You're born with a superpower that makes people either terrified of you or desperate to use you. Yup, you've woken up in Graceling world, where some unlucky (or lucky?) people are having Graces, which are wild, sometimes deadly talents that mark them as outsiders. You'll meet Katsa, a total badass with a Grace for killing, who’s forced to play thug for her shady uncle the king even while secretly fighting back. This book’s got everything: sword fights, slow-burn romance, and messy moral choices, all wrapped up in a heroine who refuses to play by anyone’s rules. Keep reading this if you like fantasy with teeth, because this one’s a ride.
(Bayangin kamu lahir dengan kekuatan super yang bikin orang takut setengah mati atau bikin pengen banget manfaatin kamu. Yap, selamat datang di dunia Graceling, tempat beberapa orang (sial atau beruntung, ya?) punya Grace, bakat supernatural yang kadang beneran mematikan dan menjadikan mereka orang asing. Di sini kamu bakal ketemu Katsa, si jagoan kita dengan Grace membunuh, yang dipaksa jadi algojo buat pamannya yang seorang raja yang shady, sambil diam-diam melawan balik. Buku ini punya semuanya: pertarungan pedang, romance slow-burn, dan pilihan hidup yang real, dibungkus dalam tokoh utama yang nggak mau ikutin aturan siapa pun. Lanjutin baca review ini kalau kamu suka fantasi yang nendang, karena yang satu ini beneran wild ride.)
BOOK INFORMATION
Title : Graceling
Author : Kristin Cashore
Publisher :
Language : English
Length :
Released :
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GR Rating :
My rating :
TL;DR: A fantasy flex with a stab-happy heroine, political drama, and slow-burn romance. Katsa’s Grace is murder (awkward), but she’s out here fighting the patriarchy while figuring out her identity. Equal parts action-packed and emotionally wrecking.
⚠️ SIDE EFFECTS
⚠️ Uncontrollable need to side-eye royalty (Kings here are trash)
⚠️ Emotional damage. That Po/Katsa tension? Painful.
⚠️ Sudden urge to chop off your hair. Katsa made it look too cool.
⚠️ Existential crisis. "What’s my Grace?"
⚠️ Book hangover. You’ll wish you had a murder-Grace by the end.
THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR YOU IF
✅ You love heroines who could kill you but choose not to (growth!).
✅ Slow-burn romance with sparring > cringy love triangles.
✅ "Fight the power" is your personal mantra.
✅ You want fantasy that’s deep but doesn’t take itself too seriously.
AVOID IF
❌ You need fluffy, low-stakes reads (this book has teeth).
❌ Insta-love is your jam (Katsa and Po take work).
❌ Realistic injury recovery bothers you
BOOK REVIEW
Graceling drops you into a world where some people are born with Graces, which are basically supernatural talents that can be anything from baking perfect bread to, well, being a terrifying killing machine. And guess what? Our girl Katsa got stuck with the murder-Grace. Bummer, right? Cashore builds this crazy cool premise where these Graces make for some wild plot twists, though sometimes you can see the punches coming before they land.
Pro tip: I did the ultimate immersion thing by reading the physical book while listening to the audiobook, and holy crap, it was next-level. The narrator absolutely killed it (pun intended) with distinct voices for each character, especially Katsa's growly "don't-test-me" tone and Po's smooth Lienid prince charm. They made the Seven Kingdoms feel so alive that I low-key forgot my real life for a few hours. 10/10 recommend this method if you want to feel the dagger fights and emotional drama in 4D.
Katsa's stuck being her jerk uncle's personal assassin/thug, complete with those creepy mismatched Graceling eyes that freak everyone out. But she's not about that life. While she's playing obedient killer on the surface, she's secretly running this underground rebellion called the Council. Talk about a complex heroine, she's all kinds of powerful but also low-key lost, trying to figure out if she's just a weapon or something more. The whole "who am I really?" struggle hits hard.
Things get spicy when Prince Po shows up, another Graceling who might actually be able to keep up with Katsa. Their chemistry? Electric. It's got that perfect enemies-to-allies-to-maybe-something-more vibe, with all the awkwardness and tension of two superpowered teens figuring their crap out. Cashore nails those messy adolescent feels, even if some of their drama wraps up a little too neatly at times.
But what really makes Graceling slap is how Katsa gives zero effs about playing the dainty princess. She's out here chopping off her hair, taking on whole armies solo, and basically giving the middle finger to every expectation thrown at her. This book doesn't shy away from brutal fights or tender moments, and the wins always come with scars. It's this raw, real take on strength that makes the story shine.
