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| Graceling | 
 enlarge | Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Category: Book
List Price: $17.00
Buy New: $8.94
You Save: $8.06 (47%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  94 reviews
Sales Rank: 1207
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.3
ISBN: 015206396X
EAN: 9780152063962
ASIN: 015206396X
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it? Graceling takes readers inside the world of Katsa, a warrior-girl in her late teens with one blue eye and one green eye. This gives her haunting beauty, but also marks her as a Graceling. Gracelings are beings with special talents?swimming, storytelling, dancing. Katsa's Grace is considered more useful: her ability to fight (and kill, if she wanted to) is unequaled in the seven kingdoms. Forced to act as a henchman for a manipulative king, Katsa channels her guilt by forming a secret council of like-minded citizens who carry out secret missions to promote justice over cruelty and abuses of power. Combining elements of fantasy and romance, Cashore skillfully portrays the confusion, discovery, and angst that smart, strong-willed girls experience as they creep toward adulthood. Katsa wrestles with questions of freedom, truth, and knowing when to rely on a friend for help. This is no small task for an angry girl who had eschewed friendships (with the exception of one cousin that she trusts) for her more ready skills of self-reliance, hunting, and fighting. Katsa also comes to know the real power of her Grace and the nature of Graces in general: they are not always what they appear to be. Graceling is the first book in a series, and Kristin Cashore’s first work of fiction. It sets up a vivid world with engaging characters that readers will certainly look forward to following beyond the last chapter of this book. (Ages 14 and up) --Heidi Broadhead
Product Description
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. When she first meets Prince Po, 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. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more. (20080901)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 89 more reviews...
 Worth My Time! July 30, 2008
42 out of 44 found this review helpful
Graceling is an engrossing read with wonderfully interesting characters and I enjoyed it on many levels. I won't summarize the plot again for this Amazon review, but the author offers some interesting thoughts on talents and personal agency that are insightful while telling a good story that can be taken at surface level for a light read if that's all you seek.
The book has a satisfying romance that is neither mushy nor too remote. It rang more true overall than most relationships that have been in my recent reading. It's not primarily a romance, although the romance is a strong secondary plot that provides some of the motivation for the characters.
About halfway through, I began to wonder about it being YA since the characters do not come across as teens. I had to go back to the copyright page and check the recommended reading age to verify that, yes, it is being promoted as YA for ages 14 and up. Really, it is a toss up either way. Not that YA isn't mature and wonderful--I read a lot of it after all--but it could have just as easily been marketed to adults. I think the majority of readable fantasy is in YA these days.
I highly recommend the novel but I have to do so with a warning. If it matters to you, the book has a rather anti-marriage message in it which fits the main character's personality, but will be the most problematic element for some readers.
Graceling is well-written with some grand adventure, musings on talents, as well as characters who actually grow and change as they learn more about themselves. It never goes for the cheap shot in action sequences although they aren't the focus of the story. In other words, I liked it. Even the few philosophies that I didn't agree with made me think. That makes it a book worth reading.
Loved it! But conservative parents take note... July 27, 2008
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
This book was a real treat to read. It was interesting on so many different levels. There is a powerful heroine who undergoes a transformation, discovering a strength of character to match her physical strength. Watching Katsa mature through the narrative was wonderful. The political intrigue was surprisingly compelling, and the mystery that drives the plot (why was this old man kidnapped, and by whom?) really worked. The romance was captivating. Even though it is obvious where the romance is going from the very first encounter, it was skillfully written. The magical elements of the story are not overwhelming, but alter reality just enough to make for a fun, fantastical world. I found myself sneaking off to read more of this book, and I was sorry to see it end.
BUT. This is billed as a book for 14 yo and up, so I think it fair to warn parents of elements they may not want their young teen to encounter. There are a couple of fairly discreet sex scenes, where the author is clear about what is going on but not very detailed. There is also a mention of a brothel near the beginning of the book (although a more offensive word is used to describe it) and there are many incidences of unwanted attention paid to girls or inappropriate comments made about them. This is a plot element, since it makes the lead female character defensive of the young women.
Also, and this is probably the "biggie" for conservative parents, Katsa rejects the concept of marriage, and there are several times when one or another character implies that it is a yoke that will force a couple to stay together regardless of their actual feelings. Being lovers is somewhat extolled as demonstrating their real trust and commitment to one another, since they are together without being forced, and love each other enough to set each other free if the love fades.
