Grave Mercy

By Robin LaFevers

Young, beautiful and deadly.

Trained as an assassin by the god of Death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself underprepared - not only for the 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?

A dangerous romance full of intrigue, poison and finding one's path.

Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, Red Queen, and The Cruel Prince.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andersen Digital
• Release date: Jun 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781849399333

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. 

Reviews for Grave Mercy

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[goorgoahead · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews

The concept of this book was fascinating to me. I'm a huge fan of strong female characters, and so the idea of Ismae and her cohort of Assassin Nuns seemed like it was calling my name. Unfortunately, I wound up not loving the book as much as I'd hoped. It got off to a promising start, but dragged in the middle, so much that I wound up putting it aside for a while until I could push myself to continue reading. The book picks up a lot more in the last third as all of the courtly intrigue and conspiracies quickly wrap up. While reading the last chapters on the train to work one morning, I found myself so engrossed in the plot that I actually missed my stop.

There's a somewhat large cast of supporting characters to keep straight, especially once Ismae arrives at court, and it's easy to forget exactly who is suspecting of betraying this person or that. I think I would have had an easier time keeping track of details had I not gotten so distracted at the middle of the book. Ismae is a character with some depth, and she's not instantly good at everything she tries her hand at. Owing to both her own past and her training at the convent, she is distrustful of many people and mostly unaware of matters of the heart. She's easily frustrated and sometimes makes rash decisions without thinking them through, which rings true for a seventeen-year old thrust into a situation so deadly before she's really ready.

[strongpieces · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[bksgoddess · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[ishanella · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't know why it took me so long to finish this book! The story was not lacking in excitement or intrigue, yet I found myself struggling to read it; that is until I downloaded the audiobook. The story is mainly political - a lot of it based on real event in Brittany at the time - with an overlay of the fantastical.

Isame is a young, and sometimes naive character, but written in a way that's more lovable than annoying. I could understand why it took her such a long time to explore the depth of her gifts - special skills from the god of death himself - but I wished she had done some of it earlier in the narrative.

While no insta-love or love triangle (or the angst that generally follows such devices), I found the romantic spin of the story a little sudden - Duval is not a novice, and I would imagine that he would be very cautious around the young assassin, so it seemed sudden, his change in feelings. However, seeing as it was told from Isame's point of view, I'm willing to let it go.

By far my biggest hang up was Isame's seeming unconcern for her other sister (Sybella) that she bumps into now and then. I wonder why she didn't make contact or even think of Sybella more often; other than when it seemed necessary to advance the plot.

I'm most likely going to read the other two books in the series, based on two entirely different characters. I have a feeling I might like Sybella's story a lot more.

[scoutj_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[advakramer-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[shojo_a · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[leftik_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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!

[mlleehreen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ismae Rienne is a novice assassin and GRAVE MERCY is a coming of age novel, more or less. Our heroine starts out naïve and eager to please, a good little soldier, and given her profession it’s inevitable that when she falters on her path to self-discovery someone else usually ends up dead. This made me hate Ismae, at times, and I found it hard to excuse her brash arrogance or the sheer enthusiasm she had for murder. But it’s all part of her journey, and I liked the person she became by the end.

The early chapters of GRAVE MERCY are set at the convent/assassin school where Ismae learns her trade but most of the novel concerns itself with her first big job. And this big job? It is much, much too big for her.

On her first foray out from the convent – I repeat for emphasis: the CONVENT – Ismae is expected to impersonate a nobleman’s seductive mistress. If that’s not unlikely enough, she soon finds the weight of her small nation’s future resting on her shoulders. She guards Brittany’s ruler, Anne, and plays a central role in securing Anne a husband who will defend Brittany from France without usurping her power.

Ismae is so ill-equipped to take on a mission of this scope that, at first, I assumed she’d been set up to fail. But she belongs to the order of Saint Mortain, a Breton saint whose worship will not survive French rule, and her order is therefore dedicated to preserving Breton independence from France. Surely these wily assassin-nuns wouldn’t want a green girl as their only protection against total destruction?

