Future Release: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers
Publication date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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?

I think I already have my Halloween costume planned. I'm going to be Ismae, an assassin nun. No one will know who I am, but I won't care because I'll be an assassin nun. So. Cool. Can you tell how much I love this book? I was familiar with Robin's work before Grave Mercy, so when my store received the galley of her first young adult book, I knew I had to read it. Grave Mercy proves Robin's versatile writing ability. The prose is different than her middle-grade books and has a completely different, mature writing style.

Grave Mercy has a fascinating historical setting with all the political intrigue one could want. After reading, I wouldn't be surprised if the reader immediately went to Wikipedia and looked up everything they could find on Brittany. Or that may have just been me. Upon being introduced to Ismae, I immediately knew I was going to love her. She has an independent spirit that I adore in my female characters with just the right amount of vulnerability. Robin also gave me my favorite type of romance: the "dislike turns to love" kind. The romance between Ismae and Duval takes its time and happens naturally. There is definitely none of that immediate love that seems to have taken over the average YA book.

Grave Mercy is over 500 pages long, but it doesn't read like it. I found it to be entertaining every step of the way and it was over before I knew it. If you like Tamora Pierce, Graceling, or just historical fantasy, give this book a try. I hope you won't be disappointed! Meanwhile, I'll be waiting over here for the next in the planned trilogy.