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Mark of the Least
Shroud for a Bride
It’s impossible to bury your past when everyone carries a shovel.
The people of Namerre both love and fear the Reaper, a ruthless vigilante with a strict moral code. When the law fails, he hunts down those who have done wrong and makes them disappear, from blood mages to corrupt judges. Until now, eighteen-year-old Kallan has been the one to do Reaper's dirty work. But no more. She wants to catch criminals the right way, and after telling her employer to take a long trip in a leaky airship, she joins Namerre's police force.
Growing up in a world of thieves and killers has left Kallan with debilitating anxiety and a past she can’t talk about—unless she wants to be arrested before she graduates. But when a serial killer stalks the streets, leaving victims dressed as brides, Kallan has to decide if it’s worth risking her future to seek help from the man who taught her to murder.
The people of Namerre both love and fear the Reaper, a ruthless vigilante with a strict moral code. When the law fails, he hunts down those who have done wrong and makes them disappear, from blood mages to corrupt judges. Until now, eighteen-year-old Kallan has been the one to do Reaper's dirty work. But no more. She wants to catch criminals the right way, and after telling her employer to take a long trip in a leaky airship, she joins Namerre's police force.
Growing up in a world of thieves and killers has left Kallan with debilitating anxiety and a past she can’t talk about—unless she wants to be arrested before she graduates. But when a serial killer stalks the streets, leaving victims dressed as brides, Kallan has to decide if it’s worth risking her future to seek help from the man who taught her to murder.
- GenresFantasy
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2019
6 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Merritt
28 books85 followersBooks have been Kendra’s escape for as long as she can remember. She used to hide fantasy novels behind her government textbook in high school, and she wrote most of her first novel during a semester of college algebra.
Older and wiser now (but just as nerdy) Kendra writes retellings of fairytales with main characters who have disabilities. If she isn’t writing, she’s reading, and if she isn’t reading, she’s playing video games.
Kendra lives in Denver with her very tall husband, their book loving progeny, and a lazy black monster masquerading as a service dog.
Older and wiser now (but just as nerdy) Kendra writes retellings of fairytales with main characters who have disabilities. If she isn’t writing, she’s reading, and if she isn’t reading, she’s playing video games.
Kendra lives in Denver with her very tall husband, their book loving progeny, and a lazy black monster masquerading as a service dog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 1, 2020
I'm just going to ramble again..
Let me be honest. I think this was one of my more favorites of the series. It had wonderful characters, and I think a good grasp of what OCD was really like. A friend once told me it wasn't being a neat freak but having intrusive thoughts about certain things that wouldn't leave you alone. And I love how our heroine overcame that (and went to a "therapist") and let her friends help her.
Also, I just really liked the mystery plot with the whole Bridegroom thing going on. It didn't leave that much room for romance (there were hints but no kiss), which I normally VERY much like buuuuut, I kinda wish this couple gad been finalized XD. They're the only couple I've shipped from the get go in the series (you wouldn't believe how rare it is for me to ship the main couple, even if I end up being convinced. Probably why KM Shea's books strike with me). But honestly, I'm glad the author only implied, since everyone here had issues and/or disabilities needed to be settled and accepted before romance.
Again, the world was amazing, and I liked seeing how similar the modernity was to Winged Chair while the aesthetic was different.
One thing I didn't like so much was...well, though I'm all up for representation, I wasn't sure why she wrote in a gay? side character. Oh, I liked him and I thought that added an interesting aspect but...the tale would have done fine without it, too, considering it was barely alluded to.
Anyway the story was GREAT Snow-White (I think) inspired tale. A bit darker with the violence and almost no romance at all. And if you're averse to these political leanings, there is a bit of feminism (the right kind, though) and, as aforementioned, homosexuality.
Let me be honest. I think this was one of my more favorites of the series. It had wonderful characters, and I think a good grasp of what OCD was really like. A friend once told me it wasn't being a neat freak but having intrusive thoughts about certain things that wouldn't leave you alone. And I love how our heroine overcame that (and went to a "therapist") and let her friends help her.
Also, I just really liked the mystery plot with the whole Bridegroom thing going on. It didn't leave that much room for romance (there were hints but no kiss), which I normally VERY much like buuuuut, I kinda wish this couple gad been finalized XD. They're the only couple I've shipped from the get go in the series (you wouldn't believe how rare it is for me to ship the main couple, even if I end up being convinced. Probably why KM Shea's books strike with me). But honestly, I'm glad the author only implied, since everyone here had issues and/or disabilities needed to be settled and accepted before romance.
Again, the world was amazing, and I liked seeing how similar the modernity was to Winged Chair while the aesthetic was different.
One thing I didn't like so much was...well, though I'm all up for representation, I wasn't sure why she wrote in a gay? side character. Oh, I liked him and I thought that added an interesting aspect but...the tale would have done fine without it, too, considering it was barely alluded to.
Anyway the story was GREAT Snow-White (I think) inspired tale. A bit darker with the violence and almost no romance at all. And if you're averse to these political leanings, there is a bit of feminism (the right kind, though) and, as aforementioned, homosexuality.
August 24, 2020
I typically avoid murder mystery, cop, serial killer type stories. I don't like dark stories and while this is darker than most of Kendra's other stories, she's able to handle it in such a way that it's enjoyable. I loved the unique characters and their individual stories. Having read her other works and this being chronologically later, it's cool to see how their society has evolved to incorporate more and more technology. So much fantasy is forever stuck in the middle ages no matter how much time has passed, so to see a reasonable growth for the world was fun.
I loved the MC. I loved the exploration and representation of OCD. I loved that she had a past that she drew from and it continued to challenge and help her. The vigilante villain of the story was complex as well, not all good and not all bad. I'm writing this review too long after I read it so I can't remember names unfortunately so I apologize for that. Overall, great story and one of my favorite works by Kendra.
