Grave Mercy

His Fair Assassin #1-3

by Robin LaFevers, Michaela Link (Translator)

From Book 1:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
     Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Kindle Edition

About the author

See R.L. LaFevers

You can find her most current blog posts--including information about the upcoming COURTING DARKNESS--over there.

Reviews

[therices1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a series if I end up feeling for the characters, see growth and the series had a good ending. I liked this series. There is a lot of killing. However, unlike a recently read series that I also liked (Daughter of a Pirate King), the killing in this book is mainly for justice or mercy or to help others. It is not for money, glory, fame, power. The morals are a little loose. And to be warned, there is a theme of incest and abuse in book 2 and abuse in book 3.

The events are based on real persons in history, so I cheated and read up on them as I read the books. I also have to say that after I read book 2, I thought book 3 would be formulaic. It is not. It surprised me. There was plenty of foreshadowing, and some surprises as well. Overall a well written series with solid characters.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series I go back to again and again.

[Lillian Helene]

His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers ⚔️🤍

This series is a blend of history, romance, and urban fantasy. Set in Brittany in the 1400s, each book follows one of Death's Handmaidens. These daughters of death are trained at the Convent of St Mortain, in the arts of...well, death.

Here's what I liked about the trilogy:

Book 1: Grave Mercy
This book follows Ismae and whilst there is some action, it is much more about politics and love.

❤️The slow-burn romance
❤️Enemies to lovers
❤️Court politics
❤️Special abilities/powers
❤️Girl saves the boy
❤️Disillusion with authority

Book 2: Dark Triumph
Here readers meet Sybella and learn of her dark and horrific past. This story is definitely less on the romance with action similar to book 1, but much more of an internal look into the main character.

🖤Mystery
🖤Read this if you like books that make you sad
🖤Unlikely hero
🖤"Crazy" mc
🖤Found Family

Book 3: Mortal Heart
This story follows Annith, the last of the trio of friends. Whilst for me, I was not as interested in the beginning of the story by the end this one became my favourite.

🤍Adventure
🤍Much more in the fantasy genre than the other two books
🤍Self-discovery
🤍Cute romance
🤍Second Chances
🤍THE plot twist


Overall, I loved that the stories flow from one protagonist to the next as they each have their own unique story to tell that tie into the central conflict of the series. This worked especially well because all the protagonists are close friends.

This is also a great reading experience if you are someone who loves to know what happens to other characters in the story, as most of them appear in the subsequent books.

For more reviews like this, you can join me on Instagram @lillianhelenewriter

[OᒪIᐯIᗩ]

PLEASE. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NaMe OF THIS BOOK/SERIES???
Okay. Help me out here please,
I’m trying to find the name of a book/series, and I cannot remember if it is this one. The main things I remmember is that there was a love interest between the main female character and this other guy. The guy had like his own band of friends/warriors (I can’t rly remember the details, I think they would all go hunting or something) anywayyyyy this guy was like ‘connected to nature’ or something and it allowed him to walk silently through forests, among other things.
I remember two key scenes in the novel:
1. The guy was riding his horse in the forest and he needed a disguise to hide from guards/ppl so he got the vines to grow up around him and his horse and he was perceived to be this old-wives-tale character or something, but in this science he was also very weak I believe
2. The main female character was spying in this church/convent thing where they had to pray and do all there rituals, there were guards there who would often hit the ppl if they did the wrong things. The main character had the friends of her romantic interest (mentioned above) also disguised there and they would hit her with the sticks but it would only be loud and not actually hurt. Eventually they escaped through the sewers.

PLEASE. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NaMe OF THIS BOOK/SERIES???

[Lisa Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series in High School and loved every moment enough that, after returning it to the library, I went out and bought it myself. It is probably the series that I find myself re-reading the most. The history it explores is fascinating, it handles the supernatural beautifully, and all of the characters are so life-like and complex. It perfectly fit my love for mythology, romance, and history in a way few others series' have. The more I re-read this series, the more I grow to love it.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly suggest this Trilogy! Absolutely loved it! Will likely reread it many times over! Perfect if you're looking for fantasy and action. Of course it's filled with romance in all of the best ways!
If you're interested in anything that's loosely history related and has a "god" theme this is for you!

[Nicole Alliett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Young women trying to find their way in the world, through trials of death and love twists and turns. The books are well paced, chapters are a great size. I had such a hard time ever putting them down. Robin is easily now one of my new favourite authors and this series easily in my top 10 for dark YA

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous

[Mahnoor Farooq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also read this during Covid but This whole series was 👩‍🍳💋.

[Jacilyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great one time read! Each book is better than the previous one. The characters, magic, and romances carry these books.

[GwenPeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really absorbing! GoT with better badass female leads who hold their own and stay alive. Also inspired me to go look up more (nonfictional) French/Breton history.