If you think about it, you realize that Katsa has a lot of abilities similar to open world video games, like sleeping for a specific amount of time, not really felling any pain, full awareness of surroundings (3rd person view) and so on. Its just a neat thing I found out.

Graceling has been a long standing favorite book of mine for some time. I have reread it over and over and loved it every time. I love the character building. Katsa is a strong willed woman well known, feared, and hated around the continent; to no pleasure of her own. She was raised from the moment her killing grace was exposed in the ways of combat and stands undefeated until she meets a strange Lienid named Po. He challenges her in ways no one has or could. Meanwhile things happen that just don't add up. A meaningless kidnapping, a queen behaving strangely, a quest to get to the bottom of it.
This book is jam packed with foreshadowing, adventure, romance, and probably one of the most brilliant villans i have ever read about. Absolutely stunning, im rereading it again, i cannot get enough of Katsa her flaws and her strengths, same for Po, they are so adorable, (relationship GOALS) and how the story has a deep web of secrets that you get the honor of watching the two of them unravel.

This book suffered heavily from no-plot syndrome. It's hard to get the right balance between endearing, well fleshed out characters and an interesting, fast-paced, determined, directional plot. Cashore spent way too much time focusing on the former, and almost completely ignored the latter. Certain characters are so real and enthralling that you don't need a complex plot to carry them. This isn't the case with Graceling. Yes, Katsa and Po are very well done, as are some of the other side characters- Bitterblue and Katsa's cousin and uncle, for example. That doesn't compensate for the barely discernable plot to decide to pick up about halfway through the novel. The main antagonist doesn't show up in the story until about 60% of the way, and then he disappears until the end. We don't even know much about him except for hearsay and stories. It feels as though Cashore needed a reason for Po and Katsa to be alone and undertake an epic journey, and she fabricated last a minute, feeble reasoning for it. I didn't feel as though their cause was dire enough for me to remain interested in their plight, pure and simple. Why do I care about these two travelling across their 7 Kingdoms (which suffer completely from non-world-building disease)? There's so much more that could have focused on here, other than what Cashore chose. There must have been a better way to showcase the many different Graces that the inhabitants of this universe enjoy. As it is, we only got to see a scant few, and they were obviously a handful of the most powerful ones.
The other gripe I have here is that Katsa is another female-who-hates-dresses-and-prefers-knives. (Gee, where have we seen this before? This is a brand new trope!!) This could have been the reason that I was largely turned off to this book. I'm so sick and tired of a girl fighter trying to throw off the bonds of femininity. Can't a girl enjoy dresses and makeup AND fighting? Why must the two be mutually exclusive, and why must the character shame those who do enjoy feminine things? I'm honestly ready for this cliche to be over and done with- and to be fair, that might have soured me to Cashore's story.
The good things? I liked Po. He was honest, caring, helpful, and really loved Katsa. Bitterblue was interesting, and I see potential for the next novel. The idea of Gracelings intrigued me as well- that the powers can manifest themselves differently in different people.
All in all, good idea, poor execution. I found myself bored through most of the story, and would have DNF'd it if not for listening to it on audiobook through a long car ride.

A really good book. It was really really fun to read and after finishing it I immediately wanted more. It is one of those books that hooks you and forces you to stay up until 1am to finish. I highly suggest for anyone who enjoys fantasy, magic and also just a really great adventure. It kind of reminded me of throne of glass a little bit, all in all would highly recommend to anyone! (There is a slight love triangle/interest thing going on but it doesn't take away from the story at all.)

This book is fantastic! Set in a time of Kings and Queens, and gracelings with powers untold!

such a good BOOK!!!!!