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bbrassfield's review against another edition
4.0
Quite enjoyable! The YA section of my local library does great displays and I browse the books on display frequently, which is how I came across Grave Mercy. The book jacket speaks of nun's trained as assassin's who also happened to be sired by Death. How could I not read this? Nicely paced from start to finish, Grave Mercy tells the story of Ismae, a young girl who also happens to be immune to poisons. She trains with the only other nun at the convent immune to them and together they make the bulk of the poisons used by the assassins. Three years into her training Ismae is sent on a mission that puts her right in the middle of Brittany's most dangerous political situation, involving a plot by those closest to the Queen regent and of course, the ever-meddling French (haha). Ismae poses as the companion to Gavriel Duval, brother of Queen-to-be Anne. Needless to say Ismae uncovers a dastardly plot hatched at the feet of one of Anne's most trusted advisors and this causes no shortage of drama as she races to undo the damage and keep Anne, and indeed all of Brittany, safe.
Grave Mercy is enjoyable in its depiction of Death as Saint Mortain and I like the way the author builds out the relationship the sisters of the convent have with their Saint and the work they undertake on his behalf. Interesting, entertaining material.
Grave Mercy is enjoyable in its depiction of Death as Saint Mortain and I like the way the author builds out the relationship the sisters of the convent have with their Saint and the work they undertake on his behalf. Interesting, entertaining material.
secretmagic's review against another edition
5.0
My love-hate relationship with fantasy books strikes again, but this time it was definitely in the LOVE category. Despite the fantastic things I'd heard about 'Grave Mercy', I resisted reading it for months. I think I convinced myself it'd be like the last fantasy-assassin book I read, which fell a little flat for me. But 'Grave Mercy' hit all the right marks. If I could possibly rate it higher than 5 stars, I would.
Ismae Rienne is but a child when she is sold to a local pig farmer as his wife, and becomes subject to her husband's will. This is, until he realises on their wedding night that she is marked by the Saint of Death - Mortain. Fleeing his hatred, she comes to the convent of St. Mortain and here learns her true destiny: that she will deliver Death's final blow to traitors he wishes to see removed from the world. I loved Ismae and her heritage. There is nothing I love more than a YA heroine who fights through her problems and triumphs over them. What I enjoyed even more are her skills. She learns to be active, she doesn't hide behind people and doesn't forget that she has the strength to dispose of her enemies. She fights back. I can't tell you how happy this made me. We hear Ismae is tough and unafraid to kill and she shows she's just that. Ismae did not disappoint. I hate when a character is said to be tough and winds up being a wuss.
We are thrown into the past with 'Grave Mercy', visiting the late 1400's and a time of swords, horses, and a struggle to hold onto the duchy of Brittany on the French border. I loved the setting for this book. The fact that there's this tension to hold onto a land that we now consider a part of France, to see the horrors that may have occurred while Anne (the heiress of the duchy) was a young teen trying to take charge of her lands. The political struggle within the duchy and between the rest of France, and the attempts to marry Anne off to the best, wealthiest or strongest suitor, becomes a big part of the plot. What I love is how real the world seemed. I know 'Grave Mercy' is a work of fiction; but the truth and accuracies that Robin LaFevers follows makes the story more addictive.
The interesting side of this realm is that of the Saints. The world is slowly turning to Christianity, but the old gods have remained as Saints to worship for good health, love, strength in battle and death (and more). But it's not just prayers that are whispered - but power itself. Ismae is granted special skills and gifts through her connection to St. Mortain. She can see the mark of death on her victims and the subjects of Brittany. More than just these marks, Ismae shows she has many powerful skills that help separate the story from a retelling of fact, into one of fiction. But it's this magical quality that made me love the book even more than I already did. I love a little spark of magic if I can get my hands on it.
I always say it's not important, but I really do love a romance story. Not the main focus of 'Grave Mercy' but there was a perfect romance plot. Gavriel Duval, a noble at court and proctor of the duchess Anne, turns up early in the piece to cause trouble for Ismae and her life's purpose. But he wraps her up in the struggle to protect Anne. Despite Duval's gruff personality at the start, it was obvious he was going to soften as the book went on - and soften Ismae's thoughts and feelings towards him. The connection that grows between them is incredibly touching and insanely emotional. I was reaching for the tissues at the end of the novel.
My only issue with the book is that Ismae and Duval will not be the main focus of the next one. The POV is going to change. But at the same time, I can't wait for the sequel, as we're teased with the characters and situations we may face at the end. I know it's going to be just as powerful, exciting and adventurous as 'Grave Mercy'.
I can definitely see myself rereading this book over and over again.
5/5 stars
Ismae Rienne is but a child when she is sold to a local pig farmer as his wife, and becomes subject to her husband's will. This is, until he realises on their wedding night that she is marked by the Saint of Death - Mortain. Fleeing his hatred, she comes to the convent of St. Mortain and here learns her true destiny: that she will deliver Death's final blow to traitors he wishes to see removed from the world. I loved Ismae and her heritage. There is nothing I love more than a YA heroine who fights through her problems and triumphs over them. What I enjoyed even more are her skills. She learns to be active, she doesn't hide behind people and doesn't forget that she has the strength to dispose of her enemies. She fights back. I can't tell you how happy this made me. We hear Ismae is tough and unafraid to kill and she shows she's just that. Ismae did not disappoint. I hate when a character is said to be tough and winds up being a wuss.
We are thrown into the past with 'Grave Mercy', visiting the late 1400's and a time of swords, horses, and a struggle to hold onto the duchy of Brittany on the French border. I loved the setting for this book. The fact that there's this tension to hold onto a land that we now consider a part of France, to see the horrors that may have occurred while Anne (the heiress of the duchy) was a young teen trying to take charge of her lands. The political struggle within the duchy and between the rest of France, and the attempts to marry Anne off to the best, wealthiest or strongest suitor, becomes a big part of the plot. What I love is how real the world seemed. I know 'Grave Mercy' is a work of fiction; but the truth and accuracies that Robin LaFevers follows makes the story more addictive.
The interesting side of this realm is that of the Saints. The world is slowly turning to Christianity, but the old gods have remained as Saints to worship for good health, love, strength in battle and death (and more). But it's not just prayers that are whispered - but power itself. Ismae is granted special skills and gifts through her connection to St. Mortain. She can see the mark of death on her victims and the subjects of Brittany. More than just these marks, Ismae shows she has many powerful skills that help separate the story from a retelling of fact, into one of fiction. But it's this magical quality that made me love the book even more than I already did. I love a little spark of magic if I can get my hands on it.
I always say it's not important, but I really do love a romance story. Not the main focus of 'Grave Mercy' but there was a perfect romance plot. Gavriel Duval, a noble at court and proctor of the duchess Anne, turns up early in the piece to cause trouble for Ismae and her life's purpose. But he wraps her up in the struggle to protect Anne. Despite Duval's gruff personality at the start, it was obvious he was going to soften as the book went on - and soften Ismae's thoughts and feelings towards him. The connection that grows between them is incredibly touching and insanely emotional. I was reaching for the tissues at the end of the novel.
My only issue with the book is that Ismae and Duval will not be the main focus of the next one. The POV is going to change. But at the same time, I can't wait for the sequel, as we're teased with the characters and situations we may face at the end. I know it's going to be just as powerful, exciting and adventurous as 'Grave Mercy'.
I can definitely see myself rereading this book over and over again.
5/5 stars
kalkats1's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad but it felt a bit like the shell of a book, there were times I wanted more out of it and felt that the author could have provided more. Still a secret cult of Female Assassins in medieval Brittany, my kind of book, it also made me think of a few ideas myself.
ritritritters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
keimre734's review against another edition
5.0
This book was awesome! I can't wait to get started on the next book!
emily_gaynier's review against another edition
2.0
So almost at the end of this book the author made a choice for her world and characters that I do not agree with. It actually caused this nearly five star book to become a three star and it was maybe a page long scene.
Other then that one scene I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the romance was believable and I identified with Ismae when those feelings started appearing because I swear I did the same when I was falling for my bf. It was slow and they kind of fell into it and I really enjoyed that.
***Spoilers***
I think I might be the only one who is not cool with the sex scene in this book. I've read through a bunch of reviews and some people have disliked this book because of the sex, but not because of how it was handled.
Ismae sleeps with a dying from poison Duval because her magic lady part will cure him. It's clear that she loves him and he loves her, but she rushes to him to save his life because she knows this will cure him. But that makes the consent of this book fuzzy. Yes she sleeps with him because she wants to, but it's not because she necessarily wants to have sex. If LaFevers had the scene a little different this wouldn't bother me so much. If Ismae and Duval wanted to have sex because it was their only chance because he was dying and then they realized it cured him, the lines of consent and want would not be so blurry.
But it was Ismae's magic vagina that made her give it up
Other then that one scene I really enjoyed this book. I felt like the romance was believable and I identified with Ismae when those feelings started appearing because I swear I did the same when I was falling for my bf. It was slow and they kind of fell into it and I really enjoyed that.
