Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)

I picked this up because Xicanti wrote an interesting review of it. Katsa is a young woman who was born a Graceling. She has two different coloured eyes which signify the Graced and makes it hard for them to fit into a society that fears them. At a young age, an unfortunate incident makes everyone

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realize that her special Grace is killing. Her uncle, the King of their country, soon utilizes this talent by assigning Katsa to be his assassin to terrify his nation into obedience. He verbally abuses Katsa, and treats her like a mad dog. Not surprisingly, this story is about her growing into her powers, taking control of her life, embarking on a quest and falling in love - typical female protagonist YA stuff I love.

The characters are wonderfully written, and are convincing people. Katsa is tough, the best fighter, tempestuous and thick-headed. She knows what she wants for her future: she doesn't want to be married, nor have children. She's great because those things don't change even though she meets her love. Good message for YA. Po, the mysterious prince from Lienid, is roguish, self-assured but compellingly vulnerable. The secondary characters, aren't one-note or one-sided. You feel that they have their own lives they are carrying on, even if they aren't the focus of the book. Bitterblue, the solemn and precocious little girl breaks my heart. The bad guy is creepy and villainous, his influence is felt throughout the book as a dark cloud hovering over the land.

What I liked about this book is that it wasn't STUPID. Usually, I figure out the bad guy's secret and then wait for the characters to figure it out 100 pages later. In this book, it was about 10 pages and I was actually shocked they were smart on their own accord (I think I've been let down by other books too much). The worldbuilding is consistent, with all the infighting of seven monarchal nations. The writing was crisp, and there were a couple scenes where I let out unexpected shouts of laughter. The scenes between Po and Katsa could be heartwrenching, and I enjoyed how they learned to work together on their quest.

I only have two nitpicks about the book. I thought it was implausible that Katsa was responsible for creating the Counsel (a secret body that is trying to fix the wrongs in the world) since she had formed the self-image of a brute from the lessons of her childhood. It would have been more realistic if Raffin (her cousin) had formed it, since he is a very intellectual and moral man, and Katsa grew a conscience by working with such a body. My second nitpick, the denouement of the book was a bit abrupt. It kind of flies by in a nebulous sort of way, and an important character gets a one sentence send off.

This book has been compared to Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet and these comparisons are merited. When I was growing up, I loved that series with all of my heart and I am glad this book follows in its footsteps. If you are a fan of that series, you'll like Graceling. However, to be honest, I think Pierce's series is superior, as I think Pierce was able to write four compelling books without flaw.

Looking back on Graceling, I think my more accurate rating would be ★★★★, but if a book forces an actual physical response; it makes me laugh out loud (like this one did) or makes me cry - which is rare - then I'll give it an extra 1/2 star.

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Writing lacks grace, plot at times is plodding, points that require answers are dismissed at the end (on reading about the prequel "Fire," I suspect they form the crux of that novel's plot).

Psychological insights ("it was just like him to turn a kind gesture into one of his criticisms of her

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character"), and the fact this book was assigned, kept me reading, until, in the later chapters, the plot and descriptions of place both picked up.

Teens may find much to ponder in one of the book's themes: the nature of evil versus an evil nature, the ability of children to break the bonds of genetics and upbringing.

However, the author's intimation that fighting is a release for sexual tension is disturbing in a YA book. Teens may well guffaw at hamhanded treatment of the theme that women can get along swimmingly without men and that extramarital sex lets you have your cake (freedom) and, um, you fill in the rest. Marriage destroys a woman's individuality? All women should learn to be handy with a knife as a defensive weapon? If this is the new feminism, I'd prefer to go back to the '50s.

Less serious flaws include the names: utterly lame as in Monsea? Middluns? Po? or else head-scratchers. Bitterblue? Is the author a Cat Stevens fan? I see her next book is set in the Dells and the king there is named Nash, so maybe she spent her youth listening to her parents' record collection. Too bad she didn't pick the Troggs, which would have fit in nicely with the whole Wild Thing thing she's got going.

Also, these seven kingdoms all seem to speak one language; the biggest ethnic/cultural disparity is the island-dwelling Lienids who -- OMG -- wear rings! on their fingers! and in their ears!

Every time I shut the book , I wondered if the cover designer had bothered to read it because there reflected in the sword on the back were two bright blue eyes.

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In Katsa’s world, people with Graces, or extraordinary skills, are feared and sometimes exploited. They are distinguished by their dual colored eyes. Unfortunately for Katsa, she has a killing Grace, and has been used by her uncle to do his bidding since she was eight years old and accidentally

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murdered a man with her bare hands. When Katsa seeks to rescue the father of the King of Liend, she stumbles upon a mystery and on Po, a man who can fight almost as well as she. Katsa decides to defy her uncle the king and set off to solve the mystery, the curious Po at her side.

