Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Nov 04, 2011 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

This is how a book in a series ought to be. Wonderful and delightful on its own, obsessing the reader til it's done, ending with satisfying resolution and yet leaving you chomping at the bit for more. Dark Triumph can't come soon enough!
This book was original compared to any books I've read. The historical setting in Brittany was fascinating--I've always been interested in Brittany, and though I'm not sure how much actual history is involved here, I still found it intriguing. The mythology was c This is how a book in a series ought to be. Wonderful and delightful on its own, obsessing the reader til it's done, ending with satisfying resolution and yet leaving you chomping at the bit for more. Dark Triumph can't come soon enough!
This book was original compared to any books I've read. The historical setting in Brittany was fascinating--I've always been interested in Brittany, and though I'm not sure how much actual history is involved here, I still found it intriguing. The mythology was coherent and actually reverent. Beautiful in its own way, and fascinating how it dovetailed with the "official" faith of the time.
This did remind me a bit of the movie Wanted, especially the character Fox. and it reminded me of the Black Hand quest in the video game Elder Scrolls Oblivion. Religious devotion to death. Assassin nuns in a deadly order. I was absorbed in the story from the first page, and by the last couple hundred pages, I was obsessed. I lost out on sleep and resented time spent doing other things. Perhaps not healthy but very good writing.
I liked Ismae. I loved Duvall (he reminds me of Hotch on Criminal Minds in his single minded fierce-some devotion to his duty.). I loved Beast. Annith, the Duchess, and Isabeau were all enjoyable characters too, and the brief glimpses of Sybella were fascinating. I can't wait to read her story. I'm sure I'll lose sleep from that one too, when it finally comes out.
Good setting, good characters, good plot, good writing. These books are long, but don't worry; you'll still finish them in the amount of time you'd have finished a shorter book, because you won't be able to put them down.

Reread October 19, 2014 for Gail Carriger's online book club. I tried listening to the book on audio instead, but the young American voice seemed very jarring reading the words of a 15th century Breton girl. While I doubt a Breton accent would be easy to come by, surely a French or even British accent would have felt more appropriate to the story. As it was, modern American intonation lent a different sensibility to the story and frustrated me. When I finally reverted to paper copy to finish reading it, I fell back in love with the book all over again. Don't get me wrong; even in audio, I still enjoyed the book. But without the young American accent and intonation making things sound anachronistic, I went back to loving the book, Ismae and Duval and Beast and Annith and Sybella and all of them. Can't wait for Mortal Heart! ...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-and-sci-fi, historical-fiction, fantasy-romance, romance, era-medieval, favorite-series, gods-known-and-unknown

from NPR poll of best Young Adult fiction ...

I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in life ...

I seem to be on a bit of an assassin kick lately. It's good that I am reading this AFTER Graceling, because Graceling would not compare well, it is gaudy and simple, while Grave Mercy is dark and twisted and nuanced.

I really appreciated how closely this story and details hewed to actual events; the realism added darkness and depth to ...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Julie rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen, fantasy-scifi

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. ...more

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