Robin LaFevers - Grave Mercy

Title : Grave Mercy
Series : His Fair Assassin # 1
Release date : April 2, 2012
Publisher : Houghton Miffin Books for Children
Genre : Urban Fantasy / Historical Romance

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?

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is one hell of a book. The moment I read the book description I knew I had to read it and it didn’t disappoint me. It’s a mix of Urban Fantasy with Medieval Fiction all mixed in a fabulous storyline.

Ismae has been unwanted since birth and felt that too during her childhood. At the age of 14 she has the chance to join the St. Mortain Convent and she accept. In the convent she’s trained to be an assassin for the Saint of Death. During her first big assignment three years later, she meets a young man who will change her life forever.

From the moment I started this book I couldn’t put it down. Normally I don’t read many book of the medieval genre, but for some reason this novel called to me and I had to read it. Miss LaFevers has created an amazing world where young women are trained to act as assassin for the Saint of Death. I totally loved it, they way this author writes about the world, her strong heroine and the historical highlights involving Anne, the Duchess of Brittany and the complots against her.

Ismae is a fabulous strong leading character, her life has been hard and the decisions she makes are something hard, but the further you are in the book; the more understanding you will get for her actions.

Robin LaFevers has written one hell of a novel and I’m definitely a fan and going to keep an eye on her future books. I really hope she will continue writing this series, cause I have two more lady assassins I would like to read about.

Toni V. Sweeney - Wizard's Wife

Title : Wizard’s Wife
Release date : January 15, 2011
Publisher : Class Act Books
Genre : Contemporary / Fantasy Romance


Wizard’s Wife by Toni V. Sweeney is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I liked it. It’s a book full of great characters, a good storyline, and lots of magic and very easy to read.

Megan and David are the main characters and so perfect for each other. But life doesn’t always go how it should be; they are just married and have decided to wait with having children. Megan isn’t too thrilled about that at first, but respect her new husband wishes. Then she discovers that she is pregnant and fears David’s reaction, but she knows she has to tell him. But telling David isn’t the biggest surprise of the day, it appears David has a much greater secret that he needs to share with her. He isn’t exactly human and everything around them is under some glamour spell.

What I loved about Megan and David is their personalities; they are so forgiving towards each other. They both have a secret to share with the other, but are afraid to tell and maybe ruin their relationship. But the moment the secrets are out, it definitely clears the tension between them and they can look to the future from that point.

Ossian and his twin-sister Brigid are David’s servants from the feary world and very protective of Megan and her unborn child. Exeter Dubhtina is David sworn enemy and out to destroy David’s family and their kingdom. The moment Megan steps into the feary world Exeter knows she is the tool to get what he wants. But Megan’s willpower to protect her unborn child and the man she loves is more than Exeter can handle.

Ms. Sweeney has definitely written a great book and left open the possibilities for another book in this storyline. For some reason you can sense that this story hasn’t been told completely, David has one more secret to share with Megan and the future of the is therefore uncertain. I really hope she will write another novel with these characters.

Icy Snow Blackstone - Runaway Brother

Title : Runaway Brother
Release date : September 15, 2011
Publisher : Class Act Books
Genre : Contemporary Romance

At the age of twenty-two, newly-graduated Nicolo Liguori is forced by his three brothers to become care-giver for his father, who suffered multiple strokes. For the next ten years, Nick gives up his own ambitions , working during the day in the family jewelry business in Vanderhoek, New York, and returning to the Liguori mansion every night, to be at his father’s beck-and-call. Then Papa dies and Nick is free…or is he? Carlo, Marco, and Pietro expect him to continue life as usual, but Nick has other ideas. Secretly buying a motorcycle, he starts to work one day and… disappears.

Nick gets as far as the southern coast of Georgia before an accident disables his bike. Stranded, with no idea of the South except what he’s seen on TV, Nick isn’t certain what kind of reception he’s going to get. Then, a pretty Southern miss and a white tank disguised as a temperamental horse named Shazam change his life as they and the citizens of Oceano teach a runaway Yankee about life and love in a small Georgia town

Runaway Brother by Icy Snow Blackstone is a story about one brother, who cannot take the pressure of his older brothers and their family business and decides to run.

Nicolo “Nick” Liguori has been taking care of his father for years, giving up his own personal life because his older brothers expected it from him. Now his father is gone and Nick is planning is escape from his brothers and their business. So one day he just packs a little bag, jump on his motor and left. But he knows his brothers and wants to explore the world for as long as he can.

On his trip to the South he meets Sydney after his accident with his motor and her horse. Sydney is a nice southern woman; who takes care of her grandfather and their ranch. The attraction between Nick and Sydney is there from the start, but Nick keeps his distant when she hires him to work on the ranch. But they cannot resist each other and Sydney teaches him to enjoy life and look forward.

This novel has a great storyline, but for some reason I’m missing something. I think it has something to do with the lack of information of Nick’s past, it’s only mention briefly during the book, but I would have loved to read more how his life really was living with his father; his really feelings and thoughts. I also would have loved to read more scenes where Nick confronts his older brothers and really tells them what taking care of his father really did to him. But it was a brief scene at the end, so not really satisfying for me.

Overall this book was good and entertaining, but I have to be honest that I’m not really sure if I will try another contemporary novel by this author. I know she writes fantastic fantasy novel under her pen name Toni V. Sweeney, so I think I will stick to them.