I love fairy tales, especially fairy tales expanded into novels. While this is a completely new story, it feels very much like a fairy tale. It is a once upon a time fantasy with a darker edge in that Katsa’s Grace is so violent. The closest I can compare it to in style is Robin McKinley, who I recently discovered and loved. Thus it’s not at all a surprise that I really enjoyed this book too.

For Katsa, this is completely a coming-of-age story. She is disgusted with herself, with her uncle, and with the world. She knows so little about both her Grace and the wider world, though, that even as a teenager she essentially goes on a journey of self-discovery. She realizes how much she herself is a product of the kingdom in which she grew up and takes steps to become a strong, confident woman. Add in a little bit of budding, confusing romance and Cashore has the perfect combination for a teenage girl. Although I enjoyed the adventure that Katsa went on, I appreciated her believable and steady character growth much more.

Cashore’s pseudo-medieval world is also very well considered. The kingdoms that we see are distinct and interesting, especially Po’s, and the idea of Graces is beautifully developed. It’s fascinating that even people with Graces shy away from others who have them, because no one knows what particular skill might be lurking behind blue and brown eyes. Everything feels organic and natural and it’s very easy to lose yourself in this world.

Graceling is a compelling fantasy set in a fairy tale medieval world. Katsa is one of the best female characters I’ve come across in YA, with strengths and vulnerabilities in equal measure, and her adventure had me spellbound. Well worth a read for both young and regular adults.

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I went into this with high hopes after seeing Graceling appear on many 'best of' lists at the end of the year. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed.

Although the book gets off to a bit of a rocky start (the entry is a bit confusing and the flow is off - the author also clearly struggles a

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bit to set her world without being clearly expositional), it gains its footing quickly and becomes fascinating as soon as we're allowed to really settle into Katsa's head.

Although this book hits many familiar notes - special powers, marked by exceptional eyes - it also does interesting things with them. Katsa's struggle with her Grace, with what it makes her and how it does or does not define her, is well-written and interesting. Her realization of herself as a person is tied nicely into the story at large, and both of the main characters in this book feel solid, and manage to change in reaction to the events around them. They're not always likeable, but they are always interesting.

The relationship between the two main characters is well-written and a joy to watch develop. To call Po and Katsa equals is both accurate and yet misleading - part of the wonder of it is watching them realize the strengths that lie in the differences of the other and to come to terms with them, and form a partnership that, while not without its challenges, is both respectful and passionate.

Although there are places that the plot feels a bit pat - the resolution to the plot's Big Problem is rather swift and a little unsatisfying - the world and the characters are so rich that I find that I don't mind, and I very much look forward to watching Cashore develop as an author. If this is what she offers up on her first outing, I can only imagine what we're in for!

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Katsa, a young woman who possesses the Grace of Killing, must deal with a corrupt ruler whose power seems to be beyond what even she can fight.

You know all the good things you've heard about this book? They're true. Every one of them.

Cashore's setup is reminiscent of Mercedes Lackey or Tamora

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Pierce. We've got a young woman with an extraordinary power who feels like an outsider because of it. Her uncle, who also happens to be the king of her country, has exploited her for years, forcing her to dole out punishment to anyone who displeases him. Katsa hates her job, but she feels helpless. Her uncle has kept her under his thumb by convincing her that her gift makes her little better than an animal, and most of his court backs him up. She has a small group of loyal friends, but she's done such a thorough job of hardening her heart against the abuse she endures from every other quarter that she won't really allow them to support her. From an emotional standpoint, she's in a bad place. She's unwilling to reach out to anyone else, and her belief in her own self control is shaky at best.

It's a great setup, and Cashore makes it pay. She takes us inside Katsa's head and lets us experience her emotional journey as it unfolds. We're right there with her, every step of the way. I teared up more than once. Katsa's story kept me involved and tugged at my heartstrings in a pretty big way.

And it's exciting, too! The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed; they really come alive. Katsa's internal struggles are as tense and exciting as her physical battles. Her unconventional romance is handled very well, and in such a way that it blends perfectly with the action. And once the main bad guy enters the fray, the story sweeps the reader up and refuses to let her go. Cashore's pacing is great; she keeps you involved in the action from start to finish. I was hard pressed to put the book down.

it's very good stuff. I definitely recommend that you check it out, especially if you're looking for fantasies with strong female leads.

(Also reviewed on my blog, Stella Matutina).

