Graceling - Kristin Cashore.

The word 'awesome' is what springs to mind when asked to describe Kristin Cashore's "Graceling". It's fiery, it's action-filled, it has a touch of everything I could want from a book. Definitely top ten material.

First published in October of 2008, I received "Graceling" as a Christmas gift. Having not picked it out myself, it was an interesting-looking novel, and I trusted the giver of the gift implicitly. I picked it up, on that same Christmas day, and promptly lost myself in its pages - I had finished it by evening.

"Graceling" is slotted into the 'fantasy' and 'romance' genres - it focuses on a world other than our own, a world where 'gracelings', well, grace the land... and are shunned for their differences. These 'gracelings' are humans gifted with inhuman abilities - told apart from the non-'gracelings' by their different coloured eyes. A 'graceling' has two alternately coloured eyes. Katsa, the heroine of "Graceling", has one blue eye and one green eye - and a startling Grace (ability). Her Grace is the power of 'killing', discovered when she was just a child and resulting in her being one of the most feared in all of the land. However, as the King's niece, she is a recognised tool of His Majesty, used to oppress his peers and lower lords. Using the only methods of rebellion she can, Katsa frequently defies her Uncle's 'jobs', and works for a Council opposing his ruling. It is on one such defiant mission for the Council, that Katsa meets a fellow 'graceling', Po. A Lienid (one kingdom within the land) prince, Po and Katsa tumble into a riotous mission to find out who the kidnapper of Po's grandfather is.

Not only does Cashore prove herself to be other than one of the many new authors who continuously push themselves up, but she showcases true talent. And that true talent is a rare, rare gift. She writes with the passion and fluency of one who knows that they are good at what they do - and enjoys it. Her style is addictive and of such a high quality - which continues through into "Fire", her second novel.

Highly recommended, and easily a nine or ten out of ten, this book is a contender for top in my heart - Kristin Cashore has managed to capture many a reader's attention span, and for such a beginner in the world of words - I expect high things from this writer, and am sure she won't disappoint.

"Graceling" is Cashore's debut novel - followed by "Fire" (2009), and most recently - "Bitterblue" (2012).