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Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)

Kristin Cashore

Start date: March 1, 2023

Finish date: March 31, 2023

Discussion: BOTM 2023

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BOTM 2023

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* January 2024 BOTM Nominations
By Maddielucy(Pa… , Vegas, Baby!! · 10 posts · 101 views

last updated Dec 23, 2023 12:23PM

* December BOTM - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
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last updated Dec 08, 2023 08:11AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 10, 2017 Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Solid 4 stars. Fascinating fantasy world that was great for a debut novel. It reminded me of Lord of the Rings, just without the magical creatures. Can't wait to read the next one! ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: lazy-days-of-summer-shelf, owned-tbr

I have wanted to read this for a few years and I don't know why I waited so long to pick it up. I really enjoyed the book and the world and magic system. I wouldn't say it was the best writing but it was her debut novel so she can only improve from this book forward. It was kind of simple and there wasn't a ton of action that happened although what was happening I really liked.

(view spoiler) I have wanted to read this for a few years and I don't know why I waited so long to pick it up. I really enjoyed the book and the world and magic system. I wouldn't say it was the best writing but it was her debut novel so she can only improve from this book forward. It was kind of simple and there wasn't a ton of action that happened although what was happening I really liked.

(view spoiler) ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Susan rated it really liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed this story--it's well-written with a strong female protagonist, an interesting twist on the "powers" we see so often in fantasy books, and a purely despicable villain. The only fly in the ointment was the author's negative attitude toward marriage. Katsa, the main character, refuses to marry because she does not want to be "a barnacle clinging to you [Po, the person she's in love with] just so I can keep you from loving anyone else." She states that marriage would keep her f I thoroughly enjoyed this story--it's well-written with a strong female protagonist, an interesting twist on the "powers" we see so often in fantasy books, and a purely despicable villain. The only fly in the ointment was the author's negative attitude toward marriage. Katsa, the main character, refuses to marry because she does not want to be "a barnacle clinging to you [Po, the person she's in love with] just so I can keep you from loving anyone else." She states that marriage would keep her from maintaining control over her own life and would give it to someone else, and that it would destroy her independence. In other words, she wants the option to cut and run if she wants to. What a sad, misguided view of marriage. Katsa also definitely does not want to have children, which while not necessarily a bad decision, seems premature, considering she is only in her teens and has never truly been in love before she makes this decision. Her immature views on marriage and family, formed before she has any true friends, much less a true love or a positive picture of family life (she has no parents and is raised by an uncle who uses who power but does not love her) left me hoping to see some character growth toward the end of the book. But I was disappointed. Unfortunately, although Katsa performs many wonderful feats, she doesn't really grow or change all that much--except to learn that she doesn't have to be controlled by her evil uncle after all. Katsa falls in love with Po, and they solve the marriage problem (after much angst) by deciding to be lovers without marrying. I'm unsure whether the author herself believes this is a good choice--she seems to depict it as all the good things about marriage without any of the baggage--or whether she is leaving room for growth in later books. I sincerely hope Katsa learns the positive values of home and family before the end of this otherwise enjoyable series. Sadly, the negative views on marriage and family would keep me from recommending this book to teens. ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Stacey rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library

I really enjoyed the first part of the story and was intrigued with the council and the potential for adventure with midnight rescues, etc. But then that was over, and all that was left was riding endlessly through the woods, over the mountains and across the sea and then finally the big confrontation that lasted...2 pages. It was just too much aimless wandering time for me.

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May 13, 2012 Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, 5-stars, reading-challenge-2012, magic, great-couples, assassins, bad-ass-fighting-skills, i-own, polica-u-maloj-sobi

October 2013 - rereading in Serbian...
Finished it 29/10/13..a great book, but somewhat spoiled for me this time due to a very poor, at times even laughable translation. Still, one of my all time favorites.

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