Graceling by Kristin Cashore
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Book Reviews of Graceling
Book Review: A Girl with the "Grace" of Killing
Summary: 5 Stars
"'I don't kill men who steal three acres of lumber from the king', she said, 'and then pay for it dearly in gold. It's more the sort of crime that warrants a broken arm or the removal of a finger.' She moved toward him and pulled the dagger from its sheath. He breathed slowly, staring at the eggs and fruit on his plate. She wondered if he would vomit or begin to sob. But then he moved his plate to the side, and his overturned glass and his silver. He stretched his arms onto the table before him. He bent his head, and waited." -- From Graceling
I can't recall when I first read about Graceling by Kristin Cashore, but what I DO remember is that I was so intrigued by its premise (a land where some are born with two differently colored eyes and have an extraordinary "Grace", hence the name "Graceling"), that I made a note of it.
I kept the title at the back of my mind, looking for it in bookstores when I remembered to seek it out (unfortunately, I never came across it in brick-and-mortar bookstores), and then added it to my Amazon WishList.
Despite having loads of books scattered about my house, mostly for review, I wanted to relax with some good fiction--my personal type of "escapist" reading. So I bought Graceling from Amazon...and began to read.
Early on we discover that Katsa is graced with killing (or is it that *really* her Grace?), and are plunged immediately and relentlessly in her timeless, unusual world.
In Middluns, some Gracelings are essentially useless (read: of no use to the king), and are allowed to live with their parents. But in the kingdom of Middluns where King Randa presides, those whose eyes "settle" into two different colors--and show a potentially useful Grace (such as mind reading, fighting, swift running, enormous strength, or incredible vision) are sent to live in Randa's court...and to serve his whims and wishes.
I won't spoil any of the juicy details by providing too much plot, so fearless reader, you may read on!
Towards the beginning of Graceling, the plot seemed bogged down with kingdom descriptions and Katsa's initial treks to do King Randa's bidding. In fact, when I had a back injury that confined me to a recliner for days, I just couldn't push my way through those parts--so I didn't pick the book up for several weeks.
Now, had I received Graceling through the Amazon Vine program (for free), or perhaps picked it up at the library, I would have put the book down and likely not have pick it up again.
But you know how it is when you pay full price for something...you're much more inclined to stick with it, to get your money's worth and all that.
And I am SO glad I did!
I just finished Graceling, and it was one of the finest fiction books (Young Adult OR Adult) that I've read in a looong time. Halfway through the book, where the action really notches up, I began to realize WHY author Cashore establishes some of the characters and environment as she did in the beginning--the parts I previously thought were slow and a tad boring.
I became thrust in Cashore's well-drawn world, eagerly looking forward to breaks in my day to steal away some time to spend with Katsa and company. Let me tell you, dear reader, there is SUCH a great payoff in the end (several, actually!), that I felt not only gratified at the time spent reading Graceling, but also satisfied at how the author "resolves" some of the issues presented in the book.
Although this book is recommended for ages 14 and up, I think maybe it should be for teens 16 and up (because of violence and other...um, situations...both actual and implied).
With a strong, likable heroine owned by no one, Graceling explores what it means to be human--and how trust, friendship, and love can shape and soften the "wildness" of a girl led to believe that killing was her only "gift"...and value.
P.S. I highly recommend that you DO NOT watch the "trailer" for Graceling here at Amazon.com! It includes spoilers in my opinion. (And I envision Po to be a whole lot hotter, to boot!)
-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book
Book Review: strong debut novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Kristin Cashore's Graceling is a wonderfully surefooted novel that pleases from start to finish. It is set in the land of the Seven Kingdoms, where some (Gracelings) are born with a particular talent ranging in scope and usefulness: mind-reading, fighting, cooking, climbing trees, etc. The main character, Lady Katsa, has a fighter/killer Grace which she usually employs (rarely happily) in the service of her uncle, King Randa as his "muscle." The story opens with a bang (actually some flying kicks, savage punches, useless swordplay, and so on) as Katsa uses her Grace for her own purpose, performing a daring rescue of an old man, kept prisoner by another king. On the mission, she meets another Graceling fighter, Prince Po (son of yet a third king).
The rest of the book explores several plot avenues. One is Katsa's growing revulsion at how Randa forces her to use her Grace and her fitful attempts to control her Grace and her anger. Another is the mystery as to why the prisoner was taken and who was behind it. A third is the deepening relationship between her and Prince Po as they travel together. And yet another is the mystery surrounding yet another of the kings of the Seven Kingdoms.
On the surface, we've seen much of this before. The singular magical "talent" some are born with (LeGuin's Powers series is another good exploration of this relatively common idea), the awkward burgeoning relationship between two young characters (see any number of YA), the character fighting against his/her own powers; a spunky young princess. But truth is there isn't a lot of wholly new out there; what differentiates the very good, good, middling, and bad, is what you do with the usual ingredients. Cashore, it turns out, is an excellent cook. There isn't a misstep or bad taste anywhere here, making Graceling one of the better reads of the year.
The plot is compelling throughout with excellent pacing--not overly long, no abrupt shifts or lagging sections, lots of tense moments but not piled up one atop the other, good breaks of humor and more quiet moments, mysteries that are resolved at the right moments, twists and turns that connect logically and are well set up.
The characters are strong in their own right--sharply defined, individual, complex (Katsa more than Po but he is fully three-dimensional and gets his own special complexities toward the latter parts of the book) and as compelling as personalities as the plot is for tension and mystery. Their characters are revealed in a variety of equally skillful ways: interior monologue, well-crafted dialogue that doesn't feel crafted, actions both subtle and large. Side characters are also nicely sketched in efficient strokes: Katsa's servant woman, Randa's son Raffin, Po's brother. The villain is a bit abstract and amorphous, but this is more due to plot requirements than poor writing and its very abstractness adds to its horror.
The relationship between the two of them is also well done--handled in much more adult fashion than we usually see, skipping over the cookie-cutter "let's instantly hate each other, bicker endless and falsely for half the book, then resent falling in love and bicker some more over that, then give in and be a couple" form so prevalent. It feels more real than 90 percent of the relationships in fantasy books.
Beyond the big picture of plot and character, there are many lovely moments throughout the novel: wonderful moments of dialogue, of interior thought, of description (though less so) and some great set scenes. The novel exhilarates in both the large and small. It wraps up as a fully independent story, and there are two "companion" novels (not strict sequels but set in the same world and very roughly around the same time) planned, one of which comes out in the fall. I'm looking forward to both. Very highly recommended.
Book Review: Adventure, Fantasy, and a Strong Female Lead
Summary: 5 Stars
in a sentence or so: Katsa is Graced with killing. meaning, she's virtually indestructible and capable of just about anything. while she's on a secret mission she discovers a man who is Graced with fighting and, through some unforeseen and very unfortunate circumstances, will be her companion to stop a wicked king of unthinkable acts.
everyone born with a Grace (noted by two different colored eyes) are sent to their king. the king then decides what to do with them - keep them for his service, or send them to live in their villages and freak people out for the rest of their lives. and king Randa just could not pass up having an advantage like his niece Katsa in his court. with the ability to inflict immense pain to those who defy Randa, she proved an amazing asset. obviously, she hated being used like a wild animal in this way and started doing things her way. when Katsa is rescuing a kidnapped noble, she discovers the reasoning behind the actions and gets to know the people she meets along the way which permanently alter the way she sees the world, her Grace, and her purpose in life.
okay, so i had heard tons of buzz about this book on the ya lit circuit - both by bloggers and by the recognition it received from official channels. and i can confirm that it was all worth it. the characters are complex and thoughtful, while the plot is constantly twisting and creative. the landscapes are so vivid and there is a sense of plausibility to the whole story, which i personally find very refreshing in fantasy books. it's kinda like a 'coming-of-age' in a way, because of Katsa's realization about who she is, what she does, and why she does it. i don't want to geek out too much, because the mystery behind what happens is part of what makes this such a great book.
i am blown away that this was the first book by Cashore. she wrote with confidence and respect for her readers. and i LOVED that the opening segment of the book was in the midst of action, not a long drawn out explanation of what Grace's are, who Katsa is, etc... you find out along the way - which keeps the pacing exciting and fun. also, there is a map in the front. i LOVE maps in books.
at times heavy, at times funny, at times romantic, always exciting and adventurous and clever, Graceling was quite a journey and one that is well worth the read!
fave quotes: "She practiced every day. She learned her own speed and her own explosive force. She learned the angle, position, and intensity of a killing blow versus a maiming blow. She learned how to disarm a man and how to break his leg, and how to twist his arm so severely that he would stop struggling and beg for release. She learned to fight with a sword and with knives and daggers. She was so fast and focused, so creative, she could find a way to beat a man senseless with both arms tied to her sides. Such was her Grace." (11)
"Who were they, to take her fight away from her and turn it into some sort of understanding between themselves? He should've taken more care of her face? She would knock his nose from his face. She would thump them both, and she would apologize to neither." (90)
fix er up: coming in just shy of 500 pages, the book is a bit of a beast. but trust me, it's well worth it! it seemed intimidating at first, and then utterly un-put-downable after page 1.