This book may actually allow parents to discuss these themes with teens, who need to decide where they stand on sex and marriage. However, some parents may decide just to skip this one if they don't want to deal with the issues.
Honestly, though, it really is a wonderful book, and I would definitely recommend it to any adult (particularly women) and most older teens, especially if they have someone willing to discuss any issues that come up for them as they read.
Unexpectedly Mesmerizing July 30, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Upon receiving my copy of Graceling, I had absolutely no expectations based on the summary. By the end of the third chapter, my expectations rose dramatically.
Graceling is about Katsa, the niece of a king, who has an extraordinary strength in combat skills. This extraordinary skill is called "Grace". Others may also have a "Grace" although the abilities vary from person to person. Some "Grace" skills are more useful than others, but all Gracelings are marked by their mismatched eyes.
Because of her unique and useful skill, she has become a henchwoman to her uncle Randa who is one of the seven kings of the world. It isn't something that she enjoys but it is something that she has come to accept.
While on a mission for The Council to retrieve the Prince Tealiff, she encounters another Graceling whose presence makes an impression on her.
Later, she encounters him again and learns that he is Tealiff's grandson and a Prince in his own right. The meeting with Po will prompt her to make a decision that will change the course of her life and her world as she and Po learn more of their Grace powers and of treachery and madness that lay within the corridors of another kingdom that will threaten the already fragile political stability of the seven kingdoms.
It sounds like a typical fantasy novel and to a large degree it is, but Graceling is so confidently and smoothly written that it felt fresh and new. The action and pacing of the plot moved at a brisk clip that I never felt bored. Ms Cashore also made good use of dialogue in that it was appropriate to the station of the characters. She also made a good decision in resisting the urge to make her characters speak in a modern rhythm. Instead, the dialogue had a classic style that gave it a timeless feel.
Which brings me to the characters! Katsa is a wonderful heroine to me. I do warn that she might not be everyone's type of heroine, especially those who are expecting a traditional sassy heroine. Katsa is a skilled fighter who is conflicted about how her skills are used. She is understandably wary of people due to the nature of her Grace and when she says that she is not interested in marriage, she really means it. She has a good heart but she can also be aloof, even dour at times. She is an odd mix of a personality that is unique for a fictional heroine. Typical for an anti-hero perhaps or a side character, but not the lead female. Because of that, I enjoyed Katsa and forgave her for some of her flaws that in another type of heroine, I might not have been so forgiving.
Katsa has friends in her cousin Raffin, her attendant Helda, and others who form The Council, a group of people throughout the seven kingdoms who work to help keep stability in the lands. These secondary characters are vividly drawn so it is easy to keep track of them and understand their importance to the story and to Katsa. However, it is in Po, the Prince who is trying to deal with his own ambiguous feelings about his Grace and searching for friends of his own, that she meets someone who can fully understand her.
And what a wonderful pair they are. It has been a long time since I've encountered two characters who were so uniquely right for each other.
This is a novel that I found unexpectedly mesmerizing. Before I sound too gushy, I admit that it isn't a perfect story. The end is drawn out a fraction too long and at times, the prose was a little too pretty. Yet those are minor quibbles because the truth is that once I started the novel, I had trouble putting it down. I even found myself sneaking peeks at work whenever I could. I would say to myself, "Just one more chapter!" And after I finished that chapter, I would say, "Maybe just one more!"
Simply put, Graceling was an excellent and enjoyable read that I will recommend to my friends without hesitation.
Minor caveat: This novel is a Young Adult novel and I recommend this book to readers age 14 and up with few reservations. However, there are descriptions of violence and a few scenes of sexual intimacy that, while neither graphic nor gratuitous, parents of children age 13 and under may want to consider prior to allowing their children to read.
 A good first novel August 10, 2008
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others
STORY: Katsa is one of the Graced. Some graced may be able to run fast or hold their breath for hours, but in Katsa's case she can kill since she was 8yrs old. She is sent on a mission to one of the 7 kingdoms. This mission starts a set of events unraveling as she tries to uncover the mystery of what started the mission and starts to uncover the mystery of Po, another graced fighter and first not to be afraid of her.
The Graced idea is perfect in our society where tv shows like Heroes have a large following.
The characters of Katsa and Po are interesting enough, though a little predictable. Po being the easier character to like due his cavalier attitude and unabashed fearlessness.
