The Gracekeepers

Kirsty Logan

In this half-familiar, watery world we learn of strange rituals surrounding death, and unusual circuses celebrating life. I accepted the idea of a girl living with a bear without thinking twice, which goes to show how beautifully written this story is. Overall a rather magical read and I enjoyed it.

Extract

Her body fitted the silhouette of a boy’s. Her small breasts, her growing belly: all wrapped tight, all padded and bound in white. Her body gleamed like a marble statue. The styled tumble of her dark hair, now that the crowd looked more closely, seemed more like the mane of an unkempt boy. Blink and she’s a girl. Blink again and he’s a boy. One more he turns to she, right in front of your eyes.

Parallels