Review: Graceling

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult
Pub Date: October 2008, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Hardcover, 471 pages

Synopsis

In a world where people born with an extreme skill--called a Grace--are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

My Thoughts

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book? I'd had it on my wish list for months and never picked it up until I ordered it last week. Boy, was I missing out!

This is exactly the kind of fantasy novel I enjoy reading--epic adventure, a bit of romance, and strong characters. In my opinion, a strong, well-written book makes you feel as if you are right there in the middle of the action, and Graceling did that for me. At times it was a bit predictable, but there were also many events that I did not see coming, so I didn't feel as if I had already read this story before. I also enjoyed the premise of these few people throughout the seven kingdoms who have Graces, and their different-colored eyes making them stand out for who they are. Yes, these Graces certainly make for a tale of exciting proportions--particularly Katsa's skill for killing. A skill that she wishes she didn't have, though as the story unfolds, she begins to learn the truth about herself and her Grace.

Now for the characters. Personally, I enjoyed them all, from the evil kings (Randa and Lech) to Katsa's sidekicks (Raffin, Giddon, and Oll) to Po, with whom she finds herself falling in love. Cashore also did a good job writing about their relationships to each other--I found myself quickly forming attachments. It is exciting to watch Katsa grow, thanks to Po's insight and support, and even more incredible to read the tale of her rescuing Princess Bitterblue (don't you love that name?) from her horrible father. I think that my only problem with this book was how quickly the main threat to the characters was resolved. One minute you are surprised at this person's appearance and the next they've been disposed of. I suppose it was almost a bit anti-climactic, though I still had to breathe a sigh of relief at the outcome and did garner a certain amount of satisfaction from it. But that wasn't the end--there was even a twist or two left to discover, and overall it really was an enjoyable read.

I think most fantasy-lovers would enjoy this book; I know I read it in one sitting today and couldn't wait to write the review. (By the way, can I also say I just really, really love this cover?) Now I'll be sitting here with the rest of you who are waiting for Fire to come out in October.

My rating:



Other reviews of Graceling:

Teen Book Review ~ Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
Becky's Book Reviews ~ Dear Author ~ BibloAddict
Em's Bookshelf ~ Books and Movies ~ Karin's Book Nook
YA Fabulous ~ The Book Nest ~ The Compulsive Reader
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist ~ Bookshelves of Doom ~ E. M. Reads
Fantasy Book Critic ~ Books By Their Cover ~ Read, Read, Read
The Reading Zone ~ Into The Wardrobe ~ Reading the Leaves
The Written World ~ YABOOKNERD ~ Book Nut ~ Page247
The Magic of Ink ~ About Books ~ Reverie Book Reviews
Today's Adventure ~ Everyday Reading
One Librarian's Book Reviews ~ Never Not Reading
Bookworming into the 21st Century
A High and Hidden Place

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