Reviews with content warning for Blood - Graceling

Wow. I can see why this book is so important to so many people! It feels very classic and timeless to me. I think it’s a great book for beginner fantasy readers (like myself 😃) because it was the perfect mix of simple and complex. While some parts could have been more intense, I had so much fun reading it!

I absolutely loved Katsa. She is a strong-willed individual who knows what she wants and doesn’t dismiss others for wanting something different, which is why I disagree with reviews calling her self-centered! She has endured years of abuse from her uncle and mistreatment from nearly everyone around her (except a few individuals). Outwardly, she appears strong but shows a lack of self-confidence when standing up to her uncle. Though she seems cold and mean, her kindness shows through in her interactions with people like Raffin and those who treat her like a human. She has had to pretend to be evil and menacing in order to survive. Her walls are high, but inside, she is sympathetic. I wholeheartedly loved her character.

I really appreciated Kristin Cashore’s take on choosing your own path. I admire how steadfast Katsa remained in her decisions despite VERY strong reasons, like Po 😏, that could have swayed her to give up on her freedom or her journey to find meaning. So, if anything the take away is… you don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing to be happy!

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lovemissjoan's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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plumpeony's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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katievallin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Had a good start but got boring around halfway. Didn't really like the anti-marriage message. Katsa was entirely too good at all things, which made her and the plot boring. Also didn't really understand why she was so determined to help Bitterblue. And the climax was entirely anticlimactic. The world-building was a bit confusing, but that might've been because I listened to the audiobook, which wasn't very good (the full-cast version, at least).

I did like Bitterblue as a character, and I thought Katsa and Po's relationship was sweet.

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