Books are my life... discussion

Graceling 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 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.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.



Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

Wondering what makes it a companion book/prequel? Fire takes place 30-some years before Graceling and has one cross-over character with Graceling, a small boy with strange two-colored eyes who comes from no-one-knows-where, and who has a peculiar ability that Graceling readers will find familiar and disturbing...

I thought that Graceling was just ok. I didn't really connect with Katsa very well. Of course, I'm sure your aren't supposed to connect with an assassin. Po, was an awesome character. I would like to find out more of what happened to him.

There is supposed to be another book coming out called 'Bitterblue' which is meant to occur six years after Graceling, there will probably be more about Po in that book.

This is a series I have considered I have heard lots of good things about it. Maybe next year Have enough to keep me busy through 2010 :-)

Debbie, Graceling is not a book I would highly recommend. Although, many others would disagree. I'm sure you have better books in your TBR pile.

Bhawanni, Ah, yes, Bitterblue. Since I have read Graceling it would be nice to see how she grew up and how she fairs as a ruler. And to know what became of Po. Although, I don't consider it on the top of my list.

Well, I loved Graceling and Fire and you should try them Debbie, even if it is not right away.

I do seem to be the oddity when it comes to Graceling. I liked it in parts and then there would be this lull until something happens again.

In some parts it was a bit slow but overall i thought it was really good. I found the ending really sad though, you know about the thing that happened to Po, that was the only major downside for me in the whole book.

It was a downside. I almost cried for him. That is also why I'm so curious to see how he is.

You know how the Prince does experiments and heals stuff, I wonder if he could cure Po? It would be awesome if he did but I doubt it, Kristin Cashore probably wont have him get better :(

I think he will try to make something to help him. What will happen though... Hmm, I wonder.

It will be interesting to see how it all pans out. Have you read Fire? That was really good too and in my opinion just a tad better than Graceling, you might connect with Fire a little better seeing as she is not an assasin. :P

I've stayed away from Fire since I didn't care for Graceling. I know it is a prequel which is supposed to open up Graceling in a new way.

Fire doesn't really tie to Graceling apart from the link of King Leck, its a totally different world and the characters are different. I strongly suggest you give it a go, even if it is sometime way in the future.

It sounds like it might be more interesting. If I run into at the library I'll pick it up and give it a try.

Bhawanni wrote: "Well, I loved Graceling and Fire and you should try them Debbie, even if it is not right away."

Cool Thanks

Loved them both! I think Graceling is my favourite read so far this year. Looking forward to Bitterblue!

i loved both books..but i kind of liked fire better

Me too! Fire was really good!

i related better to her and there was more romance..i pretty good romance too

❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠ ❤ wrote: "I do seem to be the oddity when it comes to Graceling. I liked it in parts and then there would be this lull until something happens again."

You are definitely not an oddity, I really really didn't like it. I thought Cashore was a terrible writer. The subject had so much promise, but she didn't do a very good job with it. There is so much more I could say, but that is better saved for my review. :-)(I know that a lot of people liked though)

I've only read Graceling and I thought that was okay and was expecting it to be better

Jen wrote: "❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠ ❤ wrote: "I do seem to be the oddity when it comes to Graceling. I liked it in parts and then there would be this lull until something happens again."

You are definitely not an o..."

I think you are right. The book could of been so much better.

It took me to get almost halfway thru the 1st book to get into it but even then something was missing and I'm not even past the first chapter in fire yet there hard books to enjoy not well written

in fire the first chapter is really complictaed..but soon it will all be clear

I hope I'm tryn to be able to start reading it again

cool..cuz i thought it was a really good book

Ok great that helps

I loved both books and didn't really have a favorite out of the two . The world Cashore created was fantastic and completely different from anything I've ever read . I would recommend them to whoever likes fantasy .. I see a lot of people didn't like them , but don't really understand why ? &I'm really looking foward to reading Bitterblue !

I know exactly what you mean! The world is so amazing! I'm looking forward to reading Bitterblue too.

i loved both books althought i liked fire a little bit more..can't wait for bitterblue too!!!

I absolutely love Graceling and Fire! They're some of my absolute favorite books ever! And I can not wait for Bitterblue. Arghh! a little less than a year, torture!

In Graceling, I really liked the ending. I'm not exactly sure why, but I just really liked the twist. And it is really sad, but it wasn't completey bad, Po still has his grace, so he can still pretty much, uh (I don't want to gived anything away). But I really liked it.

And Fire. Fire was really cool. I loved that Kristin took a little story Po told in Graceling, and turned it into a completely new world. It's so original and captivating. I love the part when Fire rides out on her horse when there's monster raptors (I believe, if I remember correctly) and saves Brigin and his group of horsemen. I thought that part was awesome! And I liked that it told the background about Leck. *shudder* Leck is so creepy.

I just got the call today that Gracling has finally come in for me at the library. Hopefully pick it up tomorrow and start it soon:)

I loved Graceling and loved Fire up until she started pulling away from Archer. It seemed like she was in love with him and then she tells him they can't be together anymore. Then of course he sleeps with everyone and he leaves and gets killed because of her!! It's all just so terrible. Then she takes that stupid medicine to make herself sterile. The worst part for me was learning about Leck- how he got away and if Fire were stronger she could've killed him.....but I guess then Po and Katsa wouldn't have met, so.....it's alright.


Katsa and Katniss??? sound similar???

graceling for me was just average it didnt really stick out and sometimes it just plain got on my nerves! idk mabye it was just me who thought katsa was a little bit annoying? po was cool i guess...mabye this is just not my genre. i have been putting off reading fire and i wasnt to excited when it came out :-S idk if i will even read it

i thought katsa was annoying too..
i hesitated a little before deciding to read Fire..and it turned out pretty great

The only characters I liked in Graceling were Po-Bitterblue and Prince Raffin;)

Myosh wrote: "i thought katsa was annoying too..
i hesitated a little before deciding to read Fire..and it turned out pretty great"

Was Fire released BEFORE Graceling cuz I heard that Kristin Cashore made a pre-quel BEFORE the sequel...does that make sense?

Bitterblue*a.k.a Abbey♥Dawn wrote: "The only characters I liked in Graceling were Po-Bitterblue and Prince Raffin;)"

i loved Po

Bitterblue*a.k.a Abbey♥Dawn wrote: "Myosh wrote: "i thought katsa was annoying too..
i hesitated a little before deciding to read Fire..and it turned out pretty great"

Was Fire released BEFORE Graceling cuz I heard that Kristin C..."

all i know is that fire was released after graceling

I am finally starting this book.....feels like I have been trying to get to it forever!!!

and how do you like it so far?

I love it so!!! The characters are great in this book.

that's exactly what i think!!

I adored Graceling! Fire wasn't as great.

i liked them both..

I love them both. I don't think one is better or worse than the other. They're both amazing!

agree!

I finished Graceling yesterday and I have to say I loved and thought the characters were great (Bitterblue is my favourite) and I can't wait to start the next one!!!

if you liked graceling your gonna love fire!