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8th Grade and Up – In Katsa’s world, some people are born with special gifts. They are called the “Graced” and are recognizable by their differently colored eyes. But being Graced is not typically a blessing; those born with graces are ostracized; they are made the servants of their king.

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Katsa’s eyes are green and blue, and her Grace is killing. Under the power of her uncle, one of the kings of the seven kingdoms, Katsa is forced to punish his enemies and is afraid to get close to anyone save her cousin. Though she fears her uncle, Katsa has established the Council, an inter-kingdom organization which acts in service of justice, a role which is her first step to discovering things about herself that she has been too afraid to see.
Graceling is a well-developed fantasy novel with strong characters and fleshed-out relationships. The novel is reminiscent of those by Tamora Pierce, but may be more well-suited to a slightly older audience. Recommended for all teen collections.

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I loved this story, despite my issues with the audio version that I'll get to at the end of this review. It was fairly easy for me to sink into Katsa's world from early on in the book, her feelings regarding her grace and what she was made to do with it, and how she saw herself as a person. I loved

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how her feelings changed after she met Po, and she started seeing things a little differently. The romance between Katsa and Po was believable and not overdone imo. A lot of the other reviews I read before starting this book talked a lot about Katsa being opposed to marriage and children. However, this made complete sense to me in the context of the story. Why would Katsa, raised as she was, find the concept of legally giving over her freedom to a man to be remotely attractive to her? She didn't really get into her reasons why she didn't want children but as I assume Katsa was fairly young in this book, I don't consider it a negative that she didn't feel her only path to happiness was as a wife and a mother. Overall, I think this was a great book and I'm interested to see how she continues the series. Now, as far as the audio version of this book, I have a lot more to say. I initially thought that the "full cast" audio would be off-putting for me, but it either grew on me or as I became more invested in the story, I no longer noticed. However, the music.... THE MUSIC!! That was the most annoying thing I've ever listened to in any audio book. It was constant, between every chapter, used to punctuate jokes, played during the sex scene, and most annoyingly during climactic scenes almost overpowering the narrators voice. I HATED it and strongly recommend that if you're going to read Graceling, get the actual book.

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Summary: Katsa is special. Born with one blue eye and one green - the mark of the Graced - Katsa is a near-unbeatable fighter, either with her hands or with any weapon she holds. Her uncle, King Randa, has turned Katsa's Grace to his advantage, using her as his enforcer, thug, and assassin. Katsa's

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not happy with this role, however, and has started a secret society committed to righting wrongs on the sly. On one of their missions to rescue a kidnapped old man from the dungeons of a neighboring king, Katsa meets Po, who is a prince in his own right, the grandson of the old man, and who possesses a fighting Grace that can match Katsa's own. They become sparing partners, and eventually friends, but the question of Po's grandfather's kidnapping gnaws at them. Who would order such a thing, and why? They set out to investigate, but what they find is a threat so great that it might engulf all of the seven kingdoms... if they can't find a way to stop it.

Review: The short version? I enjoyed the heck out of it. I enjoyed it so much I was creating opportunities to go and listen to more of it, cheerfully volunteering for one of the most boring tasks at work, just because it's a task I could do with my headphones on. I'm actually having a really hard time putting my finger on exactly why I liked it so much, but before I start dissecting it, I just want to reiterate: Graceling was compelling, relatable, exciting, and a thoroughly great read.

In almost all particulars, Graceling is very very similar to a Tamora Pierce novel. Teen heroine who has some special ability that sets her apart from everyone else, who's good at almost everything she does, even though these powers make her somewhat of an outsider? Check and check. Romantic interest who is also special/supernatural/powered in some way, and is therefore the only guy who can ever hope to keep up with our heroine? Both have 'em. (As a side note, I now have enough of a bookcrush on Po that I'm willing to overlook his metallic-colored eyes, which is ordinarily a huge pet peeve.) Plot involving political intrigue and corruption within a medieval fantasy kingdom? Yup. A healthy mix of coming-of age, romance, action, plotting, and witty banter? Yes across the board. The only real difference I can pick out is that Pierce's books have more magic/mythology, with direct involvement by the gods, while the origin of the Graces is never really explained. There's not even a method-of-consumption bias: I listened to both of them done by Full Cast Audio (which took me a while to get into, but eventually wound up being very enjoyable; a lot of the voice actors did really excellent work). So, even though there's not much to chose between them, while Pierce's books are reliably enjoyable, none of them knocked my socks off the way Graceling did.