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but it didn’t. Not really. There’s definitely some plotting afoot, which I won’t spoil, but Lafevers is less tricksy than I expected. For example, when the French envoy says, “I am here to oversee the wardship of young Anne,” the hero of our story – repeatedly described as a diplomatic wizard, full of guile and strategy – replies, “Anne is no one’s ward…You are here to guard France’s interests and care nothing for our duchess.” Which…what? That’s ham-handed barstool chatter, not subtle political sparring, but it’s par for the course. Pretty much nobody in the novel is subtle about anything, ever.

In general, GRAVE MERCY struck me as a mixed bag. I wished we’d had more time at the convent at the beginning instead of the endless saggy middle that had me cursing the novel for a while. I enjoyed Ismae’s fierceness (one of my favorite quotes: “I do not care for needlework….Unless it involves the base of the skull”) but couldn’t stand that we were expected to accept without question that Ismae skipped all of her classes in “womanly charms” and never got any grief for it, or that nobody checked her attendance before giving her an assignment depending on her mastery of said charms. So much about the world that Lafevers created is intriguing and fresh, but those little niggling discrepancies came close to spoiling the novel for me.

I’m giving GRAVE MERCY a guarded recommendation. It’s not bad, but it didn’t rock my world, either.

[prettydeadlyreviews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[kayceel_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[les121 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although it didn’t wow me, Grave Mercy is an interesting blend of fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. It’s not as mature as I thought it would be - the writing and the relationship development are both a bit awkward - but the story is still engaging and fast-paced. The world LaFevers creates is unique, the mythology compelling, and the plot entertaining. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, which will be set in the same universe but feature a different protagonist.

[breakingdownslowly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[cleoppa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[msjessie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this fictional, slightly supernatural look at a historic event (the annexation of Brittany by France in the late 15th century.) I know that a lot of people had issues from Ismae's varying characterization to a certain lack of action for a novel about a poison-immune assassin nun, but I wholeheartedly was not among them. If books were food, I would eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert without becoming tired of it. I couldn't read it fast eenough. Though it's slightly more concerned with court politics and baronial/ducal maneuvering than wielding out Mortain-sanctioned-death, Grave Mercy may not be the wild ride I anticipated before starting, but I very much appreciated the story and characters (Duval <3) brought to life in this first installment of the His Fair Assassin trilogy. The lucky fact that I have some background knowledge on the history of France/Brittany's struggles for independence also helped me understand all the convoluted political scenarios the cast must subtly overcome as Ismae works to protect herself, those she cares about and her country from those who would betray them.Grave Mercy started out perfectly for me (an assassination attempt by page 22 in the ARC version!) and never really let me down in the hundreds of pages after. There are slower parts - particularly once Ismae meets love interest/opponent/ally Gavriel Duval - but for me? I love a good intrigue and betrayal set amongst scheming courtiers; so even though the middle part is short on assassin action, I wasn't ever bored. Actually, this is a book that gave me emotional whiplash as my allegiances, theories and ideas jumped about, from character to character as the pages flipped by. While the "big mystery" and overall villain might not have been as obscure as it could've been, I appreciated the ride and fun it took for Ismae and Duval to get here. It doesn't hurt that I have a hell of a bookcrush on fictional Gaviel Duval or that I'm one of the few who also really, really loved the ending. So be warned - this is a polarizing book with a polarizing end, but I found it entirely worthwhile and unpredictable.Mortain is one of the old gods of Brittany, slowly lost as the sway of Christianity swept through Europe, and Grave Mercy set right during this time, in 1485. In Brittany, an order of nuns keeps the faith with the old god of Death, termed as a mere "Saint" before outsiders. Cast out, feared and unwanted even before birth, Ismae is a natural fit in the sanctuary. While her opinions on men go from "do not want" to "gimme some" a little tooo quickly to be entirely believable, I really enjoyed Ismae as a narrator. Her inner monologue is wry, and often her observations had a touch of humor ("I comfort myself with the knowledge that if Duval ever feels smothered by me, it will be because I am holding a pillow over his face and commending his soul to Mortain.") that lightened an otherwise intrigue-heavy and serious plot. Her voice is strong and sure, if not exactly spectacular or truly memorable. My affection lies mainly for other characters, but Ismae herself makes for a much- more-than-decent protagonist for which to root for.There are missed opportunities here, for all that I hardly noticed as I read. Looking back, without the immediate rush of, "OH THAT WAS SO GOOD!" clouding my brain, I can see the complaints about Ismae's abrupt about-face (even if I don't share in them), but the worst neglected potential is with the case of tertiary characters Sybella and Annith. Both are co-initiaties/novices with Ismae, but nothing is really done with either. They don't posses life - they just serve to move the plot along and help Ismae when it's needed. It seems fairly obvious the next book (Dark Triumph, out in 2013) could be Sybella's story and I hope it is. As the first novel leaves it, both are underdeveloped and in dire need of more authorial attention. With a historical fiction base and a supernatural flair, Grave Mercy is an impressive and heartening first novel in the His Fair Assassin series. While Ismae's story is over and done, entirely resolved in the novel (and I am truly grateful for that), I will doubtless be tuning in to see what Mortain and his handmaidens have in store as their country and Duchess continue their fight against France.Favorite quotes:"It is all we have left to us. And while it is more than I ever dared dream, it is nowhere near enough."“... and while I am Death's daughter and walk in His dark shadow, surely the darkness can give way to light sometimes.”

