Review: Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms #1) by Kristin Cashore

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, and in her case horrifying, 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.

I can't begin to describe the amazing talent Kristin Cashore brings to her readers. Her world she created in Graceling is like nothing anyone has ever heard of. Kingdoms, gracelings, power struggles and true love are only a glimpse at what she brings to the table. With this being her first installment in the Seven Kingdoms series I'd say she started with a bang!

Katsa is what is knows as a graceling. Rare people born in Cashore's world with extreme talents. Be they simple like cooking expertise, sewing, or more of the radical like mind reading/control, or in Katsa's case, killing. Graceling's can be identified visually by their two different colored eyes. But Katsa's in no danger of being overlooked. She's the king's thug in most people's opinions. Her uncle uses her graceling and reputation to horrible ends. Katsa has few friends and not a very sunny outlook on life until she meets Po.

I of course fell in love with Po. He's the prince of one of the other kingdoms and has come to Katsa's home on a mission of the utmost importance. Katsa finds a friend in Po and decides she must help him on this adventure. These two are the embodiment of good and right. They want to stop the evil that is being spread among the kingdoms and at great risk to themselves.

Cashore sends Katsa and Po on a wonderful, thrilling adventure filled with surprises, revelations at every turn and there's even some romance to appease those out there like me. With a fearless and lovable heroine and a noble sweetheart of a guy by her side, a handful of great side characters, readers will fall in love with Graceling!

I gave Graceling (Seven Kingdoms #1) 5 shamrocks!!!!!