In fact, the only thing I can find to ding Graceling for is a bit of heavy-handed expository worldbuilding in the early chapters. The nature of the Graces, the political layout of the various kingdoms, etc., are all presented flat out in a way that doesn't feel particularly organic to the story or the characters, instead of being more subtly woven in. Still, it is a very interesting world that's being set up, and once it's established, everything flows much more smoothly, and the character development and story development are handled with considerable skill, especially given that this is Cashore's first novel. I also really appreciated both the strong feminist lead, and the overall sensibility and mature handling of some thorny issues. Overall, even though I can't entirely define *why* I enjoyed it so much, I found it absolutely engrossing, I was sad that it was over, and I already have Fire queued up on my iPod. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Fans of Tamora Pierce or those who like YA fantasy with a strong feminist twist should definitely put Graceling at the top of their list. Even those who aren't particular fantasy fans but who like a good coming-of-age story with solid doses of romance, humor, and action should check it out; I don't think the fantasy elements are prevalent enough to be off-putting.

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I don't usually go in for the whole fantasy thing, but there was something about Cashore's book that caught me. Not just the whole idea of Grace (being born with a special skill), but also the fact that the main character, Katsa, is an extremely strong female character. She holds her own many times

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and I enjoy how Cashmore explores Katsa's attempts to deal with the life she's forced to live and the world she must live in. There were several surprises, some them more dramatic than others, but Cashmore built them up subtly, thus allowing us to feel the same sort of surprise that Katsa herself feels. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but I was quite pleased with Cashmore's choices. I look forward to more of Cashmore's book, regardless of whether this is the first in a series or just a one-off.

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When she was very young Katsa's grace for killing became apparent when she was defending herself from her uncle. After that she was brought up as the King's killer, the one who was called upon to take care of problem subjects who failed to do what he liked. But Katsa was not happy with her charge

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and slowly she found a way to use her grace for more constructive purposes. While seeking to free a kidnapped old man from a neighboring kingdom Katsa happens upon another graceling, one who seems could be her match. What starts off as an unexpected encounter will eventually precipitate a change in Katsa's world that she never could have expected.

I really enjoyed the way the author took such a fresh perspective on the idea of people with supernatural powers and the way she built it into her society. I also liked the idea of the mismatched eyes. The story was very engaging and I liked all the characters you are supposed to like, especially Katsa, Po and Bitterblue, and was horrified at all the right places. I truly didn't foresee what would happen as the book went along and it was fun to sit back and be carried along with the adventure. This sort of reminded me of McKinely's "Hero and the Crown" although I rather enjoy Cashore's writing style a bit more. I can see where some of the themes may offend more sensitive people, particularly the violence and the intimacy without marriage theme, but I think it is all approached in a thoughtful and relatively non-graphic way with clear reasons given. Truly a very well written story with a strong female lead that I would not hesitate to recommend to young adults.

I would certainly be interested in reading a sequel (as opposed to a prequel) should the author decide to do more with these characters.

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It took me almost no time at all to fall in love with Kristin Cashore’s main character, Katsa, in Graceling. In this book for young adult readers, Katsa is a strong – both literally and figuratively – sharp-minded young woman who practices a well-developed sense of ethics, knows herself, and

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knows what she wants (and more importantly, what she doesn’t want). What a wonderful role model she is for the female teenagers who are Cashore’s target audience! How much better it would be for a 13-year-old to read about this type of young woman than about some swoony female who falls for a vampire because he glimmers in the dark!

Katsa has a “Grace” – a special innate ability, as is evidenced by her eyes, one green, one blue. Her Grace reveals itself when she is 10 years old and a cousin makes sexual advances on her: she kills him. Swiftly, efficiently, and without thought, she smashes him in the face, pushing the bones of his nose into his brain. Everyone concludes that she is Graced with an ability to kill, though it also evidences itself with an uncanny ability to fight, to anticipate the movements of her enemies, and to avoid sickness. Still, others born with different-colored eyes are graced with such things as an uncanny ability to dance, or to swim like a fish; a Grace for killing is frightening to most, and her Grace therefore tends to isolate Katsa.

The logical thing for Katsa’s king to do in response to a child Graced with killing is to banish or kill her, even if she is his niece. But King Randa of the Middluns thinks instead of the use to which he can put her as an assassin or at least an enforcer, and keeps her close. He is not an evil man, but he is certainly greedy, and Katsa learns to hate the use to which he puts her. When he sends her to hurt one of his lords who has refused to offer up a daughter to an unsuitable marriage for which King Randa would receive the dowry, she must make a decision about whether she intends to live the rest of her life as a king’s instrument of power.

But that is only the beginning of her story. Katsa soon finds herself traveling with Po, a young prince from another country, to find out the story behind his grandfather’s kidnapping. Katsa tries her best not to fall in love with Po, because she has sworn never to marry or bear children. She falls nonetheless, but still manages to remain true to her decisions about how to lead her life, and how to make her life one with room for fully realized love.

