Squeee!!! I am a huge fan of His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers... and we have a NEW installment with Sybella and a new character... Genevieve!
And I got to read an early copy!! Check out my review!
Showing posts with label Robin LaFevers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robin LaFevers. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2019
#Review COURTING DARKNESS by Robin LaFevers @RLLaFevers w/ @RockstarBkTours #Giveaway 5 Stars
Squeee!!! I am a huge fan of His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers... and we have a NEW installment with Sybella and a new character... Genevieve!
And I got to read an early copy!! Check out my review!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
5.5 Star Review: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
Mortal Heartby Robin LaFevers
Hardcover, 464 pages
Published November 4th 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.
She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...
My Review:
This is one of those books I hold so close to my heart that I don't want to admit how much it meant. Occasionally I run into that... some story line or fictional character that seems to grab hold of my spine and slip it right out of my skin. Spine/gut/heart... something gross and deep and hidden and dark and secret.
Before I unload the dark stuff, lemme say some logical intelligent stuff.
Annith's story interweaves with Ismae's & Sybella's lives. There's all the dark shadows and political intrigue of the first two books, except the story is picked up from another location and carried through to a satisfying close. I love the layers of activities happening everywhere, all the secrets and shadows. Delicious shadows.
I love how Annith is so different from Ismae and Sybella. I think I love Ismae best, still, but Annith...
Well, the heart of all of these story lines is the spiritual world. Ismae met Mortain face to face. The world of old gods is as intricate and complicated as the political dynamics of the country and who has blood right to which throne. Mortal Heart takes us deeper into this part of the story, as the name suggests, I suppose. And this is the part of the story that totally won me over. Yes, Annith experiences romance and yes, it is gradual, natural and amazing (and dark and mysterious and full of shadows), but there is a revelation at one point that makes the entire series re-align with new meaning. Or it did, for me. All of a sudden, I saw the spiritual world from another point of view... not immortal and omniscient, like I think of God, but touchable, breakable, kill-able. Close. *shiver*
This is the part that touches a little too deep to chit-chat about. The moment the awesome becomes the tangible. Um... like "He became flesh and dwelt among us". Yeah, I wanna quote Bible. It's all THAT suddenly arriving HERE. And not just "here" like, anywhere, but here... with me. Mine. All mine and only mine.
No wonder I don't try to put that in words. Ha.
My perspective of the romance in this story is so personal I'm not even sure Robin LaFevers intended to bury what I uncovered. Which is a little embarrassing and quite a bit like going to church... in a mountain meadow with just the expanse of sky.
5.5 Stars. 5 stars for depth of character and character growth. 5 stars for plot, speed of story, real danger, real resolution. 5 stars for the writing. An additional cherry-on-top of .5 stars for re-read-ability. I can't wait to read this book a second time. I read an early copy from Edelweiss and my pre-ordered print copy has not yet arrived in the mail. However, Tressa (who wrote a great review) is seeing Robin tonight and has offered to get me a signed copy, EEEEEP!!!!!!! Yes, please!!!! Maybe I'll have an extra copy to give away soon, ya?
My other reviews of Robin's books:
1st Review of Grave Mercy
Yeah, she's awesome like that.
Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.
While many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.
In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about those books at www.rllafevers.com.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Interview with Robin LaFevers, author of Dark Triumph... and two giveaways!!
On tour with Rockstar Book Tours...
by Robin Lafevers
Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: April 2, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Premise:
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
Sybella is the main character in Dark Triumph, and quite honestly, she's... um... scary. Lol. She enjoys
killing and wonders what her problem is that she does. She is acquainted with
abuse and wonders if she's at fault. But that tender side of her is so deeply
hidden. She's so careful not to let anyone see her true emotions, as if they
make her vulnerable.
My dream would be to sit down with Robin LaFevers and talk about Sybella over a cup of tea. I shall try not to slosh it all over because... she's here!!! Squeee!!!
Where did Sybella come from? Did you know her whole story
immediately?
She appeared pretty early on in the writing of Grave Mercy
and was one of the reasons I knew it would be a trilogy—because I needed to
write a book about her. I knew a large part of her story right from the
beginning, that she was damaged and broken and had been ill used all her life,
but the particulars of it unfolded slowly. By the time I finished Grave Mercy
however, I knew her whole story and all that she had been through. What I didn’t know was how I was going to lead
her toward wholeness and healing.
Oh... how daunting! I really love the foreshadowing about Sybella in Grave Mercy. It is so cool to learn how her story unfolded for you.
Do you have a favorite
scene with Sybella?
Pretty much any scene with Beast in it. I loved putting his
joy and light and laughter in her path. The scenes without him, especially
there in the beginning, felt claustrophobic to me and then there he’d be,
giving her something to fight with and fight for.
:-D Yay Beast!
I also loved the scene where she met Mortain face to face
and finally understand her true nature and was showered with forgiveness and
hope and understanding and, most of all, unconditional love. I actually wrote that scene early on simply
because I needed to see it, feel it, know it was there waiting for her at the
end of her painful journey.
Oh, wow. I can see I'm saying "cool" a lot, but that is really cool.
What did it feel like
to write her story? I kept wondering if
she'd find the way out of her darkness... and it seemed the only way out was
through... OUCH!!
Honestly? Writing her story involved eight of the longest,
hardest, darkest months of my life. There is no way—for me at least—to not be
fully immersed in a character without feeling much of what she feels. So yeah,
OUCH.
Oh... I can't really say "cool" to that. I'm so grateful, but that sounds very heartrendingly painful.
Anything else you'd
like to share? Thank you for
visiting!!!!! :-D I really love both Grave Mercy & Dark
Triumph. They gripped me so fast and hard I just wish I could be there, with
Ismae & Sybella!! Are you writing
Annith's story now?! Can I ask
that?! I seriously cannot wait!!!
Thank you so much! It makes me insanely happy that you loved
the books so much. I am working on
Annith’s story right now. She is a being a little more coy than the other two
girls. I think mostly because I saw her through Ismae’s and Sybella’s eyes
rather than being in Annith’s own head. It wasn’t until I began writing her
story that I fully grasped just how many secrets she had of her own—secrets she
hadn’t even shared with Ismae or Sybella…
Oooh... REALLY?! How exciting!! I seriously love how each book is so different and yet interconnected. Annith is so nice to Ismae, I have high hopes for her. Yet her situation is so much more... desperate. She doesn't get the chance to be sent out on an assignment, away from the convent, to discover herself. She has to fight for that. I just can't even imagine where she will go or what she will do. I won't even try to guess. If she didn't tell you until you started writing about her... I shall just have to
Thank you for visiting!
Want to read more about Robin LaFevers, Dark Triumph & Grave Mercy?
See this entire tour below... full of delicious posts and giveaways!
Robin LaFevers was raised on a steady diet of fairy tales,
Bulfinch’s mythology, and 19th century poetry. It is not surprising she grew up
to be a hopeless romantic.
Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a
convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her
a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has
been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.
While many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky
enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in
the foothills of southern California.
In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval
Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia
books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about
those books at www.rllafevers.com.
Giveaway:
Hardback of Dark Triumph and paperback of Grave Mercy to winner in US or Canada
Bottle of Poison Nail Polish and 2 Necklaces on Tour-wide Giveaway, see rafflecopter for restrictions.
All my rules under the About tab apply. For international copy of Dark Triumph, go HERE!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Rockstar Tour Schedule:
4/3/2013- Tales of a Ravenous Reader http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/
Interview
4/4/2013- Books Over Boys http://booksoverboys.blogspot.com/ Interview
4/5/2013- Fiktshun http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/ Guest Post
4/6/2013- Rebecca's Book Blog http://rebeccasbookblog.blogspot.com/ Excerpt
4/7/2013- A Backwards Story http://abackwardsstory.blogspot.com/ Excerpt
4/8/2013- Making The Grade Reviews http://mtgreviews.com/ Guest Post
4/9/2013- Burgandy Ice http://burgandyice.blogspot.com/ Interview
4/10/2013- Two Chicks on Books http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/
Guest Post
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Attack of the Assassins tour interview and giveaway of Dark Triumph!
On Tour with Bookshelvers Anonymous...
Check out all the tour and links to giveaways on everyone's posts!!
Now Available!!!
by Robin Lafevers
Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: April 2, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Premise:
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
What better way to celebrate the release of Dark Triumph than an animated discussion between FANS?! :-D Please welcome Vale as we let our enthusiasm loose!! :-D
Let's discuss the characters first -
I love Sybella. She changes so much! Tell me what you love about Sybella!
On the other hand, I enjoyed (perhaps too much) her killing plots. Why, she spilled the blood!
And Beast!
Beast is the right amount of ogre & (teddy) bear. He can be gentle but also savage an army by himself. & that's exactly why I think he was perfect for Sybella; because that's exactly what she needed.
& the story they shared without knowing it! *tear*
We have to discuss villains, too, because these are some of the worst I've ever met and I hate them furiously. Who drives you to madness in Dark Triumph?
Aside, you know, D'Albret & Madame Dinan? Julian, then. He is not precisely bad, but damn, he's... confused. At the end I felt a lot of pity for him, just how wrong he was about the things around him, about Sybella.
D'Albret *flips* He is a freaking son of a bitch & I hope the shadows of hell reap his soul apart for the rest of eternity. & that's it.
What do you love about Robin LaFevers' writing - in both Grave Mercy & Dark Triumph?
Oh, I like the real sense of being in other time, brought by the usage of words. I know it is very hard, to write by a time frame, but at the end is worth it because it transports me!
Also, the accurate use of metaphors that are not quite metaphors. "Time stretches like honey falling off a blade" Is so beautiful! & the french words, Merde!, jajaja.
Do you want to make any guesses about book three? :-)
you know, I've been guessing in my head since I finished the book but I... can't. Is about Annith, alright but... which will be her exact role on the politiking & the duchy (you know, considering...)?
Okay, I know that she will flee the convent, she already did, for all we know, so... my guess are (a) She goes straight to Ismae (& the abbess) & officially starts His biding, (b) She will stumble in the countryside, until something hits her forehead & she gets her wits right (& kills someone!), (c) Uh... something unexpected happens?
Okay, you know? I'll tell you once the blurb is released.
Anything else you would like to share?
The perspective of Death! Since Grave Mercy, I absolutely fell by the way Death is portrayed. Not necessarily like something bad not necessarily the end or the only option. Both Ismae & Sybella have different perspectives about Death & how to serve Him; I am very impressed of the... mythology, (um, yeah, mythology for lack of a better word,) in which the god is viewed.
Where is your review?
You can find my review in Goodreads! From April 3th it will be there:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/321219067?auto_login_attempted=true
Thank you, Vale!!! I love talking about favorite books with someone who also loves them!!! Woohoo!! Thx for visiting today... and sharing your enthusiasm!
My Reviews:
1st Review of Grave Mercy
2nd Review of rereading Grave Mercy
Review of Dark Triumph
Get Your Copies:
ebooks available NOW!! Print on April 6th....Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon:
ebooks available NOW!! Print on April 6th....Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon:
More enthusiasm on Twitter as we celebrate the release of Dark Triumph!! Follow/use the hashtag #AttackoftheAssassins and join in the fun!!
Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.
Many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.
In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about those books at www.rllafevers.com.
Find & Follow:
1 print copy of Dark Triumph for an international winner, offered by this great tour.
April 3 - April 18, 2013. All of my rules under the About tab apply... must be of age, have valid mailing address, etc.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out all the other giveaways and awesome posts on the tour!!!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Review - Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
by Robin Lafevers
Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: April 2, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Premise:
Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
My Review:
I am a hopeless fan of LaFevers writing. There’s no
way I’m not prejudiced forever to love her books after reading them. I shall try to find some logic behind my madness.
Dark Triumph is Sybella’s story. It has a different flavor
than Grave Mercy did that makes me want to compare Sybella and Ismae. The
premonition I felt through Ismae’s view of Sybella? Yea… Sybella is that dark
and emotionally messed up… and worse.
That LaFevers could slip inside her
near-insane mind so that I believed and felt every raw emotion… is just
magical.
I am not saying Sybella and I are buddies. This girl scares me. Lol.
She’s got so many layers of issues. She has to dig deep to uncover good
intentions – she doesn’t even know her own mind well enough to trust herself at
the beginning of the story. And she’s so ruthless. Her internal struggle is not
about whether she can kill or not, no. She’s good at killing and she enjoys it,
too. *shiver* Instead, she has to uncover why… and her purpose is buried under
horrible memories.
She doesn’t find herself without Beast’s help. I could not
wait for her to find him, to see how these two would get along. Especially when the Beast turns out to be not so different than the stuff in Sybella’s nightmares, and yet he is also
exactly opposite. Their relationship did not unfold like I had anticipated at
all. I pictured Sybella nursing Duval’s friend, the big guy, Beast, back to
health in the castle dungeons where she finds him, where she sneaks around
stealthfully.
No… rather, Sybella’s situation in the castle is downright
precarious and her relationship with that horrible d’Albret – all of ‘em – is more
monstrous than I had anticipated. (Do not spoil this. Good grief. I cannot
believe reviewers spoiling books before they are even published. What is up
with that?!) Everything I had imagined before reading was “cute” in comparison
to Sybella’s reality.
I can’t say this story is perfect because I would not wish
Sybella’s life on anyone. By the end of the story everything is explained, even her madness when she shows
up at the convent. The convent’s dealings with Sybella are even more
ruthless and heartless than with Ismae. They really felt she was un-savable and
spared her no pain or hardship.
Plus… I love seeing Ismae & Duval a few times!!
Beast… is so perfect. He has such a frank acceptance of
himself that he applies to Sybella. He has enough horrors in his past for each
of them to find understanding hope with each other. I just… I never could have
guessed how these two were so perfect… and I still ache over all the why’s of
how they fit together.
The gods are back with a new addition. Sybella has her moment with Mortain, but that wasn't the highlight for me. Rather, meeting the god of the outcasts - or, more precisely, meeting the charbonnerie, a people who survive in the forest making charcoal who serve the Dark Mother. This is the secret heart of Sybella's story:
"She is a fierce and loving god who especially favors the fallen, the scarred, the wounded, and the castoffs. She rules over those places where life rises up out of darkness and decay. The first green shoot in a forest devastated by fire... the darkest hours of the night, just before dawn, belong to her. The moment when all hope is lost, and yet you dare to hope one more time. That is the power of the Dark Matrona."
This story is downright painful. More bitter than sweet. Like dark, dark chocolate… refined to smooth purity in all its dark glory.
My Rating: 4.95
I recommend this book with a warning: There is incest, pleasure in killing, & lots of blood. Anyone who felt qualms over where Grave Mercy dared to go should realize this
book dives three times deeper. Political twists are replaced with psychotic
twists. *sob* I love it.
Cover Commentary: Perfect! Sybella is dark and mysterious and she wields knives with skill. She infiltrates the bad guys, so she doesn't have weapons hiding all over her person, like Ismae did. Sybella is ready for a pat-down at any moment, and yet deadlier than any weapon-loaded handmaiden of death. She's in a dark dungeon-y passageway... which is exactly right for the story and for her soul. Remember how Grave Mercy's cover says "Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?" This cover says "Vengeance is Divine." *snort* Also perfect.
I rec'd my (signed!) ARC from Robin LaFevers despite drooling all over Grave Mercy, the only book I read twice in 2012. All my reviews are my honest opinion, whether LaFevers wanted slobbering fans or not. Sometimes I cannot fan-girl neatly.
The Awesome Author:
Robin LaFevers was raised on a steady diet of fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and 19th century poetry. It is not surprising she grew up to be a hopeless romantic.
Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.
Many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.
In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about those books at www.rllafevers.com.
Find & Follow:
Pre-Order Your Copy:
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon:
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Review - Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Hardcover, 1st Ed, 549 pages
Published April 3rd 2012 by Hougton Mifflin Harcour
NetGalley preview on my Nook
NetGalley preview on my Nook
Premise: Ganked from Goodreads:
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
My Review:
Ha! Ha HA!! What an exhilarating ride!!!
This book pulls together some of my most favorite things,
weaving a new story with new characters and depths. As I read, I felt growing
satisfaction… that THIS is what I had always hoped for and didn't even know it.
