Review of "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore

To begin, let me warn you that this is a three-part review. I've already all three books that were in Kristin Cashore's trilogy, but if I put them all into one review, it would be monstrously long, because I have a ton to say. Almost as soon as I finished "Graceling", I wanted to read the sequel. The book is set in an intriguing world, consisting of seven kingdoms. There is no religion. To me, it seems like the inhabitants of the kingdoms use the name of the kingdom as a substitute for a deity. For example, Po, the main male character, is fond of saying things like, "How in Lienid" since he is from the island kingdom of Lienid. There are 5 kingdoms that are constantly at war, and 2 that are isolated and want nothing to do with the dealings of the other kingdoms. The capital cities of each kingdom are named after the king or queen that rules it. For example, the king of Monsea is King Leck. Therefore, the capital is Leck City. The isolated kingdoms are Lienid, an island, and Monsea, which is surrounded by mountains. The others have very, well, directional, names. There is the Middluns(in the center of the five), Nander(to the north), Estill(to the east), Sunder(to the south), and Wester(to, you guessed it, the west). "Graceling" follows the adventures(and misadventures) of Lady Katsa of the Middluns. She is one of the few in the kingdoms blessed(or cursed) with a "Grace"(a special, almost supernatural, skill). People with a Grace are called "Gracelings". In "Graceling", Katsa saves a Lienid prince and ends up falling in love with another. She overthrows a king and saves a kingdom, almost getting herself and a princess killed in the process. Truly, I have so much more to say, but I can't say it without giving anything away. I'm not going to star any more reviews, because that was just stupid of me. The second review in the trilogy(ha! It's a trilogy of reviews reviewing a trilogy of books! How funny!) will be for "Fire", the second book, and will come out soon, maybe tomorrow. Whenever I have the time. Thanks for reading!!!