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thepaperzombie's review against another edition
5.0
I am in love. This book was so fantastic. Ismae is seriously one of my favorite female characters. Usually a lot of authors make mistakes when they're going for that bad ass female. Somehow they manage to make it so unbelievable. I'm not sure why it's so tough to write. Women are strong by nature but we're still emotional and a lot of authors struggle with that. The results usually end in characters who can kick ass but lack emotional depth leaving the character feeling very flat.
LaFevers does not make that mistake. Ismae is bad ass. She can kill a man in so many ways but she is young and she does make mistakes and she does question. She struggles with her emotions. For all that she's an assassin, she can't turn off her feelings and that's what makes her endearing.
The romance between Ismae and Duval is very believable. Neither is immediately smitten, which always rubs me the wrong way. In fact, they both despise each other at first. You have to peel back the layers of their relationship one by one until you get to the good stuff.
The complicated political intrigue is not overly complicated and doesn't make the novel boring.
I love that Ismae's father is Death. I love that despite the horrible upbringing and her experience with men she is able to overcome that and love Duval. She doesn't let that ruin her. That to me is true strength. The ability to overcome and to be open to new things despite pain in your past.
LaFevers does not make that mistake. Ismae is bad ass. She can kill a man in so many ways but she is young and she does make mistakes and she does question. She struggles with her emotions. For all that she's an assassin, she can't turn off her feelings and that's what makes her endearing.
The romance between Ismae and Duval is very believable. Neither is immediately smitten, which always rubs me the wrong way. In fact, they both despise each other at first. You have to peel back the layers of their relationship one by one until you get to the good stuff.
The complicated political intrigue is not overly complicated and doesn't make the novel boring.
I love that Ismae's father is Death. I love that despite the horrible upbringing and her experience with men she is able to overcome that and love Duval. She doesn't let that ruin her. That to me is true strength. The ability to overcome and to be open to new things despite pain in your past.
laurverdi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
raemcdill's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
A really good historical assassin book with a side of romance and fantasy.
caitybell's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book back when it was originally published in 2012, but never finished it. I don't remember the exact reasons why, but after giving it a go some eight years later, I have a feeling it was because of the slow start. True, the beginning of this historical fiction is slow, I am glad I gave it another shot. Especially with LaFevers revisiting her dark and brutal world once again with a new duology.
The first book in the His Fair Assassins trilogy follows seventeen year old Ismae, who, after escaping an abusive arranged marriage, finds safety at a convent that worships the old gods, particularly the god of death himself. It is there that Ismae learns that this very god is her true father and he has bestowed upon her gifts to help her do his earthly bidding. Ismae learns the truth behind the convent, it is a home of assassins and she is to be trained as well. Soon, Ismae is pulled into a deadly plot that not only threatens her kingdom but also everything she's been taught to know of her true father's desires for her.
Grave Mercy is superbly written with sharp and sensual prose full of court intrigue, deadly and unapologetic women, brutal twists and turns, and a subtly bittersweet romance. Grave Mercy might be Historical Fiction, but it bordered on Fantasy with its rich world building and creative pantheon of gods reminiscent of old Europe. If Jay Kristoff and Phillipa Gregory decided to write a book together, this would be it. Robin LaFevers is in a class of her own and I can not wait to continue on with the series to see what ultimately comes of this world and the convent's maidens of death.
The first book in the His Fair Assassins trilogy follows seventeen year old Ismae, who, after escaping an abusive arranged marriage, finds safety at a convent that worships the old gods, particularly the god of death himself. It is there that Ismae learns that this very god is her true father and he has bestowed upon her gifts to help her do his earthly bidding. Ismae learns the truth behind the convent, it is a home of assassins and she is to be trained as well. Soon, Ismae is pulled into a deadly plot that not only threatens her kingdom but also everything she's been taught to know of her true father's desires for her.
Grave Mercy is superbly written with sharp and sensual prose full of court intrigue, deadly and unapologetic women, brutal twists and turns, and a subtly bittersweet romance. Grave Mercy might be Historical Fiction, but it bordered on Fantasy with its rich world building and creative pantheon of gods reminiscent of old Europe. If Jay Kristoff and Phillipa Gregory decided to write a book together, this would be it. Robin LaFevers is in a class of her own and I can not wait to continue on with the series to see what ultimately comes of this world and the convent's maidens of death.
saschabookishowl's review against another edition
5.0
I need some time to collect my feelings... but oh man, I loved this book <3
mars_aria's review against another edition
1.0
I tried reading this, but I couldn't hold out. I only managed to get three chapters into this book. The beginning definitely captured my attention, but..... I just can't do it. I was gonna try to at least get up to the part where she meets the guy, but I'm bored. Maybe I'll try to pick up this book again and finish from where I've started, but for right now I feel like I can be reading something far more interesting than assassin nuns who hate men.
bea_g_i's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
foraging_pages's review against another edition
4.0
I’m very glad I read this novel after having my eye on it for years. It always sounded so intriguing - handmaidens of death. I enjoy when novels based on historical events are well researched and truthful as is the case of Grave Mercy. The conflict between France and Brittany, the duchy, the wars and heroes, and the court politics alike. All of those elements paired with the old gods and those who serve them made for a solid plot line.
At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I really understood Ismae. We learned of her past, but I wasn’t connected to her. I hadn’t seen enough of her personality before we were in the middle of the conflict. That problem fixed itself when her gifts became more apparent. I love Duval, though. He was easy to love as a character.
At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I really understood Ismae. We learned of her past, but I wasn’t connected to her. I hadn’t seen enough of her personality before we were in the middle of the conflict. That problem fixed itself when her gifts became more apparent. I love Duval, though. He was easy to love as a character.
godfrina's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Honesty first - I skim read the last 30% or so.
This book took for.ev.er. to finish.
I can't put my finger on why, but it felt like dragging dead weight between other reads. Should've probably dnf'd but I just find that hard to do (stupid really).
The premise is so promising, girl from desperate backgrounds gets trained as a godly assassin in a secret convent and sent out to missions, meeting political players (eyebrow wiggle), traitors and rulers along the way.
It sounds badass but it felt like a tame afternoon tea party with a bit of scheming in between. I guess, I just wanted more. More strong Ismae, that doesn't need leading on from one clue to the next plot point. For me, the romance didn't really gel that much either. I do wonder if I will ever read the follow ups in the series.
This book took for.ev.er. to finish.
I can't put my finger on why, but it felt like dragging dead weight between other reads. Should've probably dnf'd but I just find that hard to do (stupid really).
The premise is so promising, girl from desperate backgrounds gets trained as a godly assassin in a secret convent and sent out to missions, meeting political players (eyebrow wiggle), traitors and rulers along the way.
It sounds badass but it felt like a tame afternoon tea party with a bit of scheming in between. I guess, I just wanted more. More strong Ismae, that doesn't need leading on from one clue to the next plot point. For me, the romance didn't really gel that much either. I do wonder if I will ever read the follow ups in the series.