Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by R.L. LaFever → Start Date: September 13, 2013

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

YES!!! We MUST read book 2!!! Once we're all done, let's schedule it!!

the hike was lovely EXCEPT we have HUGE sever thunderstorms hitting. so it rained on us the whole time

but we got a tour of a Level Silver Girl Scout building (it's a very 'green' environmentally friendly building) so we had a blast and got to spend a lot of time inside instead of outside getting soaked

BUT lack of sun meant we didn't get to melt chocolate and marshmallows for s'mores using sunlight (natural solar energy)... dang-it!
looks like we'll be making s'mores for dessert :P

How was your day Vicki??

[Vicki]

Haha! Sounds so fun!!

I had to take my new NOOK that I just exchanged last week back to Barnes and Noble because it also came apart at the seam. But they decided that the problem is my cover and it has to be put in a certain way I gas so hopefully this third time will be the charm and hopefully this time it will stay good and I won't have to go back and exchange it again!!

Now I am simply trying to finish up this book and enjoying the nice cool weather that we finally have.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Haha! Sounds so fun!!

I had to take my new NOOK that I just exchanged last week back to Barnes and Noble because it also came apart at the seam. But they decided that the problem is my cover and ..."

ugh! ANOTHER visit to the store?! Isn't that minimum 30 min. drive one way!? How frustrating!! I hope it's fixed this time!
Nice cool weather? that's a wonderful change. I hope you get to enjoy it! I've got soup in a crockpot and fresh rolls out of the oven. I'm hoping we get to enjoy a nice warm meal with our wet weather too :) lol

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Ashlyn wrote: "Through chapter 45:[spoilers removed]"

I'm through 45 too

my heart is breaking :( (view spoiler)[ I can't believe he's been poisoned!

I think it might be Ismae's food or dishes from dinner. he's the only one eating!

but I think your guess of it being the Queen chess piece is another great guess! wow, that would be a horrible but easy way to poison him. ugh, i'm so sad. she MUST save him!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Trisha wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "Through chapter 45:[spoilers removed]"

I'm through 45 too

my heart is breaking :( I can't believe he's been poisoned!

I think it might be Ismae's food or dishes from dinner. he'..."

I was so sad when I got to that part! The next part with him is even more heartbreaking!

[Vicki]

OMG I am finished and I can't believe the ending!!! I had NO idea that I would be brought to tears the way I was!!!

Don't read unless you are finished: (view spoiler)[ First, I was so happy to find out that Ismae's mother did NOT want to kill her but loved her! I was also glad that she got to see Death and that even HE has mercy! That was very touching to me that she decided to work on Mercy's side and not revenge. I can't believe that she didn't kill Crunard, but I am glad that she used the reasoning that she did and didn't kill him out of revenge, although he SO deserved it! (hide spoiler)]

Okay the parts that made me bawl like a baby was threefold: (view spoiler)[First, when Beast was dragged and killed the way he was :o( and de Lornay was on his death bed but she helped him die. When Ismae and Duval were in the tunnels and he was tracing her scars and she was touching his and she lay with him and it gave him his life back. OMG! How tender and precious was that. Then when the siblings all came together in a big hug like a big family reunion, I cried again Oh yeah, and also the way that Francois went to SO much effort to get the troops to help Anne. That really touched me too, because he came so far emotionally. Oh and I was even MORE pissed off at D'Albret when I read that Anne JUST turned 13, so she was only 12 when he probably would have raped her if Ismae hadn't come upon them. OHHHHHH, I HATE him!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Vicki wrote: "OMG I am finished and I can't believe the ending!!! I had NO idea that I would be brought to tears the way I was!!!

Don't read unless you are finished: [spoilers removed]

Okay the parts that made..."

I'm glad you liked it!

I agree. The part where (view spoiler)[ Ismae's mother didn't want to kill her was very touching. I was so glad she was able to realize her mother actually loved her. Who was Ismae's father? It said something about the man who came in with her mother wasn't her real father. Did I miss that in the beginning? (hide spoiler)]

I loved the part where (view spoiler)[Francois and his mother both helped with the duchess.

