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   Summary and Book Reviews

Graceling: Summary and book reviews of Graceling by Kristin Cashore, plus links to an excerpt from Graceling and a biography of Kristin Cashore.

Graceling

Graceling
by Kristin Cashore
Hardcover: Oct 2008,
480 pages.
Paperback: Sep 2009,
480 pages.

Publication information
First book/First Novel


Author Information
Critics' Opinion:   
Readers' Rating:  
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BOOK 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.

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.
BookBrowse

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).

Full Review Members Only (974 words).

Media Reviews

  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.

Author Blurb 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 4 of 5 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 4 of 5 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 2 of 5 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 5 of 5 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 5 of 5 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.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Mark
Graceling
This book is astonishing. Fantasy readers will be compelled by the mix of love, suspense, fighting, and mystery all in one. By far a phenomenal novel and an astonishing, suspenseful read.

Nanotechnology in medieval times

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...

Continued...  Beyond the Book (members only)

Readalikes Full readalike results are for members only

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Action - a stunning magic system - swordplay galore for ages 12+.


These are 2 of the 12 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.


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