Graceling

In the seven kingdoms of the world created by Kristin Cashore, some people are graced with abilities while most are not. Those who are graced have two different colored eyes. Katsa is the most well known of all of the graced throughout the kingdoms, not only because of her brilliantly blue and green eyes, but because she is a woman graced with killing.

While Katsa is used by her king to dole out his punishment across the land, she is not a monster. She secretly forms a council that seeks justice and compassion in the kingdoms. During a council mission to rescue a kidnapped grandfather, she meets a stranger with one gold eye and one silver. Po is also graced with what appears to be fighting.

The two embark on a strange and dangerous journey to find out why one of the kings would want to kidnap an elderly man and learn that everything is not what it seems. Together, they must work to save a princess and the entire world from the grips of a man who is adored by everyone.

The story itself is fantastical and original; I've never read anything like it. This is one of the few books that generated both an audible and physical reaction from me at various points throughout.