This book absolutely nails that "I don't fit in anywhere" feeling we all had as teens, just with way more stabby superpowers. Katsa's terrified she's nothing but a weapon, while Po's out here playing charming prince to hide his true self. Their struggle to own who they are, Grace and all, feels so real, even with all the fantasy dressing. Cashore basically bottled teenage angst and gave it swords. Genius.
Then there's the big bad boy aka the villain who could give you nightmares with his Grace. Dude's the ultimate creepy manipulator, but he's also kinda one-note? Like, we get it, you're evil. Wish he had more layers to match our complex heroes. Still, he gets the job done as the villain you love to hate.
Now let's talk about Katsa and Po, their relationship is the slow-burn, punch-first-ask-questions-later romance we didn't know we needed. No insta-love here, just two messed-up warriors bonding over shared battles and quiet moments where they actually show vulnerability. Their connection feels earned, even when the plot sometimes rushes past important moments to get to the next fight scene. That raw emotional honesty? Chef's kiss.
At the end of the day, Graceling is like that one friend who's flawed but you love them anyway. Yeah, some plot points are predictable, and not every character gets the depth they deserve. But Katsa's journey with all that rage, growth, and hard-won self-acceptance, makes this world impossible to quit. It's not reinventing fantasy, but it's a damn good time with heart and teeth in equal measure.
(Gak pakai basa-basi, Graceling langsung mengirim kita ke dunia di mana beberapa orang lahir dengan Grace atau bakat supernatural yang bisa berupa apa aja, dari bikin kue yang sempurna sampai jadi mesin pembunuh mengerikan. Dan tentu saja, Katsa, tokoh utama kita, dapet Grace untuk membunuh. Seru kan? Cashore bikin premis cerita yang keren banget di mana Grace-Grace ini bisa menciptakan plot twist gila, walau kadang kita bisa nebak apa yang bakal terjadi.
Tips pro: Aku udah coba cara baca paling top markotop yaitu baca buku fisik sambil dengerin audiobooknya, dan duh, nggak nyangka bakal sekeren ini. Naratornya jago banget ngasih suara unik buat tiap karakter, terutama nada Katsa yang galal5 kayak "jangan coba-coba" dan pesona Po si pangeran Lienid yang smooth. Naratornya bikin Seven Kingdoms terasa hidup sampai aku lupa kehidupan nyata selama beberapa jam. 10/10 cara ini recommended buat pengalaman membaca yang 4D.
Katsa terjebak jadi algojo pamannya yang brengsek, lengkap dengan sepasang mata Graceling-nya yang aneh dan bikin orang lain ngeri. Tapi dia nggak mau hidup kayak gitu. Di permukaan, dia pura-pura jadi pembunuh yang patuh, tapi diam-diam dia memimpin pemberontakan bawah tanah namanya Council. Dia ini protagonis kompleks, kuat banget tapi juga rada lost, kayak "aku ini cuma senjata doang atau lebih dari itu?". Pertanyaan Katsa soal "siapa sih aku sebenernya?" ini beneran ngena.
Semuanya makin seru pas Pangeran Po muncul, dia sesama Graceling yang mungkin bisa mengimbangi kemampuan Katsa. Chemistry mereka? Nyetrum. Ada vibe musuh-jadi-sekutu-mungkin-lebih, bonus awkwardness dan ketegangan dua remaja superpowered yang lagi mencari jati diri. Penulisnya berhasil banget nangkep perasaan remaja yang berantakan ini, walau beberapa konflik mereka kelar agak terlalu cepat.
Tapi yang bikin Graceling beneran nampol itu cara Katsa nggak peduli sama ekspektasi buat jadi sosok putri lemah lembut. Dia potong rambut sendiri, lawan pasukan sendirian, dan basically cuekin semua ekspektasi orang terhadapnya. Buku ini nggak takut nunjukin pertarungan brutal atau momen-momen lembut buku ini, dan setiap kemenangan selalu ada bekas lukanya. Style yang mentah dan realistis inilah yang bikin ceritanya keren banget.
Buku ini bener-bener nangkep banget perasaan "aku nggak diterima di mana-mana" yang kita semua alami pas remaja, tapi dibumbui kekuatan super yang lebih ngeri. Katsa takut banget dirinya cuma senjata doang, sementara Po pura-pura jadi pangeran charming buat menutupin identitasnya. Kisah mereka buat menerima diri sendiri (Grace-nya juga) terasa nyata banget, meskipun settingnya fantasi. Cashore kayak mengemas kegalauan remaja terus dikasih pedang. Jenius.
