Review: Graceling

Review Graceling

                                or this cool version

471 Pages
By Kristin Cashore

""Her senses were sharp. She caught the fall of every leaf in the garden, the rustle of every branch. And so she was astonished when a man stepped out of the darkness and grabbed her from behind."

"His eyes came back into focus then and looked into hers. And then something mischievous in his eyes, and a grin."

SYNOPSIS:


"Graceling, my debut novel, is the story of Katsa, who has been able to kill people with her bare hands since she was eight. Katsa lives in the seven kingdoms, where very occasionally, a person is born with an extreme skill called a Grace. Gracelings are feared and exploited in the seven kingdoms, and none moreso than Katsa, who's expected to do the dirty work of torture and punishment for her uncle, King Randa. But then she meets a mysterious stranger named Po, who is also a Graced fighter and the first person ever to challenge her in a fight. The two form a bond, and each discovers truths they never imagined about themselves, each other, and a terrible danger that is spreading slowly through the seven kingdoms."
description by author


REVIEW:


Ok so unlike Georgia I don't think I've ever copied a synopsis.  It's a matter preference. But the reason I did this time is because I really wanted to get to this review. 


I LOVED this book. If you like the "Alanna" series by Tamora Pierce or Mistwood by Leah Cypess you will really enjoy this novel. This novel is for fans of a good old fashioned adventure book set in a fantasy world that has more in common with a medieval past. 


Katsa is a strong female character and although her reality is so different from ours we can still identify with her feelings of struggling to find her true self while learning to navigate through complex relationships and a sometimes dishonest world. 


She is both alone and supported by good friends, but her life changes when she meets Po. He is both like her and unlike her at the same time. He challenges her to be brave and to see herself differently. 
Together they undertake an adventure to bring  justice to the seven kingdoms.


The author writes simply but descriptively, where both dialogue and fight scenes are well developed.  Each character is well rounded and are a part of the tapestry of this rich world. 


Bottom Line: Not for Twlight fans, but otherwise READ IT!


♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ = awesome book- a must read!