Review: Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: 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 Thoughts: Where to begin?? Typically I say that I don’t care for Historical Fiction and yet I read it and enjoy it! What is up with that? This one seems to take place around the 16th Century, in an area that is now France.

The story sucks you in on Ismae’s wedding night and you are hooked by the time she is done training as an assassin. From there the story is an adventure, mystery, thriller, romance…what more could you want? A few tears were even shed (Nocturne). LaFever renders a beautiful country, a vivid Court, and very intriguing characters, (love ya Beast!). I couldn’t put the book down, and may have even been caught reading when I should have been doing laundry and making dinner (sorry guys!).

Ismae was a cool chick! Her first 17 years of life were HELL! Because of that hell she excels at her assassin training. But during her final test before taking her vows she learns and grows a great deal. She learns not everything is black and white as the convent has taught her. She starts to think for herself rather than blindly obey. And it’s in her need to question and understand that she is able to discover who the true “bad guy” is.

I loved Duval’s sense of family. He was a man of principles and morals. His beloved father tasked him with a job to protect his younger sisters and he did it without question. He, alone, is the only person intent on getting what is right for Anne rather than what is right for the Kingdom. That’s a man of worth in my book.

The story sucks you in on Ismae’s wedding night and you are hooked by the time she is done training as an assassin. From there the story is an adventure, mystery, thriller, romance…what more could you want? LaFever renders a beautiful country, a vivid Court, and very intriguing characters. Beast was a favorite!

Apparently this will be the start of a series, but the galley I read indicated that rather than the Ismae/Duval story continuing, that the next book would be about one of Ismae’s co-initiate from the convent of St. Mortaine. Like I said, this type of book, historical fiction, is something I would normally shy away from, I will be definitely be looking for the next one in this series!




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