Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Paperback, 480 pages
2009, Graphia
ISBN: 0547258305
Series: Book 1 of Graceling
Synopsis
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
Review
I found Katsa to be a very interesting character. The growth in her personal life as well as with her Grace was what really made the novel work for me. I truly loved all of the characters and felt for them as they suffered through their own struggles.
Po's issues effected me harder than I would have imagined. What he deals with towards the end of the book was uncomfortable for him and I physically felt that discomfort. I was annoyed until I realized that it wasn't the story line that was bothering me, but the fact that he was so unhappy. That right there blew me away. Writing that gets under your skin in such a way is very hard to find.
The world Kristin Cashore created is vast and filled with vivid imagery that makes it possible to envision the kingdoms with ease. I really enjoyed Graceling and will be reading the prequel/companion novel Fire in the future.
Rating
Links
Kristin Cashore's blog
I agree with you on everything you mentioned in your review. Especially what you said about Po. The fact that Po was so unhappy made me unhappy as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! This sounds like a book that will stay with you for a long time!
ReplyDeleteI gottta gotta read this.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this book, but I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to put it into my classroom or not. This book was difficult for me to figure out if it was really an adult book masquerading as a young adult one. I find that any time that there are sexual circumstances in a book that I go back and forth on putting the book in my classroom, especially if it has such a catching cover like Graceling does. What are your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteWow! I thought I was the only one that Po's unhappiness got to! I loved Graceling, and mind you, at the beginning I did not want to read it much-- so imagine my surprise when I finished it. I think I even cried, like you said, her writing does get under your skin.
ReplyDeleteGreat Review! =)
Glad you liked it!! I have Fire on my TBR list too. :-).
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this, it was one of my fave reads last year! Fire is great too :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard very good things about this book but haven't read it. I might need to push it up on the TBR stack though. Good review!
ReplyDeleteI really need to get my hands on this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you liked this. I think you'll like Fire even more :)
ReplyDeleteI loved Graceling, and loved Po! The character I felt the worst for was Bitterblue, it sucked what she had to deal with.
ReplyDeleteThat said, like you I'm eager to read Fire.
Well, this definitely sounds really interesting. Like you said, writing that gets under your skin and makes you really feel for the characters is powerful writing worth reading.
ReplyDeleteJennifer @ www.justicejennifer.com