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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I really liked this actually!!! Katsa is a whole person and that's a relief to see. I loved watching her grow.
I don't have tons of thoughts at this second but I liked this book and I'm happy
Total score: 5/5 stars
I don't have tons of thoughts at this second but I liked this book and I'm happy
Total score: 5/5 stars
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Katsa's world, a few people have exceptional talents, called Graces. Gracelings are marked by different-colored eyes, and they are set apart from normal people, feared and often outcast. Katsa's particular Grace is fighting, which she discovered at an early age when she accidentally killed someone she thought was threatening her. Since then, her uncle, King Randa, has used her as a weapon, until Katsa meets another Graced fighter, Prince Po, and finally rebels against her uncle's rule. With Po, she sets out to solve a mystery and rid the kingdoms of a mysterious enemy with a dangerous Grace of his own.
This is an impressive first novel. There are some weaknesses -- the naming is uninspired (especially of the kingdoms: Wester, Estill, Nander, Sunder, and the Middluns?), the middle of the book is a little slow, and the origins of the villain are insufficiently explained for my tastes. But the worldbuilding and the characterization more than make up for small infelicities. The concept of Graces is intriguing, and I like how Cashore balances their talents by making it hard for them to get along in society. Katsa particularly could easily have been a super-powerful, beautiful-eyed Mary Sue, but instead, she struggles with her gifts, working out significant challenges. I loved Po too, but I was happy that he remained a supporting character, leaving Katsa very much in charge of her own fate and story.
This is an impressive first novel. There are some weaknesses -- the naming is uninspired (especially of the kingdoms: Wester, Estill, Nander, Sunder, and the Middluns?), the middle of the book is a little slow, and the origins of the villain are insufficiently explained for my tastes. But the worldbuilding and the characterization more than make up for small infelicities. The concept of Graces is intriguing, and I like how Cashore balances their talents by making it hard for them to get along in society. Katsa particularly could easily have been a super-powerful, beautiful-eyed Mary Sue, but instead, she struggles with her gifts, working out significant challenges. I loved Po too, but I was happy that he remained a supporting character, leaving Katsa very much in charge of her own fate and story.
I really tried to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. I felt it was lacking a certain push to make it more interesting.
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Ik vond dit een heel goed fantasy-boek. Het is spannend en avontuurlijk. Het speelt zich af in de zeven koninkrijken en het heeft een middeleeuws trekje. Het boek is realistisch geschreven. Katsa, het hoofdpersonage is dapper en moedig, en daar hou ik van! Ook Po is een leuk personage. Eén van de beste fantasy-boeken die ik gelezen heb en moeilijk om weg te leggen. (niet dat ik er zo veel fantasy gelezen heb).
Ik vond dit een heel goed fantasy-boek. Het is spannend en avontuurlijk. Het speelt zich af in de zeven koninkrijken en het heeft een middeleeuws trekje. Het boek is realistisch geschreven. Katsa, het hoofdpersonage is dapper en moedig, en daar hou ik van! Ook Po is een leuk personage. Eén van de beste fantasy-boeken die ik gelezen heb en moeilijk om weg te leggen. (niet dat ik er zo veel fantasy gelezen heb).
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Graceling was a fascinating read! I thought it would be a boring fantasy story, yet it surprised me by saying otherwise. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone :)
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes