Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Graphia
Source: Columbus Metropolitan Library
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.
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.
One of my resolutions for 2015 is to write my reviews within a week of finishing a book. So far I’m doing well! I started Graceling around the Christmas holiday and finished it a few days ago. If I keep this up, you should have lots of reviews to read this year.
If I had a grace it would be the ability to find something nice to say about anyone (with the exception of myself). What would your grace be?
Katsa is a strong female protagonist who I really enjoyed reading about. During the course of the novel she gains friends, learns to stand up for herself when it really matters, and faces the unknown.
Katsa and Prince Greening Grandemalion, nicknamed Po, spend quite a bit of time in hand to hand combat. This could’ve been really boring but Cashore knows just the right amount of details to give to keep the reader engaged. The pacing is right whether Katsa is riding a horse to make sure an alibi stays intact or Katsa is sitting with a weakened old man.
This is the first in a series and I’m looking forward to reading the others.