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First Line: “I bear a deep red stain that runs from my left shoulder down to my right hip, a trail left by the herbwitch’s poison that my mother used to try to expel me from her womb.”
Cover Story: Costume Ball
For once, the “girl in fancy dress” cover is appropriate. But her hair and make-up don’t scream 15th century Brittany to me –it’s more like “gorgeous model attends Ren Faire” – but it does scream “I AM A MOODY HISTORICAL ROMANCE, NOT A THRILLER! BE WARNED!”
One-Second Booktalk: Assassin nuns ...more
Cover Story: Costume Ball
For once, the “girl in fancy dress” cover is appropriate. But her hair and make-up don’t scream 15th century Brittany to me –it’s more like “gorgeous model attends Ren Faire” – but it does scream “I AM A MOODY HISTORICAL ROMANCE, NOT A THRILLER! BE WARNED!”
One-Second Booktalk: Assassin nuns ...more
This book begins well with a strong female heroine, Ismae, who is recruited to join a 14th century convent dedicated to Saint Mortain, the patron saint of Death. Ismae is trained to become an assassin by the order and sent to the High Court of Brittany (then independent of France)to spy and report back to the Mother Superior. Ismae is looking for those "marqued" for death by Mortain. She is also directed to kill anyone who is a traitor to the current ruling Duchess. But the tangled web of deceit
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So yes, I'll admit that this was pretty much a total fun book - it's got a dash of the supernatural, poison, assassins, court intrigue, and romance. It's a thick book, but nicely paced so that it doesn't feel long. Ismae is an intriguing character with a satisfying arc and a believable balance between feeling powerless and impowered.
While it's billed as the first in a series, I get the impression that each book will focus on a different character. There's a blurb at the end saying that book two ...more
While it's billed as the first in a series, I get the impression that each book will focus on a different character. There's a blurb at the end saying that book two ...more
There are some premises that sound way to badass to pass up, and assassin nuns definitely falls under that category. Although this novel has 549 pages, it’s so absorbing that it goes by quickly. Grave Mercy lives up to premise with action and a swoonworthy romance, but also proves itself to be a morally complex story of politics and purpose.
Read my full review here:
http://www.consumedbybooks.com/2015/0... ...more
Read my full review here:
http://www.consumedbybooks.com/2015/0... ...more
Pulls you into the story on page one and keeps the action going throughout, without too much time spent on description or character development. I enjoyed this story of a girl "sired by Death", who is trained in a convent to become an assassin, doing Death's work in Brittany, fighting to keep their independence from France.
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I adored this book. The combination of world building, action, romance, and spiritual exploration grabbed me quickly and held me tight. Cannot wait for the next one (I love series that explore worlds from different characters' points of views).
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Interesting blend of fantasy and historical fiction, with the unusual premise of nuns trained as assassins for the god Mortain (basically, Death). A little long, but I enjoyed it all. 3 1/2 stars.
This story is the very definition of the word INTRIGUE. I can't do it justice with a review, but I loved the story and couldn't put it down!
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Summary:
Life hasn’t been easy for Ismae. When her mother’s husband realized that his wife was carrying a baby that was sired by Death, he beat her savagely and then took her to an herbwitch to have the baby poisoned. The poison left a deep red scar but did not kill Ismae; her mother, however, did not survive the birth. After seventeen years of her father’s abuse, Ismae is finally married to Guillo, a man who turns out to be just as brutal. With the help of the herbwitch who had tried to poison h ...more
Life hasn’t been easy for Ismae. When her mother’s husband realized that his wife was carrying a baby that was sired by Death, he beat her savagely and then took her to an herbwitch to have the baby poisoned. The poison left a deep red scar but did not kill Ismae; her mother, however, did not survive the birth. After seventeen years of her father’s abuse, Ismae is finally married to Guillo, a man who turns out to be just as brutal. With the help of the herbwitch who had tried to poison h ...more
I would recommend this book to Graceling readers since it follows similar themss of a girl assassin and political intrigue. There is also a mystery element and an historical aspect with the struggle for power between France, Brittany, The Holy Roman Empire and England. I loved the idea of having nuns train the assassins uaing interesting poisons and weapons. Historical romance fans will relate to the romance between Ismac and Duval.
I could not put this one down! It reminded me a lot of Fire by Kristin Cashore, which is one of my all-time favorite books. The plot is sort of odd to explain to people without it sounding really weird--"A bunch of nuns who serve Mortain, the god of death go out and kill people!" But it's so much more than that. Romantic, mysterious, philosophical, action-packed and just plain awesome. Definitely one of my top YA reads of 2012. It's the first in a planned trilogy, the second installment can't co
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Ismae is saved from a horrible marriage and sent to a convent where she instead learns that she is one of Death's maidens, sent to seek vengeance on those he marks. When she is assigned to discover who is plotting against the duchess things take a turn when she begins to fall for the man she is spying on. Fast paced adventure with some romance thrown in. Strong female protagonist and I loved the minor characters as well. Looking forward to the second in the series.
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A bit underwhelming after all the hype.
Middle school appropriate? Yes, with the caveat of sex at the end that the reader knows happens, but it isn't given in detail.
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Apr 02, 2012
Julie
marked it as to-read
3.75
May 04, 2012
Sarah
marked it as to-read
