Graceling

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.

My Review

Graceling is an exciting book. Katsa has long been feared because it is believed that she has the Grace to kill. A Grace is a extreme skill, such as mindreading or cooking. Those who have a grace have two different eye colors. Throughout the book, Katsa and Po are trying to figure out what her Grace truly is, while also trying to save the Princess from the influence of her wicked Graced father. Katsa is a hard heroin, who has been under the power of her uncle as a tool since she was eight. Po, she finds, is the only person who is her match in fighting. Or is he? The true nature of a Grace can sometimes be hidden, for those they are given to can be used as tools for power. The concept of words being used as a weapon was a great plot point, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, as much as I liked Graceling, it is also an example of why I don't read many Young Adult books. Romance is given to the reader, but without heed to marriage. 

Stars


3.5 out of 5