Preview
  • Graceling

  • Graceling Realm, Book 1
  • By: Kristin Cashore
  • Narrated by: Xanthe Elbrick
  • Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (223 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Graceling

By: Kristin Cashore
Narrated by: Xanthe Elbrick
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Discover the Graceling Realm in this unforgettable, award-winning novel from bestselling author Kristin Cashore.

A New York Times bestseller * ALA Best Book for Young Adults * Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner * Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, and BCCB Best Book of the Year

“Rageful, exhilarating, wistful in turns" (New York Times Book Review) with “a knee weakening romance” (Los Angeles Times). Graceling is a thrilling, action-packed fantasy adventure that will resonate deeply with anyone trying to find their way in the world.

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable-yet-strong Katsa, who is smart and beautiful and lives in the Seven Kingdoms where selected people are born with a Grace, a special talent that can be anything at all. Katsa’s Grace is killing.

As the king’s niece, she is forced to use her extreme skills as his brutal enforcer. Until the day she meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, and Katsa’s life begins to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

And don’t miss the sequel, Fire, and companion, Bitterblue, both award-winning New York Times bestsellers featuring Kristin Cashore’s elegant, evocative prose and unforgettable characters.

  • ALA Best Book for Young Adults
  • Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner
  • Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, and BCCB Best Book of the Year
©2023 Kristin Cashore (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Graceling

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    171
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    172
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    154
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I miss Poes voice :/ Even Leck

This time around it's a woman impersonating men instead of a man joining the audio. Leck does not feel evil and dark, he used to give me goosebumps in his parts.. He feels kind of less intimidating with the womans-faking-a-deep-voice thing. Poe doesn't have that same charm that made me fall in love with the book initially. I wish they could make good audiobook choices. Graceling - Katsas voice was awful and shrieky, then at some point they made her Irish... like the 3rd book lol. Now they've cut out the male voice. Disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Loved the story from beginning to end and am so glad it’s a series. Going to download the next one now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent on all fronts

Different in a good way. Definitely had me hooked from the very beginning. Narrator was absolutely spot on. Would definitely read other books by this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED IT

I'm so happy they re-record this book! Much better performance to match an amazing book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Overall, Not Bad

In the past, any and all novels that I've tried that had been associated with the dreaded words "New York Times Best Selling" have always been horrific trainwrecks and I was certain that the people of The Times must live in a different world than I. However, this novel was at least very enjoyable and I can see how the majority of people, especially women, would like it. While I thought that some of the book was tragically contrived and I was also not a fan of the turn the story made around the halfway point, it still turned out to be a satisfying story and I'm glad I listened to it. I do get the sense, however, that any more books in this series would be aggravating for me to listen to so I think my aversion to anything recommend by the Times will stand for now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Satisfying story, excellent performance

I was captivated by the characters, the storyline, and the graces. I thoroughly enjoyed the listen. If you like a bit of fantasy and romance, I recommend you give it a try.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it so much

I loved this story so much, the relationship between po and katsa warmed my heart alot especially in the epilouge. :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful meditation on power

And the abuse of it. Great female lead, and this is from someone who doesn’t do much YA.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Because of Katsa and her cadre of royal friends there’s hope for the seven kingdoms.

Good world building. The seven kingdoms were distinct and interesting. Great protagonists who give the reader hope for a better world through understanding and acceptance. Enjoyed the love story! Katsa is a wonderful heroine who grows throughout the tale to use her grace for good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

A wonderful and original story.

When I first read this book as a young adult I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Re-reading it as a thirty something year old woman I still stand by my original opinion. By the end of this book I had fallen in love with the Lienid prince and felt sad that the book had come to a conclusion. Katsa will leave some readers mildly annoyed. But I still enjoyed her and the character development of rest of the characters very much. Even it’s villains and the villain of this book is so despicable! Ten stars for the performance of the narrator! She is magnificent and her narration is what I wish all other audiobooks would sound like.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful