Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Gollancz Fiction (Orion books)
Publication date: 22/01/09
Series: The Seven Kingdoms #1
Book source: Bought
My Rating: 10/10
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Summary:
In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.
Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?
The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out – but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one eyed king…
My thoughts:
Oh…my…word….where do I start?
I seriously fell in love with this book from the get-go.
It had everything I personally love in a book; steady romance, fighting, strong female protagonists, characters with mysterious backgrounds, a bit of humour, engrossing action and did I mention the main character has a ‘Grace’ for killing? If that’s not enough to pull you in I don’t know what will.
I loved the history to the characters. They were all well rounded, developed nicely throughout the story and had a unique depth to them making them all relatable somewhat.
Throughout the book, Katsa, the main character, revealed parts of her history that made you really feel for her and made you realise why she did what she did. There was a really nice flow to the story and the memories or flashbacks of Katsa’s, if you will, never seemed out of place.
The other characters in the story were equally amazing. They all had a different relationship with Katsa and were all loveable in different ways. Apart from the evil king with one eye of course!
I seriously can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a fantastic read set in a fantastic world told through the eyes of a fabulous character. Go out and get it! And one for your best friend too while you’re at it!
About the author:
So, here's the short tale of me: I grew up in the countryside of north-eastern Pennsylvania in a village with cows and barns and beautiful views from the top of the hill and all that good stuff. I lived in a rickety old house with my parents, three sisters, and a scattering of cats, and I READ READ READ READ READ. I read while brushing my teeth, I read while chopping parsley, the first thing I reached for when I woke up in the morning was my book; the only two places I didn't read were in the car and in bed. What did I do then? The one thing I liked even more than reading: I daydreamed.
And so, without knowing it, I was planting the seeds. Reading and daydreaming = perfect preparation for writing.
1 comment:
Hello
Loved your review - and this book. You must read Fire next.
Lynn
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