Graceling Realm Series by Kristin Cashore - Reading 'Graceling (Graceling Realm #1)' from July 3rd 2019

[Lane]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ I was hoping that Po got his vision back but now I don't think it really matters since he's learning to adjust. The ending was a little anticlimactic, but maybe I'm just used to a cliffhangers and a lot of drama. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

@Lane

Maybe so... (view spoiler)[ I really didn't think she was going to make it, Grace or no... (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Started Bitterblue. So happy to see her again, although I'm secretly hoping Fire and Brigan will show up somewhere. Just a cameo!
(view spoiler)[ I keep getting confused about all her advisors; Cashore likes political intrigue so it will be interesting to see how that all plays out -- I almost feel like they're trying to make her a little bit of a puppet... especially after that scene with Judge Quall being brought back all upset and shivering. I am very curious as to what Teddy and Saf are doing stealing gargoyles. That combined with all the other weirdness about Leck's castle makes me wonder if they have anything to do with all the missing people. Very curious to see what Teddy and Saf are really up to. I think it's good for Bitterblue to be out at night meeting her people and seeing what life in her city is really like. Reminds me of Prince Jonathan in Tamora Pierce's In the Hand of the Goddess. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

So I like this book... I do. I think. It's been nice to see Katsa and Po again. (view spoiler)[Disappointed Fire is only a hanging on the wall, come on Cashore, give her back to us a little. I really do like Bitterblue as a character, and I like all the intrigue as usual. But honestly, so much of this story feels like Bitterblue wandering around going, gee, I wish I knew what was going on, and just continuing to find out more that she doesn't actually know but not really having any answers to... well, anything. Knew Runnemood was trouble, annoyed no one will ever listen to Bitterblue. And I'm sorry but I can't stand either Saf or Giddon and I'm a little annoyed that now I have to feel sorry for Giddon for losing everything. Saf I wanted to like but he's being a straight up jerk. And none of the stuff so far about Leck makes any sense. (hide spoiler)] Still can't quit reading though. I hope, especially since this is the last book that we get some resolution here.

[Ryn]

This book just keeps getting grimmer and grimmer (view spoiler)[ It's almost to the point where I'm saying, really? why, just why? All of Leck's atrocities and the suicides, grief. Thiel jumping off the bridge was just brutal. I get it, and the callous reader me was saying, he's probably better off if he just jumps because he's never going to be able to live with what he's done. But it's getting Harry Potter relentless on me here.

But the tunnel! They're going to find the Dells! YES! (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

YAY!!! Ms. Cashore, I will forgive you everything that makes me unhappy in Bitterblue. (view spoiler)[You brought our lovely Fire back! So happy to see her and Bitterblue together, I seriously almost cried. I didn't even realize until she showed up how much she and Bitterblue do have in common and what a help and support she can be to a young queen in a huge mess. I came around to both Saf and Giddon, I suppose, but I'm glad neither of those romances really went anywhere. She might marry Giddon eventually. I can live with that, meh. While it's a little unnerving that someone can create a character like Leck, and no one in their right mind wants to read about what he enjoys, she did a creditable job and he was pretty believable. Ugh. I think I liked the resolution; Cashore did a very nice job tying up the truly nagging loose endings but did not happily ever after the story. It felt real. The story isn't ending, Bitterblue will have years and years of hard work to restore her kingdom, but the worst is behind them, they're on the road to recover and it's just time for the reader to take his (her) leave of them. (hide spoiler)] So very happy I finally got the chance to read this series -- ironically, Graceling was my least favorite of the three.

[Edit~A]

Ryn wrote: "about 70%
I can understand why this book may not be for everyone. Lots of political machinations. I've never really minded that as long as I'm pretty clear on who people are, so this book works for..."

