Graceling--Spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graceling was such an interesting book.
I bought it at a Barnes & Noble and finished it in about two hours (or less, likely). It was fascinating, especially the idea of a people Graced with some type of extraordinary ability or 'normal' ability but enhanced. I should like to be Graced with an extraordinary singing voice, and now I wonder what colors my eyes would be--blue and turquoise?

The story/language really drew me in, I was able to empathize with Katsa, and I feel like she was a very well-rounded/well developed character. It is not often that I read a book with a great heroine. She does not necessarily start out as such, but it develops well.
Po--what an amazing guy. I really enjoyed reading and picturing in my mind the tattoos and everything.
And the plot twists and the ending--I do not know if this makes me dense or oblivious to the obvious (though I am certainly so) but I did not get any foreshadowing the first time around of Leck being the bad guy. But when I got to that part where they found out, and when I read it again, the foreshadowing was obvious, and his Grace was very fascinating, the description of why he did what he did was excellent and true as well. Some are cruel 'just because.' And Cashore was very good at creeping me out without giving excessive details, if you know what I mean.

Anyhow, the ending was not at all what I expected, with Po losing his sight and he and Katsa not getting married. Even though his Grace enabled him to 'see' far better than regular sight would, I definitely would choose sight. As for the not getting married, well, a lot of books end like that; I suppose it was just quite different for me, because I am waiting until I am married and to read about them making love and then they do not get married was ... well, it just felt awkward to me. Though I could understand Katsa's wanting to be independent. I do not want so much as she, but I can say I do not plan on having kids.

Anyhow, overall, a great book. Great description, characterization, character development, foreshadowing, etc. I would LOVE it if there was a second book. If you know before I do, let me know! ;)