Wanting a good book to curl up with during the cold winter nights ahead of us? Well, I can recommend a really good one. This has nothing to do with what I usually write about here but I just loved this book so much I had to share! In fact it is quite simply one of the best novels I have read in years. BUT I did get it at the library so that makes it a green experience I guess.
I have been reading Young Adult paranormal fiction for a few years because quite frankly it is more mature than the stuff for adults. I am not a huge fan of gore, explicit sex scenes, and excessive swearing and with YA novels you get more story and character development because they can’t resort to such cheap tricks. If you like Young Adult novels like Twilight or Blue Bloods then Graceling is sure to please. It kicks Twilight booty… HARD.
The story takes place in a magical world with seven kingdoms. Some exceptional people are born with an extreme skill called a Grace, signified by the fact that they have eyes of differing colors. Katsa (with blue/green eyes) is a Graceling born with a killing Grace and she is forced by her Uncle, the King of the Middluns Kingdom, to use her Grace to punish and torture his enemies. Despite this Katsa has created a secret counsel that uses its resources to fight injustices among the 7 kingdoms. On one of her missions for the counsel she rescues and elderly grandfather who has been kidnapped for reasons unknown. It is here she meets Prince Po, his grandson, who has the Grace of Combat skills and some amazing eyes… one silver and one gold.
In Po, Kasta has finally met her equal and she fights to gain control of her own destiny so she can accompany him on a mission to find out why any of the other kingdoms would kidnap an old man. Their journey reveals hidden secrets and perhaps that their own graces were not what they actually thought they were. It also reveals a Grace so powerful that it could destroy all seven kingdoms, not with swords and war, but with words.
It is a riveting novel that has you hooked after only a few pages and you become so emotionally entangled with these wonderful characters that you can’t help but laugh and cry with them as they go on their amazing journey. It also does an incredible job of painting for us a whole new world… Nander, Wester, Middluns, Estill, Sunder, Monsea, and Lienid. Each kingdom is brought to life with such vivid detail you are ready to pack your bags and take an extended stay, if only to really see the gold and silver “Po” trees of Lienid yourself. I highly recommend this book!
Don’t forget to check out this prequel to Graceling called Fire. Both books can be read independently or together and in any order.
I absolutely loved this book! I would also recommend it highly! I have read the Twilight books and liked Graceling better too :) Fantastic read! And so is Fire!
Love your blog!
I am so grateful for you for this post! I, too, struggle to find good books that I don’t want to stop reading (and do) once I’m in the middle of them because they are so, inappropriate. I’ll get this from the library (starting with the prequel). Thanks again!
This is really interesting. I’ll ask for this for Christmas. I think it is funny that there is another mom out there who is slightly obsessive about creating a toxic-free environment, feeding her family healthy and natural food, scaling down the clutter, trying to raise her children without them being bombarded with societies pressures, leading a secular but a socially & ethically responsible life (with passion), and now, this type of a book. If my sister saw this she would laugh at the similarities. I enjoy your blog and the frequent ideas that I am thankful for.