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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Hi, all! Here's another review for ya...


Graceling by Kristin Cashore.



Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.


Originality- 9/10
Characters- 19/20
Remembrance- 9/10
Setting- 18/20
Plot- 16/20
Ending- 8/10
Recommend To Read- 10/10
Total- 89/100
Grade- A


Another great book with a tough and leading heroine, a fantasy world, a really hot prince, and super-powers! (Sort of.) I mean, out of all of that, what would you want to take out? None of it. Of course, this is just the basis. When I actually read the book, the emotions and plotline really took over my senses and I felt like someone just hovering over Katsa as she acts like her goddess-like self.


The beginning of the book really hooked me in--the situation they were in, with that reconnaissance mission, and all. I felt like Katsa really is trying to be a good person--that she's trying her hardest to do all the kindness she can, how she's trying to seperate herself from her uncle. It just happens that you'll meet a major character in this very part of the book. But we'll get back to that.


Disregarding the ridiculous names, the characters really did have emotional struggles and I just felt so proud of Katsa when she becomes more of the person she wants to be instead of her uncle's tool.


And Po. Oh, Po. (Hehe.) It figures that he'd rename himself because his original one is pretty ridiculous, but I'm not so sure that I'd choose Po as a good alternative to the original. At first, I thought that Po would just be Katsa's shoulder to cry on, but I'm happy/depressed that I was wrong. I didn't like his problems. They made me feel bad. Like, I thought that his Grace sounded amazing, but it was so strange and terrifying to him, that I couldn't help but feel guilty. Especially at the end. I know that I didn't give the ending a very good score, but it isn't because it isn't good. I just feel sad about it.


Po and Katsa are odd friends--and an even odder couple, though they make sense. Apparently, Katsa is beautiful--though scary...--and Po is hot-stuff, too, so if they just made an effort to look better... No, I'm kidding. That's not why they work. It's just...more of that emotional stuff, y'know? It's hard to explain it--I wish I could. It's just one of those inexplicable things that feels so real. I didn't want the book to end. Even if it was long. I wanted to stay in that wonderful world forever! But, alas, I could not.


So, watch out, people with complete heterochromia! Steer clear of me, of else I'll be bombarding you with questions about how it is to have a Grace. Oh...I wish I had heterochromia. Just one of those urges to have something different about you, y'know?


Eh, anywho, bye-bye!
Tay-Toe

2 comments:

Amy said...

wasn't this book totally riveting!! i love your reviews, city of ashes is one of my fave books as well.
-amy

Sara said...

I read this book a while ago and loved it! I love Katsa and too felt really sad at the end. Actually I was mad with the ending for I didn't... SPOILER... want him to turn out to be blind. I was very devestated. Well it was fun to hear your review and thoughts on the book.

Actually this book made my writing better ever since I read it. I love her 'voice' which improved mine. I really dislike 3rd person, but she made me love it. It is now one of my favorite books.