Graceling - Softcover

Cashore, Kristin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0575084502 ISBN 13: 9780575084506

Publisher: Gollancz, 2009

Synopsis

In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.

She lives under the command of her Uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to carry out his dirty work, punnishing and torturing anyone who displeases him. Breaking arms and cutting off fingers are her stock-in-trade. Finding life under his rule increasingly unbearable Katsa forms an underground Council, whose purpose is to combat the destructive behavior of the seven kings - after all, the Middluns is only one of the seven kingdoms, and each of them is ruled its own king with his own personal agenda for power.

When the Council hears that the King of Liend's father has been kidnapped Katsa investigates . . . and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap him, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced fighter who challenged her fighting skills, for the first time, as she and the Council rushed the old man to saftey?

Something dark and deadly is rising in the north and creeping across the continent, and behind it all lurks the shadowy figure of a one eyed king . . .

About this title

Review:

Cashore's prose is smooth and unobtrusive. But for all its lightness of tone, Graceling is not a simple novel. indeed it deals with some very difficult subject matter. Its inevitable love story is sweetly unconventional and unabashedly feminist. Katsa herself is a rich character. The growth of her trust and self-esteem is the understated heart of the novel. This is always Katsa's story and enjoyable fast paced it is too. An immensely fun, good-hearted read. (Nic Clarke SFX)

[Thi] exquisitely drawn romance . . . will slake the thirst of Twilight fans, but one measure of this novel¿s achievements lies in its broad appeal. Tamora Pierce fans will embrace the take-charge heroine . . . and while adult readers will enjoy the author¿s originality, the writing is perfectly pitched at teens struggling to put their own talents to good use. With this riveting debut, Cashore has set the bar exceedingly high. (Publisher's Weekly)

Cashore creates believable characters with enough depth, subtlety, and experience to satisfy older readers . . . An impressive first novel (Booklist)

An assured fantasy debut.... Katsa is an ideal adolescent heroine, simultaneously confident of her strengths yet unsure of her place in the world. Every character is crafted with the same meticulous devotion to human comprehensibility.... 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. Grace-full, in every sense (Kirkus)

The story flows at a decent pace with a story that gradually builds in intensity and a mystery that unravels at just the right speed to keep things interesting. Cashore knows what makes a good spectacle and, even though you know that Katsa absolutely has to win through, writes set piece scenes that buzz with excitement and action. (GRAEME'S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW)

For a debut novel, Graceling is well-written, nicely-structured and easy to read. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline intriguing enough to draw the reader along at a good speed. The notion of Graces, although not hugely original, is nonetheless explored in-depth throughout the book with some nice, logical extrapolations of the abilities on show. (THE WERTZONE)

A major strength of the writing is the imagery presented throughout the novel. The book is filled with very vivid descriptions of almost everything from castles, landscapes, courts, and the journeys that the characters go on. Kristin Cashore's ¿Graceling¿ is a great start by a developing writer and I definitely look forward to seeing this writer grow with future novels as she shows tremendous potential. (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC)

It¿s a great debut novel that will suit those who like their Fantasy unabashedly romantic. (SFF WORLD.COM)

Graceling really does have something to offer everyone. An adventurous and enjoyable read. (DEATHRAY)

Book Description:

Sometimes nothing but a Grace can save you

About this edition

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0575084502
• ISBN 13: 9780575084506
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352