Graceling: The Graphic Novel

by Kristin Cashore, Gareth Hinds (Illustrator)

Overview

The beloved New York Times bestselling YA fantasy by Kristin Cashore is now available as a graphic novel, with stunning illustrations by award-winning artist Gareth Hinds.

Katsa is a Graceling, one of the rare people born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she lived a life of privilege until the day her ability to kill a man with her bare hands revealed itself during a royal banquet. Now she acts as her uncle’s enforcer, traveling the kingdom and threatening those who dare oppose him.

But everything changes when she meets Po, a foreign prince Graced with combat skills who is searching for the truth about his grandfather’s disappearance. When Katsa agrees to help him, she never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that could destroy them all.

With "gorgeous storytelling" (School Library Journal, starred review) and characters "crafted with meticulous devotion" (Kirkus, starred review), Graceling is a beloved classic that has continued to resonate with readers for over a decade.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358250470
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	68,755
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kristin Cashore is author of many New York Times best-selling books, including Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue, and Jane, Unlimited. She received a master's from the Center for the Study of Children's Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She currently lives in the Boston area.
kristincashore.blogspot.com
Twitter: @kristincashore

Gareth Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf, King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice, The Odyssey (which garnered four starred reviews and a spot on ten “best of 2010” lists), Romeo and Juliet , and Macbeth. He is a recipient of the Boston Public Library’s “Literary Lights for Children” award. He lives in Maryland.
garethhinds.com
Twitter: @garethhinds
Instagram: @gareth.hinds

Editorial Reviews

★ "This rich graphic novel adaptation should delight existing fans of the Graceling realm and attract many new ones. Highly recommended." — School Library Journal (starred review)

"This gorgeous adaptation of Cashore’s bestselling novel maintains all of the action, suspense, and romance of the source material." — Booklist

"This is at its heart much more than just an adventure story: It is a story that looks at consent and power over others and a romance between two people dealing with the ways control over themselves affects the larger world—and their hearts as well.... An adaptation of a YA classic that is sure to draw in new fans." — Kirkus Reviews

"The action is terrific, the story is well-developed for readers unfamiliar with this world, and the ethical questions raised... are compelling and handled with nuance. The true heart of this version, however, are the illustrations themselves. Hinds trusts readers to find meaning in silences, sometimes pages long, and hover there, soaking in subtle gestures that tell the story as much as the fast-moving action scenes." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Gareth Hinds adapted and illustrated Cashore’s groundbreaking fantasy debut Graceling, bringing her rich fantasy world to life with stunning visuals. . . . .I love how Hinds weaves in fantasy maps and world building elements in and among the art." — Book Riot

From the Publisher

"The action is terrific, the story is well-developed for readers unfamiliar with this world, and the ethical questions raised... are compelling and handled with nuance. The true heart of this version, however, are the illustrations themselves. Hinds trusts readers to find meaning in silences, sometimes pages long, and hover there, soaking in subtle gestures that tell the story as much as the fast-moving action scenes."

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Gareth Hinds adapted and illustrated Cashore’s groundbreaking fantasy debut Graceling, bringing her rich fantasy world to life with stunning visuals. . . . .I love how Hinds weaves in fantasy maps and world building elements in and among the art."

Book Riot

"This gorgeous adaptation of Cashore’s bestselling novel maintains all of the action, suspense, and romance of the source material."

Booklist

"This gorgeous adaptation of Cashore’s bestselling novel maintains all of the action, suspense, and romance of the source material."

Booklist

★ 10/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—Throughout the Seven Kingdoms, individuals with two different colored eyes are Graced with unique talents. Blue- and green-eyed Katsa, King Randa's niece, is Graced with fighting abilities, so the king uses her as a thug, but Katsa has started a Secret Council where she and others work for justice. When Prince Po, a silver- and gold-eyed Graceling from Lienid, comes to Randa's court to find his kidnapped grandfather, he inspires Katsa to leave Randa's service and discover the reason for the kidnapping—and the truth behind King Leck of Monsea's reputation for kindness. Hinds's graphic novel retelling is faithful to Cashore's original story, honoring her world-building, characters, plot, dialogue, and description; his art brings the highly visual tale to life, from dramatic fight sequences and beautiful landscapes to details like a blush on Katsa's cheeks and ice on her eyelashes. The Gracelings' heterochromia is visually striking. Katsa and most Middluns people are white; Po and the Lienids have brown skin. As the characters change locations, Randa's castle's secret passageways and maps of the seven kingdoms are woven naturally into the story, helping readers follow the action. VERDICT This rich graphic novel adaptation should delight existing fans of the Graceling realm and attract many new ones. Highly recommended for all YA graphic novel collections.—Jenny Arch, Lilly Lib., Florence, MA

School Library Journal

2021-09-01
A fresh version of the story of the Graceling Realm’s beginnings.

In the Seven Kingdoms, some people are born with Graces, or unusually strong natural abilities. Lady Katsa, who is Graced with killing, works as a heavy for her uncle the king while secretly leading an underground council who oppose him. When she befriends charming Prince Po, a Graced fighter, the two uncover the threat posed by a neighboring king with a Grace even more dangerous than Katsa’s own. This is at its heart much more than just an adventure story: It is a story that looks at consent and power over others and a romance between two people dealing with the ways control over themselves affects the larger world—and their hearts as well. Above all, it is the tale of Katsa’s journey to realizing she may not be the monster she was always told she was. Po’s openness hides painful secrets, Katsa struggles to understand her own needs, and their love grows from mutual respect. Exploring emotional specificity within a fantastical world, Cashore’s singular voice shines through. Hinds’ expressive, detailed, full-color art serves the tone of the story well, and although some beloved moments have been sacrificed in this restructuring, the sweeping landscapes and dynamic action sequences add new layers. Most characters read White; the Lienid people, like Po, have light-brown skin.

An adaptation of a YA classic that is sure to draw in new fans. (author's note) (Graphic fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews