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

[Vernie♡]

I'd really like to join in on this.

[Dannii]

I'm going to join, too :)

[Dannii]

1/4 of Graceling: (view spoiler)[ This began with so much world-building and backstory that much of the first 10% was dedicated almost solely to that. I loved that aspect about it, though, as I think it makes any fantasy that much more believable. Once the story really got going I was just as invested as I hoped I would be and tore through the first portion.

I love how feisty Katsa is - temper tantrums included! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4 of Graceling: (view spoiler)[Katsa and Po are just adorable together. I love how the burgeoning romance isn't rushed and how Katsa is still allowed her independence, rather than tied down by the relationship. Their decision might not be a typical one, but it is, for now, a happy one. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of Graceling: (view spoiler)[Aah the name of the third book finally makes sense now. Bitterblue is such an adorable, if odd, character name. I wonder where the Fire will emerge..?

I love how unguessable the twists in the story are. I had the Queen, and not her husband, pegged as the grandfather's kidnapper. Either her or I suspected Po. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4 of Graceling: (view spoiler)[My only complaint with this is how Katsa calls Bitterblue 'Child'. It makes her sounds like an old lady and not only a girl herself. That being said, their friendship is the absolute sweetest!

I didn't know Po was so capable of such large romantic gestures, after the arrogant character he initially appeared as. I refuse to believe that he will never reunite with Katsa again!

This does so much for its female readership! I feel empowered on behalf of the women Katsa constantly strives to fight for and, for her wish that they will one day be able to fight for themselves.

I didn't expect King Leck to actually die. I assumed he would become the villain to dominate all three books in the trilogy. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dannii]

So I was going to take my time with this series but I am too impatient to start the next book!

[Dannii]

1/4 of Fire: (view spoiler)[I was so initially confused with this! This features a different set of characters in a seemingly different world. I soon gathered the facts, though. Still puzzled over how exactly the animals are 'monsters', though. They seem to own an active consciousness that the animals in the first book did not, despite this being set in the first world.

I am loving Fire just as much as I loved Katsa. They have the same feisty attitudes and independent personalities. Both make for great, positive protagonists. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4 of Fire: (view spoiler)[After my initial confusion, I am now just as invested in this story. I am not a fan of Archer's character and Brigan seems like a far more worthy match for Fire! Just as with Katsa, Fire is slowly turning the tide of the public's opinion towards her. It saddens me to hear her referred to as a monster!

I had assumed a love triangle between Fire, Brigan and Garan was forming, until Garan unintentionally makes his intentions towards Brigan's daughter's history teacher known to both Fire and the reader. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Agnès wrote: "Oh my! Dannii, you're too quick :).
I'm only at 21% but I understand, it really seems like a great book!"

I have no idea how, as they are BIG books, but I seem to be flying through them!

[Dannii]

3/4 of Fire: (view spoiler)[I never really understood Fire's reluctance to explore the minds of the prisoners, but their conditions did improve after she spoke for them, which was a positive. Her wish not to read their minds only really seemed like a reason to prolong the plot and Fire's stay in the palace.

There is so dense with court politics and I keep getting lost with who is who! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of Fire: (view spoiler)[Not exactly a plot twist as the prologue set the ending up, but the last 25% was insanely high-paced and suspenseful! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dannii]

1/4 of Bitterblue: (view spoiler)[As much as I loved Fire, I am happy to be back in the realm of the gracelings. I found the last book a little initially confusing but this has returned to what I know. I love how, even though Fire is set in a different realm and works almost as a companion novel, elements of that book are already effecting this one.

Poor Bitterblue seems so lonely in her position, as Queen. I'm glad she has found companionship, even if it is with thieves. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4 of Bitterblue: (view spoiler)[As with the previous two books in the series, there are so many names and enemies that I keep getting muddled! I think I have finally worked my way around the plot now, though.

I'm so glad Katsa and Po have returned! There is so much still to know about their narrative. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of Bitterblue: (view spoiler)[Aah no, I hate seeing Katsa abd Po's relationship breaking down. She has been gone for such a long time and I really hope she hasn't died!

Phew! She has returned!

Why do I not trust Saf!? I feel he over-reacted to Bitterblue hiding her true identity and his insolence is grinding on my nerves! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4 of Bitterblue: (view spoiler)[This is linking the second book in the trilogy into the main narrative and I love how the two stories are aligning!

