Grave Mercy
(His Fair Assassin 1)
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
Pre-Order: Amazon ♥ B&N ♥ TBD
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?
R.L. Lafever's takes a leap into YA fiction with a novel filled with rich historical detail, political machinations, action, romance, and the fantasy of poison making to rival Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. Grave Mercy is sure to attract readers from all genres!
It all starts in Brittany, 1485. After a life of mistreatment at the hands of her father and an arranged marriage to the worst possible man at her village, Ismae finds solace among the nun's of the convent of St. Mortain. She is, after all, said to have been sired by the god of death himself. In that place she trains as a handmaiden of Death, an assassin to carry out her god's wishes. Soon enough Ismae finds herself right in the middle of court, where treason and deceit are making it hard for Anne to be crowned Duchess. Ismae is about to face the hardest decisions she'll ever make, and they all balance on the question of who can she really trust?
Ismae is one tough lady. She's thrown into this situation where she is clearly out of her depth, yet she deals and slowly learns to tread carefully the ways of the court. Of course, she has help in this, even if unwanted. The only man who could be any kind of match to Ismae had to be someone who could match her in strength, wit, and deadly intent. He is Gavriel Duval, intense, angry or annoyed half the time, and with impeccable manners that only serve to unbalance Ismae. Oh, and he suspect number one on her list! The chemistry between these two flowers beautifully into love amid deceit, and Ismae's own personal demons.
R.L. Lafevers weaves mythology, history, and fantasy into the incredible world of Grave Mercy in a way that left me completely enthralled. I mean, assassin nuns, the old Britton gods, and courtly intrigue! What more can I ask for? Definitely book two, because reading that last snipped had me jumping up and down and cheering!
People of the Blogoverse, you MUST get this book!
Coming out April 3, 2012!
*I received this book via Netgalley from the publisher*
Favorite Quotes:
~His Fair Assassin~
"What is my fair assassin so afraid of? I wonder."
"I'm not afraid."
Duval tilts his head to the side. "No?" He studies me along moment, then rises out of his chair. I hold my breath as he crosses to my bed. "Are you afraid I will draw closer, perhaps?" His voice is pitched low, little more than a purr.
My breath catches in my throat, trapped by something I long to call fear but that doesn't feel like fear at all. Every inch of my skin is thrillingly, painfully aware of the soft linens and bedcovers between us. They are thicker than any gown I have ever worn, and yet I feel unbearably exposed.
~Handmaiden of Death~
He does not start guiltily, as he should, but frowns in annoyance. "Who are you?"
I slip my hand through the slit of my overskirt, and my fingers close around the hard wood of the crossbow tiller.
"Vengance," I say softly.
His eyes widen slightly at my words, then he grows alarmed as I draw the crossbow from its hiding place. Within the space of a single heartbeat, I cock the bow, fit the quarrel into the string, and level it at his head, aiming directly for the marque.
~Messages by Crow~
"Have you received no orders from the convent?" he asks.
"No! Why?"
"Perhaps your crow is not working properly," he mutters.
