I accidentally completely fell in love with this book.
I know you’re looking at me like I’m a deluded grapefruit and saying “ACCIDENTALLY??? WUT EVEN, CAIT???” but hear me out: I was a skeptic going in. For reasons that include (A) I’d read a lot of very low-starred reviews, and (B) the cover is doing nothing for me at all. It actually looks like a box of those Guylian Seashell Chocolates and while I wanted to eat it, the whole matter of having a chocolate looking cover THAT ISN’T EDIBLE is rather traumatising.
See?
IT’S THE SAME.
But that aside, it only took me a few chapters to realise this is a very Cait Book. It’s magical with a dash of witches, mysterious evil hovering in the background, and an aesthetically pleasing setting of beaches and orchards and whimsical eerie shops and whimsical eerie families. Plus all the characters are pretty much psychopaths. I LOVE THIS BOOK.
It’s about River and her obsession with the mysterious, enigmatic family: the Graces.
Like you know the drill: small town, gossip that the Graces are witches, the Graces are beautiful and rich and gorgeous and rich and DID I MENTION STUNNING (because the book does mention it 2939 times) and then add in slightly magical happenings and the odd curse or two = BOOM. You have this book.
It had many cliche elements, but I didn’t even mind. I couldn’t stop reading. I LITERALLY COULD NOT. There are so many secrets that I needed answers to. River is hiding stuff and I wanted to know why.
Also the book does suffer from “the-secondary-characters-are-1000x-more-interesting-than-the-protagonist”…but that changes by the end because OH HOLY SEASHELL CHOCOLATE BOX. THAT PLOT TWIST.
But I admit: River was a bit awful.
She suffers from the Self Inflicted Special Snowflake syndrome. Which is a term I invented just now and you’re welcome. River thinks and acts like she’s better than everyone. And she makes it her #1 goal to be friends with the Graces because they’re mysterious and wild and possibly witches and ergo they’re good enough for River. Oh-kay. Basically River rubbed me wrong and I didn’t start liking her until the very very end.
But I did look past this because I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE GRACES. They were equal parts entrancing and awful which are my favourite kind of bookish people. I think I fell under their spell too?? There’s three Grace children: Fenris and Thalia are the twins, and Summer is the younger and slightly gothic sister who believes in spells and curses even though her family “claims not to”. (But are they hiding something? Mwhahahhaha.) I actually don’t know how old River is, but I guessed 15, with Fenris and Thalia being two years older? I DON’T KNOW. But anyway — the Grace trio were complex and intriguing. #PsychoSquadGoals
The romance is very lowkey. River has a major crush on Fenris but she doesn’t even act on it for most of the book.
Also the aesthetics were most pleasing.
Oh shush. I know I should talk about the plot and things, but when a book has beautiful rich houses and slightly-creepy-woods where they make spells and dance and everyone wears unique clothing and goes into odd magical stores to buy odd magical things — I just fall in love with it. I mean, the plot was good too. Yeah. Pfft. Obviously. Although it did lag in the middle. And sometimes they’d do something HUGE and IMPORTANT and then the next chapter would be like “oh and a week later”…which was seriously anticlimactic. But #aesthetics.
I also loved the writing! Except for when it got redundant. Like the Graces are beautiful. Oh the Graces are beautiful. DID I MENTION THE GRACES ARE BEAUTIFUL??? But otherwise it was ethereal and captivating.
Also it got me in the feels. The plot twists were weird and wonderful, and by the end it turned the magical-reaslim aspect on FULL BLAST and everyone had dark dark dark sides. Which I love. All the villains. All my precious little psychotic lollipops.
So basically my only cons are:
- River was an insufferable little lemon (until then end and then I quite liked her)
- Mildly slow.
- Everyone got drunk a lot and things went VERY BADLY but yet they still kept drinking?? Why.
- THE SEQUEL IS NOT IN MY HANDS AND I NEED IT. (Hahhaa Just kidding. But seriously. Sequel + me = now.)
This is definitely the kind of book I adore!
