Graceling

· HarperCollins
4.6
644 reviews
eBook
480
Pages
Eligible
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About this eBook

Discover the Graceling Realm in this unforgettable, award-winning novel from bestselling author Kristin Cashore.

A New York Times bestseller * ALA Best Book for Young Adults * Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner * Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, and BCCB Best Book of the Year

“Rageful, exhilarating, wistful in turns" (New York Times Book Review) with “a knee weakening romance” (Los Angeles Times). Graceling is a thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure that will resonate deeply with anyone trying to find their way in the world.

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, who is smart and beautiful and lives in the Seven Kingdoms where selected people are born with a Grace, a special talent that can be anything at all. Katsa’s Grace is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his brutal enforcer. Until the day she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, and Katsa’s life begins to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

And don’t miss the sequel Fire and companion Bitterblue, both award-winning New York Times bestsellers featuring Kristin Cashore’s elegant, evocative prose and unforgettable characters. 

This ebook includes sample chapters of Fire, Bitterblue, and Jane, Unlimited. 

Ratings and reviews

4.6
644 reviews
Yasahiro Kojima
18 July 2025
I read this book when it first came out and it was fun to read. Who wouldnt want to have a gift as interesting as Katsas' gift. When she first used her gift it was in fear so it was a killing gift. Only to realize later on its actually a gift in survival. She is headstrong and will do what is right even going behind her kings back. To eventually killing a king to protect those close to her after finding out about his gift. Many people would do that in reality to protect those close to them. For all people reading this book and enjoying good for you. For everyone else who does not like it just leave a 1 * and mive on it is not for you to tell others not to read it.
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A.L. Johns
5 July 2019
Well written, a gripping plot, well-formed characters but I just hate hate hate the main character. Her selfishness, her fear that makes her so weak and makes her make stupid decisions and react in utterly senseless and stupid ways to things that should be positive and beautiful. It's so hard to swollow. And what's even harder to swallow is the fact that all other characters in the book seem to respect her even more for it. What so many people and authors mistake for progressiveness, courage and individualism is just thick blanket of fear of the unknown, a refusal of takig risks that might warrant the greatest happiness in life or cause the deepest pain if it doesn't work out. It's this kind if courage that is lacking in this story and it leaves me as a reader rather empty and disappointed. There was so much more potential in those characters and this story. It's sad that the author wasn't a little braver.
3 people found this review helpful
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A Google user
2 June 2011
In this medieval world some people are born with a grace-an extreme talent that can range from killing to just plain swimming. Katsa is born with a grace. She has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight. Since then she has worked as the king’s thug. She’s getting tired of it but doesn’t know what to do about it. Then she meets Po who she never expected to be friends with. Po is graced with combat skills and Katsa trains with him to get control of her grace. Katsa never expects to find a secret that could destroy all the kingdoms and she never expects to find out the truth about her grace. Katsa is an intelligent girl who has one green eye and one blue eye. She gags at the thought of marriage and having babies but doesn’t like killing either. I recommend this book to older readers because it has some inappropriate language and events and a lot of violence. But people who like action/adventure with a little romance won’t be able to put this book down.
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About the author

Kristin Cashore is author of many New York Times best-selling books, including Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue, and Jane, Unlimited. She received a master's from the Center for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She currently lives in the Boston area. kristincashore.blogspot.com Twitter: @kristincashore

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