I was really sad when de Lornay died! I thought he would have lived. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

wow, and I'm done

amazing.

I'm so glad I buddy ready this and we took it slow. It helped so much to savor every word, every chapter *sigh* this was wonderful!

okay

I agree with you Vicki. Her birthday so we know her age. Ugh, that man is DISGUSTING!

Ismae's dad (view spoiler)[ YES! that was curious wasn't it? But did you notice that every time the Herbwitch referenced Ismae's true father, she capitalized it.

Even if it was the word He..... Sounds like it might be Death itself. That her mother possibly met with him, which is why Ismae is able to absorb poison AND meet with Death (why he would show himself to her). (hide spoiler)]
anyway, that was the wild assumptions I was leaping to over her! LOL!

this was so good. I didn't cry, but there were parts when (view spoiler)[ things were so dark and sad that I didn't want to keep reading.... If Duval would have died, I would have thrown this book away! LOL! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Wasn't D'Albret like 50 or something?

I never thought about that. (view spoiler)[It would make sense that Death was her real father. (hide spoiler)]

I agree with you on that! I don't think I would have wanted to read the next book if that would have happened.

Do you want to schedule the next book?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

YES, I am good with scheduling it!
I just put book 2 on hold at the library but they have 5 copiesthat are available so I should have it in just a few days.

is it okay if we kick it to October though. I have quite a few books to finish up for September! :D

[Ashlyn]

That works for me. Can we do it towards the beginning of October? I want to take it slow as well.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

How's 10/2??

[Ashlyn]

That's good.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Okay, I want to make sure that works for everyone and then we'll schedule it!!!

I can't wait! This one was so good!

[Ashlyn]

I can't either! I'm really excited!

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "wow, and I'm done

amazing.

I'm so glad I buddy ready this and we took it slow. It helped so much to savor every word, every chapter *sigh* this was wonderful!

okay

I agree with you Vicki. Her b..."

Haha! I know what you mean about throwing it away! LOL My book is on my NOOK, but I could have deleted it. LOL

[Vicki]

October 2 works for me as well. :o)

[Kathy]

Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your discussion for book #2 as well! :D

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your discussion for book #2 as well! :D"

Oh no, he is WORSE? How can that be? I can't stomach him now!

[Kathy]

Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your discussion for book #2 as well! :D"

Oh no..."

I don't want to give any spoilers so I can't say much except that yeah, he's really awful! Oh!! I can't wait till you guys read it! I'm bursting right now! Biting my tongue! lol! :D

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your discussion for book #2 as we..."

Bite hard! LOL

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "Oh no, he is WORSE? How can that be? I can't stomach him now!"


ugh! I'd hoped we were done with him

I hope he gets his just dues in this one, then!!!

[Kathy]

Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your discussion for..."

I am! I even went and edited my review so there was no room for speculation! Just don't read the spoiler tag!!! lol! :D

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Oh no, he is WORSE? How can that be? I can't stomach him now!"


ugh! I'd hoped we were done with him

I hope he gets his just dues in this one, then!!!"

Haha that's what I wrote in my review! I am SO glad that you gave this one a 2nd chance!

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll look in on your ..."

Okay, I read most of your review. I thought that (view spoiler)[Beast died, right? (hide spoiler)] But when I read your review it sounded like he's in the 2nd book so now I am confused.

[Vicki]

Jacquelyn wrote: "I also cannot get into this book! It is probably because I have been really wanting to read contemporary lately.. I don't know! I am really sorry to bail out on you guys! If I do ever pick this up ..."

Jacquelyn, when you are not inundated with buddy reads or books for school or whatever, PLEASE give this one another try. Look at Trisha's rating and she didn't like it, or so she thought, the first time she tried to read it. (At least I think that's what she had said.) LOL

[Kathy]

Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shudder*

I'll lo..."

It's in the synopsis (view spoiler)[ that he is alive! I was so excited when I found out that he wasn't dead! I cried when they shot him full of arrows and dragged him off! (hide spoiler)] That's why I put it in there. :D

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in *shu..."

