Graceling by Kristin Cashore

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.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a 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.


 Wow. I can't believe it took me this long to discover this book because it was freaking amazing. As soon as you start reading it, it captures your attention and it's impossible to put down. After reading Graceling it has become one of my favorite books. I'm really looking forward to reading Bitterblue! I love the way Cashore writes and how kick ass she makes Katsa.

 Being the king's niece isn't so fantastic for Katsa when all he does is use her. Katsa is a Graceling, which is someone born with an extreme skill. Gracelings can be pretty noticeable because their eyes are two different colors. Kasta has one blue eye and the other green. She's Graced with being able to kill anyone with anything, even a grown man with just her bare hands. Ever since her uncle discovered this he's been using her to torture and kill people who "over step the boundaries" with him. So, everyone fears her and thinks of her as a monster. The only one who she really feels comfortable around is her cousin, Raffin. He is the nicest person and loves to help other people and has a passion for inventing new things.

 Throughout Katsa's whole entire life her uncle has been controlling her and treating her like an animal. Even though it's Katsa's Grace she hates hurting people but is afraid to not follow her uncles orders. The only good thing about her Grace is that she never gets hurt and can protect herself. But if she doesn't control her temper she could accidentally kill someone. As you get deeper into the book Katsa starts to lean more and more about what her Graceling truly is.

 While Katsa was on one of her missions for her uncle she meets Po, who is Graced with combat skills. Just like her his eyes are two different colors, one silver and one gold. Which are scary but at the same time amazing. Katsa had never expected to become friends with him, but a lot of things she never expected happen in this book. Not only are his eyes scary but the secret he's keeping is even worse. But once you start reading you will fall in love with Po and his personality.
Overall I loved Graceling and the whole entire time you're on the edge of your seat, thirsty for more.

Bye (:
- Tori