Oh yes, Angie, I used the map A LOT. Just liked I used the map when reading "Fire." ("Fire" takes place outside the seven kingdoms.)

Some questions are answered in "Fire," but since it takes place 35 years before "Graceling," probably not as many as I'd like. Her next book which is a followup to "Graceling" comes out next spring I think.

Wow I loved this book. I am so glad I read it. I could picture the story so vividly in my mind the whole time I was reading it and loved it. I could see the mountain pass that Kasta and Bitterblue went through, hear the wind, knew it was freezing. I just loved it.

I also like how this book kept going into different unexpected directions. The plot kept me on my toes. I expected an all out war at Leck's castle when instead the book went into a totally different plot.

Not sure how I felt about Po becoming blind. I really didn't think that was necessary unless it is for an upcoming book? I also am assuming Prince Raffin is homosexual and I kinda wish that was mentioned not just hinted at.

I love how we really don't know much about the things Lech did to the children and the animals. That makes him even more scary to me.

I am not sure either about Kasta shaving her hair. Not that women can't do that but it reminded me of Britney Spears a little break down so cut your hair off.

I wish more could've happened with King Randa as well. Originally I thought that was what the book was going to be about and then she left that court and that was that really.

Did anyone find themselves using the map in the front of the book?

My thoughts exactly - she needed to flesh out Leck more. She started to - when she talked about how he craved power over poeple...but it didn't go far enough. And he also reminded me of the Dark Materials series.

I did enjoy this book though, it was a nice plot overall and I thought Cashore did an excellent job of staying true to her characters.

I gave Graceling 3/5. It was a fun read and I love how Katsa kicks arse. I like Po as well in the beginning.

In fact the beginning of the book is the best part of the book. This is strange because I would expect the best bits of the book to be in the middle or at the end. Otherwise, why bother reading a book until the end?

The middle part of the book lags because of the romance which is lacklustre at best. I thought it will be more exciting after they escape from the castle but instead we get served with a romance plotline I couldn't care less. For me, their romance is most exciting when they're still at that flirty stage in the castle.

As commented by other people, King Leck lacks characterisation. Who is he? Why is he evil? And just to repeat what everyone had said, the whole incestuous father-daughter thing has already been done before. I read Deerskin before so when it was first mentioned that King Leck is acting strange towards his daughter I immediately thought pervert father wanting to rape his daughter!

The resolution and the end of the book is brought at a pace which is too swift.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of characters to love. Bitterblue, Raffin and Bann (whom I agree should get together. I totally feel something there)

Overall, I would recommend this to guy or girl. It's a quick fun read.

Here's my critique. If you want to see the whole review, go here:

Graceling Review

To be honest, I was expecting this to be another poorly written fantasy/romance about a teen girl with powers or who has fallen in love with a boy who has powers and is conflicted between having a normal life and pursuing love at the cost of leaving her previous life behind—the reluctant and conflicted main character…or even worse, narrator, and the highly predictable ending. I know that there are plenty of readers who long for exactly that kind of crap…I mean book…but not me.

All of that said, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Cashore’s debut novel is not that kind of novel at all, but is, instead, the story of a complex character, told in 1st person narrative about the inner struggle between our inner animal and violent instincts and our desire to be civilized and human, or rather, humane. It’s also an interesting commentary on the concept of meekness, which, in truth is not weakness but actually restrained strength. Katsa has to struggle with the ideology that just because one has the power to kill and maim, doesn’t mean that one should.

This applies as well to her thoughts regarding kings, that they should be for the people, not just men who abuse their state in life. Also, there is a parallel between Katsa’s Grace and her ability to tame it, and King Leck’s Grace and his malicious abuse of it that juxtaposes the two sides to the philosophy.

Lastly, Cashore ended the novel in the perfect place, rather than a quick drop from the pinnacle of the climax, where Katsa kills King Leck. She resolves some of the open elements left in the book and continues to create interesting developments with the characters.

I liked Graceling. Looking back, if I compare it to Cashore's second novel, "Fire," it is a little undeveloped in terms of world building, but it is an engaging romance-driven novel with some untraditional views on marriage and commitment.

Overall I thought it was a good read. It wasn't amazing but it wasn't amazingly bad either. It was a good retreat from what I was reading (and agonizing over) in my AP English class at the time which was a good.

I read Graceling over a year ago, when it first released. I flew through the first three quarters of the book, absolutely in love with it and in awe of Kristin Cashore. The last quarter of the book slowed down for me when Po and Katsa were separated, and I realized that the driving force of the novel (for me) was their romance, and I wished I'd cared more about other aspects of the novel to keep me hooked. But overall, I thought this was a fantastic debut.

And to reply to a few comments earlier: I also saw Raffin and Bann as a couple, and I also thought the resolution with Leck unfolded too quickly, leaving it a bit anti-climatic.

Megan wrote: "Julia wrote: "Did anybody else see Raffin and Bann as a couple? "

I also picked up on this. Maybe it was Raffin's reaction when Katsa asked if he was in love with her as well? Or maybe Katsa's d..."

I wondered that too, especially with regards to Raffin's and Bann's reactions to the question.

Julia wrote: "Did anybody else see Raffin and Bann as a couple? "

I also picked up on this. Maybe it was Raffin's reaction when Katsa asked if he was in love with her as well? Or maybe Katsa's discussion of how she and Raffin had spoken of getting married "for convenience."

Jessica,

If we both saw it, and I bet there are many that didn't, others saw it too. Randa disowns his son for temporarily having blue hair, this could be much bigger. Certainly there are fantasy world where it is not a concern, too...
Check fanfiction.net

Julia wrote: "Did anybody else see Raffin and Bann as a couple?"

