Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ismae is an outcast. She has been raised believing her mother went to the herb witch to have her aborted and that she lives with the resulting scar. Escaping a horrible marriage thanks to the very herb witch who tried to end her life, she is delivered to a convent that serves Saint Mortain (the Saint of Death) and is trained in all ways of killing. On every mission she is sent, she is to look for the marque (a dark smudge on the body of her victim) and then dispatch with that person. She is immune to poison, which makes it her most trusted weapon. While killing her second victim she meets Duval, a handsome man who makes her question the reasoning behind her kills (up to this point, the Abbess gives her directions as to who she is to kill). For her second victim had not the past that the Abbess was certain that he had. Sent by the Abbess to attend Duval at the Duchess’ court in Brittany, she is told to trust few yet always obey the commands of the Abbess and Chancellor Crunard (a liaison with the convent and chancellor to the Duchess). Through the course of the story, Ismae finds that she should not always go blindly off of the orders of others, and that she should trust herself. As intrigue closes in on the Duchess’ court, will Ismae be able to determine who she can trust and who will it be too late for?

Great book! The characters and story is so rich, I felt myself pulled in from the very first page. Cannot wait for the 2nd book (and I hope there will be a 3rd). Also, a great author website to go along with it that delves into the "His Fair Assassin" world even deeper. http://www.robinlafevers.com/


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Another good read....

      Where do I even start?  This book was amazing!  Heather Dixon, has done an amazing story of retelling the fairytale of the twelve dancing princesses.  The story opens with Azalea, the oldest of the princesses and all of them named for flowers/plants, getting ready for her first ball.  Her mother has not been well, so she will serve as hostess.  Her mother calls her to her room so that she can visit with her, which leaves Azalea even more worried about her pregnant mother.  She tells the king, her father, about her concerns.  During the evening and the ball, her mother passes away, leaving Azalea in charge of all of her sisters, including newborn Lily. The castle is forced into mourning, which for the girls means no dancing.  Dancing is what they loved to do most with mother and they feel they have lost her more than ever.  The king goes off to war leaving the girls alone.

      Azalea continues to find ways to defy the mourning rules and her father, whom the girls feel does not even care that they are there.  Led to a secret and magical area of the palace, the girls meet Mr. Keeper, who earns the attraction of Azalea.  Is he as perfect as he seems?  Is the place as wonderful as what it seems?  And then there is Captain Bradford, who would make a perfect king for the country.  But will he make her a perfect husband?  Who will she choose, or rather who will choose her?  And will any of them survive the darkness that overtakes the palace?  

      This is a wonderful story that you can get lost in.  I giggled, I cried, I mourned with the princesses.  This is a wonderful, magical read that you should race right out and get!

Until next time & happy reading!

Tammy Jo