Book Review: A TRUE Heroine!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never been so proud of a female protagonist in a work of YA literature before until I read Graceling. Katsa truly is an inspiring character, which makes her point of view narrative very appealing to teenage girls who have/desire both physical and inner strength. Her values our her own values which do not change for anybody. She discourages the institutionalized feminine aspect of vulnerability, indecision, and male-dependence (sadly, like most of the female protagonists which are sadly taking over YA literature). But what I most love about her is that she is a character I haven't really read before. She isn't too powerful or hard-headed, because she does have moments of human vulnerability like her weakness to Po's allure (what woman can't resist a handsome man's tempting, yet mischievous glare). And even in those times, she fails to completely succumb to such weaknesses when necessary to be strong. She astounds you by her invincibility and you desire her confidence and resistance to fear.
Enough of the characterization, for I must review the novel as a whole. Kristen Cashore has definetly made a unique, quality story. Nothing is too overexaggerated (including the supernatural aspects which could even be believable if not clearly fictional). Her storytelling is in a perfect pace. Her details are neither so tedious to read that you're left getting dragged nor too simple to read that you feel left behind throughout the story. The personalities of her characters makes them easy to remember. The only faults I find about the novel is that Cashore never clearly clarifies the physical aspects of the characters (except what makes them distinguishable), but I guess it's up to our own character imagery. I also don't like how some of the main or stand-out characters don't really end up very significant to the plot. Katsa drives the whole story which can get pretty boring to some readers if you hate or don't care for the character.
I must say this is my first time reviewing on Amazon and after finishing this novel about 3 hours before I am writing this very review, I feel very happy on how unconventional the plot turned out. There were some stubborn or unwanted moments in the story that made me shake my head in disappointment, and some disturbing aspects that made my face grimace. But in the end, I am very happy with what I read and even feel like taking up some self-defense classes. (Hoping desperately for Cashore to write another great novel).
Book Review: Another Great Fantasy book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book? I'd had it on my wish list for months and never picked it up until I ordered it last week. Boy, was I missing out!
This is exactly the kind of fantasy novel I enjoy reading--epic adventure, a bit of romance, and strong characters. In my opinion, a strong, well-written book makes you feel as if you are right there in the middle of the action, and Graceling did that for me. At times it was a bit predictable, but there were also many events that I did not see coming, so I didn't feel as if I had already read this story before. I also enjoyed the premise of these few people throughout the seven kingdoms who have Graces, and their different-colored eyes making them stand out for who they are. Yes, these Graces certainly make for a tale of exciting proportions--particularly Katsa's skill for killing. A skill that she wishes she didn't have, though as the story unfolds, she begins to learn the truth about herself and her Grace.
Now for the characters. Personally, I enjoyed them all, from the evil kings (Randa and Lech) to Katsa's sidekicks (Raffin, Giddon, and Oll) to Po, with whom she finds herself falling in love. Cashore also did a good job writing about their relationships to each other--I found myself quickly forming attachments. It is exciting to watch Katsa grow, thanks to Po's insight and support, and even more incredible to read the tale of her rescuing Princess Bitterblue (don't you love that name?) from her horrible father. I think that my only problem with this book was how quickly the main threat to the characters was resolved. One minute you are surprised at this person's appearance and the next they've been disposed of. I suppose it was almost a bit anti-climactic, though I still had to breathe a sigh of relief at the outcome and did garner a certain amount of satisfaction from it. But that wasn't the end--there was even a twist or two left to discover, and overall it really was an enjoyable read.
I think most fantasy-lovers would enjoy this book; I know I read it in one sitting today and couldn't wait to write the review. (By the way, can I also say I just really, really love this cover?) Now I'll be sitting here with the rest of you who are waiting for Fire to come out in October.
(Additional Note: My actual rating is 4-1/2 stars but I round up on sites like Amazon.)