In Katsa’s world, people with Graces, or extraordinary skills, are feared and sometimes exploited. They are distinguished by their dual colored eyes. Unfortunately for Katsa, she has a killing Grace, and has been used by her uncle to do his bidding since she was eight years old and accidentally murdered a man with her bare hands. When Katsa seeks to rescue the father of the King of Liend, she stumbles upon a mystery and on Po, a man who can fight almost as well as she. Katsa decides to defy her uncle the king and set off to solve the mystery, the curious Po at her side.

I love fairy tales, especially fairy tales expanded into novels. While this is a completely new story, it feels very much like a fairy tale. It is a once upon a time fantasy with a darker edge in that Katsa’s Grace is so violent. The closest I can compare it to in style is Robin McKinley, who I recently discovered and loved. Thus it’s not at all a surprise that I really enjoyed this book too.

For Katsa, this is completely a coming-of-age story. She is disgusted with herself, with her uncle, and with the world. She knows so little about both her Grace and the wider world, though, that even as a teenager she essentially goes on a journey of self-discovery. She realizes how much she herself is a product of the kingdom in which she grew up and takes steps to become a strong, confident woman. Add in a little bit of budding, confusing romance and Cashore has the perfect combination for a teenage girl. Although I enjoyed the adventure that Katsa went on, I appreciated her believable and steady character growth much more.

Cashore’s pseudo-medieval world is also very well considered. The kingdoms that we see are distinct and interesting, especially Po’s, and the idea of Graces is beautifully developed. It’s fascinating that even people with Graces shy away from others who have them, because no one knows what particular skill might be lurking behind blue and brown eyes. Everything feels organic and natural and it’s very easy to lose yourself in this world.

Graceling is a compelling fantasy set in a fairy tale medieval world. Katsa is one of the best female characters I’ve come across in YA, with strengths and vulnerabilities in equal measure, and her adventure had me spellbound. Well worth a read for both young and regular adults. ( )

I wasn't completely sure if I would like this book as I purchased it, but it was fantasy and it was YA, so I gave it a chance. I had heard good things about it from LT HEer friends. One of the reasons why I chose to read this book next was because I thought it a good transition from the last book I read, in the Vampire Academy series. The main characters of each book share some qualities with each other. Both are on the side of good and women who fight to kill. I knew there could be quite a difference in their stories, and there was, but it hasn't made either book lesser to me.

I probably didn't start reading it in the best of places - I was on a bus, which only let me read for ten minutes before my stop. I've always felt a book deserves a longer reading time when you begin to read it. Sure enough, I was regrettably still trying to bury myself into this book at page 100. However, this book picked up incredibly. My thoughts of it now are that I absolutely loved it, and I have been so distraught at not being able to get the second book just yet.

Katsa lives an interesting life in court but I much enjoyed once the story took off. Her call to adventure, or rather a different and usual one to the norm of sorts, was one that held as much question about the future as possible. Her journeying is quite extreme, and her grace, of course, necessary. The author lead her on to be a very strong character. Upon meeting her other characters, they were nicely done as well. I adored and thought how perfect for a little winter princess to be called Bitterblue. No other name could have suited the girl better. Katsa had a good deal of character development in this book. My only wish is that things had ended differently, though I know it could not be so. ( )

Partially, Kristin Cashore reminds me of Tamora Pierce, with her strong and lovely heroines who don't quite fit into society's rules (and don't care to, either). This is a stunning novel that I recommend without reservation and, in fact, will probably begin to force upon my friends.

Katsa accidentally killed her cousin when she was 8 years old. This is her "Grace"--a talent above human abilities--that manifests physically in her the two colors of her eyes: one green and one blue. Unfortunately, because she is the orphan niece of the king, she is forced into the role of carrying out the king's dirty work. Often Katsa is treated no better than an attack dog. However, this is not the life Katsa wants and when she befriends a prince Katsa begins to realize that she can make her own choices after all.

Katsa, the protagonist of Graceling, is deeply close to my heart. I can not express adequately how refreshing a this female protagonist was for me. Gifted with fighting and a restrictive life she believes the worst of herself. The tale that emerges is a coming of age for her, but also a battle against doing what is expected (and sometimes wrong) against finding your own feet in the world. Katsa's journey is heartbreaking and rings utterly true. What I loved most about Katsa was this truth. She remains true to herself and her own beliefs through the entire book despite the opinions of others. Although part of this is entirely personal, I love that Katsa does not want children or a husband. This decision is just as difficult for Katsa (socially speaking) as it is our current world.