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[marybeth1018 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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!

[semiprecioustone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ismae is a seventeen-year-old saved from an abusive father who sold her to an abusive husband, by being taken in to service at the convent of St. Mortain the old god of death. Here she learns that she is a chosen daughter of the God and is taught the many arts of bringing death. Just as she truly begins her service of the god outside of the convents walls she is brought directly to the center of Brittany’s court surrounded by politics and intrigue. Here she realizes exactly how unprepared the convent has left her for anything but killing. As soon as I saw this book on the shelf at the book store and read it’s summery and tagline I was hooked on the concept. I could not have been more pleased this book lived up to every ounce of its promise. Ismae is my favorite kind of main character she is knowledgeable about her faults, thinks critically about the things that are happening around her, and all of the faith that she shows in the people around her is earned not just given. I love the care she has for the people around her and Robin LaFevers did an incredible job of taking a character who kills people and would have been so easy to dislike, and make her some one you want to know and you feel like you do. Everyone other character in the story also felt like a whole and complete person with there own lives and motivations. Even the characters who you see very little of or you don’t like are real people and not just flat single negative characteristics. From the very first moment of this book till the very last page I did not want to put this book down. I got in to this story from the very beginning, while the story skips three years of Ismae’s training it never really feels like there is anything missing. Robin LaFevers creates an complete world, with its own political, religious, and cultural systems. It is simply an incredible book on all levels. The writing of this book is its truly its shining glory. I have a hard time explaining the what exactly I liked about this book because I LOVED all of it. I almost never give five star reviews out of the 293 books I have rated I have given only 37 five stars (thats less then 13%) I would recommend this book to fans of: light fantasy, historical fiction, young adult fiction, magic, adventure, romance, or books in general. I truly wish I could say more about this book to impress upon you its quality.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[srearley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn't mean to do it, but I stayed up until all hours to finish, this one sucked me in!!

[renrav · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Assassin Nuns! was the tagline I keep reading for the series.

Although, both the assassin and the nun aspects were not main portions of the story. Luckily the historical part of the story was interesting and I enjoyed the ending. I understand the next two books in the series follow other girls and I think I will enjoy them more.

[erikawastaken · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

* * * really a 3.5 rating

The parts that were good, were great, but there were a lot of dips.

Full review to come.

[a.happy.booker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Assassin nuns, death's handmaidens, and a historical setting sounds like it would be a complete win for me. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling a bit "meh" about it. I mean, Ismae, the MC, is definitely one bad-ass heroine who is quick to stick a knife in someone (or crossbow bolt, or poison, or anything else really). But the political intrigue in this story was tedious and I found myself bored a few times and contemplating moving on to a different book. Ultimately I liked Grave Mercy, it held my interest enough to finish it and while the background characters were a bit thin and the plot tedious, I definitely enjoyed the main character and the slow building romance.

[amoonsiong · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Stars for me.
Will be picking up the sequel since things progressed better for me in the second half.

[poetrytoprose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is WIN ALL AROUND. Right after starting it, my immediate thought was, “This is the book I’ve been waiting for.”A premise like this one requires an amazing main character and Robin LaFevers absolutely delivered with Ismae. The reader would have to be evil to not sympathize with what she had to endure under her father’s roof and, then, the life she barely escaped with her foul husband. I wanted good things for her and, thankfully, she is taken to a convent to serve Death Himself. There, Ismae is trained in combat, poisons, and seduction to become an assassin. Awesome, right? I attended schools with nuns for most of my education and I WISH things had been this cool. But, anyway, through it all, Ismae retains her goodness and she goes on quite the character arc in Grave Mercy. Both smart and kickass, Ismae is a top quality main character.Robin LaFevers offers so much detail in her writing. Set in 15th century Brittany, she easily transported me into the time period and I am in awe of all the research she must have had to do. I must admit that I only have so much patience for political and court drama, but Robin LaFevers managed to keep me hooked through all of the twists and turns she spun in Grave Mercy.Duval is the love interest in the book and words cannot describe how much I loved his relationship with Ismae. Can you say: SWOON CITY? There was plenty of bickering and distrust in the beginning, but then came the mutual respect and friendship and I was…a goner. Look up “slow burn” in the dictionary and I’m sure you’d find “Ismae and Duval” right next to it! These two had killer chemistry and I ate it all up.A strong heroine, a developed romance, some action and magic, court intrigue, political drama…Grave Mercy has it all! If that wasn’t enough, I really became attached to some of the side characters and I cannot wait to find out more about them in the next installments. Robin LaFevers has an exciting series in her hands and I eagerly look forward to Dark Triumph and Dark Hope.

