Jen's review of 'Grave Mercy' by R.L. LaFevers

Grave Mercy {His Fair Assassin #1} by R.L. LaFevers
Published date: April 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Number of pages: 560
Format: Kindle | Netgalley
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Description:  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?

In the first book to this new historical trilogy, comes a seventeen year old, Ismae. After escaping her arrange marriage she finds herself at the convent of St. Mortain, where she soon discovers the true reason they have accepted her. St. Mortain isn't any ordinary saint, he is the god of death and whom they worship. It's said that he has given special gifts to certain people in order to do his bidding, and thus the girls at the convent believe it under blind faith.

Ismae spends three years defining and sharpening up her skills, which include learning about the histories of the royals, how to seduce men, poisons and all sort of things that would be required to kill their marks.

Her final test is being able to work and yet spy on Gavriel Duval at the high court. And in doing so, the closer she becomes to him.. the more she starts to question the motives of the convent, and the discovering of her new growing feelings for him.

The romance between them was marvelous. It was something that grew over time as they continued to work together, and then when it was so built it everything exploded and there was no denying what was between them.

This book has everything you could want. It's set in history, which would be the 1400's Brittany. A historical romance to die for, a strong heroine and full of action to the punch.

I love the way, in the beginning Ismae was scared and vulnerable, and with time she grew into a strong and confident woman. She just needed that push to make her go down that line, and I bet for one, she is glad she did.

While this took be while to get into it.. I had to re-read the first part of the novel twice to grasp what was going on.. I did end up enjoying it as the story progressed.

This comes out in April. It's a must buy. What are you waiting for? Pre-order now if you think it's something that's up your alley.

Thank you to Netgalley for supplying me with this book.

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