This is what most impressed me about Katsa. Imagine: a woman who wants to remain wholly herself, for herself! Have you ever read about such a character in young adult fiction before? Heck, how often have you read about a female like this, of any age, in any fiction? I was even more amazed when Katsa was thrown into contact with a young child, a girl of 10 who needs her protection, and still doesn’t change her mind about bearing children of her own. Even today, one is considered unnatural for making such a choice. Cashore’s decision to write of such a woman in a medieval setting it strikingly imaginative.

Katsa’s quest becomes, as so many quests do, a voyage of self-discovery, though not in the traditional sense (that is, she does not change her mind about who she is, but instead discovers more about what she is able to do). In this story, she is the hero rather than the rescued. She does the rescuing. It does not make her male counterparts any weaker, but only makes her stronger.

I fear I am making this book sound like a feminist polemic. It is not. It is an exciting and well-told tale about a pair of fascinating characters, Katsa and Po, and the challenges they face. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn; Randa’s son Raffin, for instance, is essentially a scientist who seems to have missed inheriting his father’s greed and cruelty. Still, I find this book remarkable mostly because Katsa is such a strong character.

I wish I’d had this sort of role model to read about when I was a young teenager. For me, Little Jo from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was about the only example I ever read of a girl who wanted to do something with her life besides get married and have babies – and even she wanted to write in addition to getting married and having babies. The idea that a woman could eschew the role of wife and mother was never presented to me. Thank goodness girls today know that that’s a choice, and that women like Kristin Cashore are writing characters who aren’t afraid to make that choice.

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I am not usually a fan of straight fantasy and realised there were some very polarised opinions about Graceling but I really enjoyed this. It's strong in originality - i found the concept of Graces intriguing and Cashore used this well throughout the book. A good mix of adventure, mystery, romance

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that is believable. It started a little slow but built and, for me, was a real page turner. There were also some interesting subtexts - Price Raff and Banna's relationship being one. Katsa was an interesting heroine - hardly stereotypical - physically and mentally strong while still being vulnerable and likeable. Katsa's internal conflicts added nuance to the plot and the romance. Po too was a strong character that didn't fall prey to stereotypes. I've found usually if the female character is strong in a YA novel then the male character is less well developed but I don't think that is the case here. Their romance was hardly standard and all the more interesting for it.I'm really looking forward to the second in the trilogy.

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Graceling is set in a world where certain people are born with Graces. The Grace of deception, the Grace of fire, and more. Katsa's Grace is killing. She found out about it at a young age when she accidentally killed a man trying to touch her, and her uncle King Randa soon began using her as a

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thug. This is Katsa's story as she grows into her own woman, investigates a mysterious kidnapping, and falls in love.

I've seen this book around, but when I saw it at the library, I decided not to put off reading it anymore. I really liked it. I haven't read a lot of stand-alone fantasy novels, so it was nice to see one. It doesn't have the constant action and adventure I was expecting, but it is a thrilling read. The story was fascinating, especially Graces and the Council. I'd like a sequel about the Council's doings around the seven kingdoms, but Bitterblue will do.

The romance was just right. I like how compatible Katsa and Po are from the beginning. At times, I thought Katsa was too invincible. The fact that she could survive absolutely anything brings down the suspense. But I enjoyed reading about her inner turmoil as she was used by her uncle, as she decided to step away from him, as she was falling in love with Po. I wasn't a huge fan of the anti-marriage, casual sex attitude, but I understood Katsa's point of view.

I'm looking forward to Fire, which I put a hold on at the library. I'd like a more vulnerable female character, but I guess young adult literature (and literature in general) has plenty of those. For every Katsa, there are a thousand Bellas. And no, the similarity between Katsa and Katniss was not lost on me. ;)

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Spoiler at the end only

I both liked this book and didn't like this book. The writing was promising. Kristin Cashore's style was graceful, fluid, without excess descriptions, and I associated with most of the characters.

I enjoyed the world that she created. I very much liked the concept of

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Gracelings, the seven kingdoms, the Villain, the Gracelings eye colors and skills.

The pace of the story was pretty good, I felt the climax was all the sudden just *there* and then *BAM* gone and then your off again running towards the next phase of the story. It felt rushed and I wish there had been more time for explanations, it was very hurried.

