Review: Graceling

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-575-08530-5/Gollancz (Part of Orion Books)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

There's a place with seven kingdoms and some people there are graced with special talents. Those graced are the Gracelings and are identified by their two different eye colors. Katsa is from the Middluns and has one green eye and one blue eye. Her grace for killing was discovered after she knocked out a guy at a very young age. Katsa's uncle, King Randa, took her in and had her train so she can kill those that disobey him.

By the time she is eighteen, Katsa realizes she hates the job she does for her kingdom. So she works with the secret council and goes on missions to save others and tries to make things right. The one mission that changes her life is rescuing a kidnapped royal. She meets another Graceling, Po. The two of them start to train together and set off for their own mission. They become friends and let each other know that they don't want a husband or wife. They like being the single, fighting type.

Will they complete their secret mission and will they become more than friends???

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I actually stayed up until 3 in the morning reading it...it was that good. Katsa is such a kick butt type of girl...the type of girl that I haven't really read about in quite a long time. So that was refreshing. I pretty much imagined Jennifer Garner's character from Alias as I read the book.

Graceling is filled with tons of action...lots of fighting scenes. I think boys would enjoy this book as well. The plot had me gasping in shock and there were a few times I yelled at my book because I was so scared to find out what happened next. But of course, I HAD to turn the page.

This is a nice story about a person trying to find who she is, even though it is a fantasy type of book. Katsa is an amazing heroine, who enjoys showing her physical strengths and tries to stay true to herself. She's supposed to be all girly, but knows where her true strengths are.

I highly recommend this book to every one. I'm even going to buy this book and send it out to my niece. (I don't want to give up my copy so she'll get her own)

My RatingNow go and grab your cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings!!!


Here's the book trailer, but I don't think it does the book any justice.