Graceling
by Kristin Cashore

    GRACELING by Kristin Cashore
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  10/1/08
    Publisher:  Harcourt
    Reviewed by:  Allison Fraclose
    Rating:  5 Stars


    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!