What is Graceling Realm?

Graceling Realm is actually the term coined on the three books written by Kristin Cashore. It revolves around the story of three different characters (one for each book obviously) in the same setting but somehow these characters met at a certain point of a story. This trilogy is also called the Seven Kingdoms trilogy.

Graceling

The first book of the Graceling Realm is the "Graceling." It was published on October 1, 2008 by Penguin Young Reader's Group. In Graceling, we are introduced to the adventures and world of Katsa, a skilled fighter. She is a Graceling, a person with special abilities and her grace is "survival." At first, it was thought that her grace was fighting but in the end we are told that her grace is survival - meaning she's not that easy to die. FYI: Gracelings have different eye colors. Katsa has a blue and green eye.

Synopsis of Graceling:

Kristin Cashore’s best-selling, award-winning fantasy Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace . . . and how to put it to good use. A thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure (and steamy romance!) that will resonate deeply with adolescents trying to find their way in the world.

Awards: Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, winner of the SIBA Book Award/YA, Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Amazon.com’s Best Books of 2008, 2008 Booklist Editors’ Choice, Booklist’s 2008 Top Ten First Novels for Youth, 2009 Amelia Bloomer List, BCCB 2009 Blue Ribbon List

Graceling Book Trailer

 Fire

The second book of the Graceling Realm is "Fire." This book was published October 5, 2009. The story is set before Katsa's time and at a nearby kingdom (which was still undiscovered during Katsa's story in Graceling) called the Dells. This time, the story is focused on Fire, a Lady monster whose ability is telepathy and persuasion. Fire can control other people using her mind. It is described that Fire's beauty is irrestible and a lot people and monsters are drawn into her. In this second novel, we get to know about Leck's origin (Leck was the main antagonist in Graceling and Bitterblue's father).



Synopsis of Fire:

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

Fire Book Trailer:

Bitterblue

The last book of  Graceling Realm is entitled "Bitterblue." It is obviously about Bitterblue and how she managed the kingdom after the death of her tyrant and monstrous father. Bitterblue was first introduced in Graceling when she was still younger. The third book took place 8 years after King Leck was killed by Katsa. At this point, the two main characters of the Graceling Realm met and Fire's kingdom are making connections with Bitterblue's kingdom.


Synopsis of Bitterblue:

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

Bitterblue Book Trailer