Graceling

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Kristin Cashore: Graceling (Paperback, 2009, Graphia, HMH Books for Young Readers)

Paperback, 512 pages

Published Sept. 7, 2009 by Graphia, HMH Books for Young Readers.

ISBN:
978-0-547-25830-0
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3 stars (1 review)

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.

She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Books in the Graceling Realm series

  1. Graceling
  2. [Fire][2] …

17 editions

reviewed Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Graceling Realm)

Review of 'Graceling' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I was totally ready to rip this book apart in my review when halfway through, but some unexpected developments of character and plot changed my mind. The overall problem I had is the same that Felica Day hit upon in her review. Things seem too sketchy and not thought out throughout a lot of the book. Again and again I found myself yelling out loud, "The character wouldn't do that!", too. It was like after the plot was sketched out, Ms Cashore didn't think through the character's motivations and thoughts anymore.

So, as I said, at 50% the book was on par for a 2-star review. The pace picked up and--more importantly--the characters began to grow. The climb through the pass was especially good for this. Descriptions became more vibrant, history was revealed, and I didn't have to rely on just the basics of a story. By the end of …