Graceling by Kristin Cashore

What Ruby has to say…

Katsa was only eight years old when she killed for the first time. She is one of the “Graced,” a person who is distinguished by their eyes, which are different colors. She has the Grace of fighting and is used by her uncle, King Randa, to be his “lady killer,” to carry out torture and killings to satisfy any wrongs (right or otherwise) done to him.

In order to bring some good from her Grace, Katsa and her friends form the “Council” to help people throughout the seven kingdoms who have been unjustly punished, imprisoned, or abused. Through this secret council, Katsa rescues an elderly man who turns out to be a prince from a neighboring kingdom. His grandson, Prince Po, comes looking for him in the kingdom of Middluns.

Po is also Graced with superior fighting skills and is a welcome fighting partner for Katsa. The two form a close friendship…which turns into more. Both are pulled into a plot that starts with the kidnapping of Po’s grandfather and turns into something far more dangerous. Po and Katsa have to rely on each other and their Graces to survive. (more…)