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

[[deleted user]]

23% (view spoiler)[ aww I love that Gideon is in love with Katsa. She is so clueless. I guessed it just when Po realized it. But I think Katsa only likes Gideon as a brother. He is falling for Po though. I don’t know who to root for!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

30% (view spoiler)[ omg!!! Po is a mind reader!!! That is soooo crazy I had thought that when they first started fighting. And when they first met and told Katsa that he trusted her. I feel sorry for Po now. There is no telling what Katsa will do!!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

46% (view spoiler)[ “you’ll be safe with me, Katsa.” Leck sounds guilty! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

85% (view spoiler)[ are you kidding me??! They went through all that for Leck to find them here!!!? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

86% (view spoiler)[ finally! Leck had to die. I did not like him! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

100% (view spoiler)[ Finally I was starting to not like Po and his self depricating! I like that Katsa doesn’t give up on him and I am still trying to figure out how he lost his sight? (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Starting a bit early for this one!

[Rae]

Chapter 1-5 (view spoiler)[ I feel super bad for Katsa, I mean she didn't asked to be born that way and now everyone treats her like a freak... a dangerous I will kill you where you stand freak, but still they are so mean...lol (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Chapter6-29 (view spoiler)[ This is really good!!! All that talk about not wanting to have kids and then Bitterblue shows up and you mommy of the year! I hope she doesn't let them find out where Poe is! (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Chapter30-35 (view spoiler)[ I need a Katsa in my life! Who throws a dagger through someones mouth!!!! BADASS!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Yay!!!! Hes back!!!

[Wolf (Alpha)]

Can I join?

[Rae]

Chapter 36-fin (view spoiler)[ Holy crap! He's blind!!! Katsa really did open up and accept herself and Poe, I can't wait for the next book!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Rae]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "Can I join?"
Hola!!!Just finished but Ill comment!

[[deleted user]]

Rae wrote: "Chapter 1-5 [spoilers removed]"

Now that she is a teenager it’s an advantage but when she was little it was a curse. I think.

[[deleted user]]

Rae wrote: "Chapter6-29 [spoilers removed]"

I got that same vibe. She’s be good as a mommy!

[[deleted user]]

Rae wrote: "Chapter30-35 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah that was a little surprising how she just did that. Kinda reflex. No thought put into it. I liked it!

[[deleted user]]

Rae wrote: "Chapter 36-fin [spoilers removed]"

I really didn’t like that that happened to Po but I guess we will find out if it’s an advantage in the next books. Lol.

[[deleted user]]

Wolf (Alpha) wrote: "Can I join?"

Come on down!!! We’d be happy to have u. I really don’t know whose thread this is. I just jumped in. Lol.

[[deleted user]]

22.0% (view spoiler)[ Yeah she saved all of the men and now she is not feared anymore! I am curious why the first book hasn’t really continued. It feels like reading a whole new book except for the very beginning about Leck. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

32.0% (view spoiler)[ I sense a romance budding. Brigan is gonna finally be nice to her instead of wanting to kill her. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

50% (view spoiler)[ Yes hitting Selin was a good way to show him he was wrong!! Stop talking bad about the Lady Fire! U go Hannah! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

81.0% (view spoiler)[ Say it ain’t so! That cannot be archer! I hate Leck now more than I did before! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

98.0% (view spoiler)[ Oooh I knew there had to be a happy ending to this nonsense! Long live the queen! Well, Nash is still alive so Brigan don’t get to be king just yet and Fire doesn’t get to be queen yet either. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ Oooh I love Epilogues! Mila and Nash, sitting in a tree! I know juvenile! But cute! (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Starting a day late -- got backlogged with another book and my hard copy didn't make it here in time. I'll post tomorrow!

[Ryn]

Chapters 1 - 7
Started this as an audio since my hard copy never did arrive. I actually had to start it twice as I tend to have a hard time getting into audio books, and the first time did not go well. So glad I did. Absolutely loved it from the go.
(view spoiler)[The whole kidnapping/rescue was beautifully done; the worldbuilding flows really naturally through it. We've walked into the middle of a story, but Cashore handled that effortlessly without bogging things down in too much explanation. Katsa's grace is fascinating and makes sense; she reminds me a lot of Katniss. I also really liked the Council and her determination not to let a grace like hers be all she is. I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

PS @Rae and Cinthia I feel bad for all the Gracelings. Crazy discrimination going on there.

[Ryn]

Chapter 14
I had a suspicion for a while that (view spoiler)[ Po's grace was something else. I'm reeeaaallly glad they explained how he was still such an exceptional fighter because it was nagging me to death. A shame that someone with a grace like Katsa's is still so prejudiced against him. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

hahaha, silly Katsa (view spoiler)[ Just go with it already. It's been obvious to everyone in the world that you and Po are crazy about each other. You're a good fit.

I love the exploration of Graces, and that Katsa is more than just a killer. I've wondered for a while how she could do so many things, just like I wasn't convinced Po's Grace was fighting early on. I can't call the plot in a way that's annoying -- she's doing a great job of building this, and I love the nuance and complexity of the things that make the Gracelings themselves (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Done.
Such a great story! I can see why it was a big hit. (view spoiler)[ I was actually yelling "No!" at Katsa when she wouldn't kill Leck the first time, and I just about cried when Po got hurt. Katsa is C-R-A-Z-Y for going over the pass, Grace or no. And I must say, I was stunned when she nailed Leck in the throat. Gruesome picture... but so badass... (hide spoiler)] Definitely a recommended read.

[Edit~A]

Starting now

[Ryn]

Reading Fire now. I'm slow this month for some reason, but wow, so many great books.

[Lane]

Up to Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[ Woah Katsa's a baby! I was not expecting her to be so young. And I love Helda already. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Fire, oh Fire... such a sweet wonderful character. Seriously, how did Cashore take the exact same template she used for Katsa and create someone so incredibly different. Although the more I learn about Leck, the happier I am (view spoiler)[Katsa put a dagger through his throat... (hide spoiler)]

So this book is leaving me with so very many questions right now. Where are the Gracelings in the Dells? Where did all the monsters come from and why aren't they anywhere else in the kingdoms? Are monsters and Gracelings connected somehow?

Fire and Brigan are such a bad idea from a political standpoint that I can't figure out how in the world Cashore will ever make that work out. Maybe it won't. But I do so like Brigan. I'll take him if Fire passes. I love that (view spoiler)[ he has the integrity to judge her for herself and not just for her father, in spite of his first instincts -- I can't really blame him, but I'm glad he's not a slave to them. I love how hard she wants to leave a mark of good and not one of evil. I don't know really how I feel about the whole monster thing -- it's a little jarring after Graceling, particularly the whole monster human thing. I even like Small. I'm just waiting for Leck to enter the picture, although I think I'd be perfectly happy if he didn't. I happen to like this story just fine without him. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 1-10

(view spoiler)[ So far I like the book and the story. I was wondering, is it possible, that the reason behind Po's apology to Giddon, cause apparently he has a 'right' is that Giddon is Katsa's betrothed and she just doesn't know about it? (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Lane wrote: "Up to Chapter 8

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Haha she's not, that was a memory (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 11-20
(view spoiler)[ Awwww, I can relate to her fear, cause that’s exactly what I feel... :/ i love how the author switched the roles in this book, and the guys suggests to be whoever she wants him to be, that the guy ACTUALLY suggests it. I enjoy the book so far (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Chapter 21-32
(view spoiler)[ I like Bitterblue! The girl is too cute, I am glad that we are going to get a book about her. I am actually glad that every book is going to be about different characters. I can't wait to see, when they will go back to Po, and save him, the story is really interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ OMG, I feel so sad, why? it's so devastating, like seriously, and ironic, that he can see, but he can't... I lived Po's father's character a loooot~ he was THE kind king, not that Leck, I feel bad about what happened to Ashen. I want to see more of Raffi. And omg, Skye is amazing :D Him and Raffi are my favs (hide spoiler)]

[Edit~A]

Starting

[Ryn]

@Edit re: 1-10 That.... would be so absolutely horrible. So like Randa too, but on man imagine if that had been true. Katsa would have been livid.

[Ryn]

To Ch 19
Hanna is ADORABLE. Such a scrapper. Honestly, there are so many characters I like in this story: Brocker and Clara and Brigan, (view spoiler)[ even though he started out being a hater, I can understand why. I even like Garan. And even Archer, even though he's stupid about Fire. I liked Graceling, but I think I like this story even better. I struggled a little to really love Katsa, but Fire is just so sweet. She struggles so hard to do the right thing, and even though I understand why they did it, it seems harsh to be mad at her for not wanting to use that power to manipulate people. Service to the kingdom or no, it's a hard thing to ask of Cansrel's daughter when he abused his power so badly and did so much damage. I'd be terrified of falling too far in the opposite direction myself if I were her. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

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 me. I like all the intrigue. (view spoiler)[ Fire and Brigan are so cute. And another twist... so Fire actually sent Cansrel to his death. I didn't see that coming. I can't really blame her though. I felt the same way about Leck in the first book and about Janis in The Forgotten. It feels horrible and callous to say, even about a book character, "That person needs to die," but seriously... no other way to stop them sometimes. Hitler was kind of like that. Her own father though... and SO MANY crazy relations in this book, goodness. I think everyone is related to everyone. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

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. I need to be able to just TYPE.

I loved this book. Really. I would read this one again in a second. I'm wishing and hoping these folks show up somewhere in Bitterblue. I'll miss them so much. (view spoiler)[ I wish Fire had killed off Leck when he was little, haha. And Archer, oh Archer. You were kind of a jerk but no one could really hate you. Love that Fire proved herself to so many that she was accepted so broadly; that bridge for her was wonderful. Reminds me of MLK and being judged by the content of your character -- she has so much integrity and fought so hard to do the right thing. And I really do like that Cashore was able to write Fire and Brigan together reasonably. I still can't quite wrap my head around Nash and Mila though. (hide spoiler)] Such a great story!

[Lane]

Edit~A wrote: "Lane wrote: "Up to Chapter 8

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ omg okay good. I was soooo confused. Like how are all of these people trying to marry her lol. Had to go back and reread. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

End of Part 2

(view spoiler)[ Po is a mind reader! For a while I really thought he must have eyes in the back of his head or something. It's crazy that he can kind of pretend to be other Graces by just reading minds to hide his real Grace. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[ I really hope they can get back to Po eventually. That scene with Bitterblue trudging through the cold was actually giving me anxiety, so happy they made it. I don't know what they're going to do without Po's extreme mind/world reading. I feel like everyone's Graces are like evolving. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

@Lane Was that (view spoiler)[ over Greller's Pass? That whole section was brutal, wasn't it. Katsa's fracking crazy, I don't care what her Grace is. (hide spoiler)]

[Lane]

Ryn wrote: "@Lane Was that [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes! I feel like her Grace is really some kind of invincibility, not even just survival. She's unstoppable. (hide spoiler)]