(view spoiler)[ I actually knew that she killed her father, cause that was hinted couple of times. And yes they were cute, but at the same time I was annoyed with Fire when it came to Archer. She slept with him, knowing that he had feelings for her, she used him, that is cruel. I am sad that he was killed, I actually liked his character a lot, and wanted him with Clara (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Ryn wrote: "Fin
Meant to not comment dump, but I ended up having to read on the phone while my kiddo was in the hospital all morning (she's fine). Hard for me to try to comment on a phone tappy-tappy keyboard...."

(view spoiler)[ I liked Nash and Mila's twist. That was unexpected but WOW! I wish they got a book! And yes Archer was fun lol I wish he was alive so he and Clara could be together! And OMG I agree with you, I love how the author brought Fire and Brigan together, without her "cheating" on Archer (even when they were not together) or anything, that's why I hate all Sarah J. Mass's books, cause she doesn't create the change between couples organically. While this went naturally. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Finished Fire

(view spoiler)[ I am just confused when it comes to them calling animals monsters, still can't get that part, tbh.... Cause in the first book they were just animals.
And I didn't get what she was actually, a graceling, or a being that created graceling, I am kind of confused, cause the word monster does not sit well with me. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Starting

[Ryn]

@Edit

(view spoiler)[ The word monster threw me a lot too and I never really liked it; I wish she had used a different one. The other confusion is that it's a completely different kingdom -- there aren't monsters in the seven kingdoms where Graceling took place but Fire takes place on the other side of the mountains. Cashore said later that it came out of a sort of throwaway comment she made about Leck in the first book where he said he was from a land where monsters came out of the air and sea. When she went back to do another story and decided to go back to Leck's origins, that was what she'd already written and she had to kind of go with that. I never really saw Fire as cruel to Archer, really. Men and women use each other all the time often by mutual consent, Archer wasn't celibate other than Fire either, so I don't know that this was a big issue for me. I liked Archer too; Clara would have kept him in line I think. They would have been good for each other. (hide spoiler)]
Good luck with Bitterblue!

[Amanda]

Starting I've wanted to read this for a long time now. Anxious to see if it lives up to the hype, but also nervous that I may have false expectations. Once again my theory about books with maps will be tested.

[Edit~A]

Ryn wrote: "@Edit

[spoilers removed]
Good luck with Bitterblue!"

About Fire and Archer (view spoiler)[she was cruel because she knew he loved her and she was annoyed by that but still slept with him, and admit it or not it does give a person a hope. And if she loved him as a friend, she shouldn't have done it to him. I wasn't talking about Archer sleeping around, that's different cause he knew she didn't love him. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

pg 96 20% (view spoiler)[ I love how she reacted when Giddeon was mad Po hit her. Like she can defend herself, it's a fair fight. Also I think Po is tye only person who will be able to understand her. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ of course she wouldn't want a marriage, hell, even a relationship with Giddon. He doesn't love her for who she truly is, rather who he wants her to be. He doesn't accept that she doesn't want to have children or be a housewife. He wants her for who he wants her to be, not who she really is. And yeah, I wouldn't want a relationship with a man who I'm tougher than. She will emasculate him. Ugh and then he insults her after she denies him. "Who would want a lady killer?" "Do you ever expect to receive a more attractive proposal?" God, the ego!! "Po isn't honorable. He won't ask you." Ugh how childish. SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU. I have been on her side of this same scenario before and it is maddening.

Also, I had a feeling Po could read minds. But honestly, how do you even tell someone that kind of thing? (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of part 1 (view spoiler)[ now she and Po can go live happily ever after. But wait.. there's more. Now she and Po go on an adventure to hunt down his uncle's kidnapper? Please tell me there is more to the plot than that. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ It's hard to imagine a culture where there is no dating and it is just married or not. Where a woman loses individuality when married because she becomes property. For someone as independent as Katsa I can understand her apprehension. But I believe that Po is the kind of man that she could be with and not lose that part of herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 23 (view spoiler)[ omg this started off so slow. I mean at least the first 10 chapters were slow. I almost set it down. But holy shit I'm so glad that I didn't because this plot is incredible. I'm only half way through and I can see why everyone has been raving about this book. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 24(view spoiler)[ ahh i like this child. I know the title of the 3rd book is Bitterblue so obviously she's going to remain in this story. I wonder what the latest age is for a grace to appear. If she remains normal i wonder what kind of role she will have (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 27 (view spoiler)[I love that she has enough sense to leave him behind even though her heart doesn't want to. She sees the bigger picture in things. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 34 (view spoiler)[ ah fuck. Just when things were starting to go well. Damn how in the world can they manage to survive this. Can't say that I expected this to happen! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Finished 5 stars. Will return for sequel as soon as I get it, I have a hold placed for a copy at the ebook library. :)