You can figure out the mystery about 1/2 way through, though the author keeps specific details hidden till later in the story, which is appreciated.
This is a fantasy story with a political mystery, but these are backdrop to the main reason for this book. . .a romance.
I've read a lot of female authors that tend to keep the action light and/or brief. That is not the case here as the fight scenes are plentiful and descriptive.
My main complaint with this story is two-fold between the age appropriate content and the lack of setting background. . .let me explain.
The book is written for 14+ teens.
The main characters are 18.
Around pg 240 is when Katsa has to determine if she is going to take Po as a lover or a husband.
Here is where the setting lacks. . .for Katsa's thoughts have nothing to do with nothing. She doesn't think about the spiritual consequences of her actions (no religion in this land?) or the political (does this now forefit Po's ability to find a wife or make her unmarriagable?)
Nothing related to the culture(s) of the world are considered as if the author didn't flesh this out at all. The single only consideration is if Katsa will be comfortable with Po after taking him as a lover. . .then they have sex. Thus, is this really age appropriate? Don't authors have a responsibility when writing for teens to give some options to their characters? I was greatly disappointed with this entire part of the book.
Though the climax of the story is a bit abrupt, it is logical.
Since the main thrust of this story seems the relationship between Po & Katsa, then it also makes sense how pages and pages after the climax the author is wrapping things up between all the players in the story, since we want to know what happened with everyone even though the main "bad guy" is taken care of.
OVERALL:
A good first effort, though author responsibility in setting and audience appropriate material would have gained this book another star if it had been handled better.
There is a lot of potential between the 7 kingdoms and the Graced. I'm hoping the author conintues because I'm sure the following stories will be stronger and deeper.
I want the sequel. Right now. August 21, 2008
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
First things first--I will be a happy reviewer if/when Amazon ever allows me to award half stars. This one gets 4.5.
Whether between heroes and villains or, more memorably, between the two heroes themselves, this fresh, young adult fantasy never runs out of conflict. The Graces are intriguing and give the Superhero convention a few neat twists; the climax and conclusion aren't predictable. But Katsa and Po are the strength of this book--complex and sympathetic characters that grow into a realistically paced romance.
There is one aspect of the romance I wish had been developed as well as the rest of Katsa and Po--namely, Katsa's aversion to marriage. Yes, after living as the property of Randa (bully king who uses her killing expertise for his own purposes), Katsa would loathe the possibility of ownership by someone else. However, Randa was never her husband, and Ms. Cashore never demonstrates that Katsa has observed a marriage in which the wife was treated as property. How then did this connection evolve in Katsa's mind? She can become Po's lover without fear of becoming his property, which makes sense, since Randa's ownership of her is never sexual in nature. Why, then, can't she become Po's wife? I don't assume this is some sort of postmodern/liberated agenda by the writer, because the book on the whole is better written than agenda fiction. But had this been developed better, readers could feel even more sympathy for Katsa; lack of understanding a character always hinders sympathy. Overall, though, Ms. Cashore's protagonists are both interesting and easy to care about.
I do have some real gripes (hence the missing half star), mostly stylistic in nature. While Ms. Cashore is already a talented writer, hopefully her style will mature a bit. She falls into a few of what I call "soap opera lit" traps--namely, tacking "and" to the beginning of sentences, and overusing direct address (we know their names are Katsa and Po, and we know *they* know their names are Katsa and Po ...). If I'm going to be petty, I'll also chime in with several other reviewers who dislike her names. I got used to "Po" after awhile, and at least it has an explanation, but I never fully forgave Bitterblue or the kingdoms, especially Middluns. This is the first book I've ever read in which character names hold the potential to limit a book's audience, as they may cause adults difficulty in taking the story seriously. And that's unfortunate, because Katsa and Po are worth taking seriously.
This is, overall, a fabulous first novel. At the outset, I am entertained by what I've read and curious about what comes next. Hopefully, Ms. Cashore will allow Katsa to grow even further in the sequel and conquer her fear of commitment; what an intriguing evolution that would be. The conclusion promises even more growth for Po than for Katsa. Without revealing the details, I'll just say that I was furious with Ms. Cashore for several pages until I realized she had taken this wonderful character exactly where he needed to go, to become the person he has to be. I'm highly displeased that I have to wait over a year to read more about these characters!
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