In a medieval-type world made up of seven kingdoms, readers meet the Lady Katsa. She is one of the Gracelings, people throughout the seven kingdoms with special talents, or Graces. They can be identified by the fact that their mixed colored eyes: Katsa's are green and blue.

Katsa works for her uncle, King Randa of Middlun. She has basically become his enforcer. Her talent is in fighting, and she uses it to get what he wants. She has grown to dislike the fact the her grace is all about harming and killing others. It is this unhappiness that causes her to start up a council that is set up to help overcome corrupt powers in the various kingdoms.

On the orders of the council, she helps rescue an older royal with ties to a number of the kingdoms. In the process, she meets Po, another Graceling (he has silver and gold eyes) with a power that is not really as it first seems. He is also the youngest son of the king of the island kingdom of Lienid. The two start by being friends, but it quickly becomes clear that their relationship is destined to be so much more, particularly when they decide to take on a king whose corruption threatens not only them, but the safety of all the seven kingdoms.

Besides being a fun epic tale of fantasy, this is a great story that highlights the strength of women. Besides being a non-traditional female character, Katsa needs to look inside and learn how and when to use her grace and how doing so defines her as a person. Katsa is also finding that her relationship with Po is helping to redefine her. It is not that he is making her a different person, but he is able to let her look at herself in different ways. Because of her grace, she never thought she would want to marry or have kids. But her experiences means that maybe her future is not as well defined as she thought it would be.