I never trusted Fox! I'm surprised Saf didn't turn into a total baddie, though, as I never trusted him either.

The ending made me so happy. Having Fire meet Katsa and Bitterblue is how I wanted this trilogy to end.

Even though I did really like this book, this was my least favourite out of the three books in the series. I found there were too many names to keep track of and too many people were lying to each other. The story ended up dragging about the half way mark, perhaps because of this reason. The ending was shocking and heart-wrenching and more than made up for it, however. I am sad to say goodbye to this world! (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading Graceling from the 6th of March 2017

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[Abi]

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Reading from the 10th of July 2017

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[areeba]

So I guess this one starts today.. Feel free to join :)

[grimple]

Okay just got home from the gym...gonna start it NOW haha

[Nassy]

I have started and on chapter 18. Im loving the book so far

[grimple]

Okay sadly I just started this because I spent all day reading Red Queen (very good btw), so now I'm on this :) Just finished chapter 1, not completely sure what's going on but I'm likin it

[areeba]

^^ Same, I just finished chapter 2 and I am rlly confused. Hopefully it will be worth it tho.

[Nassy]

Yeh the book starts up confusing but it gets clearer later on

[areeba]

Ok so I've finally got enough time to get through the first 9 chapters... (view spoiler)[I got so lost on the first couple of chapters, and at one point, got confused between Randa and Raffin. By the time I figured it out again, it got a lot more interesting. I like Raffin so far in the book. He's so carefree, laughing all the time and all- oh and accidentally turning his hair blue xD Oh and there's Po, not rlly sure what's going on with the name, but OMG THE GOLD AND SILVER EYES UGH I CAN'T. (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Just finished chapter 9! (view spoiler)[ I was confused too, it took me until around chapter 4 to start getting into it. I loved that Raffin accidentally died his hair blue hahaha. And I love that he found this random boy in the library and now he's his assistant who he talks to about herbs haha. I was confused by Giddon and Po's interaction, I'm assuming Giddon likes Katsa? But anyways I also like Po and that he laughs at everything :) (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Chapter 18, really liking this book! I want to see more of the "magic" side of it, aka more graced people. I really like Katsa, I feel like her character is going to go through a lot of growth and change. (view spoiler)[And I love the platonic relationship of Raffin and Katsa. I feel like you don't see a genuine boy/girl friendship in YA books a lot bc it's always focused on romance (hide spoiler)]

[areeba]

Considering, I've been busy today, I only read up till chapter 13 so far but I just wanted to say that (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty sure Po is a mind reader. I mean, he knows what Katsa was thinking a lot of the time. Oh and that's probably why he is a good fighter, he knows his opponents next move. And before evenn knowing him for a long time, he KNEW Giddon was in love with Katsa. Can someone have to graces? Because I'm pretty sure he does... Hopefully I'll find out in the next few chapters... (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

(view spoiler)[Hey good guess! didn't suspect it at all, I'm used to fantasy/YA main characters just being good at everything so that's what I thought was going on haha (hide spoiler)]

[grimple]

Just finished! Really liked the book :) I liked the ending. I'll definitely continue the series

[areeba]

Took a while, but I just finished! It started getting a little drag toward the middle, but starting picking up toward the ending. The ending was really sweet and I can't wait to finish the series :)

[Abi]

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Reading from the 19th of January 2018

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[Leelynn]

Chapter 14?

(view spoiler)[ So.... a Grace can be "mindreading" or whatever Po has? He's like super intuitive? Almost like Phoebe's empath powers in Charmed or something. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Chapter 20
(view spoiler)[ THEY LOVE EACH OTHER! Man Katsa, I understand where you're coming from though. You love him but you don't want to lose yourself. I get it. But don't be afraid to have someone so special in life. I doubt Po would let you lose yourself in him. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[ Holy Crap. Katsa didn't stand a damn chance against that Grace. Not to mention her actual Grace makes much more sense with everything that she can do. Also dude, Po and Katsa had sex and I laughed lol. I'm glad they finally realized their love for one another. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Chapter 35
(view spoiler)[ OMG I HATE HOW KATSA LITERALLY BECOMES A STUPID GIRL IN FRONT OF THIS ASSHOLE KING! I know it's part of his grace but damn, she really can't handle his grace and becomes... ugh so irritating! how does she even beat this guy?! (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Chapter 37
(view spoiler)[ NOOOOOOO PO IS BLIND NOW?!?!?!??! Ugh poor baby. I'm so sorry Po. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Chapter 14 - OK, I've got some questions for you:

1) In your mind, what does Po look like? I'm asking because in the earlier chapters, I saw him as just a big guy with dark hair and he didn't seem like an attractive enough guy to potentially be a love interest for anyone. Well, actually he looked like a particular character from a Disney movie - I don't want to tell you which until I hear your answer.

