Graceling by Kristin Cashore

  Graceling is a young adult fantasy with a bit of romance. In the world author Kristin Cashore has created there are seven kingdom with seven kings. Some people in this world are "graced" with a special gift or ability. For instance a person might be a gifted cook or swimmer. Katsa, a young girl from the Middluns kingdom, is graced with fighting skill (or so she has been told).

What a treat this was to read! There were so many things I loved about this book, the first being Katsa. Katsa is a machine. When she fights, nothing seems to be able to stop her, not even an army. But I didn't just like her because she was a physically strong female character. I liked her because she knew who she was and what she wanted. She doesn't want to get married or have children. She doesn't want to be someone's puppet. She wants control over her own life and she fights to make it so. She is strong willed and a sense of right and wrong that she comes to on her own.

I also loved Prince Po, the man who brings changes to Katsa life (but does not change her). Like Katsa, Po is a gifted fighter but he is no match for Katsa. He readily admits this without any ego. I'm still thinking this through but one thought I had while reading this book was that in some ways Katsa and Po have switched the usual gender roles. Katsa is the bold, strong fighter, while Po is the one who is emotionally intelligent, able to sense people thoughts and feelings and acting accordingly.

I also enjoyed the different portrayals of power. There are seven kings but only three really factor into the story. One king is what I think of as the gangster king. For years he compelled Katsa to be his muscle, sending her to maim or kill people who owed him money or who otherwise disobeyed or disrespected him in some way. Then there is the mad king who physically and mentally abuses his people. Finally there is a king who "looked at his people, instead of over their heads." This king might never consider doing any kind of manual labor, but he could have a sincere conversation with a manual laborer about that person's work and his or her dreams and aspirations.

I was visiting a friend and she thrusts this book in my hands, insisting I read it. I'm so glad she did.