5 Graces I Wish I Had

I just recently finished The Seven Kingdoms series (GRACELING, FIRE, and BITTERBLUE) by Kristin Cashore. It’s a YA series that takes place in an alternate universe. In the Seven Kingdoms there are some children whose eyes turn two different colors within their first year of life, and those children are called Gracelings. Gracelings are people who have heightened human abilities, for example, they could be a skilled fighter, chef, or a mind reader. Kristin Cashore builds a fantastic world in her series, one filled with castles, dark secrets, and beautiful monsters. After devouring the series I was left thinking about what I would like to be graced with if I could be a Graceling. Here are the five I came up with.

Super Metabolism

This one is purely for selfish purposes, I mean most are, but this one satisfies my desire to be completely lazy and an all around gluttonous human being. Would you like a chocolate milkshake with that one-pound bacon burger? Why yes, I would love one, as these calories mean nothing to me. By the time I leave the restaurant I will have already burned off all the calories. This particular grace would come in quite handy during the holiday season while the rest of your friends and family feel guilt for what they are eating. You, however, will feel joyous as you enjoy the smorgasbord of delicious food in front of you. This will save you from the depressive state your friends will no doubt slip into around New Years. And while they try to salvage their bodies by paying for a gym membership you know have that extra money to do with as you please.

Remembering Everything I Read

This is the grace of one of the character Death in the book BITTERBLUE. As a big reader this would be the grace I would be most inclined to want. Imagine remembering everything you have ever read? This could be incredibly annoying or incredibly helpful. I like to imagine it as helpful. A textbook, anyone this could have come in hand while you were a student. I could have saved so much time and energy if I had this grace. I wouldn’t have to try and cram for exams and read my notes over and over only to remember half of what I actually needed to know. I do wonder though if it hurts the head to retain that much information? Is there a risk of spontaneous combustion? These are all of the questions I would like answered before I finally commit to this grace.

Survival

The protagonist Katsa in the book GRACELING has this gift. In the beginning it is interpreted quite violently. It was originally thought to be a killing grace because she can kill anyone who tries to come at her. However, it also allows her to survive on very little sleep, very little food, live in extreme climates, and she is very fast and strong. While all of this would be incredibly helpful, I don’t see myself in any situation that would put me in an extreme environment without food where I would have to fight to my death, unless the USA turns into Panem and I have to fight in the Hunger Games. What I want from her grace is the ability to survive on very little sleep. I’m a natural night owl, but have to get up for work at seven in the morning, and it’s not a pretty sight. I wake up exhausted, and by the time I get to work I’ve had two cups of caffeine and I still want to pass out on my desk. This grace would definitely come in handy, and I can’t imagine I’m the only one who suffers from this problem.

The Master of Disguise

Okay, that’s not what the grace is called, but in the book BITTERBLUE, the character Hava, has the ability to hide or disguise herself in any situation. Basically, if you’re in a room full of statues she can alter your vision so you believe that she is actually a statue. She doesn’t change, just your perception of her does. Another example, if you’re outside, she can make you believe that she is just a tree or plant. More simply put, you don’t ever want to play hide and seek with her. This grace would be great for spying or getting into exclusive celebrity parties by making the bouncer believe he is seeing Lady Gaga instead of myself.

Flying

Flying is just incredibly cool. There’s not much to say here. I’d be like Superman or Iron Man without the help of the suit. Flying is quick. There’s no traffic in the sky so you will never have to sit through that again. The only problem with flying is the hair situation. I imagine it’s like driving with the top down in a convertible. So remember, carry a brush in your bag before you take off.

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