I had a hard time with her views on kids and marriage. Now I understand that she is young, although we do not know her exact age, I suspect she is in her late teens based on other age descriptions for Raffin and Giddon, and yes when I was a teenager I couldn't fathom having a husband and children. SO while I understand that, I didn't appreciate how Po and Katsa enter into a sexual relationship with seemingly NO other physical touching/love between them. While Katsa does realize that she loves Po, and Po loves her, they seem to miss the whole 'dating' concept of a relationship where there is kissing, hand holding, other soft touches and just hop in the sack together. Then, after they decide to be sexual, she takes seabane. Now while not ideal, It is hard for me to judge because we do not know what year/century/modern knowledge there is for birth control in this book. Perhaps that is the only thing available in her time. I do not know.

I will encourage people to read this book, even if you do not agree with the sexual message, it could open up communication between you and your teens reading this book.

I did not like how it ended. Period. I really wanted Po and Katsa to remain together, even if they did not get married right away. I was actually pretty mad that Po just let her walk away and that Katsa felt the need to train an army rather then stay with the person she supposedly loves.

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I first became interested in Graceling after reading a review at The Book Nest. I'm glad I followed her recommendation, because pretty much from the first page I was hooked. This is the perfect summer read for either laying by the pool or relaxing beneath a shady tree.

Our heroine, Katsa, is

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blessed, or cursed at times in her opinion, with a grace. In Katsa's world, a grace is a sort of innate ability that certain people are born with. Graces can be as simple as being able to play the flute really well, or as powerful as being able to read minds. Katsa's grace just happens to be killing, and as such, is exploited by her Uncle, the king, to preserve his own power and ensure that his demands are met. Katsa's role as royal enforcer often leaves her troubled, and somewhat afraid of her own powers. Deep down, Katsa is also lonely, although she doesn't realize it. That is, until she meets Po, a prince with a powerful fighting grace that seems to rival her own. As Katsa learns more about Po, and his mysterious grace, she also learns more about herself and finds the freedom to choose her own path.

This book was pure fun. The story had plenty of action, beginning even from the first page, and I found Katsa to be a complex but likeable character. The romance was sweet, without being overly sappy, although I did find Katsa's negative views of marriage as somewhat puzzling. This may sound strange, but I also really enjoyed the antagonist in the novel. We don't actually see much of his character, but his grace was just so sneaky! Cashore kept me guessing to the end as to how or if he would be ultimately defeated. I am glad that I gave this book a try and I plan on reading Fire, Cashore's soon to be released second novel.

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I wish I could give this *more* than five stars! There is so much to wonder at about this book - the characters are strongly drawn, it's exciting, heart-wrenching and suspenseful, and Cashore's writing is simple, yet wonderfully descriptive. She tells so much in so little, and I want nothing more

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than to spend more time in these character's lives.

Katsa is an incredibly compelling young woman: Graced with an almost superhuman talent for killing (and possessing the different colored eyes that differentiate the Graced), she is still very believably vulnerable. Because her Grace is so frightening, and because her uncle, the King, uses her as a threat and punishment for those of his kingdom who fall out of favor, Katsa is feared by most, and protects herself from their fear and rejection by hardening her heart to all but a very few.

Determined to offset the terrible things her uncle sends her to do, Katsa, with the help of a growing number of like-minded friends, created and runs "missions" for the Council, a shadowy group that rights as many wrongs as they discover. It is during one of these missions, the rescue of another King's father, that Katsa meets a young man, also Graced, who changes her life.

So, so, so, so, so, so good. I read this in a day and a half, and have half a mind to read it again. I'd recommend this to any who enjoy Tamora Pierce's books, and most anyone else. And I'd challenge anyone that reads Katsa's story to finish and *not* wish he or she were Graced...

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Summary:

Katsa is Graced with the power to kill the roughest, toughest and most trained of men, even without a weapon, hands tied behind her back and underwater. She and other Gracelings are marked by their distinct eyes, always unmatched in color. Katsa's Grace makes her extremely useful to the

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King Randa as a bully and thug and she is thus feared by all but a select few friends.

Then, when Katsa meets Po, the youngest son of the King of Lienid, the Seven Kingdom's sole island nation, she is stunned at his fighting capabilities that finally challenge her amazing skill. As the two form an unlikely friendship, they discover that intentions are almost always irrelevant and that perceived truths are not always steadfast.

My Take:

This book was not quite what I expected. I expected something light, fast-reading, entertaining, but altogether forgettable. What I actually got was not a whirlwind YA Fantasy, but a rollicking earthquake of a novel with real characters, a fantastic new world and a heroine that thinks and feels and kicks some major butt. Plus to top it all off, the book also has a smart plot that keeps your heart rate up the whole way.

My only complaint about Graceling is that the narrative started off a little slow for me. After the novel's initial scene follows several pages of details about the land of the Seven Kingdoms, its people and the general workings of the land. This was probably necessary to the narrative, but was most certainly boring.

