Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 549
Source: Received for review
Rating: 
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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? – Goodreads
Review:
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.
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About Stephanie
My kind of book.
It really offers something for everyone. I hope you pick it up and enjoy it! :)
I really liked this one a lot, too, so I’m glad you love it so much. :) Amazing review, my dear – it made me want to go back and read GRAVE MERCY again. Can’t wait for the second & third book. :)
Haha, writing this review made me want to go back and read it again, too! Especially those bedroom scenes with Ismae and Duval. ;)
I’d almost forgotten how much I adored this book, but then I read your review and I REMEMBER NOW. So awesome! Seriously, it did have the perfect mix of everything and it actually managed to make me interested in POLITICAL stuff. A+++. And yes, the characters <3.
You are making me impatient. I am almost at the top of my library’s hold list, but now I want to read it NOW.
Oh hell… oh crap… oh need… needneedneedneeed!!! This sounds like EVERYTHING I was hoping for! Although knowing you attended schools with nuns, once I read this I’ve no doubt I’ll believe you’re really a secret assassin :P
Ismae sounds amazing and just so… well, BADASS. But I love that she still has heart, is intelligent and seems like a relatable character. And yeah, I love me some romance, so the way you’re describing Ismae and Duval has me DROOLING all over my keyboard!
Gah, AMAZING review! I cannot effing wait to read this!
I actually can’t believe you haven’t read this yet…THIS IS TOTALLY YOUR THING. Now I’ll anxiously look forward to you picking it up and writing a fab review for it.
If I ever returned to a religious school, I would totally demand assassin education, hehe.
I am so not a period fiction girl but this review has me intrigued. This may have to find a place on my To Read list!
Awesome all around! Everyone I know has loved this book and there’s no surprise why. I know I loved it for pretty much the exact same reason that you named. I was surprised I wasn’t more bored with the political stuff too – how the author managed to keep me entertained through all that is a mystery for sure. I’m a little bummed that we won’t be continuing with Ismae and Duval’s story because I became so attached to them, but I am also excited to see Sybella’s side of the story… along with a certain character that may have been captured at the end of Grave Mercy!