can't imagine her being able to just go back to the group of girls and pretend like nothing happened. Will she stay with Ryker, or can she bring him back? I assume he wouldn't be able to, given that he's supporting his family. I just feel like there will be more to them. (hide spoiler)]

End of Spring
(view spoiler)[Ok I love that her father was giving out vaccines for what the poachers believe was a curse.

I did not expect Ryker to say he wants to be with her so early but ok! I'm surprised he was willing to leave his family and have someone else claim them and take care of them.

I love that she told Ryker that he can't lay claim to her without asking her like she was claimed before. He seems so genuine, and it's cute. It does however, feel awfully abrupt to all of a sudden move away together. Of course, that couldn't happen though, and Anders had to get in the way. Given what happened to his family, I don't blame him for not trusting her.

There had to be something about the water!

Not surprising that she ended up going back to the camp. It's soooo wild in there! This is so much more gruesome and dark than I anticipated.

Very curious about what the noises are that she's hearing. Will actual magic show up? (hide spoiler)]

End of Summer
(view spoiler)[Great that they haven't been drinking the well water.

WHAT?! Ok, Hans apparently was doing everything because he wanted Tierney! There had to be more to his story!

I was kind of thinking Ryker was going to die, and she would end up going back to Michael. I was really hoping that wouldn't be the case but it seems it is. But my goodness, Ryker dies, she goes back to the camp, and I feel like she hasn't dealt with his death at all. We just keep moving. I get that's what needed to happen, but my goodness. She said she loved him and was planning to run away with him.

Was I kind of hoping Kiersten would die? Yes, I was. She was horrible throughout the entire book. Maybe she'll come around at the end after they all saved her and she discovered that she didn't have any magic.

Interested to see how the return goes and if they'll tell the truth about the water and that no magic has ever existed. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Oh my goodness! She was pregnant! I'm happy with how it ended with Michael. I was REALLY afraid he was going to turn into some evil ass but I'm so glad he's supporting her and saved her.

It was her mother! I've loved seeing her relationship with her father and mother grow throughout this, both of them supporting her.

It was such an interesting story, entering womanhood with this wild group of girls. It was much darker than I anticipated, but I really enjoyed it. I do love, that wild Ryker didn't live, she was able to keep a part of him. I hope his family can be a part of Grace's life.

Fun read! Very much reminds me of Lord of the Flies of course. I've also since heard it compared to The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't read or watched it, but I'm now curious. (hide spoiler)]

haven't quite reached the end of autumn yet but 34%

(view spoiler)[ this Kristy girl is really urking me, the know it all and knows best.. I swear if she does something to Gertrude... such a dark book and gives me some impressions of the Handmaid's tale

are the powers real?? or are they experiencing what it's like to be alone and have freedom ?? (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "End of Autumn
Ok well, I went into this one blind and did not expect what I got.

I'm listening to this one and enjoying it.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I'm pleasantly surp..."

yes yes! (view spoiler)[ lord of the flies and that show yellowjackets (although I've only seen clips of the concept and girls in the show)

I don't quite think it's magic?? but honesty it's hard to tell... Thank goodness I'm listening to it, because I'd end up wanting to flip to the end otherwise... Kiersten I want to strangle.. there's no way I'd be able to deal with her.

Her mother might know more than she's letting on, and how sad the girls all seem to turn on each other as soon as they get there (hide spoiler)]

Haley wrote: "Brittni wrote: "End of Autumn
Ok well, I went into this one blind ..."

(view spoiler)[YES! Kiersten is the worst. I was ready for her to die, honestly.

I had the same feeling about the magic. It's definitely hard to tell what's happening with the girls. Also had the same thoughts about her mother!

I haven't watched yellowjackets. Maybe I need to check it out.

In my last post on here, I also mentioned that it's compared to The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't read or watched it but I'm not intrigued. I've heard good things about both. (hide spoiler)]

the handmaid's tale I read A LONG time ago and watched maybe one part of the series. It's a similar structure with the dystopia world *from what I remember* with females!

Brittni wrote: "End of Spring
Ok I love that ..."

(view spoiler)[ A quick growing relationship, but also makes sense since they both are young and grew up in a world where "love" is typically forced and they don't have a choice.

SO DANG gruesome for being a young adult.

honesty really fast paced as well.. the audiobook version I'm really enjoying (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "End of Summer

WHAT?!..."

(view spoiler)[ i was very thrown off by Hans, seemed to be thrown back into the story. I hate how Kiersten is continuing to hate her, the jealousy is driving me insane..

I really hoped that scene with Kiersten had her killed by a poacher but nope..

also Ryken dying just like that?? My heart ugh, the poor poor guy. I wish they planned it better. I agree tho the fact he was willing to sacrifice his family like that, but I guess Andres would have been there??

(hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "Finished . ..."

finished last night!! (view spoiler)[ you called it at the beginning with mom being the usurper.. I'm so happy she was a part of that & her father was better than what she was thinking.

& Michael ended up being such a better person than I was expecting, ugh so so happy about that. I would have screamed if it wasn't that ending with how dark and tragic this book was. (hide spoiler)]

overall really really liked this book, felt so many emotions and although there were parts that weren't quite realistic (view spoiler)[ insta love (hide spoiler)] this dystopia world was quite something.

So glad you liked it as well! I'm thinking it deserves 5 stars instead of 4. I keep thinking about it several days later.

(view spoiler)[Incredibly happy with how the ending went. While there was so much heartbreak, I think it was ok.

I was also VERY afraid that Michael was going to be horrible, but thankfully, he really came through for her and supported her! (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "So glad you liked it as well! I'm thinking it deserves 5 stars instead of 4. I keep thinking about it several days later.

Incredibly happy with how the ending went. While there was so much heartb..."

I get that way too!! Honestly it’s right in the middle at 4.5 stars but leaning towards the 5 with how much emotion is brought up for me ugh.

The sad part is (view spoiler)[ honestly this is a dystopia I could see happening in some part of the world… even a slight representation to the Salem trials with witches… people thinking woah have to watch out when experiencing something different and odd. Automatically categorized as “Magic” or “witchcraft” but not in a good way (hide spoiler)]