His Fair Assassin Series by Robin LaFevers ; Informal Buddy Read 19 November 2014; **REVISIT** Start 20 May 2018

[Deanna]

It was a busy weekend, but I finally managed to get back and read another 8 chapters, so I'm at 25 now.

Ismae - (view spoiler)[Ismae is truly not prepared for court I think. She is much more comfortable in the shadows. Still she manages to begin figuring a few of the intrigues out at leaat. I am glad that she is beginning to trust Duval, who seems to be the only person that truly has the duchess' best interest at heart. (hide spoiler)]

Duval - (view spoiler)[Poor Duval. Only a good hearted man would try to protect that crazy mother of his from the consequences of her plans. I hope for his sake that he suceeds. (hide spoiler)]

The mystery meeting - (view spoiler)[I'm glad for the duchess' sake that she finally seems to have a reasonable offer. It was nice that they returned past Ismae's house, so she could see that her father was simply an old man now instead of the monster that still haunts her dreams. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Busy few days but hope to get back to this book tonight.

[Jackie]

Read thru Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[I'm really curious about why Annith hasn't got an assignment yet. Also wonder about that mark that Mortain uses to indicate who should be killed. I'm having trouble picturing Ismae at court so this should be interesting. Duval is an interesting character too. (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

Jackie wrote: "Read thru Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, poor Annith, I feel sorry for her. I could see Ismae getting an assignment ahead of her if it involved poisons as Annith herself mentioned she isn't immune to them as Ismae is. But that doesn't explain not being chosen for assignments that require strangling, for example as Ismae's one did... so far (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Jackie wrote: "Read thru Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

Annith - (view spoiler)[I was wondering about this as well. It seems to me that she could have handled both of the assignments Ismae was given. (hide spoiler)]

Duval is currently my favorite character.

[Deanna]

Chapters 25 - 32

The plot - (view spoiler)[The action has finally picked up, and the dynamic between Duval and Ismae is quite entertaining. I am no closer to figuring out who the traitor is, but at least the pool of possibilities is shrinking. (hide spoiler)]

Ismae - (view spoiler)[I couldn't help laughing at her embroidery attempt. The duchess' comment about causing the linen no pain if she sticks it was hilarious. Her attempt at D'Albret to see if he had the mark was bordering on idiotic. I was glad Duval intervened and protected her both from D'Albret and herself. (hide spoiler)]

Duval - (view spoiler)[He is a good match to Ismae. He accepts her as she is and partners well with her, both working beside her and watching her back. (hide spoiler)]

The abbess - (view spoiler)[All silent on that front. It serves to reinforce the idea of how removed the convent is from the affairs of the world. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

I finished. It took me to halfway in the book to really get invested in the characters but flew through the last third.

(view spoiler)[Ismae really had to grow on me. She irritated me with her blind devotion to the convent. But as the story developed and she began to trust her instincts more, I started to like her. Duval was my favorite character throughout the book. I'm really curious about Sybella. I see the second book is about her. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I was also very interested in the Author's Note at the end of the book. It seems that most of the characters actually existed and that much of the villainy actually took place. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Is anyone planning to read the second book? I would like to but it will probably be later in the month before I can get to it.

[Deanna]

Finished!

Ismae - (view spoiler)[The story became much better when she started to trust her own instincts. I'm glad she finally found her own path. (hide spoiler)]

Duval - (view spoiler)[Love Duval. He did such a great job of keeping his oath and protecting those he cared about. (hide spoiler)]

It took me awhile to get through, but in the end the author had won me over. I will try some more of her books at some point.

[Deanna]

Jackie wrote: "Is anyone planning to read the second book? I would like to but it will probably be later in the month before I can get to it."

Looking at the synopsis and reviews, the second book is probably too dark for me.

[Lauri]

I finished Grave Mercy!! It took me awhile to get back to it, real life and Internet issues got in the way. But I LOVED it and definitely want to continue with the series.

The whole thing seemed so plausible, I need to research and see if the saints mentioned are real and were actually worshipped in Brittany. I do realize it was fantasy, but it read like historical fiction to me. I read half yesterday in 2 long sittings!

Chapters 1-10
(view spoiler)[ I found it upsetting that Ismae believed she had truly been fathered by the God of death! It's horrible the way women are treated as commodities to be bartered or liabilities. This is still happening in the world today! Ismae was fortunate that she wasn't killed outright and that the priest was kindly.
The Convent of St. Mortain was a strange place, indeed. It was probably one of the only places that would harbor a supposed witch. It must have been very scary to find out she was to become a trained assassin! Can you even imagine? What if she declined? She really had no other choice in the matter.
It's a revelation to Ismae to learn she has intrinsic value to the convent and that there are other girls like her. I am most intrigued by Sybella & want to learn more about her.
I would also like to know how Sister Vereda receives/interprets her visions! And more about how the mysterious marque appears on the intended victims.
Ismae is very naive about the world at large & it is difficult for her to interact with the gentry. I think Sister Beatriz has her work cut out for her! I'm sure Ismae is much more content with her poisons & weapons than playing the part of "companion."
I'm not sure who to trust at this point -- the chancellor or Duval. (hide spoiler)]
More to come!

[Lauri]

The REST of the book...

I was impressed by the feel of the entire book. It was very evocative. Loved the danger and intrigue of it all.
(view spoiler)[Although Ismae was young and naive, her faith was admirable. Then she started to learn that things are not always as they may seem. She began to experience doubt as well as the stirrings of affection in her own heart. I was quite surprised that the marque was something tangible. It could actually be seen by the initiated... (hide spoiler)]
Now I really want to see what happens in the subsequent books!

[Lauri]

Dark Triumph!

Finally got book #2!

This deals with Sybella's story. I was very intrigued with Sybella's character in the 1st book. This story picks it right up and explains why she was so enigmatic in Grave Mercy.

Sybella: (view spoiler)[ She had a horrible childhood. Her father is a scheming old bastard who uses everything & everyone to get ahead -- including his own children. Sybella is bound & determined to save her younger sisters from her own fate. She's helping the Convent of St. Mortain with their mission, but is really following her own agenda. She wants to be the one who kills her own father! (hide spoiler)] Yikes!