Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

May 4, 2010 by shanyn

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books
Publication Date: October 1, 2008

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Book Summary:
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

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Steve Review:
Another fantasy read and another hit.  Graceling has been astounding young adult fantasy readers since it was released and has good reason to do so.  The story follows a young girl named Katsa who has a special skill that makes her near unbeatable in fighting.  Others in the kingdom that she lives in also possess various “graces” that allow them to read minds, control others, swim like a fish, or even predict the weather.  Katsa starts the book as a hired thug for her uncle who is a king but wants to do more with her life.  Enter the dashing young Po, a boy who is nearly as gifted as Katsa.  Together they get involved in some adventures that will affect the whole kingdom as well as their own families and loved ones.

Not a unique plot you say?  Sounds pretty standard you say?!  ANOTHER FANTASY BOOK YOU SAY?!!!  Well, you know it alls, yes it was most certainly a fantasy book but the story telling in it was beautiful.  Nor was it a standard fantasy novel, it took the life of a unstoppable young girl killing machine and made it relatable. While I won’t complain, the novel was most certainly directed towards the fairer sex as Katsa grows, develops, forms new feelings about the boys around her, and generally does other foolish girl things. (/me ducks to avoid the objects now being thrown at him).  The “grace” element of the book makes the story stand out as some in the kingdom are graced with an extra talent and each graced individual is recognizable because they have two different colored eyes.  Katsa and Po are no exceptions to this rule and thus are easily targeted and picked out from the normal teenagers around them, something that they grow to understand better and cope with very differently.  Their graces evolve with them throughout the story and often take unexpected turns.

This book was great, the sequel (which I believe is actually a prequel?) is already on the way to our house and I can’t wait to read that one as well.  Speaking of sequels, I have a bone to pick with you all.  I can’t understand how you all can read so many books that have different subjects and plots and review them.  If I find a book that is a part of a series (and find it enjoyable) I don’t want to read it, review it, and move on to a new book; I want to finish that series!  Sigh, you girls and your multitasking.  Let’s get to the points scale before I rant too much?

Book Cover: 4/5 – While the sword did get my attention, I thought more could have been done with the graced eyes.
Book Title: 5/5 – Fitting and interesting.
Plot: 8/10 – Young adult, fantasy, directed more towards a female reader and nonetheless very very good.
Characters: 8/10 – You learn to love Katsa, with all her pigheadedness, and you can’t help but enjoy Po’s humor.
Writing: 8/10 – Smooth, maybe just a touch too predictable for me.
Ending: 7/10 – So many questions unresolved, if you keep me hanging too much you have to get marked down a bit!

Overall: 40/50 – For all the flack that I give it about it being a “girl” book, I enjoyed it thoroughly and read through it in one afternoon/evening as I definitely was hooked.  Strong recommendation if the plot even sounds remotely interesting to you, regardless of gender.

Related Posts:

• Steve Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore
• Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• Review: The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• Review: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• Review: Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey