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    Grave Mercy
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    Grave Mercy
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    Grave Mercy
    Ebook491 pages7 hours

    Grave Mercy

    By Robin LaFevers

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    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?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherClarion Books
    Release dateApr 3, 2012
    ISBN9780547822419
    Unavailable
    Grave Mercy
    Author

    Robin LaFevers

    Robin LaFevers, author of the New York Times best-selling His Fair Assassin books, was raised on fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and nineteenth-century poetry. It is not surprising that she grew up to be a hopeless romantic. She was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in California. Visit her online at robinlafevers.com and on Twitter @RLLaFevers. 

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    Reviews for Grave Mercy

    4/5

    1,079 ratings173 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is a great read with a fabulous blend of history, fantasy and adventure and reminded me a little of the 'Study' series by Maria V. Snyder. Set in the Middle Ages, Ismae is an impressive protagonist. She is determined, strong, independent, and a trained assassin, but treats others with compassion. The book includes a range of wonderful supporting characters from Duval's youngest sister to the big, ugly, loveable Beast. There is a touch of romance in this book, but unlike many YA books, it is honest and believable. Dealing with history, religion, court intrigue, death and espionage, and with twists and turns on every page, "Grave Mercy" is a terrific story. Looking forward to the sequel.
    • 3/5
      Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.So, take YA historical fiction, throw in a dash of paranormal, a heavy heaping of romance, a bit of intrigue and some ASSASSIN NUNS, and you have Grave Mercy. It's definitely a unique book, as I haven't read anything like it in YA lately.Ismae is an incredibly strong character - from the start of her journey toward being an ASSASSIN NUN to the main plot and the way she weaves herself into it, she's always very present, and you're always very aware of her. Whether you like or dislike her as a character, there's no doubt she leaves an impression. I found myself wanting to shake her at times, even dipping into the occasional bout of dislike in certain chapters, but eventually she won me over. Some of her character progression was predictable, but I enjoyed reading the conflict between her ASSASSIN NUN life and her budding romance.The plot itself...is interesting. So much intrigue, so many twists and turns, and yet it all gets buried under the romance. I found the romance aspect nice, but there came a point where it got to be too much when I just wanted to find out who the traitor was. At times, this felt way too much like a historical romance novel that had been branded YA simply because of Ismae's age and the toned down violence. Everything about it, from the tone to the plot, seems to scream adult fiction. Which isn't a bad thing, don't get me wrong.It was a decent read. The aspects I liked (the intrigue, Ismae's growth) just barely outweighed the ones I didn't (romaaaaaance), and I especially enjoyed that there was only a dash of paranormal, and it's treated as normal in Ismae's world. I don't know that I'd immediately recommend this to anyone, but it's worth a shot if you're the type of person who really likes a little intrigue and ASSASSIN NUNS in their YA historical romance.
    • 5/5
      I just finished Grave Mercy and am left aw struck. The world between the pages has managed to lure me in and bury deep within my soul. It was full of suspense, royalty, bitter emotions, and unconditional love. It had many twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat.

      It is a story about a young girl who is convent raised to be an assassin. She is taught all the ways to kill and then sent on missions to look for the marque of death. When she is sent with Duval to the palace her world gets a tad crazy. She isn't sure who to confide in other then fulfilling her service to Mortain and her commitment to the duchess. Secrets have to be revealed and lies have to be uncovered... She doesn't expect to feel anything of the sorts of love, but the match is lit and there is no turning back. In the end a slow burn romance turns into a full burn flame.

      I just fell head over heels in love with the characters and quickly became envious and jealous of Ismae. Her life was dangerous, but it was also magical, romantic, and intense. I loved how strong she was and how she always followed her heart no matter the consequence... She was a bada$$ heroine that pulled me in and left me captivated.

      Overall, this book exceeded all expectations. It consumed me with it's regal setting and left me wanting to bid the lord good night. I definitely recommend it to all readers! Even if you aren't a YA fan... I still think you will enjoy it.
    • 5/5
      Loved....Loved....Loved this book! I didn't want it to end. It was fast paced, enthralling, suspenseful, and captivating. It had action, deceit, poisons, messaging crows, spies and daughters of death. What more could you want? I fell in love with many of the characters; Ishmae, Gavriel, Beast, Anne, Annith, Sybella, Francois, De Lornay, Madame Hivern and Captain Dunois. Ofcourse there are the EVIL Villians but I can only mention one, as to not give too much away and he is d'Albret, the worst of villains.