However, once you fall into the world of Katsa there is no going back. I was so relieved to finally meet a heroine that feels real. That might sound a bit odd seeing as she's a Graced killer living in an imaginary world, but I felt myself instantly attaching myself to her because she is allowed to truly develop as a character throughout the book, which is also true of Po and which is also the main reason I think this book is different than most other YA fiction I've ever read.

Overall Grade: A
Would I read it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it to others? Yes!

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In Katsa's world, those who possess a Grace, an unusually powerful skill, recognized by their different-colored eyes, are often shunned and avoided by the ordinary people. Katsa has it worse than most Graced, for her Grace is the Grace of killing, a Grace that her uncle, King Randa, uses to keep

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his subjects in line.

But Katsa is sick of always obeying her uncle's orders, being forced to perform these tasks she hates and having to hide her good side. Still, she sees no way out of her miserable, savage life...until she meets Po, a prince from a faraway island kingdom, whose secret business coincides with hers. Po is Graced with the art of combat, and they are well matched in fighting.

A friendship develops between Katsa and Po, and they are thrown together even more as they set off to defend their world from the clutches of a powerful and dangerous king. Katsa must contend with her wild nature if she is to get to know Po, if she is to learn about the truth about their Graces and characters. Together, they may just be able to save their world and make it a better place.

The characterizations of Katsa and Po in Graceling are incredible; it's impossible to not like them and feel for them as they struggle with their internal conflicts and emotions for one another. On the other hand, I felt like much of the plot-conflict in this novel was thrown in almost helter-skelter; conflicts were suddenly introduced and resolved in a matter of pages. I would have liked more back-story, so that I could've better understand Katsa and Po's world. That being said, Graceling is still an incredible debut fantasy novel, sure to appeal to all fantasy lovers who also like a good romance.

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WOW! What a book. I stayed up all night to finish this. I had to force myself to put it down and get a few hours rest and in the morning I woke up and went right back to reading it.

The characters are so strongly developed. They feel real to me. There is so much to admire in Katsa but she still has

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flaws and insecurities, which prove her to be a real person. None of the characters are one-sided, they all have flaws and skills and worries that make them relatable and allow the reader to love them. I found myself almost brought to tears at the most emotional moments in the book. Kristin Cashore did such a wonderful job describing the relationship between Po and Katsa that she made me love Po as well and thus I cried at his losses.

In fact, every element of the book is so strongly developed. Kristin has created a whole other world, complete with trade markets, politics, evil tyrants, wars. I can easily slip into it and believe it's real.

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In the land of the Seven Kingdoms there are people born with special abilities, and the way to tell them apart is by their eyes – one of each colour. They are called Gracelings, and their power is their Grace. Katsa is a Graceling, and her Grace is killing, which is exploited by her cousin, the

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King – Katsa is his assassin and thug, doing his dirty work intimidating, maiming and killing whoever opposes him.

But Katsa keeps her mind, and has started to do some work on her own, trying to put right the wrongs done by all the Kings of the Seven Kingdoms. And when the Lienid King's father is kidnapped, she has to investigate.

This kidnapping is the connecting thread in the story, present from beginning to end, and although more quests and subplots are added to it, it does not deviate from wanting to know who kidnapped Grampa. That was one of the main things I loved about Graceling, the fact that by the end of the book I could still see the connection to the beginning of the story.

One thing that I can say about this book is that it was so much fun to read. I had a smile plastered on my face the entire time (which meant people looking at me oddly on the train), and there were a lot of parts where I was chuckling and snickering.

The story was very captivating, even if not exactly surprising. It reads well as a standalone (although there is prequel published and a sequel announced), the story has a beginning and an end. And regarding the ending, I confess to be dreading it when I was coming close to the last pages. There were merely 50 pages ahead of me and most of the plot was yet unresolved, and with no prospects of being resolved soon. But I needn't fear – when the end came about it was perfect and fulfilling.

I loved the characters one this book (so much that it saddens me that Fire is a prequel and not a sequel). It was easy to love all the good characters, and fear the evil ones. And even if the ending was fulfilling to the point that I consider the story finished, I still want more, more adventures with those characters, more time exploring that world, because I absolutely loved it.

Graceling is a very good fantasy book, that seemed almost impossible to put down. And that smile that I had when I was reading stayed on my face long after I finished the last page. Truth be told, it comes back every time I think about this book. A fun read, and most importantly a great read.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts

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Another book (strongly) recommended by my sister.