OMG Are you serious???? YAY!!!!!!

[Kathy]

Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in [bookcover:Dark Triumph..."

I know!!! I pratically jumped up and down when I first found out!! lol! :D

[Vicki]

Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Yay!! I'm so glad you guys liked it!

D'Albret is vile! He's much worse in [bookcove..."

I really am excited to read book 2. Will there be a book 3?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I really am excited to read book 2. Will there be a book 3? ..."

YES! and it's Annith!!

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I really am excited to read book 2. Will there be a book 3? ..."

YES! and it's Annith!!

"

Oh wow! 2014? Ugh!! What is it that changed your mind about this book? I think you had said you'd started it but could't get into it?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yeah, I think last time it was just too many characters and plots and details and I didn't have the time to devote to the world and character building that I just got overwhelmed and decided I didn't have the time/attention to devote to it.

I'm so glad I gave it another try. wow, it was so amazing!

[Kathy]

Trisha wrote: "YES! and it's Annith!!

"

Yes!!! Oh just you guys wait! Book #2 reveals lots of secrets and there are so many layers to the story too! If it's possible it's better than book #1!! I can't wait for book #3!! And then we can all read it together!! :D

[Vicki]

I'm glad too and what saved me is the pace we read it. That was doable for me during a work week. I'm really glad you stuck with that schedule because then I didn't feel like I was so far behind. Thanks :)

[Vicki]

YAY Kathy!!!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Vicki wrote: "I'm glad too and what saved me is the pace we read it. That was doable for me during a work week. I'm really glad you stuck with that schedule because then I didn't feel like I was so far behind. T..."

Yes! The pace was huge! but also the conversation and us going back and forth, squirreling out the plot and the treason and the ideas.

it was great to talk about it too! i think that made me love it even more

Thank YOU for buddy reading it! I'm so glad the pace made it better! I'm hoping we can do that again for book 2! Nice and slow and really get all the details and plot and twists out of it!

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Vicki, I will definitely give it another chance! :D I own it but am not in the mood for this genre at the moment so maybe in a few weeks! (:

[Mandiann]

I won't be joining in the buddy read for book two. My library does not have it :( .

But I will read it eventually as I loved book one!

[Becky]

Mandiann wrote: "I won't be joining in the buddy read for book two. My library does not have it :( .

But I will read it eventually as I loved book one!"

Awwwww Mandiann, that is sad! Can you request for your library to order material? I do that all the time at mine, they're probably sick to death of me. But I like to think I'm helping them develop a very well rounded YA/NA section!

[Becky]

I must share how happy I am that you guys liked this so much. I also gave it 5 stars when I read it. I am not normally a historical fiction reader and for whatever reason (probably the kick ass heroine) i just LOVED this book. So it just really makes me smile that I wasn't alone in loving this book.

:-)

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I'm glad too and what saved me is the pace we read it. That was doable for me during a work week. I'm really glad you stuck with that schedule because then I didn't feel like I was so..."

Yes, I agree and doing book 2 at a slower pace will help me to stay on top of things. I love being able to really discuss as I read, but reading a book every day or 2 with my job just doesn't work, so I'm often posting AFTER the buddy reads have been moved to archive. LOL

[Vicki]

Jacquelyn wrote: "Vicki, I will definitely give it another chance! :D I own it but am not in the mood for this genre at the moment so maybe in a few weeks! (:"

Not trying to rush you, just convince you! Trisha gave it a 5 star and so did Kathy and Becky and I, so it MUST be good! LOL

[Vicki]

Becky (Indiana) wrote: "I must share how happy I am that you guys liked this so much. I also gave it 5 stars when I read it. I am not normally a historical fiction reader and for whatever reason (probably the kick ass h..."

I'm glad we all loved it, too! I am especially glad that Trisha did since she didn't originally. :o)

[Becky]

Here Here Vicki! Sometimes reading with other ppl can really help! LOL, my defense for so many buddy reads, lol!

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Yes, I will definitely read it soon! :D