      If you love and/or enjoy historical fiction or romance, just plain romance or a good read, I highly recommend Grave Mercy. I can't say enough or give it enough praise. It has a light, sweet and enduring romance with a fierce young woman/assassin/friend and a loyal and honorable young man/brother/son as the protagonist. I will say again, don't let this one pass you by. This book will be placed amongst my favorites and I think I'll burst in knowing that Sybella's story, His Fair Assassin, Dark Triumph is slated for release in Spring 2013....WHAT!!! That's tooooo far away.....

      I'd like to thank Netgalley and Houton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me the opportunity to read this AWESOME book for review, very pleased.
    • 5/5
      Gah! So good! Best love story I've read in ages and ages - the descriptions of the physical sensations of live are just brilliant. Read it, right now. Go on, I'll wait.
    • 4/5
      While this book suffers from some faults that plague contemporary literature, and especially the YA genre, it is a vastly enjoyable, thrilling, and emotional read.While this book may give the impression of a Historical novel, there are too many discrepancies to pass as true Historic Fiction. It is set in 15th century Brittany, at a time when the Duchy was trying to preserve its independence from France. And while some persons and happenings are the same, there was greater liberty taken in all other matters. I do not count this so much as poor research, but rather as an 'alternate universe' sort of understanding. Though, I must say that what piqued my curiosity as for the historical accuracy was some fashion descriptions, that may very well fall into the former explanation, the religion, turn of events, and other changes are more easily accepted. In whole, being unversed in the real historical accounts prior to reading this novel, and because the inner logic is un-flawed, it is rather simple to overlook this and not let it make an impact on my overall enjoyment. I would, however, won't object to a more strict historical account of environment (if not events) in the next installments of the series.Ismae is a strong female protagonist. Very flawed, but it makes her all the more relate-able. Her stubbornness and immaturity sit well with her age and experience (or lack there of). She is not a helpless halfwit, but is enough ignorant and proud to make her believable. She is not flawless, which I love. I do have some objection to her derision of women, they tend to be described by her as bird-like and overall she looks down on traditional female roles. While I understand that her childhood, and later her stay at the convent, may have had influence in that regard, I feel it is too much of an anti for the times the story is set in (and, quite frankly, in general, also). Being strong, independent, and wise, is not opposite to holding womanly charms and skills. I must add that most that most of the prevalent female characters are well rounded, independent, and strong. Especially the duchess, Anne, that at a young age must face such circumstances as to make her wise beyond her years, although her chronological age still flashes through, on occasion. The abbess, however, seems a bit too one faceted.Like most first person narratives in YA, there is too much foreshadowing than should be acceptable. She is also unreasonable observant at times, while at others she is unbelievably blind. Her fixed resolve that Duval is the traitor and her inability to see other possibilities until too late in the game seems forced, even with all the explanation thrown in there. It is quite easy to guess fairly from the beginning where the plot will take you, but I find it admirable that some motives are kept hidden till the end, without feeling like a quick fix. Most characters have redeeming qualities (only one of the main characters is wholly sinister) and flaws, to make them believable and well rounded.The love story, though, has to be my favorite part. Yes, it can be seen from a mile away, but it unfolds so gently, and is so unpresumptuous. It is tender, and sweet, and there isn't a forced struggle with it. It is clear why they fall for each other, and being hot is not one of the reasons. Their connection is deep and cerebral, and completely believable. The prose, however, is one of the things I did not feel for. It is simplified, and dry. I cannot buy the argument that this is what the character might talk like, for while she is 17, a 15th century maiden should be more articulate, especially one trained to infiltrate a myriad of occasions unnoticed. It is also severely lacking in the show-don't-tell department(as does most of the genre, unfortunately); the most discernible character is the vile d'Albert. As a trained assassin, she should be overtly observant of her surrounding and people, and should be able to account for as much as possible in as little time as possible. Though, it did not oppose an obstacle, and the reading flew by quite nicely.I read an advanced reading copy from the publisher via Net-Galley.
    • 4/5
      This was a fun start to a new trilogy. Centered on 17yo Ismae who has had a pretty rough go of life until she is saved and brought to the convent that serves St. Mortain, the god of death (who also happens to be her father. Handy.) Trained in the arts of death, she becomes an assassin sworn to protect the soon-to-be Duchess of Brittany through all manner of political and familial intrigue. Touch of romance for those who need it, blood and horses for those who don't.

