Guest Review: Graceling

Graceling
- Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Gollancz

In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?
The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out – but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king...

This book started with one of those moments where you go 'hang on, this sounds familiar' and by the end of the first chapter you have remembered the whole story. A quick check through my books read record and yep, there it was, read June 2009. It is testament to Cashore's literary skills that despite knowing what was coming I still enjoyed the ride.

Graceling is set in a Mediaeval world full of castles, swords and Kings, where some children are born 'graced' with the ability to do amazing things. Characterised by different coloured eyes, these gracelings are beholden to their King for as long as he deems them useful, and are universally feared for their uniqueness.

Our heroine Katsa is feared even more than the others - her grace is killing. Used as her King's enforcer, Katsa is a killing machine, wielded as an unsubtle instrument in the quest for royal fealty. She is a thug with a conscience though, and after meeting Po, the graced Prince of another realm, whose grandfather was kidnapped under mysterious and apparently nonsensical reasons, she sets out on an unsanctioned quest to uncover some truths.

Katsa is an engagingly flawed character, by turns both delightfully childlike and emotionlessly thug like. Her romance is sweet and sincere, and the action satisfyingly meaty. Her grace does, however, make the perilous moments less edgy, as you are always confident in her abilities.

Overall, a very enjoyable read, whether on the first, or second, read! One for fans of Trudi Canavan, 8 out of 10

Fire Review

Fire

-          Kristin Cashore

Publisher: UK – Gollancz

In a world of stunningly beautiful, exceptionally dangerous monsters, Fire is one of the most dangerous monsters of all - a human one. Marked out by her vivid red hair, she's more than attractive. Fire is mesmerising. But with this extraordinary beauty comes influence and power. People who are susceptible to her appeal will do anything for her attention, and for her affection. They will turn away from their families, their work, and their duties for her. They will forget their responsibilities to please her . . . and worse, crush nations, neglect kingdoms and abuse their power. Aware of her power, and afraid of it, Fire lives in a corner of the world away from people, and away from temptation. Until the day comes when she is needed - a day when, for her king, she has to take a stand not only against his enemies, but also against herself . . .

Graceling was a decent story with some great characters, an interesting premise and  a story that swept you along. I enjoyed it but thought it was slightly overhyped. Fire, a semi-prequel, set in the same world but in a different land with one cross-over character is better. The characters more memorable and different – a variety of soldiers, princes and archers of both sexes with the main character Fire, herself a truly unique character. She is called a human monster, but she is perhaps one of the most human characters I’ve ever read about. Throughout the novel she struggles to come to terms with her history and upbringing and to get to grips with her unusual powers .  She is markedly different from everyone else and aware of how much she can influence people both for good and ill. Compared to another character who also impacts everyone, she struggles to do the right thing in a world where politics means that sometimes it’s the case of the lesser of two evils.

This book has elements I love – politics, unusual powers and a believable romance. Perhaps where Fire loses a little is a lack of characterisation of the ‘bad guys’ and their motives. In general, they are depicted as  anti-royalists and simply want to gain power, but this isn’t explored fully. As the novel is told primarily from Fire’s point of view this could be excused, but I am intrigued by some of these bad guys – especially Lady Murgda – I can’t help feeling there is a story behind her and her brothers actions that I’d like to know more about. Overall, though I really enjoyed this book – it swept me along and allowed me to think about the nature of humanity.

Recommended for fans of Jennifer Fallon and Twilight. 8.5 out of 10.