Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover

Tiadone has been forced to live her entire life as a female accepted as male in her community in order to survive as a firstborn child. But when she needs to pass the rites of manhood, she finds the Creator may have use for her feminine traits after all.

Tiadone is a female who has been declared a male to save her life.  She lives in a village that believes first born daughters cannot care for their elderly, so must be declared male or they are left outside the walls to fend for themselves.  An only child, her parents declared her male and have raised her as such.  Her mother dies and she is raised by only her father for most of her life.

There are many trials and tribulations one must go through to become an adult.  She just wants to belong and not be an outsider anymore - to be one of the men.  But, as time passes, her body begins to change as well as her emotions toward her best friend Ratho. In a time when it could become her undoing, Tiadone has to make some decisions about what she wants in her future as well as really knowing who she is and what she is to become.

A deftly built world sets the tone for captivating novel.  I was just entranced with all of the details and how they survived in such a simple world.  Tia really grows throughout the story.  In a male dominated world, she tries to carve out her own niche.  A well written and entertaining novel.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.