Review - Grace by Elizabeth Scott

Grace by Elizabeth Scott -
3.5 out of 5 stars (release date September 16, 2010)

Summary via goodreads.
Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

REVIEW:
The world of this story is fascinating. In some ways I loved the way Elizabeth Scott gave us hints about what happened to make the world the way it is in the story. It's very organic, and just enough is revealed to allow you to understand what's happening and the dangers Grace faces. But at the same time, it left me wanting more. Much more. And I'm torn between whether that's really great or kind of frustrating.

GRACE is (again) a fascinating look into the mind of a girl trained to die. Not only is she meant to die, but because of her heritage, she's raised to believe she is worth less than even the other girls trained alongside her. Shunned by her family and much of the community Grace grows up secretly resenting her place in the community and her mission.

I loved the moment when Grace chose to live. I especially loved the way that decision affected her as she slowly came to understand the true ramifications of what she'd done. GRACE delves into some deep thoughts about responsibility, courage, and asks what's worth fighting for? Worth killing for? Worth dying for?

What's great is that while getting somewhat philosophical, GRACE still manages to keep the tension high. It's a testament to Elizabeth Scott's skill that a several days long train ride kept me on the edge of my seat!

Overall, I thought GRACE was a great story filled with mind-blowing revelations, relatable characters, and really interesting worldbuilding. I liked the ending but at the same time I wanted more. I wanted to spend a little bit more time getting to know Grace and Kerr and their world both before and after the end. Still, GRACE is a quick read that will definitely stick with you.

Cover: I like the idea of the cover - the clouds superimposed over the face relate well to the story - but the muted orange color is sort of drab to me.

Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5