Graceling

In Graceling by Kristin Cashore, a young lady named Katsa is one of the people in her land that is gifted with a Grace- a special power that can be anything from swimming to mind reading. Katsa has a fighting Grace- a Grace that she is forced to use for one of the kings of the land, the cruel Randa. She is sent out to hurt the people who disobey the king. Then Katsa meets a prince from another kingdom named Po- a prince who also has a fighting Grace! Soon, she and Po become friends, and they learn that each finally has an evenly matched fighting partener at last. Then, Katsa learns of a strange kidnapping mystery and no one knows which king is behind it, and she and Po set off and begin what turns into a great adventure through all the kingdoms, an adventure where Katsa learns hidden secrets, about the kidnapping, an evil king, about herself, and about Po. This story is a mystery full of surprises that keeps the reader and the heroine thinking. This book is mostly good, though sometimes some of the characters will think about death carelessly which can be irritating, and there is one very short love-y part in the middle that might want to be skipped, though it isn't really understandable, therefore making it not that bad, actually. The ending could be better, but it is actually one of the book in a series giving the story a chance of a satisfying ending in later books. This is a book that will make you wondering what will happen next, though, and the whole idea of Graces is original and unique! You will read quickly to solve the mystery alongside Katsa and Po!

Ages: 13- adult
Books: Graceling, Fire (a prequel, which I read is more adult than Graceling, though I have not read the book myself), Bitterblue (a sequel coming soon)