Hilary Badger

State of Grace/Hilary Badger This book was gloriously high concept and very well played out, living up to my expectations. The originality of the idea and the feel of the premise really sell this book.
 
The world Badger created felt truly utopian at first, which was quite impressive as I was seriously dubious about how such a place could be possible. However, simply reading about the place I could envision the world she had created and the way life might be. Everything felt very dreamlike, but real at the same time, yet there was an undercurrent of creepiness.
 
I loved the attention to detail, especially language. In this world, bad is "prenice" and dark is "prelight," etc. This disoriented me a little at first as I got rid of my notion of pre meaning "before" but really added so much. It really showed how the characters thought. Badger also threw in details that Wren noticed which would later play a part and constructed this very well.
 
I was desperate to figure out the context of this dystopian society from page one. Badger placed clues in a creepy fashion that had me reading almost too fast to figure out what happened. Her explanation was plausible and I really enjoyed how this feels like something that could be possible.
 
I didn't become too attached to our narrator, Wren--though she was a fine character to tell the story, I didn't think she was anything special and she could easily be replaced by another other character in fiction. Blaze, on the other hand, I really enjoyed. I didn't quite understand the motivations behind his interactions with Wren or how much he knew from which point, but he had some truly great lines and felt very sincere in his being lost.
Dennis was my favourite character, however. The world he came from was detailed just enough to have my curiosity piqued while giving me understanding, and he played a very symbolic role.
 
There was a subtle but interesting social commentary on hour perceptions of religion, drugs and medication, and depression and the ways we see the world that will have me thinking for a while. I also enjoy that it could stand on its own. I'll definitely read the sequel, but it would be okay if there wasn't one, too. I have some questions about the logic of the ending and the way things worked; however, overall I was immensely satisfied. There was nothing incredible about the writing of this book or the characters; however, as Badger wrote the concept well, I was pleased.
 
If you like dystopian literature, you'll adore this book.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (mais)

State of Grace is an enjoyable read… if you can get past the poor formatting and the annoying main character. Plus, I think the synopsis gives away too much. It’s basically telling you everything that happens in the book. Maybe the poor formatting is due to this being an advanced copy, which is why I did my best to ignore it and push on to read the actual story. It just…. felt like William Shatner wrote it in the way he’d say it.

There’s…… someone on the wing…
Some
….
Thing.
(more via website)… (mais)

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.… (mais)