I really loved the story and world created in this book, the graces and gracelings and the characters. The story was interesting and fun. The biggest problem for me was Katsa's insistent desire never to marry or have children. While this wouldn't have normally ruined a story, I found her decisions in regards to the boy she falls in love with were just plain stupid. It rankled so much with what I personally believe that I found my enjoyment of the story was marred. I didn't like the morals it was expressing in that situation. I think it would have been a favorite of mine, story-wise, if this one thing was done differently.
RATINGS:
s-factor: none
(favorite expletive: "great seas!")
mrg-factor: XX
Not a lot page-wise, but a few scenes in particular.
v-factor: ->->
There is a lot of fighting in the book, but not a lot of description.
Overall rating: ***