Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Title: Graceling

Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Acquired: Bought
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 95% A

Buy It: Amazon

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 Thoughts::
I've been wanting to read this book for so long but put off buying it for a long time. Then when I finally had it, I put off reading it because I had newer review books to read. But I've learned my lesson. When you're looking for books to buy, don't automatically drift to the shiny new releases, because you'll be missing out.

There were so many things that I liked about this book, but let's start with the plot. There was a story that could have went in any number of directions that I would have loved, including the one that it did. It could have made a great choose your own adventure book after seeing all of the choices and decisions that had to be made. Most books are only creative in certain areas, whether it being original characters, special abilities, a new world, or a one of a kind plot. Graceling had all of these things plus more. The adventure held my attention the entire way through and I didn't need crazy twists to stay interested. Though, there were some very enjoyable twists.

Ooooooh Po...Po...I love him. Now I understand why people love him so much and why he is for some reason held on such a pedestal. I also now understand how crazy the people are who think that Peeta and Katniss could win in a fight against Po and Katsa. Like, are you seriously? Unless Katniss spots them on a mountain side and shoots them with her arrows, or they some how scheme out some crazy trickery, there is no way. Katsa was entirely bad ass. Sure, at times she seemed a bit weak, but guess what? She's just being human. Or a Graceling.

Overall I think this book will set the tone for how I rate dystopian like fantasy novels. I would recommend this book to those who want a dominant in almost every way female character or just those who appreciate a book with a fair share of fighting.