Slightly magical, witchy, aesthetically pleasing with woods and mayhem, and a cast of characters who are totally damaged. It’s entrancing and surreal. And even the disappointment of the cover NOT ACTUALLY BEING AN EDIBLE CHOCOLATE BOX didn’t stop me being half in love with the Graces too. What is this wizardry.
Also my middle name is Grace. So. Just putting it out there I might be magical.
THANK YOU TO ALLEN & UNWIN FOR THE REVIEW COPY. The Graces by Laure Eve was published October, 2016.
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.
\\ click to read reviews //
The underdog scores. I love when a book that has been taking strain rating wise gets deserved attention. I admit I skipped over this book because of the cover, but now I’ll look out for it. Thanks for the recomendation!
Yay!! I’m glad you liked my review! 😊 It’s funny, because I usually agree with the majority, but lately I’ve been almost always opposite. 🙈🙊 BUT IT’S GOOD IN THIS CASE BECAUSE YAY FOR GOOD BOOKS.
OH MY GOD THIS IS ENTIRELY LIKE THOSE CHOCOLATES!!😂 now I am hungry and it reminded me that all chocolates have finished at my house, so I NEED TO BUY THEM GOSH DANGIT. I hate my brother. He ate all of mine. Just no.😭 but that other cover is sooooo gorgeous. Have you seen it? This book sounds absolutely fantastic and also, if I do not like the main character, you would need a plot as good as chocolates for me to like the book as a whole.
Omg you are living in a HOUSE WITH NO CHOCOLATE????? I send my deepest condolences. Also you should fix that emptiness in your life. It doesn’t sound healthy.
And YES YES THE HARDCOVER IS BEYOND BEAUTIFUL. I totally wish they didn’t change covers between countries, agh, I want the red gorgeous one.😂
I’ve been trying to figure out if I should this one or not. It sounds like my kind of read, but something is keeping me from reading it and I don’t know. This is convincing me that maybe I should try it.
Thanks for the review.
I hope you do!! I was going to skip it entirely until I got sent the review-copy because I’d heard so many negative things…BUT IDEK I JUST REALLY LIKED IT.😂
Well – you got me. I’m adding this to my TBR because it sounds like something I would enjoy and – I just love reading the books that everyone loves to hate. So – I’m in!
The only thing I don’t thank you for is the huge picture of GuyLian – because NOW I WANT CHOCOLATE.
I ALWAYS WANT CHOCOLATE. So if I have to suffer through wanting it then you do too. (Aren’t I nice?? SO NICE.)😂 And I hope you like it so we can flail together!
We usually find it extremely difficult to like a book when the main character annoys us because we want to kill of the main and skip into the lives/minds of the secondaries😊 Such is our want.
We’ve been thinking about giving this book a go, but then we let all the low reviews cloud our judgement and maybe, just maybe we’ll pick up The Graces to see the plot twist you speak of.
Great review Cait. Definitely looks like chocolates.
It is awkward when you don’t particularly root for the protagonist, that’s for sure.😂 But an awesome secondary cast can totally win me over!! AND YES YES BELIEVE ME, NOT THE MERE MORTALS. My opinion is the correct one. 😇😈
Witches are not usually my thing. Also people getting drunk and being stupid are not really my thing. However, last weekend I finished The Key, which is third book in The Circle by Sara Elfgren and Mats Strandberg, and I totally loved it. The first book I didn’t like so much, but then in the second and third book I fell in love with the characters, though there are a lot of them, and the writing can be a little jerky, I think because it’s translated from Swedish. Anyway, I do like magical realism. Isabelle Allende is the best, and this book sounds cool too. I totally dig the aesthetics! and if you’re into a long complicated series about witches and relationships where the plot is only a backdrop in the best way, definitely check out The Circle.
Honestly kids getting drunk and being stupid is definitely NOT my thing either and I’m nearly going to make a new column in my spreadsheet to calculate how many YA books involve people getting drunk because it seems to be like all of them???? WHICH I THINK IS WEIRD. Anyway.😂 Might be an American thing.
I love magical realism so much. 😍 I’ve read some incredible ones this year and I’m currently tossing up whether to start The Weight of Feathers or something else. BECAUSE MAGIC.
