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Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)

Kristin Cashore

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May 05, 2012 Mrs. S rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I re-read Graceling because Bitterblue is finally here, and I had gone and forgotten much of what made this story so lovely. I actually like the third-person narration here, even though I am often a sucker for the opposite, because Cashore's rhythms and word choices give this a real fairy-tale feeling. It's much richer and darker than a fairy tale, even the real, un-Disneyfied versions, but the narration keeps it moving reassuringly along. (I wonder if that's how King Leck's words work? Yikes. B I re-read Graceling because Bitterblue is finally here, and I had gone and forgotten much of what made this story so lovely. I actually like the third-person narration here, even though I am often a sucker for the opposite, because Cashore's rhythms and word choices give this a real fairy-tale feeling. It's much richer and darker than a fairy tale, even the real, un-Disneyfied versions, but the narration keeps it moving reassuringly along. (I wonder if that's how King Leck's words work? Yikes. But it does remind me of famous fictional story tellers like Sara Crewe or the Story Girl--every time I picked the book up, it immediately started to wash over me and pull me right in.)

As much as I love Po--and truly, I can't think of a fictional couple that hits me in the heart harder than Katsa and Po--I think my favorite part of Graceling is when he and Katsa are apart, and Katsa is with Bitterblue. Bitterblue's quiet strength doesn't totally prevent flashes of her youth from coming through, and on this reading I found myself thinking a lot about Amandla Stenberg's performance as Rue. If I was making a film of Graceling right now, she's probably who I'd cast--there's something about Bitterblue that just makes you want to give her a hug, even when she's being completely brave and mature, and Stenberg has that quality coming out her ears.

But of course, Po and Katsa do deserve a mention. I love their easy way with each other, once they figure out the terms of their relationship. It's rare that we get to see a fantasy protagonist (or one in any similar genre) joke around with his or her significant other to the extent that Po and Katsa do. I know they're usually busy fighting evil and saving the world, but so are these two, and they still find time for laughing and otherwise enjoying each other. That's really refreshing. And frankly, it's nice to see a couple that loves each other and is able to commit to each other in a way other than marriage. Marriage is great, don't get me wrong--but it isn't the only way to be in love and mean it.

Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to Fire and Bitterblue! Definitely worth reading, even if you're a little skeptical of fantasy--this is a good story with great characters and relationships that anyone can enjoy. ...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Mrs. S rated it really liked it · review of another edition

May 30, 2013 Beth Adamczyk rated it liked it · review of another edition

May 26, 2015 Yasmeen Collins rated it liked it · review of another edition

May 29, 2015 SEM Library added it

Shelves: new-sem-library-books, fiction

Aug 12, 2021 Carey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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