[skaohee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grave Mercy is the story of a young lamb (13/14 year old girl) who becomes a strong, independent 16/17 year old woman (A WOLF!) who is a trained assassin and carries out the will of her own Breton god (think Wanted with Angelina Jolie).Lately, every time I’ve picked up something outside my “comfort zone”, I have been blown away by how awesome it is! I’ve been more into the Contemporary sub-genre lately and don’t consider myself to be a historical fiction fan or a fantasy (urban, high, etc) fan AT ALL. The only historical fiction stories that I’ve read were The Vespertine and Born Wicked – 2 books out of the how many I’ve read in the past 2 years? EXACTLY. As for fantasy, I don’t know, I’m just not big into it – or atleast I didn’t used to be!! I am hooked now, and after reading Grave Mercy, I picked up Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore. Grave Mercy isn’t High Fantasy or anything like that but if you’re looking to whet your appetite for fantasy, it’s the way to go.If you want some action packed, swoon-worthy romantic, light fantasy and some historical fiction all rolled into one, Grave Mercy is the book for you. I absolutely loved it.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don’t know the proper name for this hybrid genre – historical fiction plus fantasy and sci fi – although this mix has been used to good effect by some excellent writers including Stephen King and Neal Stephenson, to name just two. Whatever it’s called, Grave Mercy is based on 15th Century facts, with some paranormal and fairy tale tropes thrown into the mix. The story pivots around the real Duchess Anne of Brittany, her fictional half-brother Gavriel Duval, and the fictional novitiate of the fictional Convent of St. Mortain, Ismae Rienne. St. Mortain is God of Death, and the Convent is dedicated to serving him. Ismae bears a scar on her back that identifies her as having been sired by Death himself. She is shunned by all in her village, and escapes to the Convent to be among those who will accept her. At St. Mortain, she and the other novitiates are trained to be instruments of Death, which means, as the Abbess explains to Ismae, that she will learn “more ways to kill a man than you imagined possible.” The Abbess asks Ismae to swear to obey Mortain in anything he asks of her. The catch is, the nuns in the abbey decide what it is that Mortain is asking.Ismae drinks the Koolaid: "I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in this life…”It turns out that Mortain supports the Duchess against the French [sort of by the same logic that causes rival football teams to insist that their side is backed by Jesus.] Ismae is sent to Anne’s court to follow Anne's half-brother (and chief advisor) Duval around and see if she thereby gets any insight into who is undermining the Duchess. She is also charged with the duty to slay enemies named to her by the Abbess via carrier raven. But there are so many enemies around, it’s difficult figuring out who is a traitor and who is loyal. The Chancellor of Brittany, Viscount Crunard, also advises the Abbess on his theories of who has been naughty and who has been nice, and the Abbess in turn gives Ismae the bird. (So to speak.)But a worm of doubt seeks its way into Ismae via the noble Duval. He has this exchange with Ismae:"Doesn’t it worry you, that you understand nothing of how they make their decisions? What if they make a mistake?‘A mistake?’ My cheeks grow hot at the suggestion. ‘I do not see how they can, milord, since their hand is guided by the saint Himself. Indeed, to suggest such a thing reeks of blasphemy to me.’It is not the saint I doubt, demoiselle, only the humans who interpret His wishes. In my experience, humans are all too fallible.’”You have to love Duval. Not only is he the perfect sweetheart, but he elevates the intellectual level of the novel by leaps and bounds. Indeed, the problem of separating the word of God from interpreters still plagues us to this day, as we have seen most tragically from the crisis of priestly abuse, often justified as being what God wants. [Maybe what Mortain wants….]But Duval doesn’t only cause Ismae to doubt because of his mind. She finds herself falling for him, bringing her faith to a crisis when the word from the bird orders death to Duval.Good Things:Self defense for girls! These novitiates learn all the necessary skills for fending off agressors.History! All of the plot background - from the conflict between France and Brittany to the dilemma of who the Duchess would marry, hews pretty close to the facts as we know them.Physical Perfection Gives Way to Nuance! Ismae is physically scarred; Duval is physically scarred; Duval’s friend Beast – the ugliest man Ismae has ever seen – is big-hearted, kind, and Ismae comes to see him as someone she loves like family; Duval’s friend De Lornay – Ismae loathes him at first because he is physically beautiful - seems haughty and hostile, but when Ismae finally lets down her defensiveness enough to get to know him, she finds a heart of gold. And all those bad guys? Ismae learns to see in their hearts as well, and finds that there is generally a reason for the evil they do, a reason that touches chords of sympathy in her.This means Ismae is not as one-note as her Dad, Death, but maybe he’s got nuance too, which leads us to….Bad Things:Make up your mind, Mortain! Are you the God of Death, or the God of Mercy and Love? And why are you on Brittany’s side against France anyway?A cure for poison: who knew it was sex?The flimsy excuse for Duval to get Ismae’s clothes off to help her clean up (wait: doesn’t she have all these maids-in-waiting?) and the even flimsier excuse for Ismae to get Duval’s clothes off: “just checking for poison, milord….” (I must remember that one! Yo! Joe Manganiello! I need to perform a toxicity check asap!)And, sigh, I have to add writing to the Bad Things. The writing isn’t so hot. And the nuance I talked about under Good Things? It's sadly missing in the Abbess, who could play Snow White's Evil Stepmother if she loses her job at the Convent.Evaluation: In spite of the Bad Things, I think the Good Things outweigh them, and I enjoyed this. Kind of. Yes, I’ll be back for the next volume in the series. (Ha ha, you thought it wasn’t a series!)

[diavoletto-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i liked it well enough to finish it but it wont be one of my favorites