(view spoiler)[ 2) Does it seem like Katsa is a little too suggestable? I mean Po suggests that she be her own person, and the first chance she gets she defies the king. Also, her maid suggests that she make herself more attractive at dinner, and suddenly she finds herself attracted to some of the people around her.

3) not a question: I'm not buying this unchecked fury she has whenever her independence is threatened. I mean, we can see this turning into a desire to be with someone soon, right? I just hope that all this arguing leads to some hot romance. (hide spoiler)]

So far, I'm really enjoying the book, you?

[Jennifer]

Chapter 20 - (view spoiler)[ Aw, they are so perfect for each other! She does seem to wrestle with this idea of lover vs. marriage a little too long though! I mean she's never wanted marriage, it seems so clear that a lover would be the solution!

BTW! I can only see GOOD things coming from a lover who can read your mind during intimate times! I see lots of pleasure in her future with him! I guess there really is a danger for her to never want to leave that kind of attention! LOL! And what a bonus that he respects her too. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Chapter 24 - I love how quickly you are reading! I will be caught up to you soon!

(view spoiler)[ I was a little surprised that Katsa didn't have more mental fortitude to fight that Grace. I felt like the author was building me up to believing that she would be less affected because of all her practice in shutting out Po along their journey.

I'm a bit intrigued/scared to find out why this King is so interested in his daughter. They infer that he does something to young girls, and combined with the anger that Katsa feels whenever she sees women taken advantage of, I'm a little worried we will be reading about a child molester situation soon and I'm not excited about the prospect. It's just a heavy subject that I've read too many subplots with recently and I'm turned off. Hopefully, I'm wrong and it will just be that she is Graced with some power that he wants to abuse instead of her body. Not that that is much better, but at least it is a little less real to me since we are talking about magical powers, etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Hmm... I don't really know who I see when I imagine Po... maybe a younger version of Jason Momoa or something. I'll think about it. But for now, younger Jason Momoa.

(view spoiler)[It makes me wonder if that's why she's so gullible later on in the series. Not really gullible but exactly what you said. She's easily influenced by others, especially when it's not in her best interest. You'll see that later if you haven't already read this book.

Actually they explain that! It's not really her independence but I get it when they actually figure out what her Grace is. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

It got better towards the end for me. I'm almost done but I had to take a break to run errands. Also, regarding your one comment about the King... (view spoiler)[ Thankfully we won't have to find out about that. I was worried about that too honestly. (hide spoiler)]

[Leelynn]

Finished.

(view spoiler)[ I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, but I just wasn't excited for it. It was good, but it wasn't something I would read again (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

I like the mental picture of Jason Momoa better. I kept picturing him as looking the human equivalent of Governor Radcliffe from Pocohontas and he wasn't anyone I wanted Katsa to be romantic with. LOL.

Finished - (view spoiler)[ Ok, so...the ending was both what I wanted, and a disappointment at the same time. I knew Leck would show up at some point and ask her to hurt Po and it would break his spell over her, but the way it played out was so quick and with less drama than I expected. And then the aftermath, going back and finding Po, but him being blind. It was a bit of a letdown. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with you. I liked this book, but I don't think it will end up on my "want to re-read" list. Since it is the first book in the series, I'm wondering if #2 or the prequel will be better as authors tend to improve as they go along. Will you be reading either of the others?

[Leelynn]

OMG GOVERNOR RADCLIFFE! I definitely did not see that but who knows?! I think I just made him super handsome in my head so I could imagine the sessy scenes a little better HAHA.

And YEAH I FELT THE SAME WAY! I felt like the ending was almost rushed because of how much time was spent in the rest of the book with the other parts.

I was curious to read Bitterblue because I liked her as a character in this one, but I may read the rest. I don't know about anytime soon though since I still have some other books to read. What about you?

[Abi]

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Reading from the 5th of March 2018

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[[deleted user]]

I might start this one early. My copy is due back soon.

[[deleted user]]

hi guys... I Had to start this one early since it is due back soon.