YA Friday: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Friday, January 20, 2012

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Series: Seven Kingdoms #1
Genre: YA, fantasy
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books, 2008
Source: Borrowed from my sister-in-law

Katsa is Graced -- she is a unique individual with special expertise in a random skill, marked by having eyes of two different colors. People fear and avoid Gracelings, but none more so than Katsa -- gifted with the talent to kill anyone, in any manner, she discovered her Grace by killing a hapless cousin who happened to annoy her at a young age. However, despite Katsa's ability -- and her uncle, who uses her as a thug to enforce his rule -- she wants to do good in the world. On a secret operation to save an innocent man, she discovers a dark secret among the Seven Kingdoms, and she discovers Po, who is also Graced with a powerful fighting skill. Soon the secret ties Katsa and Po together, leading them to save the future of the Seven Kingdoms.

This book was a mixed bag for me. There were elements that I absolutely loved, and a few things that left me cold. Overall, I found it an exciting and unique story that will satisfy any lover of high fantasy.

First of all, I loved the setting. Katsa and Po travel throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and I really enjoyed the variety of places they went through and the vivid descriptions of lands both beautiful and savage. Cashore's writing was very evocative, painting great imagery. I also enjoyed the fantasy element. Fantasy was one of my first loves in literature, and while paranormal fantasy is a popular genre right now, sometimes it is hard to find fantasy like this -- heroic, romantic, tinged with magic. Graceling was able to evoke this fantasy feel for me while also being very unique and avoiding cliche.

I also enjoyed Katsa's personal development, although I didn't always understand her. Katsa begins this story angry and confused, frustrated with her uncle's control over her but unable to break it. However, early on she shows herself capable of powerful love -- for her cousin, for Po, for Bitterblue, and for the people she wants to help with the Council. I liked this contradiction in her  -- she is fierce, the most talented person at killing in her world, and she's never shirked it, but she is also capable of caring deeply and compassionately people, albeit refusing to sacrifice everything.

I also loved Po. I loved his quiet humor, his willingness to try anything, his skill at escaping difficult situations. I loved his Lienid culture -- how cool would it be to wear rings for every member of your family, to carry little mementos of them with you always? I also loved how he reduced the fierce and easily angered Katsa into a crying, lovesick girl. Not that I like crying, lovesick girls better than strong ones -- quite the opposite. But I think the fact that she came to love him that much speaks very highly of him.

About Katsa turning into a crying, lovesick girl, however; there was one thing I didn't quite understand. Even if I put aside my personal beliefs about marriage (to keep it brief, that it is very very good), I didn't understand her behavior. Throughout the book, she maintains that she never wants to marry, never wants to be tied down to anyone or anything. She wants to be free to pursue her life and her goals. Okay, I respect that. I can imagine if she were to marry some lord, she wouldn't be free to pursue her life and her goals. But I don't understand why she maintained that attitude toward Po, and here is why: when they parted ways at one point in the book, she was completely devastated. Not just, "I'm really going to miss you, I wish we could be together right now," completely and utterly wrecked. So I'm not sure why she wants to be able to leave him at will. I know there are lots of rationalizations -- being forced apart is different from leaving at will, for one thing -- but I guess I can't understand not wanting to be with the person you love. I am passionate about writing and passionate about nursing, for example, but I would still choose my husband over my work, if the choice had to be made. Anyway, I am now on a soapbox and ranting, but that was my major problem with the story.

My one other problem was, despite how much I enjoyed Katsa and Po, I never felt like I knew them. I always felt slightly detached, like they were acquaintances whose personal lives were interesting but not fully important to me, if that makes sense. I liked their story, but I was never fully drawn in.

However, with that said, I plan to finish the series. Graceling is a unique and adventurous fantasy read that should be enjoyable to a broad spectrum of readers.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Violence, off-the-page love scenes

22 comments:

  1. I will never be able to list the ways in which I love this book and Fire, so I won't even try. You'll just have to trust me. I totally understand all of your reservations, though. This may (I think, it's been a while) have been the first time I read a YA book and been broken up about the love contained in the story. Like, my heart physically hurt for the characters. I just love it so much. And likewise, there are no words that would do justice to how excited I am for Bitterblue to be released...finally. If you haven't read Fire yet, you may like it much better than Graceling. In fact, you probably will. So don't give up on this series!!

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    1. I'm definitely planning on continuing through. Even though I had some issues with the book, it is a powerful story and I am really interested to see where everything goes!

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  2. I enjoyed this book, it was pretty cool, but I could never rave about it near as much as everyone else was doing. I have Fire in my pile to read soon, it will be interesting to see how that one goes.

