Book Review: Graceling and Fire

I read GRACELING by Kristin Cashore a while back. And I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin at a book signing. I actually finished GRACELING right before the signing. It's basically set in a medieval-ish world where some people are born with powers. They're called gracelings, and you can identify them by their eyes. Their eyes are different colors.

I loved this book so much. I loved Katsa, the MC. She has one blue eye and one green and her power is that she is a killing machine. Or is it? Po, another graceling, is introduced. I loved him, too. He was definitely swoon-worthy. One of the things I liked most about this book, Katsa was one tough chick. She kicked ass... a lot... and she's definitely skilled at saving the day.

If you're looking for a YA fantasy with a strong female character, this is the book for you. And an added bonus... it's very different from most YA fantasy that's out there.

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.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about 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.

Below is the UK cover to GRACELING.

Kristin Cashore had created the seven kingdoms to the west of the Great Greys in GRACELING. She mentioned The Dells, but mostly in passing. She said her mother told her that after reading GRACELING, she was curious about The Dells, which got Kristin wondering, too. And that story became FIRE.

Even though, they are set in the same world, they are very different kingdoms and very different tales. But one thing they hold in common: Katsa and Fire. The lead characters are both strong women. There is fantasy and romance in both tales of these heroines. I'm not sure which book I prefer more. They were both so great.

I recommend both of these titles, and the third in this series, BITTERBLUE, which is currently slated to hit shelves in September 2011.


Synopsis:

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Below is the UK cover of FIRE. I think I might have to order this one. It's too gorgeous!

And look for BITTERBLUE to come out next year!