PJV Quickie: I went to an all girls Catholic High School that was run by nuns. I can readily believe that they could have been assassins in hiding. This is why I have an innate fear of nuns and the nuns of ‘Grave Mercy’ were scary as Hell. And then of course, what a good story!
Title: Grave Mercy
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin #1
Publication: April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Audible.com Download
Rating:
Rating: 
Review:
The book starts off immediately with anxiety galore. Ismae has been forced into an arranged marriage that she knows will only end tragically. When her husband forces her to disrobe and views the scars that are an obvious sign of her heritage, he is both scared an enraged that he has been tricked into this marriage. Ismae just manages to escape by the assistance of an unknown force, which leads her to the convent of St. Mortain, the sisters that serve the old god, now known as St. Mortain, formerly the god of Death.
Ismae is taught the ways of an assassin and is given her first assignment that will lead her into the high courts of Brittany. Yet, the deeper she becomes embroiled in court politics and the lives of the aristocracy, the more she is confused as to each persons intentions, especially the person that was thought to be a suspect from the beginning.
‘Grave Mercy’ was a very rich novel, full of a fantastical world, court intrigue and tragic romance. I was instantly drawn in, especially with the voice of the narrator Erin Moon. I was highly pleased with this audiobook, with the characters, with the plot. The mystery and the politics of the world, while not over-the-top and drawn out, was well done and deep. Another great novel that you should sink your teeth into!
Fans of young adult fantasy should really enjoy.
Recommendations:
While the character is shown first as a 17 year old, I didn’t really view this as a young adult novel. It is labeled young adult fantasy, yet I found the elements have a more adult theme. Yet there is hardly anything inappropriate in the novel, so it is acceptable for teens. I think I’m just over thinking the classifications.
Similar Young Adult Fantasy Titles & Ratings
- Poison Study (Study #1) by Maria V. Snyder
- The Queen’s Bastard (Inheritors’ Cycle #1) by C.E. Murphy
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OMG! I’ve heard such AMAZING things about Grave Mercy!!!! I REALLY need to read it!
I’m delighted to see that it’s available as an audiobook! I’ll have to track it down via interlibrary loan and give it a listen.
I LOVED this one! It was by far my favorite of 2012 so far!
Agree this could have been labeled New Adult, I totally loved it and cannot wait for book two, This is in my top 5 YA reads for 2012 so far. Awesome review
I loved reading this book too. It was so rich with court , and loved the romance
I loved this book! I bet it was amazing on audiobook.
I loved this one, it was so hard to put down! I loved the slow burn of the romance as well. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I’ve been avoiding this one for so long, but maybe I should just go ahead and put it on my TBR because I feel like everyone has rated high.
You won’t be disappointed. I, for one, am really picky when it comes to my YA reads, and this one thoroughly impressed me!
This book is one of the most enjoyable and mature YA novels I’ve read in quite a while. You’re definitely right that it contains a darker and more mature feel than most YA pieces, though I still consider it YA due to other themes that run through the plot. There’s nothing out there that says teenagers can’t handle some darkness and maturity in their reading. In fact, that was what made it such a good YA read for me. It’s different than so many other YA novels on the bookshelves because of the mature tone, and I think it’s good that younger audiences can have that kind of material directed at them.