The Grace Year

This is the book that made me question why we're reading so much dystopian fiction, particularly stories that put girls and women in jeopardy. Is it because we feel marginalized and disempowered but can say “at least it's not this bad?” There is no world building here, just a village that has a betrothal ceremony and a test for all girls of marrying age. The girls are probably all white. The society is agrarian. The men are cruel. But we don't know why. I could nitpick the writing, but it's not terrible. What I am critical of is that this really seems like a facsimile. We know almost nothing about the characters beyond the role each plays in this violent, bloody story . There is a redemption arc, a hint of change, but it's hard to care because we don't know enough about the society in the book to feel invested. It feels manipulative and empty. The book is critical of this oppressive society and horrific ritual, but in the end, there's no real rebellion. This weird social contract is intact, presumably for a sequel. One and a half stars.