Publisher:Houghton Mifflin HarcourtReading Level: Young adultHardcover: 549 pages
Series: His Fair Assassin #1
Summary
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? -Quoted from Goodreads
There are infinitely many splendid books in the world and it makes me sad to think that one can go their whole life without reading some of these great books. This is one of those amazing books I would have regreted not reading. It just so happens that Grave Mercy is about NINJA NUNS :D how could one not love a book about bad-ass-ninja-assassins?
The main girl, Ismae Rienne, is such a strong character! In her young life, Ismae has had to deal with things that normal people such as ourselves would not have to put up with. Not only does she have to suffer through the verbal, and at times physical assaults from the untrusting villagers but her father sees to it that Ismae does not get an ounce of happiness at home either. Her father, the person that should love her most, is a vile excuse for a human being and takes great joy in seeing Ismae suffer. In the begining of this novel when Ismae isn't physically strong, she is strong-willed and strong-spirited. Even though her life is a living hell, she keeps moving forward hoping that things will be better later on, and thanks to the help of the village herbwitch Ismae finds herself at the convent, where things are significantly much more pleasant. Another thing that I like about Ismae is that she is not easily swayed, she isn't like one of those girls that would do anything and everything that a gorgeous boy asked of her. No matter how stunning Ismae thinks Duval looks she always tries to do the right thing.
Robin Lafevers has a poetic writing style, and some how keeps the political manuvering, and war tacticts aspect of this novel interesting. In other novels I usually start falling asleep when the characters are talking politics. Grave Mercy is a lengthy novel but it is also fast paced so one may easily lose track of time. The characters are inspiring, and the plot just keeps on getting more interesting. I enjoyed the palace politics and Duval's humor. I would recommend this book to all ninja lovers as well as anyone who enjoys an awesome adventure story.
Favorite quotes
1.“It is this kindness of his that unsettles me most. I can dodge a blow or block a knife. I am impervious to poison and know a dozen ways to escape a chokehold or garrote wire. But kindness? I do not know how to defend against that."
2.“This is what I want to be. An instrument of mercy, not vengeance.”
3.“I am sorry,' he whispers. 'I am sorry I treated you so ill. I thought only to protect Duval.'
'It was not I who was poisoning him,' I say.
No, but you had stolen his heart and I was afraid you would rip it from his chest when you left.”
4.“Whenever you are ready, or if you never are, my heart is yours, until Death do us part. Whatever that may mean when consorting with one of Death’s handmaidens.”
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