I’ll look up The Circle!!
Great review. Glad you really enjoyed the read. I didnt enjoy it. Maybe it was because I had too high expectations. The concept was super cool. But something kept whispering in my ear, ‘Twilight Twilight’. Great pics too btw
Aww, thank you about the photos!! I was trying to do something a bit different for this one hehe. But I honestly haven’t found anyone who even liked it yet.😂 SO YOU’RE NOT ALONE AND I’M THE ODD ONE HERE. But that’s totally cool, because loving books is niiiiice.
yum. i do want chocolate. *licks lips*
Mosr crazily, ~Olive
I ALWAYS NEED CHOCOLATE.
I’m ALWAYS hungry for chocolate. But Guylian is one of the best.. and the cover really resembles the box. What a teaser. ;P
I’m not a fan of magical realsim, tbh. Although… slightly psychopathic characters sound like it should be a great book, no matter what. Villains ftw!
I think it’s difficult to like a book if you can’t stand the mc. Difficult but not impossible. *cough* ToG series *cough*
I can’t actually remember eating them…like I probably have? BUT I JUST LIKE CHOCOLATE IN GENERAL SO LET’S HAVE A SPONTANEOUS CHOCOLATE PART BECAUSE #NEED. This cover makes me hungry every time I look at it.😂
And haha, well, ToG’s unlikeable characters had the opposite affect and drove me away. But Game of Thrones on the other hand…characters are 100% AWFUL and I love them.😂
Of course you are magical! 😉
It is entirely confirmed now. *nods sagely*
I think those are the best ones, the ones you never thought you’d love but than they surprise you in the best way!
I’m glad this one worked out for you! I’m definitely intrigued by it now!
Awesome review, Cait!
They are super special right?!? Such nice surprises. :’)
I am starving for chocolate now… Or ice cream…. Or cookies… Or basically just any food because I am starving.
Anyway! Love this review!! This sounds like a very good book, and also, the setting greatly intrigues me… I must know more about this whimsical town…
Oh, and by the way, as I scrolled down to try and find the comments section, I noticed ‘The Cresswell Plot’, and OH MY GOODNESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT COVER?????? Is that…a broken Barbie doll?????
That is what happens when one comes to my blog…YOU STARVE BECAUSE I TALK ABOUT FOOD SO MUCH OMG. *throws chocolate chips in the air in evil glee*
Bahaha, I don’t even know what’s going on with the Cresswell cover, but have you seen the UK version?? It’S HORRIBLE. So I actually much prefer the US one.😂
*catches chocolate chips on my tongue like snowflakes* Ah, that is much better!!!
Actually, I have not, so naturally I decided to try and look it up, and apparently my kindle thinks it is so horrible that it will not show me what it looks like, lol! Oh well… Perhaps it is a blessing, haha!
OOOO, well goodness gracious I’m excited. This book recently came into my clutches and I have yet to read it, but now I can’t wait even more. It sounds marvelous.
And ALL THE YESSES TO LOWKEY ROMANCE. I’m glad to have a break from the books that are constantly “HIS EYES WERE SO DREAMY, also we’re saving the word here BUT HIS EYES.”
Well no saving the world here.😂 MORE LIKE DESTROYING IT. omg no wonder I loved this book so much. <3
I am hungry for chocolate now! CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST THING EVER INVENTED!!!! I read this book to, and had a prettier copy, though I also like the cover with the seashells on it. Mine was like red, purple and gold color schemed. It was so pretty and the words were purple inside. I was in book heaven. That was the main reason why I read this book to, I saw it at the library and said “This beautifulness must come home with me!” I didn’t love it though, I’m not that into witch books. I’m more of a assassin’s and cool fight scenes type of book reader. Plus I felt like The Graces was kind of slow until it got closer to the end.
Did yours have the red cover with the eyeball? I LIKE THAT COVER A LOT. And like totally fair not to love it.😂 I don’t actually know anyone else who enjoyed it hhahaa, and usually I’m not such a black sheep as this but HEY. It’s lovely to enjoy a good book. 😊 I do wish the beginning had been faster too though.