***Spoilers***
I think I might be the only one who is not cool with the sex scene in this book. I've read through a bunch of reviews and some people have disliked this book because of the sex, but not because of how it was handled.
Ismae sleeps with a dying from poison Duval because her magic lady part will cure him. It's clear that she loves him and he loves her, but she rushes to him to save his life because she knows this will cure him. But that makes the consent of this book fuzzy. Yes she sleeps with him because she wants to, but it's not because she necessarily wants to have sex. If LaFevers had the scene a little different this wouldn't bother me so much. If Ismae and Duval wanted to have sex because it was their only chance because he was dying and then they realized it cured him, the lines of consent and want would not be so blurry.
But it was Ismae's magic vagina that made her give it up
laurenbookishtwins's review against another edition
4.0
“When one consorts with assassins, one must expect to dance along the edge of a knife once or twice.”
I really enjoyed this, but I can understand why some find it hard to get in to as there is a lot of politics, but that was one of the reasons why I really enjoyed it and loved the fact that that is what the plot revolved around - Anne becoming the Duchess and all the political and physical dangers she had to overcome with the help of Duval and Ismae.
The characters were fantastic also, and I found myself really caring for Ismae. She was a strong heroine, smart but maybe slightly gullible, but they were her family. I really enjoyed her character development also as you saw her begin to question all she had been taught. I really liked the development between Ismae and Duval that went from distrust to love.
A must-read for fantasy and historical fiction lovers.
I really enjoyed this, but I can understand why some find it hard to get in to as there is a lot of politics, but that was one of the reasons why I really enjoyed it and loved the fact that that is what the plot revolved around - Anne becoming the Duchess and all the political and physical dangers she had to overcome with the help of Duval and Ismae.
The characters were fantastic also, and I found myself really caring for Ismae. She was a strong heroine, smart but maybe slightly gullible, but they were her family. I really enjoyed her character development also as you saw her begin to question all she had been taught. I really liked the development between Ismae and Duval that went from distrust to love.
A must-read for fantasy and historical fiction lovers.
megsbookishtwins's review against another edition
5.0
This was a pleasant surprise as I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. I loved the concept of the saints and the convent and these women serving St. Mortain, and I found the concept very original and intriguing. I also enjoyed the political aspect of this book, however, I could see how this may bore a lot of people. However, being someone who enjoys politics I did enjoy it. Especially since many young adult books don't have a plot involving so much politics and it was actually very refreshing.
The character were also very likeable and I felt like their was a large amount of character development. Ismae was a character which I felt experienced the most character development as she went from feeling vulnerable as she was sold from her father to a new husband, and then she found strength in the convent and became independent and brave. In the beginning, when Ismae first went on her assignments I felt like she was a bit naive and blindly followed orders given my the Convent and St. Mortain, which shows a lot of loyalty. Then throughout the book I enjoyed the development of her character in her questioning Mortain and, most importantly the Convent, and she eventually decided which path she wanted to take herself. I also enjoyed Duval, and again I loved the development and depth of his character. I would have liked to see more of other characters and I would have liked to have seen more depth to these characters. However, I did enjoy the book despite this. The main this I loved about the characters was the amount of loyalty shown towards each other.
The romance in this book was lovely. It wasn't too rushed and I really enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Duval and Ismae.
The writing was beautiful in this book and it flowed nicely, with a lovely pace. Its a must read and I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy Historical Fiction, with some politics, Romance and Fantasy.
The character were also very likeable and I felt like their was a large amount of character development. Ismae was a character which I felt experienced the most character development as she went from feeling vulnerable as she was sold from her father to a new husband, and then she found strength in the convent and became independent and brave. In the beginning, when Ismae first went on her assignments I felt like she was a bit naive and blindly followed orders given my the Convent and St. Mortain, which shows a lot of loyalty. Then throughout the book I enjoyed the development of her character in her questioning Mortain and, most importantly the Convent, and she eventually decided which path she wanted to take herself. I also enjoyed Duval, and again I loved the development and depth of his character. I would have liked to see more of other characters and I would have liked to have seen more depth to these characters. However, I did enjoy the book despite this. The main this I loved about the characters was the amount of loyalty shown towards each other.
The romance in this book was lovely. It wasn't too rushed and I really enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Duval and Ismae.
The writing was beautiful in this book and it flowed nicely, with a lovely pace. Its a must read and I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy Historical Fiction, with some politics, Romance and Fantasy.