Me too!!!! I'm shamelessly in love with slash fanfiction, so my mind immediately went in that direction. Hmm...that makes me wonder if there is any slash fanfiction about Raffin and Bann...

The king who "falls in love" with his daughter, unfortunately goes way back. Perrault who first wrote down "Beauty and the Beast" and other Disney-fied stories also wrote "Donkeyskin," which Robin McKinley wrote into the lyrical and terrible novel Deerskin. Also see The Armless Maiden ed by Terri Windling.

The years it will probably take to undo King Lek's evil are interesting. A concussion bringing blindness, I've never heard of that. Will Raffin be able to "cure" that? Is Prince Raffin Graced? Or very, very skilled?
Did anybody else see Raffin and Bann as a couple?
DeerskinThe Armless Maiden And Other Tales for Childhood's Survivors

I enjoyed the novel overall. I felt the pacing was a bit stilted in the middle.

I agree with Lynne when she said, "If I had one problem with this book, it would be that the resolution with Leck came too quickly. I don't think he got to flesh out his full evilness. His demise was a little anti-climactic." We see the villain only twice? Both times he is not well developed and we only hear descriptions of his deeds, until the final pages. Leck reminded me a bit of His Dark Materials, especially with all of the sliced bodies. I think the addition of pedophilia to a YA book is exceptionally disturbing. I am not sure I would have wanted to read about his deeds up close.

I think Cashore is a talented writer and balances description and dialogue well. Her idea of being "graced" was one that I found fresh and original. A welcome read.

I really liked this book and am looking forward to reading "Fire" and "Bitterblue".

THe characters were well defined and likeable, especially Po, Katsa and Bitterblue. Leck is probably one of the great, creepy villians of all time.

If I had one problem with this book, it would be that the resolution with Leck came too quickly. I don't think he got to flesh out his full evilness. His demise was a little anti-climactic. If it had been otherwise though, this would have been a different book altogether. A typical (but still very enjoyable) fantasy/adventure. I am glad that more of his story will be told in "Fire" however, as he is a very interesting character.

The main focus of this book however, was not the adventure, but the coming to grips with the true nature of their graces for Po and Katsa. As such, Leck is only a minor player. I believe the point of this book was to explore the journey that both Katsa and Po experienced in coming to fully embrace their graces, both the good side and the bad. To learn to be in control, rather than be controlled.

We all have our grace, that personallity trait which most fully defines us. And like Katsa and Po we must realize that that trait is both our greatest strength and our biggest weakness, two sides of the same coin. Only in realizing and embracing that fact can we most fully become who we are

I read Graceling when it was first published. I really liked the fact that Katsa was a strong determined protagonist assigned an seemingly hideous grace (initially) but grew as a character. I also liked the love story and the fact that she wanted to remain her own woman no matter how much she loved someone else. Po was given the choice to accept her decision or choose a more conventional life. I hope there will be another book with these characters, meanwhile, I look forward to reading Fire as soon as it arrives in my library.

I loved this book. I'm starting FIRE tomorrow! :)

I loved this book, just because the female character was so empowering and smart. Kasta was one of those people that fought for every breath and every chace of redemption that she could possibly get. She never laid down and play dead. Also I love it when they make the girl physically and mentally strong.

Not only that but Po was an excellent ying to Kasta's yang. The two of them really balanced each other out.

The plot in the story was also amazing, just the way that the writer used so much foreshadowing to drop hints of what was to come.

I don't usually read fantasy books, but this one was a welcome surprise. The story was a bit on the long side, but the plot was also suspenseful enough that it pulled me through it (although I did thumb ahead on more than one occasion because the pacing was killing me and I had to know what was going to happen to a character). I liked how unconventional Katsa was, especially for her time and place.

And how about those humorous little one liners here and there? Definitely loled a few times while reading. Katsa was actually kind of funny in a very unintentional way.

I really enjoyed Graceling, and I wasn't even in the mood for a fairy tale, and this is really a full length novel fairy tale.

I thought the characters were all interesting.

I loved how Katsa's grace turned out to be something different. I loved how the end wasn't prolonged and how it took me by surprise.

I'm not sure whether or not I'll read the two companion books but I'm really glad that I read this book.

I really liked Graceling. The idea of Gracelings was interesting, and the characters were strong. Right now, I'm reading Fire and so far it's good.

well I really like Gracling until about 1/2 way through, it got boring, and it couldn't hold my attention

I loved Graceling. The characters were awesome, the writing was good, it had a compelling plot … Over all, it was just great. :) I'm waiting for my friend to finish reading Fire so I can borrow it from her. Haha. :D

I will be starting Fire next week and I cannot wait for Bitterblue to come out.
My favorite parts was when she was in survival mode with Bitterblue.
I really enjoyed learning about the Gracelings, they are very interesting.

I loved this book. I thought that the characterswere well developed and progressed throughout the book, yet they all stayed true to themselves. Katsa grew up a great deal emotionally speaking and yet she retained her convictions for which I was glad to see.

The story was unique and intriguing and the dialog and descriptions were beautifully done. Did I mention that I loved this book? lol

Well, now that I've finished the book, I have to say that this is definitely one author I want to read more of! The characters are delightful and well thought out. The plot is engaging. The resolution of the main problem in the story was somewhat anticlimactic (I was expecting a great battle scene or something), but I cannot say this is a bad thing. It was actually kind of refreshing. I'm going to let the book sit in my mind some more before I post here again.

What was your overall feelings about the book?