Yes, that’s the one I had. It was so pretty:)
I need to retry those chocolates sometime. My stepdad bought some for my mom back when I was a kid, and I ate one and was so grossed out by it. Now that I’m older, my chocolate palate has developed some. 😉 And from that cover, I would have never thought that was a YA book!
I’m sure I’ve had one before but I don’t even remember.😂 Still CHOCOLATE. Give me any sort of chocolate and I will be a happy small creature of chocoaltey appreciation.😂
I really, really wanted to like this one, but I just…didn’t. I felt like all the dialogue had a sort of weird, forced edgyness to it and River had no personality other than a weird obsession with the Graces.
But I’m glad you liked it, though, and your photos are total #goals.
River was a bit of a pancake, I won’t deny. 😂 But I kind of got it by the end?! I REALLY want to see what she does in the sequel (I’m like relatively sure there’s a sequel?) and hopefully she’ll like…get a life maybe. Who knows.😂
Aww, thankyou!! I had fun with this photoshoot.😊
Self-inflicted Special Snowflake Syndrome = pure genius.
So glad I’m not the only one who thought this book deserved more than the buttload of 2 star reviews I’ve seen on it. It has problems, yes, buuuuuuut it wasn’t THAT bad, at least I didn’t think so!
Oh I’m glad you liked it too then!! I feel like we’re waaay in the minority.😂 It definitely wasn’t perfect, but it was still a good read!!
I just got an ARC of this via trade and I’m looking forward to reading it! It sounds absolutely delightful and shall I say spellbinding!
~Sara
Yesss, definitely spelling! Literally at times.😂 I hope you enjoy. 😀
I’m soooooooooooooo hungry now and all I have is Top Deck in the fridge. I love those chocolate seashells. Mmmmm, non nom.
I actually haven’t seen many reviews for this one, but this sounds like my kinda book (apart from the protagonist who sounds like a self absorbed cow). I don’t mind a bit of magical realism if it’s written well and you know it’s coming. When books spring it on you as part of a plot twist, that irks me and leaves me feeling horribly cheated. I must purchase a copy at once! <3
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE PAIN I LOVE TO CASUE. #kindCait And yes, just so long as you look past the Self Inflicted Special Snowflake Syndrome of our darling annoying protagonist…it’s really quite fun.😂 And disturbing. MY KINDA BOOK.
Aaah, I LOVED this book – as you may know if you turn the book over and SEE MY QUOTE! :D:D:D But seriously, this book is amazing! I loved the enigmatic Graces and all the whole atmosphere of this book! River was kind of weird and so obsessive. She wasn’t the nicest, but rather than be annoyed with her, I was worried about her. My thoughts were all “I think something is up with River, somebody help her!!! Before she does something dangerous!” But I loved it!
I have enjoyed books in the past where I didn’t like the main character, but thinking back on them, they’re not my favourite books. So I guess in general I prefer to like the protagonist, I didn’t see that the cover looked like Guylian box, but I can now! Haha!
OMG OMG YOU’RE ON A BOOK!!!!! THIS IS AMAZING!!! OMGGGG!!! I’M IN THE PRESENCE OF A FAMOUS PERSON!! 😂 Congrats on that btw. 😉 And just ahh, the atmosphere! I loved it so much and I thought it was so well presented. And I am 10000% intrigued by River, that’s for sure (and really curious to what her real name is?!) and I definitely am lining up for the sequel.
Well, I guess I’m glad someone was able to enjoy this book? I have only read mildly negative to full on negative things about this book, and personally I didn’t enjoy it very much at all.
I did appreciate the element of intrigue that made me want to keep reading, but I also felt like there wasn’t enough for me to be invested in. It was all very high schooly and melodramatic, and I left that life behind six years ago and have no desire to reimmerse myself in it, especially with such a vapid heroine at the helm of it all.
I won’t be reading the second book, because I really felt like that ending was just a ‘HEY, COME BACK FOR MORE, GUYS’ ploy, which I always side eye with the utmost sincerity.
