Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Teen Tuesday: Graceling Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore and adapted by Gareth Hinds

Graceling Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds. 272 p. Clarion Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, November, 2021. 9780358250470. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Tuesday, or trying to make it so. Today would've been my 37th anniversary, so it has been a hard one. Teen Tuesday features Graceling Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds. Children with two different eye colors in the land of the seven kingdoms are said to be graced and they are observed carefully until their grace reveals itself. Sometimes it's harmless, maybe even useless; but sometimes it's powerful, maybe even deadly. Katsa was eight and living under the protection of her uncle, King Randa, when her grace revealed itself. A man in her uncle's court grabbed her, so she threw out her hand to protect herself and accidentally killed him. Killing was Katsa's grace and her uncle trained her to be his assassin/ enforcer. Katsa hated doing his bidding, but she was bound to him and so, she and her cousin and the king's spymaster formed a secret group to council to counteract injustice.

They are on a rescue mission to recover a kidnapped king when Katsa meets her match as a fighter. She has a lot of trouble besting him and is intrigued. He too has mismatched eyes and a secret.

Fans of this fantasy series starter (tune in on Thursday) will love this graphic novel adaptation. The art is absolutely gorgeous! Mr. Hinds has translated Ms. Cashore's world building vividly. The fight sequences hum with energy and the landscapes are breathtaking.

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