#katsa

[dl4draws]

my most beloved gracelings

[geisterblumen]

okay but wait, hear me out

I read Graceling around 2010 (that’s 15 years ago)

I was a teeny tiny teenager around that time and have you ever considered the marks that Kristin Cashore left on all those girls who got around to read about Katsas story?

Not only did I, who was forbidden to show anger, learn that anger can lead to freedom and safety, but also I learned at such a young age that it is entirely fine, even beautiful, to commit to partnership in ways that are not marriage.

Cashore also described how Katsa took seabane to prevent pregnancy. She deliberately formed it into its own moment, but didn’t make a big deal out of it at the same time - which meant a lot to teenager me and even more to the adult that I am today.

Also making the male main character into someone who is emotionally intelligent, sensitive and also capable to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings, even after losing eye-sight must have left imprints on young boys who got around to read Po‘s story.

[adragonsfriend]

Started rereading Graceling (last read as a YouTube audiobook when I was ten or twelve, staring out the window at falling snow, due to my mother taking away the paper copy we had probably because she thought it was too violent. I turned out fine)

And Katsa is kind of the “I hate all the womanly activities” fantasy protagonist in some ways (also other flaws in the book like from what I remember is a magical cure thing where someone’s blindness is mostly negated by magic powers. But I digress). She sucks at needlework and can’t be bothered to brush her hair and is progressive in a few ways that don’t fully track in terms of social development within the world of the story etc. But ultimately what the book does with her being different in those ways is go “yeah she wants and likes a lot of different things…but she still benefits deeply from being in community with other women, AND they benefit from being in community with her.”

Especially with where she ends up at the end. Not “all women should be like me and be amazing fighters or else theyre pathetic,” but “women should be taught self defence and I’m gonna go teach them.” Not “men are either evil or stupid” but “marriage has tangible consequences and because no one here can force me into having to get married I’m never going to submit myself to that legal position even with someone I trust very much.”

Like yes she is a weirdo and she is different AND her part in other women’s lives is rich and important and occurs in conversation with their part in her life.

Not a perfect book but very much in the spirit of a woman is something you become not something you’re born, I think

[laufire]

What WAS the difference between a husband and a lover?  If she took Po as her husband, she would be making promises about a future she couldn’t yet see. For once she became his wife, she would be his wife forever. And, no matter how much freedom Po gave her, she would always know that it was a gift. Her freedom would not be her own; it would be Po’s to give or to withhold. That he never would withhold it made no difference. If it did not come from her, it was not really hers.  If Po were her lover, would she feel captured, cornered into a sense of forever? Or would she still have the freedom that sprang from herself?

—Graceling, by Kristin Cashore.

[dividedsingularity]

Art for people from Hello World's Discord server! :3c

Katsa and snail for @verycoolsnail

Max for @max-othernamed

Architect for @actualzyra

[homemadepapayas]

Recently reread Graceling, and I was thinking about the wildcat nickname (it’s always kind of bugged me cause it’s never mentioned outside of referring to Katsa). Finally figured out what bugged me even more though, which is that Po got the nickname from hearing her thoughts. Every time they fought Katsa was thinking that she was just like a wildcat while attacking him and he heard that and thought it was cute enough to use as a nickname.

What’s even better is that there is no evidence that Katsa has ever seen a wildcat, so imagine Katsa hearing tales of wildcats (having always been randa’s lackey) and liking them so much that she compares herself to them.

[eemolu]

katsa in the first 100 pages of graceling is like i’m an irredeemable monster. this lienid prince is the hottest man i’ve ever seen and i hate him. i want to run away. po is so beautiful. i’ve saved the lives of hundreds yet i myself am worthless. who let po be so muscular perfect evilllll get him away from me. self hatred once more!!! …….and i was supposed to what? NOT fall in love with her??

[nellyrue]

I am still reeling about Bitterblue being stuck in another cold tundra/climate but this time without Katsa. I wonder how many phrases she repeated from Katsa to the others? What she tried to remember of what Katsa did on the mountain to keep her warm. Did she remember the pass and think this ice float is not too cold? And then remember that Katsa was not here, and freeze just a little until she came back to take care of the others?

Did she whisper to Giddon about how she would have to tackle Katsa from fighting the bears for fun after watching she calmed down after Hava defended them from one?

Did she tell her Fox stories of the Wildcat and her blue and green eyes that so many feared but she loved and missed so much

Keep track of the things to tell Katsa and Po of the ice and snow? And just for a little bit wish Katsa was there to warm her feet as if she was 10 again?