I loved the MC. I loved the exploration and representation of OCD. I loved that she had a past that she drew from and it continued to challenge and help her. The vigilante villain of the story was complex as well, not all good and not all bad. I'm writing this review too long after I read it so I can't remember names unfortunately so I apologize for that. Overall, great story and one of my favorite works by Kendra.
July 28, 2022
Shroud for a Bride is, tonally, the most different from the other Mark of the Least books, and it might be my favorite so far. Merritt's writing style always reminds me a bit of Tamora Pierce, whom I love: quick-witted, heartfelt, great, diverse female MCs, and the obvious comp for this book is the Beka Cooper series. Kallan is a young woman with a dark criminal past who strives to become, essentially, a police officer to catch criminals the right way. Her backstory is beautifully thought out, demonstrating trauma and anxiety while maintaining the positive, hopeful tone of the story. There are plenty of twists and turns in the mystery, too. It's more in a realistic mode than the fairytales that make up the rest of the series, but it's equally wonderful.
Can't wait to check out the rest of the books!
Can't wait to check out the rest of the books!
February 4, 2022
Excellent representation of anxiety within a well written stoey
The lead character, Kallan, is extremely capabke and smart, but she has crippling anxiety that causes her to doubt her own actions, what she sees, and and her own worth. She fought for independence from a criminal vigilante organization that would kill criminals because the leader, the Reaper, felt the official police force was inept. Kallan disagreed, knowing what the Reaper, as well as those who worked for him, including herself, were nothing more than murderers. Kallan wanted to go after the bad guys the right way, and basically tricks her way onto the police force, though her methods made her acceptance onto the force lawfully official.
The writing style is clean, the pacing is smooth, and the story is riveting.
If I had to identify this with a fairy tale, I would say it is a retelling of Bluebeard and his Wives, but told from an outside concerned party instead of from a current wife like most other retellings are done.
I would recommend anyone age 11 and up would enjoy this story. There is mild violence, some mention of blood, dead bodies, but none of it is graphic.
The lead character, Kallan, is extremely capabke and smart, but she has crippling anxiety that causes her to doubt her own actions, what she sees, and and her own worth. She fought for independence from a criminal vigilante organization that would kill criminals because the leader, the Reaper, felt the official police force was inept. Kallan disagreed, knowing what the Reaper, as well as those who worked for him, including herself, were nothing more than murderers. Kallan wanted to go after the bad guys the right way, and basically tricks her way onto the police force, though her methods made her acceptance onto the force lawfully official.
The writing style is clean, the pacing is smooth, and the story is riveting.
If I had to identify this with a fairy tale, I would say it is a retelling of Bluebeard and his Wives, but told from an outside concerned party instead of from a current wife like most other retellings are done.
I would recommend anyone age 11 and up would enjoy this story. There is mild violence, some mention of blood, dead bodies, but none of it is graphic.
November 3, 2019
This book earns an easy five stars. I’ve enjoyed each entry in The Mark of the Least series, but this book served as a welcome and engrossing departure from what had become the norm.
While still loosely based on a mythic tale, this novel had the feel of a mystery or noir book, and scratched an itch I wasn’t aware existed. I’ll not say more lest I spoil some of the fine reveals in this book, but it is easy to unreservedly recommend it.
While still loosely based on a mythic tale, this novel had the feel of a mystery or noir book, and scratched an itch I wasn’t aware existed. I’ll not say more lest I spoil some of the fine reveals in this book, but it is easy to unreservedly recommend it.
December 15, 2019
Mostly wonderful
Loved Kallan's story. Her father totally surprised me. I have really appreciated how these Mark of the Least Novels have used broken and hurting people as their main characters. The only reason I downgraded the book was I'm tired of novels written primarily for straight women throwing in a potential gay guy romance. If I wanted to read that story, I would pick up that book.
Loved Kallan's story. Her father totally surprised me. I have really appreciated how these Mark of the Least Novels have used broken and hurting people as their main characters. The only reason I downgraded the book was I'm tired of novels written primarily for straight women throwing in a potential gay guy romance. If I wanted to read that story, I would pick up that book.
January 4, 2021
This one’s a little different from the other fairytales, based on a more obscure fairytale called The Robber Bridegroom. It’s an intriguing backdrop for the story of Kallan, a young but capable woman of the streets who joins the police force to escape her past and the anxiety and compulsions that haunt her. The story was a little darker, but I do love police stories (Tamora Pierce’s Beka Cooper, anyone?) and I was drawn to Kallan’s personality blend of capability and self-doubt.
April 22, 2022
darker than the earlier books
I couldn’t quite place what fairy tale this was. If I had to guess, I would say Snow White?
This book was a departure from earlier published books in the series- there was no religion mentioned, and instead the book focused on social messages of equality.
This book was a bit dark. A little more language, and definitely more violence. No romance.
I couldn’t quite place what fairy tale this was. If I had to guess, I would say Snow White?
This book was a departure from earlier published books in the series- there was no religion mentioned, and instead the book focused on social messages of equality.
This book was a bit dark. A little more language, and definitely more violence. No romance.
December 16, 2019
This is easily the most intriguing and addictive entry in The Mark of the Least series. The characters are imminently relatable and their interactions are fraught with intricacies that truly harken back to real life. I could NOT put this book down!
April 30, 2020
The best book by this author yet
I loved it! A good story about redemption and proving you can change. I liked how her mental health struggles were a part of her, but not the only defining feature.
I loved it! A good story about redemption and proving you can change. I liked how her mental health struggles were a part of her, but not the only defining feature.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews