Graceling --- Kristin Cashore

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 471

Official Summary:
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.

Review:
Fun book to read!

A "Grace" is an extreme skill, ranging from combat skills, swimming, cooking, speaking persuasively, working with animals.... the list is endless. Katsa is very powerful with her Grace and is feared throughout the land as she does an unjust king's bidding. But Katsa does not enjoy hurting and threatening those people who bother the king. As the story evolves, Katsa and her friends try to maintain peace in the seven kingdoms while solving a mysterious problem that has been plaguing the land.

This book is great and the Graces make it even more interesting. Katsa is awesome! She is a well rounded character who is strong and smart, but also faced with some emotional difficulties. Hooray for a good, main character! Romance in this book :) But the author Kristin Cashore focuses on the plot so it doesn't get too sappy.

I really enjoyed Graceling. Cashore writes well and keeps you entertained. I highly recommend this book.

By the way.... the companion book, Fire, is even better :)