Search - Graceling (Seven Kingdoms, Bk 1)

I thought that this was a very entertaining fantasy novel - the characters were quite likable and the plot, though straightforward, was exciting. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, as well as the rest of the series. It really reminded me of Maria V. Snyder's series, so I would say that if you finished that series and were looking for a new fantasy series, you would probably really enjoy this one since they both center around strong, independent, female characters.

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

In most of the seven kingdoms, people born with a Grace--an extreme skill that they can perform above all others--are usually feared.

However, King Randa of the Middluns kingdom has exploited Katsa's ability to kill ever since her Grace surfaced at the tender age of eight. Katsa had even begun to think that maybe, in reality, she really was nothing but an attack dog, until one day she decided to follow her own will and let an innocent man live. Since then, she and her cousin, Prince Raffin, have put together a secret council to rescue people suffering from similar injustices.

During a rescue mission to free the father of the Lienid king from a dungeon in Sunder, Katsa squares off with a Graced Lienid man who is almost her equal in fighting. When he shows up in Middluns, Katsa is dismayed to learn that he is one of the Lienid princes, nicknamed "Po," in search of his missing grandfather.

Although Katsa is at first wary of his intentions, she soon finds a kindred spirit in Po, and the two grow close as they set off on a journey to solve the mystery surrounding the kidnapping of Po's grandfather. In Monsea, a kingdom isolated by mountains, Po's aunt and young cousin may be in grave danger...

Akin to the tales of Tamora Pierce, this story features strong female characters and an exciting medieval world full of magic and action. Definitely not one to miss!

In Katsa's world, those who possess a Grace, an unusually powerful skill, recognized by their different-colored eyes, are often shunned and avoided by the ordinary people. Katsa has it worse than most Graced, for her Grace is the Grace of killing, a Grace that her uncle, King Randa, uses to keep his subjects in line.

But Katsa is sick of always obeying her uncle's orders, being forced to perform these tasks she hates and having to hide her good side. Still, she sees no way out of her miserable, savage life...until she meets Po, a prince from a faraway island kingdom, whose secret business coincides with hers. Po is Graced with the art of combat, and they are well matched in fighting.

A friendship develops between Katsa and Po, and they are thrown together even more as they set off to defend their world from the clutches of a powerful and dangerous king. Katsa must contend with her wild nature if she is to get to know Po, if she is to learn about the truth about their Graces and characters. Together, they may just be able to save their world and make it a better place.

The characterizations of Katsa and Po in Graceling are incredible; it's impossible to not like them and feel for them as they struggle with their internal conflicts and emotions for one another. On the other hand, I felt like much of the plot-conflict in this novel was thrown in almost helter-skelter; conflicts were suddenly introduced and resolved in a matter of pages. I would have liked more back-story, so that I could've better understand Katsa and Po's world. That being said, Graceling is still an incredible debut fantasy novel, sure to appeal to all fantasy lovers who also like a good romance.

I don't know how I really felt about this book. It was bland. I read it in a week, but I felt like it was unoriginal. There were some interesting aspects like certain people being "graced" with skills that are in a way superhuman and identifying them simply because each person will have two different coloured eyes (and not usual eye tones). Maybe I'll like the sequel more whenever I get around to reading it (not really interested to yet). This was like Twilight and Dune combined.

This book had a good premise and was always full of action, never lulling. The characters were dynamic and unique. It almost felt like it was two books in one, because it pursued two different story lines within the book. That wasn't a draw back, however, because they were linked together well and flowed beautifully.

Worth reading, especially because the romance is not heavy and the main character is so spunky it's very amusing seeing her be girly.

A little disappointed the "sequel" is a prequel and has nothing to do with these characters.

This book is about a girl named Katsa. Katsa has eyes that are two different colors. This marks her as a Graceling - someone who has been graced with some great talent. Sometimes it's not a very useful talent, like being able to climb trees really well. There are mentions of Gracelings who are talented at cooking or sewing or working with animals, even mindreading. Katsa is gifted with the ability to kill (according to the book. I would have called it a fighting gift personally). All Gracelings "belong" to the King of the country they are born in. The multi-colored eye don't appear until at least a few months after a child is born. Once their eyes settle into two different colors they are sent to the capital to be raised in a royal nursery until their gift shows itself. If it's useful you'll work for the king. If not you get sent home. Katsa is kept by the king as a bully boy.

This is a decent young adult book. It was more interesting in the beginning than in the end. There was a lot of traveling which wasn't interesting to read. I think I skipped over a 5-10 page section of traveling though mountains which could have been summarized as "traveling through the mountains in winter is really cold and really sucks."

There was some very good character growth seen during the book. However, the plot development wasn't that great. There was this mystery set up and the bad guy was intriguing. However, he was made so overpowered that the only way to defeat him was by accident, which is pretty anticlimactic. There were a few other plot things that were brought up and then swept neatly under the rug without properly solving them.