A Graceling is a person with a gift, an almost magical ability to do something (although it's never referred to as magic). Someone Graced with speed, say, or swimming, or juggling can perform feats in that area that no regular person could hope to

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achieve. In Middluns, Gracelings are feared no matter how benign their Grace may be, and that fear is multiplied with Katsa's killing Grace. Even her uncle the King fears her, though he uses his authority to force her to dole out punishment across his kingdom. But what if she decides she will no longer only be his pawn?

Katsa is a wonderful character who grows constantly and believably over the course of the book. I was so surprised by some of the plot developments that I exclaimed out loud several times. The only thing that bothered me was the climax of the book - with such an enormous build-up, the climax was shockingly brief and unsatisfying and I was concerned for most of the rest of the book that something was wrong and things were somehow not what they seemed.

I enjoyed Graceling from beginning to end, with that one exception, and I am looking forward to the upcoming books in the series.

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When you are as much of a fan of fantasy as I am you end up reading about a lot of awesome adventures, surreal magic, fantastical worlds, and thrilling battles, you also unfortunately read a lot of sexist crap. Women can do this, they can't do that. Women either marry or go into the convent or

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become a shrew. Women can't fight, can't defend themselves, can't learn certain trades, can't rule, can't lead, can't strategize, can't go anywhere alone, or do anything without men's approval. It. Gets. Grating. This coming from someone who loves fantasy but who also gets a little sick of being told what her gender can and can't do all the time.

Then comes Graceling. What am awesome, surreal, fantastical, and thrilling breath of fresh air! Graceling is set in a medieval era Europeanish world called The Seven Kingdoms. There are wonderfully complex politics at play and fiendish plots afoot and then we get to the people. Certain people within the various kingdoms are called Gracelings, these people have been Graced with a specific talent. Our main character, Katsa, learns at the tender age of eight that she has been Graced with the talent of killing people when she accidentally kills her step cousin who was making unwanted advances.

She is then trained by her uncle the King and instead of being given a position of prominence in the kingdom for being Graced she is treated more as a lap dog that gets sent to do the dirty work. This all changes when she meets Po, a prince who has been Graced with combat skills. Plots are uncovered, alliances are threatened, politics come into play and soon Katsa finds herself involved in a quest to save a kidnapped child. Her special Grace is needed desperately, but is it in the way she expects?

I loved this book. Carried all the way through was this fantastic feminist message that shined through Katsa. She was tough and spirited though granted she was a little wild at the beginning, but that's to be expected after being treated like an animal by her uncle's court. She was feared and mistreated more for her Grace than her gender, which was refreshing. While she was strong she also had true heart that made her endearing and human. The romance also was wonderful to read about. It was built up slowly and believably and remained respectful of them both, so rare in YA romance. It was a welcome addition to the story.

The world she was in was amazing as well, and not just because of the fascinating concept of Gracelings or the complex politics of the Seven Kingdoms. Marriage was a choice for women, not a need. Men were permitted the luxury of feeling and even of crying when all was lost. Gender conformity was not an over-driving need as it is traditionally in fantasy and that was true straight to the last and I'm glad the author made that tough call. That is not to say that all was roses. There were still unwanted sexual advances and comments made about various young women, there were still attempts at forced/arranged marriages, and there were still kingdoms that chose not to educate or empower their women or teach them how to protect themselves. But for a fantasy book, a genre famous for brutally enforcing gender roles, this book was amazingly progressive. It made Graceling a wonderful and magical rare breed of truly empowering fantasy centered around a truly powerful woman. I loved it and look forward to reading the other books set in this magical world.

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Finding oneself and along that path developing friendships are the common threads that bind this fantasy with that of the real world we live in. Cashore has the ability to effectively weave plot development and setting descriptions with character dialogue that comes together in a tale of adventure

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and romance. The characters mature with the help of one another—Katsa develops into a full-fledged individual that she never thought she could ever be—with the help of Raffin and Po, while Po realizes his Grace’s true abilities actually heighten his awareness of life—with the help of Katsa. Aside from the fantasy setting, this original tale presents serious issues of personal identity, wholeness, death, and manipulation of individuals; the Seven Kingdoms must struggle, as we must also, to answer the poignant issues. Overall, Cashore delivers an heartwarming and exciting read. And a note to fans: two more companion novels are in the works!

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Through Graceling, Cashore created a beautifully captivating world where Kasta, a Grace, meets and falls in love with another Grace, Po. These characters are raw and engaging. The adventures they partake in are well though out and never boring, and the deep connection shared by the two of them is

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quite breathtaking The struggle, pain, love the characters experience is expressed from the deepest parts of the soul. Even if you are not a huge fan of fantasy and far off places, this book will engage you on any level.

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