Trus ada villain utama yang Grace-nya beneran bisa bikin kita merinding. Orang ini manipulator creepy level dewa, tapi karakternya agak datar gitu, menurutku. Kayak, oke kita paham dia jahat, tapi sayang banget karakternya gak se-kompleks protagonisnya. Tapi tetap aja fun buat dibenci.
Ngomong-ngomong soal Katsa dan Po, hubungan mereka itu slow-burn, gelut-dulu-ngobrol-belakangan yang secara nggak kita sadari kita butuh banget. Nggak ada cinta instan, cuma dua petarung bermasalah yang bonding lewat pertarungan dan momen-momen tenang di mana mereka berani menunjukkan kelemahan mereka. Chemistry mereka terasa earned, meskipun kadang plotnya buru-buru banget pas momen penting buat lompat ke adegan action berikutnya. Tapi, part kejujuran emosional yang mentah itu? Chef's kiss.
Pada akhirnya, Graceling itu kayak temen yang punya banyak kekurangan tapi tetep kita sayang. Iya, beberapa plot twist bisa ditebak, dan nggak semua karakter dikembangin sebagaimana mestinya. Tapi perjalanan Katsa dengan semua amarah, pertumbuhan, dan penerimaan diri yang ia usahakan, bikin dunia buku ini susah banget buat ditinggalin. Buku ini mungkin nggak revolusioner dalam genre fantasi, tapi tetap seru banget dengan kombinasi pas antara ketenangan dan ketegangan.)
WHAT I LOVE
■ The world-building is chef's kiss. Cashore makes the Seven Kingdoms feel lived-in without info-dumping. The whole Grace system? Brilliant. It's not just "some people have powers," but a fully thought-out part of society that affects politics, relationships, everything. Like, of course kings would exploit people with useful Graces, that's that good, gritty realism we crave.
■ The plot is like a perfectly balanced meal, you get action, romance, political intrigue, and girl power all mixed together so smoothly. One minute you're in a heart-pounding fight scene, the next you're getting all emotional over Katsa's personal growth. It never feels like one element overpowers the others, which is rare in YA fantasy.
■ This book is DEEP. It's not just about cool fight scenes (though those are awesome). It's also about figuring out who you are when the world wants to define you. Katsa's whole struggle with her Grace? That's some real "am I just what people say I am, or can I choose who to be?" energy we've all felt. And the gender role stuff? Chef's kiss. Katsa out here proving femininity isn't about pretty dresses but about being your damn self.
■ Speaking of Katsa, BEST. HEROINE. EVER. She's not perfect because she's messy, she makes mistakes, and she's constantly questioning herself. But she's also unapologetically strong in her own way. When she cuts off her hair because it gets in the way of fighting? Iconic. We stan a queen who won't conform to anyone's expectations.
■ The relationships in this book? Grabs tissues The slow-burn romance with Po is everything. It's based on mutual respect and kicking ass together, not just looks. And the friendships feel so genuine. Even the complicated family dynamics hit different. You really believe these characters care about each other.
■ Cashore's writing style is the perfect mix of vivid and accessible. She doesn't drown you in purple prose, but you can totally picture every castle, forest, and battle scene. It's that sweet spot where the writing disappears and you're just living in the story.
■ What I really appreciate is how consistent everything feels. When characters get hurt, they actually stay hurt, none of that "magically healed by next chapter" nonsense. And when they learn new skills, it feels earned. The attention to detail makes the whole world more believable.
■ Also major props for avoiding stupid drama. The characters actually communicate like adults (mostly). No pointless misunderstandings dragged out for chapters, just real people dealing with real problems in realistic ways. Refreshing!
■ Katsa's decision-making is so well-written. You completely understand why she does what she does, even when she's being stubborn. The internal struggle between what she's been told she is and who she wants to be? Chef's kiss character development.
■ And can we talk about how powerful the anti-abuse message is? Katsa breaking free from her uncle's control, and other character surviving her father's manipulation, it's about reclaiming your power. This book handles these heavy themes with so much care while still keeping you hooked on the adventure.
(■ World-building-nya juara banget. Penulisnya bikin Seven Kingdoms terasa hidup tanpa perlu info-dumping. Sistem Grace-nya? Brilliant. Nggak cuma "beberapa orang punya kekuatan", tapi bener-bener jadi bagian masyarakat yang memengaruhi politik, hubungan, dan semuanya. Karakter raja yang manfaatin orang dengan Grace yang mereka anggap berguna? Nah, itu realism yang kita suka.
