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.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
I lost a night of sleep and a day of work to this book. Usually drawn to decidedly toothier fare, I was ready for a little treat. I was not prepared for an all-encompassing vortex of storytelling that would render all of my other responsibilities utterly unimportant. Both a gripping adventure tale and a moving portrait of a tempestuous, beautifully flawed young woman coming of age, Graceling marks the debut of a truly gifted writer. (Reviewed by Lucia Silva).
Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. With this riveting debut, Cashore has set the bar exceedingly high.
VOYA
Intrigue, death, love, a little sex, and pitched battles create a sure winner for mature fantasy fans.
School Library Journal
This is gorgeous storytelling: exciting, stirring, and accessible. Fantasy and romance readers will be thrilled.
Booklist
Starred Review. An impressive first novel, this well crafted and rewarding fantasy will leave readers hoping for more.
Kirkus Reviews
Starred Review. Katsa is an ideal adolescent heroine, simultaneously confident of her strengths yet unsure of her place in the world. . . . In a tale filled with graphic violence and subtle heartbreak, gentle passion and savage kindness, matter-of-fact heroics and bleak beauty, no defeat is ever total and no triumph comes without cost.
Tamora Pierce.
Here's a WOW of a book! Seeing half-wild Katsa learn humanity as she battles soldiers, storms, and her own obsessive nature--I HAD to know how it ended!
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Julia A Piece of Art I started this book 2 days ago and I finished it one day ago. This book is amazing. Every word Kristin touches turns into gold. The fantasy in the novel was so well thought out and mind blowing that the book just consumes you into a complete and... Read More
Rated of 5
by Kady Excellent but not for everyone Graceling is an engaging tale that is clearly suited to a young teen audience. Thought the premise is certainly different the plot holds few surprises. If you are looking for something exciting and easy to follow this is a wonderful read. I greatly... Read More
Rated of 5
by Ray Ray Took me by Storm! This was an amazing book, I just couldn't put it down. I love the setting and the plot....It had me on my toes wanting to know whats going to happen next, there's romance, adventure and a little humor. Everyone needs to read this, you will never... Read More
Rated of 5
by Alice A perfectly good plot ruined Let me first say, the plot for this novel was wonderful. The idea of Graces and Gracelings was intriguing to me. When I started the book, I thought it was alright. Nothing extraordinary, but it was okay. About halfway through, I realized it was... Read More
Rated of 5
by Sammy Dykes OMG!!!! THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK!!! I'm a major reader but I rarely get into a different book without someone else telling me about it first. I also rarely read a book more than once. I have read Graceling twice, the Hunger Games once (though I'm working... Read More
Rated of 5
by Abby Graceling I love this book so much! I couldn't put it down! It provides a world that fantasy readers will love reading about.
Though Graceling is certainly set in a magical history, the time
period seems distinctly medieval, based on the descriptions of clothing,
weapons, buildings, and the general atmosphere. A descriptive passage towards
the end of Graceling made me wonder about the science and craft of
stained-glass-making in medieval times. Wielding the magical powers of The World
Wide Web, I was startled to find news of a recent study that suggests that
medieval stained glass windows painted with real gold actually purify the air
when sunlight shines through them.
Zhu Huai Yong, along with a group of researchers at Queensland University of
Technology's School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, found that many church
windows across Europe were decorated with paint containing gold nanoparticles
(very basically: really tiny particles) of various sizes. A...
A world-wide sensation, this first book of The Otori Trilogy is a brilliantly imagined, wholly seductive tale of war, passion, and intrigue, evoking the spirit of medieval Japan.
Action - a stunning magic system - swordplay galore for ages 12+.
These are 2 of the 14 readalike suggestions for Graceling. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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(974 words).
Tamora Pierce.
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by Julia
of 5
by Kady
of 5
by Alice
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Zhu Huai Yong, along with a group of researchers at Queensland University of
Technology's School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, found that many church
windows across Europe were decorated with paint containing gold nanoparticles
(very basically: really tiny particles) of various sizes. A...
