Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1) in The Dusty Bookshelf

Feb 03, 2019 Tiffani rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, read-in-2019

Graceling is a young adult fantasy with a bit of romance. In the world author Kristin Cashore has created there are seven kingdom with seven kings. Some people in this world are "graced" with a special gift or ability. For instance a person might be a gifted cook or swimmer. Katsa, a young girl from the Middluns kingdom, is graced with fighting skill (or so she has been told).

What a treat this was to read! There were so many things I loved about this book, the first being Katsa. Katsa is a mach Graceling is a young adult fantasy with a bit of romance. In the world author Kristin Cashore has created there are seven kingdom with seven kings. Some people in this world are "graced" with a special gift or ability. For instance a person might be a gifted cook or swimmer. Katsa, a young girl from the Middluns kingdom, is graced with fighting skill (or so she has been told).

What a treat this was to read! There were so many things I loved about this book, the first being Katsa. Katsa is a machine. When she fights, nothing seems to be able to stop her, not even an army. But I didn't just like her because she was a physically strong female character. I liked her because she knew who she was and what she wanted. She doesn't want to get married or have children. She doesn't want to be someone's puppet. She wants control over her own life and she fights to make it so. She is strong willed and a sense of right and wrong that she comes to on her own.

I also loved Prince Po, the man who brings changes to Katsa life (but does not change her). Like Katsa, Po is a gifted fighter but he is no match for Katsa. He readily admits this without any ego. I'm still thinking this through but one thought I had while reading this book was that in some ways Katsa and Po have switched the usual gender roles. Katsa is the bold, strong fighter, while Po is the one who is emotionally intelligent, able to sense people thoughts and feelings and acting accordingly.

I also enjoyed the different portrayals of power. There are seven kings but only three really factor into the story. One king is what I think of as the gangster king. For years he compelled Katsa to be his muscle, sending her to maim or kill people who owed him money or who otherwise disobeyed or disrespected him in some way. Then there is the mad king who physically and mentally abuses his people. Finally there is a king who "looked at his people, instead of over their heads." This king might never consider doing any kind of manual labor, but he could have a sincere conversation with a manual laborer about that person's work and his or her dreams and aspirations.

I was visiting a friend and she thrusts this book in my hands, insisting I read it. I'm so glad she did. ...more

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Feb 07, 2013 diana rated it really liked it

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like the book but I read it anyway because of the so many good reviews and all the positive feedback I heard about it.
And damn. It was unexpectedly good and I loved every bit of it!

"I love you," he said. "You're more dear to my heart than I ever knew anyone could be. And I've made you cry; and there I'll stop." ...more

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Jan 01, 2015 Amani Haak rated it it was amazing

Fantasy readers everywhere should read "Graceling"!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The world that Kristin Cashore created is amazing. I loved the characters. The plot was great. I loved everything about this book. In fact, I was hooked from the very beginning and never grew tired of reading it.
...more

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