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.