Title: The Graces
Author: Laure Eve
Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Source: ARC from Abram Books
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: 3/5 stars
Everyone said the Graces were witches.
They moved through the corridors like sleek fish, ripples in their wake. Stares followed their backs and their hair.
They had friends, but they were just distractions. They were waiting for someone different.
All I had to do was show them that person was me.
Like everyone else in her town, River is obsessed with the Graces, attracted by their glamour and apparent ability to weave magic. But are they really what they seem? And are they more dangerous than they let on?
This beautifully-written thriller will grip you from its very first page.
Pre-order now!
**DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced galley of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and all quotes are from an uncorrected proof.**
It has recently come to my attention that this book may contain biphobic content expressed by the MC. I did not realize this harmful and problematic content until it was brought to my attention so please be aware of that before reading. If you'd like some insight, read more about it here: https://twitter.com/eternaldelicacy/status/823661227897298944
Everyone wants to be a Grace. Summer, Thalia and Fenrin Grace are siblings that seem to attract the attention of everyone in a small town with their striking beauty and supposed ability to wield magic. And River is their biggest fan. She'll do anything to become one of them and for her to gain the attention of the mysterious yet handsome Fenrin Grace. So when River is one day let into their inner circle, people start to turn heads and raise questions. Being with the Graces changes her and everyone around her, and not in a good way.
The only thing I can say without spoiling the entire book is that the story is much more than what it says on the back of the book. My expectations for this book were blown away soon after finishing it. It was so different from what I was expecting. I've read quite a handful of witch novels in my 2 years of reading and reviewing, and I have to say that I have not been impressed. With this one, however, I got more than just the mainstream witch-on-a-broomstick and hocus pocus. No rhyming chants or magical wands. Just some black magic and almost Halloween-y vibes.
The one thing I must commend was the fantastic imagery and scenery building. I swear, I was transported to a cloudy afternoon in October. The ambiance was so woodsy and damp. How else do I explain this? Okay, got it! Do you remember La Push Washington (aka the setting from the Twilight movies)? That's exactly what the setting of this book reminded me of. If a book can conjure up an image of the setting with its words, you know it's a keeper.
I had a love-hate relationship with the main character River. She's a handful, that's for sure. Her actions are all but unpredictable and in the same situations, I wouldn't have acted as she did. She sacrificed so much of herself because she was unhappy with who she was and wanted the lure and charm that came with being a Grace. Just because I didn't agree with her actions doesn't mean they weren't understandable. Eve does a great job at describing the urgency to become a Grace and why it is so many people wanted to be like them. You'd be surprised to know what people would do to fit in with the crowd, so as much as I didn't like it I'm not counting her actions against the book's ratings.
One thing I would point out was that the ending felt quite unfinished. It's really hard to talk about the ending without spoiling anything, but I was really concerned when I read the last page and realized that that was the last of the book. I guess, it also somehow leaves you wanting more which makes for a good start for the sequel.
It has recently come to my attention that this book may contain biphobic content expressed by the MC. I did not realize this harmful and problematic content until it was brought to my attention so please be aware of that before reading. If you'd like some insight, read more about it here: https://twitter.com/eternaldelicacy/status/823661227897298944
With all these fall releases scheduled to release, you can't possibly find the time to read every single one. Regardless I think The Graces is a book worthy of anyone's attention. If you're on a budget for books and you need the 411 on which new releases are worth checking out, hopefully this review will help you decide.
Everyone wants to be a Grace. Summer, Thalia and Fenrin Grace are siblings that seem to attract the attention of everyone in a small town with their striking beauty and supposed ability to wield magic. And River is their biggest fan. She'll do anything to become one of them and for her to gain the attention of the mysterious yet handsome Fenrin Grace. So when River is one day let into their inner circle, people start to turn heads and raise questions. Being with the Graces changes her and everyone around her, and not in a good way.
The only thing I can say without spoiling the entire book is that the story is much more than what it says on the back of the book. My expectations for this book were blown away soon after finishing it. It was so different from what I was expecting. I've read quite a handful of witch novels in my 2 years of reading and reviewing, and I have to say that I have not been impressed. With this one, however, I got more than just the mainstream witch-on-a-broomstick and hocus pocus. No rhyming chants or magical wands. Just some black magic and almost Halloween-y vibes.
The one thing I must commend was the fantastic imagery and scenery building. I swear, I was transported to a cloudy afternoon in October. The ambiance was so woodsy and damp. How else do I explain this? Okay, got it! Do you remember La Push Washington (aka the setting from the Twilight movies)? That's exactly what the setting of this book reminded me of. If a book can conjure up an image of the setting with its words, you know it's a keeper.
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| La Push Washington |
One thing I would point out was that the ending felt quite unfinished. It's really hard to talk about the ending without spoiling anything, but I was really concerned when I read the last page and realized that that was the last of the book. I guess, it also somehow leaves you wanting more which makes for a good start for the sequel.
Although The Graces wasn't a showstopper, it's definitely a read I thoroughly enjoyed and it left me wanting more. This cult classic was nostalgic of those cold, autumn evenings and cloudy days at the beach. Eve's vivid writing and imagery will keep you reading till the very last page. The Graces is a 2016 fall release you don't want to miss!
What would the characters wear?
The author takes a lot of time out of the plot to describe the appearances of her characters, and I very much valued that. I present to you the Graces' lookbook! (BTW I'm only recreating two out of the three siblings because unfortunately I wasn't able to change the gender of my avatar for Fenrin)
Dark, brooding and untamable, Summer Grace is the most rebellious of the three. She's got spunk and sexiness, and she doesn't let anyone hold her down. Her style has got a bit of a goth tone so I decided to play with the standard black colors and give her the goth look, yet making her look really flirty and approachable. Summer is a ball of personality. She's the kind of girl who will throw her head back laughing, and so I didn't want the black goth style to scare people away.
Thalia is a graceful gypsy who stands aloof- cool without even trying. She likes wearing off-the-shoulder tops with long maxi skirts that usually include some sort of beaded pattern. I got a lot of Coachella-eqsue and gypsy vibes off of Thalia when I was reading. Many of the students in the school have tried to wear what she wears but have only ended up looking like clowns. Thalia is the only one who can pull off this effortless and breezy look.
