“How absurd it was that in all seven kingdoms, the weakest and most vulnerable of people - girls, women - went unarmed and were taught nothing of fighting, while the strong were trained to the highest reaches of their skill.”

American young adult and fantasy writer

Kristin Cashore is an American young adult and fantasy writer, best known for the Graceling Realm series. Her work is closely associated with young adult fiction and fantasy, and the Graceling Realm books are the source of much of her recognition. She writes in a field shaped by imaginative settings, strong characters, and the kinds of conflicts that often define contemporary YA fantasy.