Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Series: Graceling Realm #1
Rating: 4 stars
Published: October 1st 2008
Goodreads Synopsis:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.Recommended by Yiling!
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
Graceling reminded me of Tamora Pierce's books, in which a girl is given the means to break free from the misogynist and overly sexist society she was placed in.
Katsa is born with the Grace of killing, making her the personal hitman of King Randa, her uncle. This ability of her makes her feared among her peers, which keeps her alone and isolated. But, she meets Po, who has the Grace of combat, and soon becomes his friend. The two embark on a mission to discover the truth of Po's kidnapped grandfather and the mysteriously kind King Leck of Monsea.