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting July 3rd 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Aly]

chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ This is alright so far, but I don't really understand what the bigger plot is. Finding out who kidnapped that old king? Maybe he wasn't really kidnapped and it's a ploy of some kind? I like Po, he challenges Katsa. And he can read minds I think? That's cool (hide spoiler)]

[Alex]

I've actually read this book a couple years ago when I was in my dystopian reading phase. Now that my tastes (and me!) have matured a little, I'm interested in what my final thoughts will be!

[Aly]

Oh that's cool! Sometimes you like something more or less, it's fun to see changes.

[Susan]

I have put off reading this book for so long. I've heard mixed reviews on it but that never stops me from picking up books with mixed or bad reviews. I saw this book on my shelf and it fit so many of the things I needed for a couple challenges and thought why not.....OMGosh, I keep slapping my head wondering why it took me so long to read this book. I found all the other books in this series on my shelves too andplan on continuing with the series if I still love this book by the time I'm done reading it. So far I'm lovingit.

Chapter 1-14
I like all the characters so far. I'm not a fan of Randa. He's an over grown bully with a crown. He's taking advantage of Katsa and her ability.
(view spoiler)[
Randa treats Katsa like she's his puppet on a string. I love that she goes out to do Randa's dirty work and she isn't doing what he asks at all. She's awesome for just knocking them out and not killing them or taking their fingers..

I worry that it will catch up to her and what Randa will do to her. The last chapter I was reading Randa was sending her to force King Ellis to bring him one of his daughters and their dowerry to him. She refused to do that and now she is going to face Randa's punishment. I worry for her.

What did you think about Giddon marriage proposal to Katsa? I think she is falling for Po? I was shocked when he revealed his true Grace. Do you think Katsa was over reacting to his reveal? I thought her reaction was a little over the top and then to talk over him when he was tryingto explain how his Grace works for him. She just jumped to what she thought and never did let him explain it to him. That's the only issue I have with most YA books is the communication or lack there of. Drives me nuts.

Up until Po's ture Grace I loved the book so far. I love that Katsa, Giddon, and Oll went out on their own to rescue kidnapped grandpa's. No one had to be killed. It was an amazing start to the book

Did you like it as much as I did? I love when I instantly fall in love with characters. Katsa is a badass character who I know I'm going to love (I hope I continue to enjoy her character as she grows and develops )

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the books so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Susan]

Aly wrote: "chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

I like Katsa too and Po I hope is going to be a love interest deeper into the book. Once she can forgive him. I haven't given the grandfather a lot of thought but I guess I should. I got irritated that Katsa wouldn't listen to what Po was trying to explain about his Grace. That's the one thing that annoys me about a lot of YA books is the lack of communication and listening skills. Other then that I look forward to Katsa's growth

[Aly]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I don't understand why Katsa is so reluctant to be with Po. She knows he's a good guy and wouldn't try to control her. Hopefully she changes her mind. They book is okay paced, but still having a hard time figuring out the bigger plot. Maybe her uncle will come for her since she left his court? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ I really hope Po is okay. The fact that he gave her his ring worries me that he is dying. The trip through the mountains was crazy, only Katsa could have made it (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ It's sad that Po lost his sight, but at least his Grace compensated for it so he can function well. I still don't see why she won't marry Po, maybe that changes in the next book. The ending was pretty open so lots can happen. Maybe I'll listen to it (hide spoiler)] Susan and Alli, let me know if you plan to read the other books