■ Plot-nya balance banget kayak nasi campur. Kita dapet action, romance, intrik politik, girl power, semua menyatu dengan smooth. Satu detik kita deg-degan lihat pertarungan, detik berikutnya kita udah mewek lihat perkembangan karakter Katsa. Nggak ada yang overpower, which is langka banget di fantasi YA.
■ Buku ini DALEM. Nggak cuma tentang pertarungan keren (meskipun emang keren banget). Ini juga tentang "aku tuh siapa sih sebenernya?" saat dunia pengen nentuin identitas kita. Masalah Katsa dengan Grace-nya? Itu bener-bener kayak "apa aku cuma apa kata orang, atau aku bisa nentuin hidup aku sendiri?" yang kita semua pernah rasain. Terus isu gender-nya? Chef's kiss. Katsa membuktikan femininitas nggak harus tentang baju cantik, tapi tentang jadi diri sendiri.
■ Ngomongin Katsa, BEST. HEROINE. EVER. Dia nggak sempurna, berantakan, bikin kesalahan, dan terus mempertanyakan dirinya sendiri. Tapi dia juga kuat dengan caranya sendiri. Pas dia potong rambut karena mengganggu saat dia bertarung? Iconic. Kita stan queen yang nggak mau ikutin ekspektasi siapa pun.
■ Hubungan antar karakternya? Grabs tissues. Romance slow-burn Katsa dan Po itu dibangun dari rasa saling menghargai dan duel bareng, bukan cuma fisik. Persahabatannya juga terasa tulus. Dinamika keluarga yang rumit pun bikin emosi. Kita bakal percaya kalau karakter-karakternya beneran peduli satu sama lain.
■ Gaya penulisan Kristin Cashore itu pas banget, hidup tapi nggak berlebihan. Kita bisa membayangkan setiap kastil, hutan, dan medan pertarungan dengan jelas. Nggak kebanyakan flowery language, tapi tetep bikin kita masuk ke dalam cerita.
■ Yang aku apresiasi banget: konsistensinya. Karakter yang terluka ya tetap terluka, nggak tiba-tiba sembuh di bab berikutnya. Kemampuan baru juga diraih dengan usaha. Detail-detail kayak gini bikin dunianya terasa realistis.
■ Yang paling penting, nggak ada drama lebay. Karakter-karakternya berkomunikasi kayak orang waras (most of the time). Nggak ada salah paham yang dipanjang-panjangin, cuma ada orang-orang yang menghadapi masalah yang realistis. Refreshing!
■ Proses pengambilan keputusan Katsa ditulis dengan sangat baik. Kita bakal ngerti kenapa dia mengambil tindakan tertentu, bahkan saat dia lagi keras kepala. Konflik batin antara "apa yang orang bilang tentang dia" vs. "siapa dia sebenernya"? Chef's kiss untuk perkembangan karakternya.
■ Pesan anti-abuse di buku ini juga keren banget. Katsa yang melepaskan diri dari kontrol pamannya, atau karakter lain yang selamat dari manipulasi ayahnya, itu semua tentang mengambil alih kendali hidup kita. Buku ini mengangkat tema berat dengan hati-hati, tapi tetep bikin kita nggak bisa berhenti baca.)
CONCLUSION
Graceling is that rare book that’s both a page-turner and a punch to the feels. Katsa’s journey which is full of knives, hard choices, and learning to trust, is surely unforgettable, even if some plotlines wrap up a little too neatly. Cashore’s world feels real enough to step into, and let’s be real, we all wish we had Katsa’s don’t-mess-with-me energy. It might not reinvent fantasy, but who cares? It's a perfect read for when you need a heroine who fights first and asks questions never.
(Graceling itu salah satu buku langka yang bikin kita susah berhenti baca dan ngena banget di perasaan. Perjalanan Katsa, yang penuh pertarungan, pilihan berat, dan belajar untuk percaya, bakal nempel di ingatan kita, meskipun beberapa alur rasanya diselesaikan terlalu cepat. Dunia ciptaan Kristin Cashore ini terasa nyata banget sampai rasanya pengen teleport ke sana, dan jujur aja, siapa yang nggak pengen punya aura "jangan macam-macam" kayak Katsa? Mungkin buku ini bukan termasuk revolusioner dalam genre fantasi, tapi buat jadi buku yang bagus kayaknya nggak perlu jadi wah juga. Yang jelas ini bacaan yang perfect buat kamu yang pengen tokoh utama nggak banyak bacot, tapi langsung action. 🔥)
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