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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.
Review:
"In a land of seven kingdoms, people with special talents, called Gracelings, are identified by their eyes — Katsa's are green and blue, one of each — although she's eight before her specific Grace is identified as a talent for killing. (While in the court of her uncle, King Randa, she swiped at a man attempting to grope her and struck him dead.) By 18 she's King Randa's henchwoman, dispatched to knock heads and lop off appendages when subjects disobey, but she hates the job. As an antidote, she leads a secret council whose members work against corrupt power, and in this role, while rescuing a kidnapped royal, she meets the silver-and-gold — eyed Po, the Graced seventh son of the Lienid king. That these two are destined to be lovers is obvious, though beautiful, defiant Katsa convincingly claims no man will control her. Their exquisitely drawn romance (the sex is offstage) will slake the thirst of Twilight fans, but one measure of this novel's achievements lies in its broad appeal. Tamora Pierce fans will embrace the take-charge heroine; there's also enough political intrigue to recommend it to readers of Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia trilogy. And while adult readers, too, will enjoy the author's originality, the writing is perfectly pitched at teens struggling to put their own talents to good use. With this riveting debut, Cashore has set the bar exceedingly high. Ages 14 — up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review:
"An assured fantasy debut....In a tale filled with graphic violence and subtle heartbreak, gentle passion and savage kindness, matter-of-fact heroics and bleak beauty, no defeat is ever total and no triumph comes without cost. Grace-full, in every sense." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review:
"Cashore...creates believable characters with enough depth, subtlety, and experience to satisfy older readers....An impressive first novel." Booklist (Starred Review)
Review:
"With a butt-kicking but emotionally vulnerable heroine, [Graceling] should appeal to fans of recent girl-power urban fantasies as well as readers who've graduated from Tamora Pierce's Tortall series." The Horn Book Magazine
Review:
"Cashore treats readers to compelling and eminently likable characters and a story that draws them in from the first paragraph....This is gorgeous storytelling: exciting, stirring, and accessible. Fantasy and romance readers will be thrilled." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review:
"Here's a wow of a book! Seeing half-wild Katsa learn humanity as she battles soldiers, storms, and her own obsessive nature — I had to know how it ended!" Tamora Pierce
Review:
"Cashore juggles her complicated plot with dexterity rivaling Katsa's....Cashore writes with an assurance that captures the reader....Intrigue, death, love, a little sex, and pitched battles create a sure winner for mature fantasy fans." VOYA
Synopsis:
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, a debut author creates a mesmerizing medieval world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will captivate readers.
Synopsis:
Romantic medieval fantasy from a debut author
Synopsis:
New York Citys spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. Theyve never met. Seemingly, they never will.
But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.
Kristin Cashore has written for The Horn Book Guide, The Looking Glass: An Online Children's Literature Journal, and Children's Literature in Education. She received a master's degree in children's literature from Simmons College. Graceling is Ms.Cashore's first novel. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
bookgirl94, September 2, 2011 (view all comments by bookgirl94)
I was amazed at how good this was, I was completely swept into the story and the world described in the book. I have always loved fantasy and this is by far one of my favorites. I couldn't stop reading this and when I heard there was a companion to this I read that just as fast. Overall this was an excellent book filled with adventure, romance, and captivating characters! It's such a creative story with a magical world.
paula d, October 19, 2009 (view all comments by paula d)
A delicious story with thorough characterizations. The heroine is complicated and reminds me of girls/women I know. I root for Katsa as I do my friends. Suspenseful and charming it's a story of intrigue, suspense, self-discovery and the inspiration of travel. It's very hard to put down.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No (1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
NinaCS, March 27, 2009 (view all comments by NinaCS)
I was positively surprised by the excellent quality of storytelling in Graceling. The story works beautifully on several dimensions, showing the developmental process of Katsa, as well as her love story with prince Po, all within a whirl of well developed plot. The frames of the actual story are well written too, and it is very easy to get into the world of gracelings. Awesome book! I hope Kristin Cashore writes more soon.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No (3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"In a land of seven kingdoms, people with special talents, called Gracelings, are identified by their eyes — Katsa's are green and blue, one of each — although she's eight before her specific Grace is identified as a talent for killing. (While in the court of her uncle, King Randa, she swiped at a man attempting to grope her and struck him dead.) By 18 she's King Randa's henchwoman, dispatched to knock heads and lop off appendages when subjects disobey, but she hates the job. As an antidote, she leads a secret council whose members work against corrupt power, and in this role, while rescuing a kidnapped royal, she meets the silver-and-gold — eyed Po, the Graced seventh son of the Lienid king. That these two are destined to be lovers is obvious, though beautiful, defiant Katsa convincingly claims no man will control her. Their exquisitely drawn romance (the sex is offstage) will slake the thirst of Twilight fans, but one measure of this novel's achievements lies in its broad appeal. Tamora Pierce fans will embrace the take-charge heroine; there's also enough political intrigue to recommend it to readers of Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia trilogy. And while adult readers, too, will enjoy the author's originality, the writing is perfectly pitched at teens struggling to put their own talents to good use. With this riveting debut, Cashore has set the bar exceedingly high. Ages 14 — up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review"
by Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review),
"An assured fantasy debut....In a tale filled with graphic violence and subtle heartbreak, gentle passion and savage kindness, matter-of-fact heroics and bleak beauty, no defeat is ever total and no triumph comes without cost. Grace-full, in every sense."
"Review"
by Booklist (Starred Review),
"Cashore...creates believable characters with enough depth, subtlety, and experience to satisfy older readers....An impressive first novel."
"Review"
by The Horn Book Magazine,
"With a butt-kicking but emotionally vulnerable heroine, [Graceling] should appeal to fans of recent girl-power urban fantasies as well as readers who've graduated from Tamora Pierce's Tortall series."
"Review"
by School Library Journal (Starred Review),
"Cashore treats readers to compelling and eminently likable characters and a story that draws them in from the first paragraph....This is gorgeous storytelling: exciting, stirring, and accessible. Fantasy and romance readers will be thrilled."
"Review"
by Tamora Pierce,
"Here's a wow of a book! Seeing half-wild Katsa learn humanity as she battles soldiers, storms, and her own obsessive nature — I had to know how it ended!"
"Review"
by VOYA,
"Cashore juggles her complicated plot with dexterity rivaling Katsa's....Cashore writes with an assurance that captures the reader....Intrigue, death, love, a little sex, and pitched battles create a sure winner for mature fantasy fans."
"Synopsis"
by Ingram,
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, a debut author creates a mesmerizing medieval world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will captivate readers.
"Synopsis"
by Firebrand,
Romantic medieval fantasy from a debut author
"Synopsis"
by Firebrand,
New York Citys spirit has been crushed. People walk the streets with their heads down, withdrawing from one another and into the cold comfort of technology. Teenagers Mal and Laura have grown up in this reality. Theyve never met. Seemingly, they never will.
But on the same day Mal learns his brother has disappeared, Laura discovers her parents have forgotten her. Both begin a search for their families that leads them to the same truth: someone or something has wiped the teens from the memories of every person they have ever known. Thrown together, Mal and Laura must find common ground as they attempt to reclaim their pasts.
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