France wants to invade, England won’t help, and the Duchess has been promised to multiple suitors, a few of whom would be nightmarish husbands. But it seems as if there are enemies around every corner, even among friends and trusted advisors. The Duchess is wise beyond her short years however, and should be taken seriously. At the young age of twelve, she is of course looked upon as a child, and while people obey her orders because of her station, they do not keep from plotting against her and trying to take advantage of her. Duchess Anne, for all her rank and noble blood, has very little power. Sure, Ismae’s journey to girl power assassin-hood is spectacular and empowering. So she ends up at the convent dedicated to Mortain, the god of Death, to become an assassin. I immediately wanted a better life for her I wanted to see her grow into a capable woman who could make her own way in life. I immediately knew I wanted to read the rest of the book because I wanted revenge and rebirth for Ismae.
The first scene of Grave Mercy slaps you across the face. During which I’m sure I looked like this: I thought, “well the cover is cool, and who doesn’t want to read about assassin nuns?” So I read the first chapter. The first time I picked up Grave Mercy, I was in Barnes and Noble. Indeed, Ismae’s conflicted character was very real to me, and her distrust of pretty much every other character in the book kept things interesting. It is elegantly written in Ismae’s voice, exploring the assassin’s struggle with knowing right and wrong and wading through the complexities of court life.
Grave Mercy is a fascinating mixture of romance, political intrigue, and ethics. I have only read a few historical dramas/romances. Here is another genre I would really like to read more of. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? 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. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts-and a violent destiny. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on April 3, 2012
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