Book Review #605 - State of Grace by Hilary Badger

My Rating: 3.5/5


Source: Hardie Grant Egmont


Buy: Booktopia


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Ever since she was created, Wren has lived in an idyllic garden with her friends. Wren's deity Dot ensures the trees are laden with fruit and the water in the lagoon is crystal clear. Wren and her friends have everything they could possibly need right there, in Dot's Paradise.

If only Wren could stop the strange, disturbing visions she's started having. Do these visions make her less worthy of Dot's love? And what does Blaze, the most beautiful and mysterious of Dot's creations, know about what's going on in Wren's head?

Wren is desperate to feel Dot's love, just like everyone else. But that's harder than ever when a creation she's never met before arrives in the garden. He claims to be from outside and brings with him words and ideas that make Wren's brain hurt.

Gradually Wren and Blaze uncover the truth: they're part of a clinical trial of an ominous drug called Grace.

 

And as she deals with this disturbing knowledge, Wren confronts a horrific secret from her past. Now she must decide whether to return to the comforting delusion of faith or fight for the right to face the very ugly truth. 

I tried reading this book when I first received it about a year ago now and gave up on it after only reading around 25 pages. I felt like there was a strong religious reference in it that I just didn't like. 

This time around although it didn't pull me in straight away, by page 50 I was hooked. 

The twist made the book for me which is the main reason why it took me so long to become interested in this book. 

This book is an unique take on the dystopian genre and even though it is rather slow paced I enjoyed it.