Graceling by Kristin Cashore

*****
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I absolutely loved this book and was terribly disappointed that since it was the author's debut novel and had only just come out in October that there was nothing else by Kristin Cashore for me to read.

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel and much of the action was really driven by them. Katsa is the king's niece and a Graceling, one who is very skilled in one thing. When Katsa was young she unintentionally killed a cousin of hers and was marked with the Grace of killing. She is unhappy with the distinction the Grace gives her and sought for many years to train herself and keep her Grace under control. Katsa is a character that while self-assured of herself in some ways is desperately unsure of herself in others. Like so many other heroines in popular YA books right now Katsa is afraid of the power within herself and of changing the status quo. Despite that Katsa is unhappy with her status of court bully and seeks to change things outside of her sphere with the Council.

It's on one of the missions for the Council that Katsa meets Po, a prince from the island kingdom of Lienid and a Graceling himself. Po tells her that his Grace lies in fighting - any of the hand-to-hand combats. Katsa has been basically undefeatable as a fighter for many years and enjoys the chance to use her skills to their fullest against him. It is an unlikely start, but theirs becomes a true friendship that weathers a multitude of trials.

Politics play a huge role in this novel (rather like in the Poison Study books by Maria Snyder or Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith) but augment the novel by forcing the characters to move faster, take leaps and create bonds. The politics of the Seven Kingdoms are what drive the characters to take action.

I can't wait to see what's next from this author.