It was a very good fantasy book. You can read it as a stand alone or continue to visit the Graceling world through the companion novels.
The plot was fast paced but very clearly structured and entertaining.
I loved the simplicity of the magic system and all the posibilities it created for the plot and the twists. Every aspect of the world building made sense.
Although some problems were solved quite conveniently, the writing never felt lazy. There were just other points the author wanted to focus on, and it made sense for how the story progressed.

We encounter court politics, good kings and kings with questionable morals. Then we travel through the whole kingdom, during all the seasons, by horse, by foot and by boat. We can picture ourselves standing by the fire with Katsa and Po, listening to their stories and watching them train together.
Katsa is a graceling with an affinity for battle, and so is Po. That is how they get close at first, neither one of them has ever met their match before. I don't want to spoil anything, but the author has some surprises in store for us regarding the graces -powers- of her characters.

All that being said, the show stealer was the gem of a relationship Katsa and Po had. THESE TWO will forever have my heart. They started out as reluctant allies, then friends, best friends and ultimately, lovers. The trust and space they gave each other and how they understood and cared for each other was inspiring. Just thinking of them brings tears to my eyes.
Po is a very unique male lead in the romantasy genre, in the sense that he is not an over-powered, possesive alpha dude. He loves Katsa quietly and reverently and he has struggles and a life for himself. He has his own character development, separate from his relationship, as does Katsa.
Both of them are some of the best main characters I've ever encountered in ya fantasy enthusiastically clapping. And they both stay true to themselves.

Please add this book to your tbr if you enjoy fantasy. So many new books in the genre took inspiration from it. Katsa is, I think, the original strong female lead - also empathic and generous, but higly ambitious.
Po is the blue print for green flags across fantay. Rhys is not the feminist king, Po is. I just know I will always compare future books to this one.

4☆ - I want to find a Po for myself.

DNF at 54%

There's a specific type of sadness attached to feeling like you missed out on a book at a certain time of your life. I can't guarantee I would have liked Graceling had I read it as a teen, but I'm still sad to be so disappointed in reading it now.

I didn't expect it to be so romance focused, and I didn't find the romance that compelling (I do love Po; I mean, a calm, kind, thoughtful man who can sense my emotions and read my feelings towards him and is emotionally available enough to verbalise his own feelings openly? Do you take card? Can I receive him before sunday?), mainly because their feelings develop silly fast, and because Kasta is frustrating as well (she's so dramatic and immature, and nothing frustrates me more in a romance than when a character just.. makes up an obstacle. Literally nothing stand in their way and they're standing there like "No, we could never be together! Girl, why).

Without compelling themes or characters or plot, although I think it's a fine, mid read, I'll save myself a day and go look for another 5 star