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    1. Yeah, I need to get to Fire, too. I've heard that it is better than Graceling, but I have no idea what the plot is other than that the characters are different. I'm excited to get to it.

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  3. It was fun to read your review! Her attitude toward marriage was the thing that bugged me about an otherwise fantastic book. I kind of felt like it was the authors views and not even katsa's true character because I got the same vibe in Fire. I don't know if authors think it makes the character seem weaker by wanting marriage but you and I know you can be strong and married :)

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    1. Haha exactly! I think you can be stronger married because you have someone right there with you rooting for you. I guess the caveat with that is marrying a good one. Good thing you and I both found good ones. :)

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  4. I liked this book, but I much preferred Fire. I think it's a more sophisticated novel, and so I'm expecting good things from Bitterblue when it comes out! I look forward to seeing your thoughts if you continue the series.

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    1. I am definitely looking forward to reading Fire. You aren't the only one who has told me they think I would like Fire better, and as I did enjoy Graceling, I am really looking forward to Fire (and Bitterblue, of course!)

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  5. I love Graceling :-) and I'm glad you enjoyed it overall.

    I too am a fan of marriage, but in this case I was on Katsa's side - since the fantasy world in the book resembles those "back in the day" days, married women had zero rights. Sure, she's different & could kill a man who tried to really dominate her, but back then marriage meant that men literally OWNED the wife. And not only that, but he owned her AND her property. And yeah... while marriage can be kind of awesome now, I think that marriage back in those days sucked if you were a woman. You couldn't just get a divorce if things didn't work out.

    Anyhoo, that's just my little rationalization. I don't know if that changes your feelings at all, but I'm glad you enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what you think about Fire. And I can't wait to read Bitterblue!

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    1. I'm glad you told me what you were thinking; I do think that makes a difference. In that society it would be really hard to be married to a controlling guy. Part of me still squeals "But Po wouldn't!" but it does make sense why Katsa has that attitude. However, it still just bothered me that she could walk away from him after being so sad about doing that earlier in the book! Oh well. I am still really excited to read Fire!

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  6. I really want to read this one, if only because I have been hearing a lot of things about it - many good, some mixed too. It looks like it is a thought-provoking read. Loved your review!

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    1. Thank you! This is definitely a unique and fun read; despite my reservations with some of the stands it takes I think it is really enjoyable!

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  7. Great post. I've heard a lot of great things about this book and so I'm going to have to check this one out. Thanks for the thoughtful review!

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    1. Thank you! Have fun when you get the chance to read it!

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  8. I loved this book and it's sequel and am looking forwards to the third one but I had the same problem as you. There seems to be an underlying theme of feminism to these books. Not that I'm against it or anything, it's just sort of annoying.

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    1. Yeah, I just kind of feel like there's an agenda. And it's funny; living in Utah I get called a feminist because I have a lot of ambitions and am probably going to work at least part of the time when I have kids. But I think in comparison to the rest of the world I still have pretty conservative views -- I love marriage, I am excited to have kids, etc. It always strikes me as weird to see that different outlook in a book just because those have always been goals to me, I guess.

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  9. I thought was the only person ever who didn't love this book. (although it sounds like you enjoyed it a little more than I did) I agree with your critiques, especially the relationship between Katsa and Po. It started to feel a little agenda-y near the end for me. Some people like the companion book Fire better, though.

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    1. Yeah, I keep hearing that Fire is better than Graceling, although I have heard the same little agenda is in there as well. One of those things I have to take with a grain of salt, I guess. Although I hope books like this don't lead my kids to believe that marriage will take away their freedom some day in the future!

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  10. I was just thinking that I need to re-read Graceling! I really liked it the first time I read it, but I don't remember why now--i think it's time to refresh my memory. But I totally agree with you about how Katsa and Po end up--it was a bit of a let down for me.

    I didn't like the sequel "Fire" as much, but it was still pretty good. And I'm definitely excited for "Bitterblue" to come out!

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    1. I can see you really liking Graceling because I've noticed in your reviews that weak, squeamish girl characters totally bug you, and Katsa is the opposite. I'm looking forward to Fire; I think I am going to wait on it til Bitterblue comes out so I can just read them both back to back.

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  11. I felt exactly the same way about this book! I mean, exactly! haha. I've read Fire and I'm excited to read Bitterblue. You'll have to let me know what you think about those ones as well. Love you!

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    1. I'm excited to read those, too. I miss you Kayd!! One of these days we need to see each other again. Too bad everyone is already married so we don't have that excuse anymore. Guess someone is going to need to have a baby shower -- okay, great, Kendra's got that covered! Haha. :) Love you too!

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