Graceling

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Pages: 471 (hard cover)
Genre: Fiction, Dystopic
Rating: 1/5 stars

The book shows the main character, Katsa, going on a grandiose adventure, while throwing in some personal drama to spice things up. Graceling reminds me of Suzanne Collins’s, Hunger Games trilogy. Except for the fact that Graceling take place in a medieval era with no technology, they have the same plot. The setting of the book affects the plot, because they can’t spread information, like we can today.

Katsa is Graced with killing. Though she hasn’t killed in a long time, she is feared by many. She is faced with the task of taking down a ruthless king, with the help of The Council and its allies. On one of her missions for The Council, she meets a mysterious,  who turn out to be a prince of the kingdom Katsa was in the process of helping. Po (the mysterious man) over time falls in love with Katsa, but he’s not the only one who has their sights on “The girl who can kill a man with her bare hands.” Bitterblue is a part of the royal family and the great mystery that is facing the 7 kingdoms. Though she is just a child, she will experience more than most will ever in their life times.

The books starts out with Katsa on a mission, for the infamous council, to save the grandfather Liend. While mid-rescue, Katsa runs into Po ( the mysterious man). After a successful mission,  Katsa returns to her uncle Randa, who is oblivious of her work for the council, only to be confronted by none other than Po, a Liend Prince.

The raising action starts when, with Po’s help, Katsa break free for her tyrant uncle, in order to find out more grandfather's kidnapping. She end up uncovering a secret behind one of the most notorious king’s reign, a new found love interest, and plots for another kidnapping attempt.

The climax kept readers on the edge of their seats. First, Katsa has to save princess Bitterblue from being the next royal abduction. Then, they must escape over dangerous mountains, where they both almost lose their lives. After a few close run ins with death, Katsa (the killer of men) runs into one of the only people capable of killing her-- King Leck. She defeats him, like the heroic protagonist she is. Fighting mountain lions, saving princesses, and defeating kings; is there anything Katsa  can’t do.

The falling was just as eventful, but in many was less jaw-droppingly captivating. It was just a reintroduction to the character after all the life changing events in the climax. On that note, the resolution was just as anticlimactic, with the characters deciding that they were going to part ways. There was no epic goodbye, it was just over.

The theme of this book is: It’s not about what is on the outside, only what's on the inside. Everyone though Katsa was a monster because of her grace although Katsa is a nice person.

I would not suggest this book to anyone. The book is extremely boring and has no real world connection. The book is a cliche Y.A. novel. This book is a worse version of the modern day Hunger Games.

Contributed by Victoria Neal