Fire and Graceling By Kristin Cashore

Fire
Fire is a human monster, impossibly beautiful and with the ability to read and control minds. Because of this she is loved to inordinate extents to the point that it is dangerous, or despised with extreme venom. She lives the the corner of the known world to protect herself from others, and others from her. But she is not the only threat to the Dells, and she will have to face Kings City whether she likes to or not, including a court of jealousy, deceit and romance if she is to save them. As the Dells fall to war, a mysterious boy, archer and several foggy-minded men wander in and out of the scene, and the king, and many other men fall head over heels in love with her, she attempts to penetrate the hatred of the one man she actually loves, Prince Brigan.
I love the Dells, the world created by Kristin Cashore, and the elements of politics, action, battle, romance and magic mixed up together in the court of King Nash. The style of writing ordinary 3rd person, but the overall effect of the story and style extraordinary. My favorite scene is when the squire has to wake up Prince Brigan, and Fire is asleep next to him. When Brigan says "Eyes on me, Ander" it makes me laugh, every time. My favorite character is Fire.
10/10

Graceling
Katsa is a Graceling, someone with two different coloured eyes, who has an extraordinary talent. But  even Katsa despises her Grace - the Grace of killing. Exploited by her Uncle, King of the Middluns, she is used to bully people into doing his bidding, and for killing people who displease him. But in secret she sets up a secret society to help people called the council. One day, setting free the king of Lienid's Grandfather, she inadvertently steers her life in a different direction, fighting a Graced Lienid fighter - They fall in love on a journey to find out who kidnapped his Grandfather. Together they journey to the land of Monsea, to talk to the mysterious and supposedly benevolent, but actually utterly cruel King Leck, and rescue Princess Bitterblue from his clutches.
This book is written in the same style, and same world as Fire, but completely different. In this one there is seven kingdoms and much more politics. My heart almost broke when I found out that Po had gone blind! My favorite scene is either when Po and Katsa fall in love, or when Katsa started running fighting lessons for Bitterblue, Po, Skye and the guards. My favorite charcter is Po.
 9/10