      I received an e-copy free from the publisher.
    • 5/5
      I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I have no idea why, because the premise sounded cool, but I stayed away from it for a long time. I'm happy that I decided to check it out from the library though, because this book ended up being one of my favorites. With Grave Mercy being over 500 pages, I was a little scared. Especially since it's a historical, sometimes I feel like historicals can drag. But I found myself happy that it was so long, because I didn't want it to end. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Ismae and Duval. Ismae was awesome, and Duval was awesome, and together they were awesome. I cannot express my love for them enough. Ismae is someone who thinks for herself (or learns to think for herself), and learns from her mistakes. And Duval is such a caring and loyal character. I'm just so sad that this was a library book, because I wish I had a copy right now to hug it. I didn't realize that this book had some kind of fantasy along with it. I didn't even think about the fact that these were nuns and that they obviously have a god that they follow. But learning about all the other old god's that this country was built on was fascinating to me. Especially since Ismae is one of the daughters of the god of Death. So interesting!I really enjoyed reading about Ismae's time around the court. I couldn't figure out who was a traitor and who wasn't. This is somewhat of a mystery because the whole time I was trying to figure out who to trust. But I didn't start figuring it out until Ismae did. So if you're a little hesitant to read this because of the length, I say go for it because it is a fantastic story. I loved it so much, that I want to go out and buy it right now, along with the next book, His Dark Triumph, which I can't wait to get my hands on! This is definitely a favorite of mine and I will be revisiting it again.
    • 5/5
      The book appears long but reads quickly, as readers become embroiled in high-stakes mystery, intrigue, romance, and other events at court. LaFevers has created a strong heroine with a diverse backdrop of characters in a time period and country many readers know nothing about. This beautifully crafted, well researched novel is one of the best-written books on the market.
    • 4/5
      Simple and straightforward, this adventure was a fun read. Ismae's story starts out so grim, unloved, abused, and about to be wed to a stranger, but her path forward quickly brightens. I loved how her dedication to Death grows over the course of the book, and her inclusion in the politics and machinations of the plot was well balanced.
    • 5/5
      Loved....Loved....Loved this book! I didn't want it to end. It was fast paced, enthralling, suspenseful, and captivating. It had action, deceit, poisons, messaging crows, spies and daughters of death. What more could you want? I fell in love with many of the characters; Ishmae, Gavriel, Beast, Anne, Annith, Sybella, Francois, De Lornay, Madame Hivern and Captain Dunois. Ofcourse there are the EVIL Villians but I can only mention one, as to not give too much away and he is d'Albret, the worst of villains.

      If you love and/or enjoy historical fiction or romance, just plain romance or a good read, I highly recommend Grave Mercy. I can't say enough or give it enough praise. It has a light, sweet and enduring romance with a fierce young woman/assassin/friend and a loyal and honorable young man/brother/son as the protagonist. I will say again, don't let this one pass you by. This book will be placed amongst my favorites and I think I'll burst in knowing that Sybella's story, His Fair Assassin, Dark Triumph is slated for release in Spring 2013....WHAT!!! That's tooooo far away.....

      I'd like to thank Netgalley and Houton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me the opportunity to read this AWESOME book for review, very pleased.
    • 4/5

      I loved this book - I was hooked on Ismae's journey from the very start. It was dark, and atmospheric, that kind of dense world you can just get lost in, an assassin sired by Death himself, courtly political intrigue, and a sexy slow-burn romance. The author did a wonderful job of melding mythology - the nine gods/saints, including the god of Death, St. Mortain, with the history of Brittany, so that it felt as thought either the mythology was real, or Brittany itself a myth. I loved the various relations between the characters, especially Ismae and Duval.
    • 4/5
      After some further thought, I just bumped this to a complete four stars, because my issue was a Me Thing.

      I finally determined that Ismae was my biggest problem. She was constantly worrying about what other people would think, to the point it got a bit repetitive. Why isn't she taking action? Oh, right, she has to consult, like, 50 people. I also guessed who the bad guy was within pages but it took Ismae 500 pages to get there.

      Like I said, though, this naivete is, in all actuality, completely understandable given how Ismae was raised and her seclusion. And, as I thought about it, it was kind of intriguing: a girl is trained in the arts of Death, but so sheltered and unaware of her own mental strength, she struggles to trust herself and her gut. But that didn't stop me from really wanting to throttle her a few times when it was PERFECTLY OBVIOUS she was right and didn't have to consult her various peeps.

      She does end up becoming incredibly strong-willed by the end of the book, which was such a relief to see. It just took so long to get there.

      Other than that very big issue, there is So Much to be applauded about this book (and, I assume, about the series). Grave Mercy is a Historical Novel and it takes no prisoners. I LOVED that LaFevers didn't shy away from the political intrigue and court dynamics in a YA novel. YAs (and readers of YA) are smart! And the books written for them should be just as smart! Gorgeous, gorgeous all around.

      While I had some pretty big issues with Ismae, it wasn't enough for me to not like what the book was trying to achieve. Honestly, of the three girls that it appears each book will feature, Ismae is/was the least interesting to me. So, I'm very much looking forward to the intrigue of the next two!
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this book immensely. Billed as a historical novel, I would place it as a historical fantasy for the magic involved as well as the general feel of the story. Look forward to the rest of the series.
    • 5/5
      Because of the cover (pretty dress), I was really excited about this one. Then I saw a lot of mixed reviews around the blogosphere and put on my skeptical cap. Thankfully, I'm in the group of people that just ate Grave Mercy up and looked around for more. It's kind of funny, because I started reading this and Candlewax at the same time, the latter of which was compared to Cashore; I ended up giving up on Candlewax and think Ismae is way more Katsa-ish.

      To that end, let's discuss Ismae, shall we? She may be a nun of sorts, but she kicks ass like a serious mofo. She's the kind of girl who hides a crossbow in her skirts. A Crossbow. No joke. Of course, she doesn't live in a society that respects strong women. She is married off at a young age to a brute, but refuses to accept his abuse. She would have been killed, but was rescued and sent to a convent where daughters of Mortain (the death god/saint) are trained to kill. It made me so sad to watch her trade being controlled by her father to being controlled by the convent. Watching her mature throughout the book was a pleasure.

      Duval is completely amazing. I love him and would not mind having one of my own. He's so supportive and caring of the people that he loves and so distrustful of anyone else. He's incredibly intelligent and focused. He reminds me a lot of the hero from Touch of Power, who I also adored. His relationship with Ismae grows in a very natural way. He is so freaking swoon-worthy.

      Grave Mercy is quite long. Reading it took me three days, which, given my record, is like forever, at least with my primary book. The length has turned some readers off, but I, personally, never felt like the book dragged at all. One complaint was that we didn't get to read about the training of the killer nuns, but I was okay with missing out on that.

      Robin LaFevers is definitely a new favorite author for me. I want book two, Dark Radiance immediately! Apparently, it's going to be about Sybella, rather than continuing Ismae's story. Although I love Ismae, I think I approve of the decision to move to a different character. I wonder if we'll get Annith's story in book three. I hope so!
    • 5/5
      I adored this book. The combination of world building, action, romance, and spiritual exploration grabbed me quickly and held me tight. Cannot wait for the next one (I love series that explore worlds from different characters' points of views).
    • 4/5
      Pretty good, definitely original, though slow in some spots.
    • 3/5
      Cover Impressions: Pretty girl in a pretty dress, but wait! What's this? A MASSIVE CROSSBOW?! This just got much more interesting! I love the look on the model's face and the hair and makeup are well done (though I do wish it had featured Ismae's fancy poison pearl hairnet.) I particularly enjoyed the tagline "why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?".

      The Gist: Ismae has been sired by death. At the hands of the Sisters of the convent of St. Mortain, she learns the art of dispatching a man from this earth and finally finds the strength to stand against the men that have filled her life with cruelty. Sent to on assignment to the court of Brittany, she must wade into a world of secrets and intrigue and follow her own guidance about who to trust, and who to kill.

      Review: This book gets an A for the originality of the idea. A convent of nuns trained in the deadly arts and willing to assassinate based on the will of their God - now that is something I have not read before. In fact, I so loved this idea that I am a little disappointed that LaFevers did not spend more time describing Ismae's training. The opening was incredibly strong, but then instead of watching Ismae learn the skills that will allow her to kill a man in seconds (or stretch his agony out for days), we get a three year time jump which was more than a little unsatisfying.

      I enjoyed most of the characters (and the glimpses of Sybella made me long for the next installment in this series). Ismae is strong willed, though young and inexperienced. I loved her cold hearted certainty and willingness to follow her convent's orders without question. However, I found her less enjoyable as she developed a conscience. I was also thrilled to read descriptions of the weapons that she carried rather than the diatribes about sumptuous gowns that one often finds in period novels.

      Despite the strong opening and a very interesting premise, the plot had a tendency to lag. For a book about an assassin, it was sorely lacking in assassinations. I like politic intrigue as much as the next reader, but after pages and pages of political maneuvering I was practically foaming at the mouth for some bloodshed! As for the mystery element, it is laughably transparent who is to blame for the current state of affairs and I kept waiting for some plot twist because surely it couldn't be this obvious, alas - it was.

      I will be back for the second book in this trilogy, mostly because I am intrigued by Sybella but also because I am too in love with the concept of deadly nuns to give up hope for a dark and compelling sequel. Stay Tuned.

      Teaching/Parental Notes:
      Age: 15 and up
      Gender: Female
      Sex: One instance, tastefully written
      Violence: Domestic abuse, garotting, poisoning, shooting with arrow, knife play
      Inappropriate Language: None
      Substance Abuse: Drinking of wine
      Additional Notes: This is a decent introduction into historical fiction
    • 5/5
      Initial Reaction: This is the kind of book I live for. Gripping, intriguing, dangerous. Beautiful. A historical novel packed to the brim with fleshed-out, fantastic characters and some of the best world-building in the genre by far.

      What I liked: First of all, I have to repeat: this is the kind of book I live for. I've always been a reader, but the books that made me truly begin to devour words were historical romances in the Tudor era. Now, I always thought they needed to be a little grittier, but for the world-building, and absolute escapism, they were perfect. While GRAVE MERCY is a very far cry from Tudor historical romances, it does offer the perfect blend of the escape of history, the plans and plots of court life, and the action and all around kick-ass-ness that I craved of its heroines.

      Ismae is one of my favorite characters of all time. She can lay a serious beat-down. I mean -- she's an assassin! By the time she left the convent of St Mortain, her father and the god of Death Himself, Ismae is a lethal weapon. She is the master of poisons and potions of all kinds. She can wield a dagger, sword, stiletto, garrote, or crossbow. She is indeed the handmaiden of death, and can sense the mark of her charge on those she is sent to kill. She also has a sort of spidey-sense for when the shit is about to hit the fan. For all of her awesomeness, she is still vulnerable and flawed. She lets her arrogance get to her, and of course she is without the grace that is needed to be a true seductress. But she gets by, and doesn't make any excuses, and of course, is not one to let a man take care of her.

      Gavrial Duval is nothing like I thought he would be. I love his tough exterior and the gruffness he uses to protect his inner teddy-bear. He is fiercely loyal to his sisters and family -- even through the deepest of betrayals. He's smart on the battlefield of war, and the battlefield of court. And of course, as I was reading it I was picturing Thor, so that helps :D

      The world building is astounding. Not just the historical aspects. But the life Ismae leads before being rescued to the convent. And especially the convent! With it's nun-assassin teachers, it's crazy abbess, and the rights and rituals of St Mortain. I love that the convent offers a solace to beaten down and nearly broken young women, and gives them the tools they need to get back up on their feet and take care of themselves. GRAVE MERCY is not your typical YA story. No. These girls do not need boys to survive.

      The best thing about this novel for me is its length. Over 500 pages long, it really gives you the time you need to know the characters, to become invested. It's so different from many first-of-a-series in that the book actually has a plot. There is character arc and story arc much like a typical YA series, but all wrapped up in one book. I love it.

      What I didn't like: I'm happy to say that this is another 5-star book to add to my arsenal. Only one down-side: the second book is as much a stand alone book as the first one, and won't be about Ismae. While Ismae's story is definitely wrapped up nice and tight, I am sad to see her go.


      Conclusion: I highly recommend GRAVE MERCY, an action packed historical novel filled with treachery, intrigue, and of course, romance.
    • 4/5
      This book comes into the top 10 books I've read this year. The prose is simple yet elegant, the pacing is swift and steady, and the romance is restrained, yet poignant.
    • 4/5
      Girl assassins, medieval herb stuff, creepy religious orders, theological dilemmas, political intrigue: this is pretty much everything I want in a young adult series. Yes, readers with a critical eye will find some problems - some clunky dialogue, a few strained plot points, and a rushed ending are among them - but it sure was an enjoyable read. Extra points for its sensitive handling of domestic violence - brought up as a reality of existence, but not played for exploitation. I look forward to the rest of the series.
    • 3/5
      The backdrop is the "Mad War" of 1488, when the feudal lords of Brittany (the home of many Celts) were trying to maintain independence from the rest of France. The main character, Ismae, is a young peasant girl. We first see her, at thirteen, being sold to a brutish, abusive husband for three silver coins. Ismae has a scar that marks her as a daughter of the death-God Mortain, and she is rescued from her sad fate and placed in a secret convent of nun-assassins who serve Mortain under his Christianized incarnation as a "saint." In addition to being trained as assassins, these girls have magic powers. Ismae is resistant to poisons and she sees a death mark, known as a "marque," on her targets, indicating how they are supposed to die. The story jumps to a few years later, with a teenage Ismae taking on her first assignment for the convent. She ends up forced to work with Gavriel Duval, the bastard brother of Duchess Anne. The two are forced to work together to try and uncover the traitors at Anne's court. While they don't trust or even like each other at first, Ismae gradually warms to Duval's kindness - a quality she has not encountered in the men of her past.Grave Mercy definitely gets points for originality. There is not a lot of historically-based young adult fiction being written. That being said, the fantasy elements wind up seeming incongruous and a little cheesy in the historical setting. Magical-assassin-nuns on secret missions? It's a cool idea, but the writing is bland and fails to deliver the detail or the atmosphere the concept deserves. Assassin daughters of Death himself . . . you would think the writing would have a darkly gothic flare, especially given the medieval setting, but the atmosphere just isn't there. There were parts and certainly concepts that I enjoyed, but I doubt I will pick up the sequel.
    • 5/5
      Ismae Rienne is a daughter of Mortain, the god of death, and as such she is an object of fear and loathing to most of the people around her. When she is forced into an abusive arranged marriage, she escapes to a convent of other women who, like her, have been given special gifts by Mortain. At the convent, Ismae is trained in the art of death -- after three years, she can kill a person with sword, knife, crossbow, garrote, poison, or her bare hands. She can see a "marque" on those who are about to die, and for the sisters at the convent, murder is not a crime, but a holy calling. When Ismae is sent out on an assignment to the court of Anne, Duchess of Brittany, she finds that her tasks are not as clear and simple as she expected. Ismae accompanies Gavriel Duval, illegitimate half-brother to the duchess, presumably as his courtesan. Ismae is to discover who is truly supporting Anne, and who is secretly in league with the French. As she is caught up in courtly intrigue, she begins to question the decisions of her superiors at the convent. What will she do if she is instructed to kill someone she desperately wants to keep alive? Does the convent really represent Mortain, or are they serving their own ends?There are a lot of things to like about this story -- the interesting medieval setting, the slow-burning romance between Ismae and Duval, and the complex political maneuverings of the court and the convent. Moreover, while this book is the first of a series, it wraps up most loose ends neatly, and I believe the next book will feature a different main character. The writing is on the good side of mediocre -- not fantastic, but definitely readable. I'll be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
    • 4/5
      I have rather mixed feelings about this book. For much of this book, I suspected that I did not like it, but it was one of those books that I didn't quite feel I could judge until the end. Truth be told, I was rather disturbed by the murderous convent. In some ways, I think this book would have been better told in a completely different world instead of a slightly skewed historical world (in the Brittany region of France). I had a hard time at the beginning deciding if this was true historical fiction and the convent was just making up targets to kill for their own ends or if this god was truly a god in the world of this book.My biggest problem and distaste with this book was that this convent was training young girls to be murderers. When Ismae, star of the book, commits her first murder, she is not greatly bothered by the fact that she just killed someone. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd think even someone who was trained for it would have a bit of a crisis upon murdering her first person.I wondered: Is this really condoned? Will Ismae learn another way? Will she doubt her god, her convent? I sure hoped some of those questions would be raised so it was just glorying in murder. And then there was the "regional god" factor. This is a very ancient concept not much accepted by any religion today. The idea that the Egyptians had their own gods routing for them against the Assyrians' gods, and whoever had the stronger gods would win the battles. Although there were no battling gods, the main god of this book definitely favored Brittany (duchy), so he was most certainly a regional god.Anyway, several of my concerns were addressed, though I still have a lot of problems with the book. Overall, by the end, I'd have to say I like this book more than I dislike it.
    • 4/5
      GRAVE MERCY was a well-written fantasy novel that sees a young girl grow from abused peasant woman to educated and accomplished assassin. After being sold by her father to a brutal man, Ismae is rescued and sent to the convent of St. Mortain where she is enrolled as a student whose task is to learn all the ways she can serve her saint who is one of the ancient gods—the god of Death. She learns about weapons and poisons. She learns about society and seduction (though she usually ducked out to spend more time with the sister making potions during the seduction part).When she is seventeen she is chosen to perform a mission that takes her to the court of Anne of Brittany and involves her in complex plots that she wasn't trained for. She is set to spy on Gavriel Duval who is the bastard son of the previous Duke and the older half-brother and protector of the 12-year-old Duchess. Anne is struggling to keep her country from being taken over by France. She has to deal with all sorts of marriage plans including one which would see her married to one of her barons who is a crude, brutal man old enough to be her grandfather and who has already buried six previous wives. Duval is trying to find a better solution for her that will let her protect her country and find a marriage that won't be so distasteful. Ismae doesn't know what to believe. The Reverend Mother of the convent is telling her one thing but her eyes and her heart are telling her something else. Ismae needs to decide for herself and has to figure out her own relationship with St. Mortain. She has to grow up, make decisions, and make choices she can live with. Watching her figure this out and fall in love with Duval made the story very engaging. This one sat on my TBR stack for nine months because I was intimidated by the size of the book. However, even at over 500 pages, this was a quick and fascinating book to read. Fans of high fantasy will enjoy this. So will readers who want to see their main character change and grow in a realistic way.
    • 5/5
      Let's continue the Year of Bad Assery with assassin nuns. Yes, you heard me right. Assassin. Nuns. Why do I have to say more? I mean, I will, but I really can't say much more as I read this book in...um...May. You can probably tell it's not even close to May anymore. I LOVED Ismae. Clever and tough and intelligent. She's dropped into court life after living in a convent, of course good things will happen...for readers anyway. Not so much for Ismae. But she didn't let the royalty get in the way of her mission. The games of court did get to her at times, but she didn't become an air head, so props to her.The action is fantastic and easy to find. I mean...she IS an assassin after all. And R.L. LaFevers really knows how to write a story. Grave Mercy is a huge book, but I was never bored. I didn't speed through it, but I savored and enjoyed the tension and the action and, obviously, the romance. I was utterly swept away by this monster of a book.Romance, action, death, royalty, assassin nuns...really what more do you want from a book? Seriously, go pick it up and then you can anxiously wait for Dark Triumph with me except you only have to wait like 3 or 4 more months, so really. Go. Now.
    • 4/5
      Very interesting, rich setting. Wanted more of the backgrounds of some of these characters. Loved that Ismae was strong and smart, as well as confident. While I enjoyed the love story, I wonder if it took away from the story? It was sexy without being graphic, which was nice.Intense character, focused yet not so obedient that she is unable to think for herself. A bit like Graceling (a good readalike, methinks), though Graceling was more powerful.Well-written, though not a masterpiece.Recommended.
    • 5/5
      Initial Reaction: This is the kind of book I live for. Gripping, intriguing, dangerous. Beautiful. A historical novel packed to the brim with fleshed-out, fantastic characters and some of the best world-building in the genre by far.

      What I liked: First of all, I have to repeat: this is the kind of book I live for. I've always been a reader, but the books that made me truly begin to devour words were historical romances in the Tudor era. Now, I always thought they needed to be a little grittier, but for the world-building, and absolute escapism, they were perfect. While GRAVE MERCY is a very far cry from Tudor historical romances, it does offer the perfect blend of the escape of history, the plans and plots of court life, and the action and all around kick-ass-ness that I craved of its heroines.

      Ismae is one of my favorite characters of all time. She can lay a serious beat-down. I mean -- she's an assassin! By the time she left the convent of St Mortain, her father and the god of Death Himself, Ismae is a lethal weapon. She is the master of poisons and potions of all kinds. She can wield a dagger, sword, stiletto, garrote, or crossbow. She is indeed the handmaiden of death, and can sense the mark of her charge on those she is sent to kill. She also has a sort of spidey-sense for when the shit is about to hit the fan. For all of her awesomeness, she is still vulnerable and flawed. She lets her arrogance get to her, and of course she is without the grace that is needed to be a true seductress. But she gets by, and doesn't make any excuses, and of course, is not one to let a man take care of her.

      Gavrial Duval is nothing like I thought he would be. I love his tough exterior and the gruffness he uses to protect his inner teddy-bear. He is fiercely loyal to his sisters and family -- even through the deepest of betrayals. He's smart on the battlefield of war, and the battlefield of court. And of course, as I was reading it I was picturing Thor, so that helps :D

      The world building is astounding. Not just the historical aspects. But the life Ismae leads before being rescued to the convent. And especially the convent! With it's nun-assassin teachers, it's crazy abbess, and the rights and rituals of St Mortain. I love that the convent offers a solace to beaten down and nearly broken young women, and gives them the tools they need to get back up on their feet and take care of themselves. GRAVE MERCY is not your typical YA story. No. These girls do not need boys to survive.

      The best thing about this novel for me is its length. Over 500 pages long, it really gives you the time you need to know the characters, to become invested. It's so different from many first-of-a-series in that the book actually has a plot. There is character arc and story arc much like a typical YA series, but all wrapped up in one book. I love it.

      What I didn't like: I'm happy to say that this is another 5-star book to add to my arsenal. Only one down-side: the second book is as much a stand alone book as the first one, and won't be about Ismae. While Ismae's story is definitely wrapped up nice and tight, I am sad to see her go.


      Conclusion: I highly recommend GRAVE MERCY, an action packed historical novel filled with treachery, intrigue, and of course, romance.
    • 4/5
      Ismae is the child of Mortain (the god of death) and a human woman. She has been shunned her entire life until she is taken to a convent that serves Mortain by creating young assassins to do his will. Ismae has a gift that makes her immune to all poisons so spends a great deal of time making them. But after 3 years she is finally ready to go out on a mission. She is successful and on returning is sent out again as the mistress of a bastard son of the Duke of Brittany. She is supposed to be keeping an eye on him but she soon finds that he is the least of her worries.Well, this is the first audiobook I have listened to completely. I really enjoyed it. I liked the story and am interested in where this is going. I liked that it was so grounded in history and not so much fantasy as far as the actual location and history are concerned. The world building of the fantasy side is quite good and I did not have any problems with it. I have to admit that there were a couple of times I thought, "If I was reading this I might be bored right now". But I did not read it so I am not sure if that is true. As I said, I liked the story, even if I did want to shake Ismae a couple of times.
    • 5/5
      Rumored to be the daughter of Death Himself, Ismae has been feared and abused her whole life. When she is sold in marriage to yet another violent man the convent of St. Mortain takes her in. At the convent they value rather than revile her lineage and serve St. Mortain by teaching their young charges, mainly Ismae and Sybella, to carry out his work as assassins. They are trained in the art of seduction, poisons, and fighting. After three years of waiting Ismae is finally ready to take on a task for her father and the convent. She finds herself in the court of the young Duchess, trying to root out those who would betray Brittany to the French so that she may carry out St. Mortain's bidding. I knew I was really enjoying this book when I got pass the halfway point and was disappointed I was on the downward slope towards the end. The easy style, great scene setting, well paced plot and yummy romance made me want to stay in it's world for longer, whilst simultaneously being unable to put it down. I liked Ismae as a heroine a lot. She started out with a number of flaws; proud; bloodthirsty; naive; impatient; defensive - but she was also smart, kind and brave. Her flaws left her with ample opportunity to grow as a character and her development - along with that of the romantic element - was dealt with subtly and very plausible. I also liked how she never changed her opinion on things simply because someone told her to. The whole time Ismae took in what was happening and analysed it for herself, constantly questioning herself and others to ensure she was doing what was expected of her by her father, without compromising her conscience. I was happy to see Sybella show up again in the book, I absolutely love her character as well. I am anxiously awaiting the release of Dark Triumph!