Grave Mercy discussion

I can't really tell how old he is. I want to believe he's to be at most 10 years older than Ismae. But I know this is the 15th century and big age differences are common and not looked down upon. Though I don't like the thought of him being like a 30-40 year old man, since he's like 12-13 years older than the duchess, and the duchess can't be much older than Ismae?

I imagined him as being twenty-five or thirty, which seems to be a roughly accurate appraisal, but he could be anywhere from Ismae's age to thirty. Piffle.

Then again, I read this a long time ago so that is an approximation at best!

Valerie wrote: "I can't really tell how old he is. I want to believe he's to be at most 10 years older than Ismae. But I know this is the 15th century and big age differences are common and not looked down upon...."

Duval is either 24 or 25 because the duchess was born when he was 12 (at least) and in the novel, the duchess is aged 12 herself so that makes Duval 24

As Muntaha said, he's about 24 or 25, since the young duchess was 12 years old, and Duval is about 12 years older than her.

Yeah, he's around 24ish.

I thought that the duchess was 13

he is like 24 cause in the book they said that the duchess was born when he was 12 and now she is around 12. soo ya. at least he isn't some old guy. I don't usually judge but ya know.. that is kinda disgusting.

Abigail Black/ Rowe/ Warner/ Holland/ Shaw/ Cipriano/ Stewart/ Herondale x2 wrote: "he is like 24 cause in the book they said that the duchess was born when he was 12 and now she is around 12. soo ya. at least he isn't some old guy. I don't usually judge but ya know.. that is kind..."

I don't think that's disgusting. I think the love between the characters were real and developed. And plus, he's 24, and Ismae's 17. This is in the 15th century, where girls married guys that are old enough to be their fathers or grandfathers.

I mean if you have read Vampire Academy its basically the same thing, but the real message is the love doesn't have an age limit..

I feel like people only think of him as much older because Ismae is technically still a teen. If you think of it as 22 and 29 it's the same thing. Personally, they are my favorite couple!

He's between 24-25

Sparkles wrote: "Abigail Black/ Rowe/ Warner/ Holland/ Shaw/ Cipriano/ Stewart/ Herondale x2 wrote: "he is like 24 cause in the book they said that the duchess was born when he was 12 and now she is around 12. soo ..."

I didn't say that duval and ismae's relationship was disgusting! I love them together!

and I shouldn't say that it is disgusting but I really don't think I would ever date a person who is 80 years old( I am 14)

but he isn't 80...he's 24...I know that might seem ancient to some people, but its really not...

he's 24...I know that might seem ancient to some people, but its really not..."

Ouch! If I was 24, that would hurt.

Am I the only one who follows the half plus seven rule for judging whether there's too big of an age gap?
You know- take the age of the oldest person in the relationship, divide it by half and then subtract seven.
If the number you get is less or equal to the age of the younger person in the relationship, the age-gap isn't too bad.

For example, if someone was 18 then the youngest person they (sh)could date would be 16 years old. But if they were 30, they could date someone who was 23. I think this rule helps us keep mental maturity in mind.

That being said, I absolutely loved Duval and Ismae together even though they don't fit into my whole rule. Ismae's maturity definitely has a gravity that can withstand Duval's.

i'm a lot older than 24 - which is why I felt ok saying that ;) because from some of the comments you would think Duval was a doddering old fool

I use that rule too Akansha, as long as the resulting number means they are legal ;)

I agree with Dee and Akansha. he's not that much older than her. ismae is 17-18, duval is 24-25

Akansha wrote: "Am I the only one who follows the half plus seven rule for judging whether the..."

She's only about a year off that, so I'm not sure what the fuss is about. Ismae is OLDER than the duchess!

Luxenlover2001 wrote: "Sparkles wrote: "Abigail Black/ Rowe/ Warner/ Holland/ Shaw/ Cipriano/ Stewart/ Herondale x2 wrote: "he is like 24 cause in the book they said that the duchess was born when he was 12 and now she i..."

In that time and day it was different. Girls used to get married at young ages because they were pretty mature by then. They were usually able to do regular household activities unlike now...
So I guess back then, it wasn't as weird, then it is now.

Although, honestly, if you told me a freshman and senior were going out, I would shudder.

I think Duval is about 24-25, and Ismae is 20, because she was 17 in 1485, in the prologue, and after three years in the convent in 1488 she got sent on a mission to the duchess.