Kristin Cashore

1 universe Last reviewed 2026-08-13

Kristin Cashore was born in 1976 and grew up in rural Pennsylvania as the second of four daughters. She earned a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a master's degree in children's literature from Simmons College's Center for the Study of Children's Literature in 2003. Before her writing career took off, she held a variety of jobs including dog runner, candy factory packer, editorial assistant, and legal assistant, and she has continued to write novels by hand. Her debut novel, Graceling (2008), launched the Graceling Realm series and was nominated for the Andre Norton and William C. Morris awards, while being named to Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2008. It was followed by Fire (2009), which won the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award, and Bitterblue (2012). Later books include Jane, Unlimited (2017), Winterkeep (2021), Seasparrow (2022), and There Is a Door in This Darkness (2024), along with a graphic novel adaptation of Graceling (2021). As of 2017, the Graceling Realm series had sold more than 1.5 million copies and been translated into 33 languages. Cashore's fantasy novels are known for their strong, complex heroines and richly imagined kingdoms, establishing her as a major voice in young adult fantasy literature.

Universe(s)

Books

• Graceling (2008) · Graceling Realm Core Canon
• Fire (2009) · Graceling Realm Core Canon
• Bitterblue (2012) · Graceling Realm Core Canon
• Winterkeep (2021) · Graceling Realm Core Canon
• Seasparrow (2022) · Graceling Realm Core Canon

Aggregate across all universes

• Total Core Canon books across all universes: 5 books
• Award recognitions across all universes: 1 (1 won)

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