I loved so many things about this book. The concept is rich –
Ismae (love the name!!) is rescued from abuse, smuggled across the country to a
Convent fortress where she is trained in the arts of Killing. It’s like
Cinderella + Graceling. What a fun combination!
I don’t don't much about history, so the setting
might as well been a new fantasy world, for all I knew (or cared). The French-sounding
names were exotic and the politics felt exactly like a complicated chess game,
(the author's intention). There is
gritty reality behind the impossible choices, which I absolutely loved. So
often, especially when big, multiple kingdoms are involved, the answer is
obvious & predictable, so “impossible” was refreshingly frustrating.
I thoroughly enjoyed the deities of Britain. Does anyone
know if this is historical? There are 8 (9?) Gods transformed to “saints” to
conform to the times. Mortain, the god of death,
adds depth to the entire story. I was never certain how Ismae was literally
conceived by him, but I love, LOVE the idea that she is a daughter of God.
Absolutely. And that the Convent believes that only it – or specifically the Abbess –
knows what Mortain wants, while the question is raised as to whether the
Convent is above deception? Doubt is cast on
the Convent, even while relationship with Mortain Himself is strengthened.
Ismae is a fun character. I slipped inside her skin so
effortlessly, so that I still feel rather dangerous with various weapons strapped in hiding
spots up my sleeves and skirts. (Ha!) I thought for sure I would learn all the in’s
& out’s of her training at the Convent – like Paksennarian or The Song of
the Lioness series. Instead, the story dives right into Ismae’s assignments. I can’t
tell you how thrilled I was wondering how complicated this story would get if
we leapt right through so much excitement so fast. She is intelligent
& brave (rather than fearless). I love getting her thoughts behind each
action, and I love her fast reflexes!!
Duval is also very fun. He has layers of reactions and
motivations to figure out, while being at the same time, highly enticing.
Suspicious and sexy at the same time!! I
was right there with Ismae as she experienced new love (great budding romance!)
while remaining true to her beliefs and her deep conviction to serve the God of Death. When
traitors abound, everyone is suspect!!
Many of the secondary characters had surprising depth. Duval’s closest friends keep revealing
greater depths, the council surrounding the Duchess holds surprises, the
Convent and the handmaidens of Death have lots of secrets that they don’t give
up even by the end of the story.
The Duchess & her sister felt shallow to me, but if I was in either of their shoes, I could only hope to be as brave & decisive as they were. I'd probably run away.
Grave Mercy does not have a cliff-hanger ending, but it does leave loose ends – rather loud loose ends. I wondered how the author could sleep at night without resolving these. (Ha!) Until I noted what book 2 in the series will
be about… and entire book devoted to at least two of those loose ends, which
gives me hope for the third, too. (Ack!! I hate not spoiler-talking!)
As I read, I kept thinking of similar books I love. The court
scenes reminded me of Crown Duel, which I love! Sometimes I was reminded me of
King Arthur or Robin Hood or somewhere in between ‘em (all the Britain stuff - either inner fighting or against France). I already mentioned
Cinderella, Paksennarion and the Song of Lioness… not to mention Graceling. What if Katsa had a different motivation for doing
her killing job? Hehehehe And yet, Grave Mercy is unique, too. Some of the best of all of 'em rolled into something new.
Cover Commentary: Love it. I love the red dress, with the
windblown wild look & the suspicious back glance… especially with the
castle and storm clouds in the background. The crossbow makes the picture for
me, although it seems a little large for the weapon she hid in her skirts. I
suppose of they’d given her a wee little crossbow, it wouldn’t have had the same
effect. Lol.
My Rating: 5 - LOVE IT!! I think this is one of my favorite books. I definitely want
this book on my bookshelf collection to reread when the urge hits, ‘cause it
definitely will! It may be 500+ pages
long, but I couldn’t put it down!!
The Awesome Author:
Robin LaFevers was raised on a steady diet of fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and 19th century poetry. It is not surprising she grew up to be a hopeless romantic.
Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.
Many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.
In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about those books at www.rllafevers.com.
Find & Follow:
Get your copy:
The Book Depository,
Barnes & Noble or Amazon:
Barnes & Noble or Amazon:
Have you read these?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)