Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) in WordNerds

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Nov 10, 2011 Bonnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012-books, young-adult, ya-fantasy-sci-fi

I loved this, then I didn’t. It was reminding me a lot of Summers at Castle Auburn – which is always the right thing to be compared to in my mind. And then LaFevers tried to go for more political intrigue and I was like “no, I’m sorry, people are being too dumb. Go back to the romance!” Then Ismae used sex to cure poison in Duval and I was like, “okay, I don’t know what to do with you. Just end this.” I think it still evens out to four stars, though.

There are just a few areas for improvement – m I loved this, then I didn’t. It was reminding me a lot of Summers at Castle Auburn – which is always the right thing to be compared to in my mind. And then LaFevers tried to go for more political intrigue and I was like “no, I’m sorry, people are being too dumb. Go back to the romance!” Then Ismae used sex to cure poison in Duval and I was like, “okay, I don’t know what to do with you. Just end this.” I think it still evens out to four stars, though.

There are just a few areas for improvement – mostly the main character needed to be smarter and the political intrigue needed to be left to Megan Whalen Turner.

Okay, so I liked Duval. A lot. He was one of those great male characters where it’s not about the fact that he’s “bad” that’s keeping him from the heroine. He’s honorable and kind and generous and strong. He’s also suspicious and prejudiced which is why he and the heroine verbally spar for a while. Ismae and Duval are kept apart in the beginning because of circumstances and not a personality flaw (well, I guess suspicion and prejudice are character flaws but it’s justified here). Anyway, Duval’s not a jerk. I like it when the hero isn’t a jerk.

I like Ismae well enough except for the fact she’s a bit stupid. Like all of a sudden she’s all, “Oh, I want to kill this guy but I can’t without the mark of Mortain – so I will get myself sexually harassed to try to get him out of his clothes so I can make sure he has no mark.” And I’m like ???? Seriously? Why so sudden? Why doesn’t she try again if she wants it so much? Why did she ever think this was a good plan that wouldn’t end with her getting raped or her assassin-identity exposed if Duval hadn’t stepped in at the right time? There was no forethought. Really, Ismae does not think things through and yet she’s supposed to be this extremely clever assassin. I always got irked when Ismae sent out messages to her convent by raven not in code. Sensitive information! When she knows there are spies and traitors in the castle! Or even when she sent very personal letters to her friend that clearly indicated she was falling in love with Duval. Why would she think that the mail wouldn’t be monitored and read in the convent? Why wouldn't the Reverend Mother read that and then recall her?

I also decided early on that this was a historical fantasy, emphasis on the fantasy. It did not read as realistically historical at all (and I’m not talking about the assassin nuns and appearance of gods). It was pretty much Generic Fantasy Land With Brittany Twist in terms of attitude/life style, etc. Which is fine! If this was straight-up historical fiction it would irk me, but because this is a fantasy I totally rolled with it.

Anyway, I really, really liked the early romance. I liked the idea of assassin nuns and alterna-medieval France. The writing was good. And I especially like that the next book isn’t stretching out Ismae’s story but is instead focusing on Sybella, another assassin who only has cameos in this book. I think it keeps the story fresher to close one character’s book and open another’s. Ismae’s story is mostly complete – she saved the kingdom, she got the boy. Now it’s Sybella’s turn (with Beast? I guess? I…did not see him as a romantic hero, but okay. I trust LaFevers to make this work!) ...more

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Aug 30, 2015 Susan rated it liked it

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Sep 08, 2012 Alyssa rated it liked it

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