Graceling by Kristin Cashore

In the Seven Kingdoms, when a person is born with eyes of two different colors, they possess a Grace. Sometimes the Grace is powerful and sometimes not. Katsa is born with one of the most powerful of all - the grace for killing. She is used by her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns to revenge his enemies. Katsa hates killing, but feels that she has no choice. She has created a council of good to offset her evil deeds. On one of her chosen quests, she rescues the kidnapped father of the King of Lienid. During the quest, she meets Prince Greening (Po), his grandson. He also has a Grace, the grace for fighting. Although they start as enemies,they soon become friends, and eventually lovers. He convinces Katsa that she does not have to follow King Randa's commands. They set off together to find out why Po's grandfather was kidnapped and discover more evil than they can handle in Monsea with King Leck who is graced with the power to alter people's thoughts. He is a very evil man who kills and maims and then convinces others that he is kind and generous. Po and Katsa rescue Bitterblue, King Leck's daughter before he is able to harm her, then they set out to kill King Leck. Although Po is almost killed, Katsa is able to escape and eventually kill Bitterblue's father. Bitterblue becomes Queen of Monsea. Katsa returns to find Po is blind, but has learned to compensate for his blindness by sensing things around him. They marry and everyone lives happily ever after. This book has a slow start, but lots of adventure and action. Very strong female characters. Survival story. First novel by this author.

The Naming by Alison Croggon

Maerad, a slave in Gilman's Cot is found by Cadvan, a Bard and rescued. They escape and Cadvan discovers that Maerad is the daughter of Pellinor, a school of Bardom that was ransacked and burned. Cadvan believes that Maerad is the Foretold who is come to save the kingdoms. He must take her to Norloch to be trained in her magical powers. On their travels they meet terrible monsters from the Dark and are almost killed. Along the way, they find Hem, who turns out to be Maerad's brother. Although the First Circle of Bards won't accept her, Norloch makes her a Bard and Cadvan and Maerad escape just in time before the city is burned.
This is the first book in the series of The Books of Pellinor. Although it is long, it is a good story. Sometimes too much description, but it leaves you wanting to read the next book.
The books in the series are: The Naming, The Riddle, The Crow, The Singing.