Additionally, I should say that I love every supporting character. Po, the hero; Raffin and Bann; Oll; Bitterblue--I want to see all these characters again, but if I don't, then I think I could be content because the story they got was so fantastic. (As a note, Cashore is currently working on the third novel in the universe titled Bitterblue and Fire is already available as a sort of prequel or companion novel.) One of the aspects of Graceling that particularly impressed me was the incredible handling of the relationship between Po and Katsa. It can be difficult to balance a truly independent heroine with a love interest, but Cashore does it perfectly. Po is--and I'm sorry to anyone who loves the trope--not the ordinary alpha male hero. Instead, he's a compliment to Katsa's skills, abilities, and beliefs rather than someone she can concede to without losing herself. There isn't any concession in their relationship, because they balance each other. And if that sounds dull, just trust me when I say that it absolutely isn't for a moment.

If one can criticize anything in Graceling it would be the universe not being developed quite enough. However, I found that the 7 kingdoms are easy to understand and provide a sort of canvas for the real content of details to be painted upon. Primarily, the idea of "Graces", these abilities that no average human can match, is fantastic and layered. A Grace may be something useful (such as fighting) or it may be utterly useless (such as being able to twist completely at the torso) or so specialized most people wouldn't deem them useful (such as swimming). Regardless, Graces are outcast in most kingdoms, with few exceptions. In these kingdoms, any child that manifests a Grace must be sent to the king. After deciding if the child's Grace is useful or not the child is then either put into service of the king or sent home to be looked at warily by neighbors.

I have the highest hopes for Fire and Bitterblue--thankfully I have Fire, but I doubt it'll tide me over until Bitterblue's due date is announced! ( )

When she was very young Katsa's grace for killing became apparent when she was defending herself from her uncle. After that she was brought up as the King's killer, the one who was called upon to take care of problem subjects who failed to do what he liked. But Katsa was not happy with her charge and slowly she found a way to use her grace for more constructive purposes. While seeking to free a kidnapped old man from a neighboring kingdom Katsa happens upon another graceling, one who seems could be her match. What starts off as an unexpected encounter will eventually precipitate a change in Katsa's world that she never could have expected.

I really enjoyed the way the author took such a fresh perspective on the idea of people with supernatural powers and the way she built it into her society. I also liked the idea of the mismatched eyes. The story was very engaging and I liked all the characters you are supposed to like, especially Katsa, Po and Bitterblue, and was horrified at all the right places. I truly didn't foresee what would happen as the book went along and it was fun to sit back and be carried along with the adventure. This sort of reminded me of McKinely's "Hero and the Crown" although I rather enjoy Cashore's writing style a bit more. I can see where some of the themes may offend more sensitive people, particularly the violence and the intimacy without marriage theme, but I think it is all approached in a thoughtful and relatively non-graphic way with clear reasons given. Truly a very well written story with a strong female lead that I would not hesitate to recommend to young adults.

I would certainly be interested in reading a sequel (as opposed to a prequel) should the author decide to do more with these characters. ( )

King Randa of the Middluns is hosting a party and eight-year-old Lady Katsa is suffering under the unnervingly intense attention of her distant cousin. He slides his hand towards her leg and she reaches out to slap him, only to, quite literally, smash his face. Young Katsa has a killing grace. In Graceling, Kristin Cashore’s richly imagined fantasy, gracelings are characters with superpowers, and they are marked by strikingly colored eyes, each a different color. In Katsa’s case, one eye is bright blue, the other green.

Katsa is rather invincible against friend and foe alike, but because her grace has many benefits to those in power, her uncle, King Randa, ruler of one of the seven kingdoms, uses her to exact revenge on disloyal subjects or rival kings – whatever suits his fancy. Katsa, during a covert mission, encounters a strange man with one silver and one golden eye. Something compels her to trust him and she doesn’t kill him. This begins her rebellion against her uncle’s tyrannical claims. Katsa discovers the strange man is Po, a young prince from another kingdom who is a graceling like her. Po and Katsa teem up to practice their fighting skills (against each other) and to uncover the mystery of Po’s grandfather’s kidnapping. Together they embark on a dangerous mission, finding justice and corruption, adventure and brutality, political intrigue and romance.

Both Katsa and Po struggle enormously with their supernatural talents, and their graces evolve along with the story. Katsa is strong, confident, and unsure at the same time. Her extraordinary skill is not something she takes lightly, questioning how to use it and what its consequences are every step of the way. Po is strong and wise, but neither of them is prepared for the obstacles they face on their formidable quest. Nail-biting tension, mesmerizing & subtly crafted characters, and absorbing and surprising plot twists give this fantasy broad appeal.