Kristin Cashore’s debut novel, Graceling, was one I couldn't put down. I fell in love with the universe the author had created. Infused with fantasy, action, adventure, and romance to name a few, I found that it could not only be classified by one genre.

The plot takes place in The Seven Kingdoms, where people are called Gracelings. These are beings with an extreme skill, ranging from the ability to talk backwards to the ability to read minds. Katsa, the protagonist, is a woman with the skill to kill a man with her bare hands. Over the course of the story, Katsa must solve a mystery to save the kingdoms and to discover more about her power.

 One noticeable strength about the novel is that it deals with several relatable problems. There is a scene in which Katsa asks, “When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster?” It also talks about how tough choices can be and the impact they can have on a person. Graceling introduces new characters, places and events very smoothly, adding humor and amusing comments with it. The imagery is excellent, as Cashore masterfully illustrates lovely mental images for every setting and character with meticulous detail.

Graceling is one of my favourite books, for its intriguing plot, brilliant narrative, and the inspiring characters who aren't afraid to be different. You should definitely check out this book if you haven't!