I hadn’t made the connection to those seashell chocolates, but now I can never look at that cover the same again!
That’s okay! I understand, honestly, because it did have a lot of cliche/annoying aspects I’d usually rant about. But somehow this must’ve just got me at a really good time and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.😂 It was a bit melodramatic hhaha. Which is why I suspect River was 15? She acted pretty young. *nods*
And I’m glad you see the cover resemblance.😂
After reading all of this, I’m so glad I add this book in one of my Christmas wishlists.
Oh YAY!! I hope you love it when you get it too. 🙂
OMG the book cover and those chocolates = TWINNING. I’d heard about this book of course but not much to be honest – I can’t even recall how many reviews for it I read. I will say that now that I’ve read YOUR review, I’ll be adding it to my tbr shelf! Your definition of a Cait book sounds very similar to a Micheline book 😀
We obviously both have EXCELLENT book taste then. *hi five* 😂
I just finished this book not even 20 mins ago! I loved every page of it. In a way it reminded me of The Accident Season and that book…man oh man it was a killer read! I felt like The Accident Season gave us a bit more in the terms of magic and mythical prospects, but The Graces gave us just a bit more of sinister ideals/actions. Both of these books have amazing plot twists and they make you want more. I highly recommend both of these books to anyone who likes the principals of dark romanticism! I’ve been telling all of my friends to pick up The Accident Season if they want something amazing to read. I am now onto Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. I am keeping with the dark and brooding theme. After that I will be reading Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. She is from Oregon and that is where I live! It’s kind of nice reading a book by an author who lives in the same state as you. Thank you for your words! I really appreciate them! 😀
AND I LOVED THE ACCIDENT SEASON TOO. *hi fives* Both these books are brilliant and they totally have a similar vibe….which I’m in love with.😜 And yes, omg The Graces was seriously sinister by the end. (And I really want to read Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea…so let me know if it’s good?!)
Oh I totally will! I love being able to find people who like similar books as me. For some reason I am now interested in witchy books. While I have always liked them, after reading The Accident Season and The Graces I want to find all the books I can get. Have you heard anything about When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore? I was in Barnes and Noble yesterday and read the inside summary. It seems pretty good from what I read! I just wanted to know if there was any word floating around. I am also open to any and all suggestions :3
I haven’t read When The Moon Was Ours…YET. 😜 It’s definitely on my TBR. I’ve bought Weight of Feathers by the same author though, and I’m really excited to read it! Also have you read Bone Gap?? It kind of has the same vibe/feel as The Accident Season and afkjdsfald IT’S SO INCREDIBLE. Not exactly witchy per se, but there’s some magic stuff going down in a contemporary setting and it’s everything basically.😍 Also the Half Bad trilogy is the BEST witchy series I’ve ever read. SO MUCH PAIN BUT SO GOOD.
I’ll definitely check these suggestions out! I also have been hearing that The Creeping by Alexandra Sirowy and The Merciless I & II by Danielle Vega were awesome reads to check out as well. I am really looking forward to The Beast Is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale, which will be out in January. Oh! I just saw another book on B&N’s website called Daughters of Darkness by L. J. Smith and the summary seems pretty intriguing to me! It looks like it goes with a collection of other books done by the author, but each book is a new story? (I think) More books to add to the ever growing list lol XD Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones seems to be a take on the movie The Labyrinth. I am pretty pumped for that considering I love David Bowie and that movie to death! <3 I was also in the middle of The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury but had to return it to the library before it was overdue. I'll just probably end up buying it instead! Books=Life 😀
Oh I haven’t heard of any of these!! I’ll definitely look them up too!! 😊 AND OMG YES I WANT WINTERSONG SO BADLY. I can’t wait till it comes out (although I confess I’ve never seen The Labyrinth. #ShameOnMe😂)
The Labyrinth isn’t for the faint of heart! I mean it’s an 80’s movie and also a musical so you kind of have to like both of those. It’s great none the less. I’ve watched it so many times that the cheesiness doesn’t bother me lol I would say if you’re going to watch it just do so for fun!