Friday, October 26, 2012

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd

Pages: 496pgs

The Story

Young, beautiful and deadly. Trained as an assassin by the god of Death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself under prepared - not only for the 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?

The Review

GRAVE MERCY was a total win for me right from the very beginning. With such a kick-ass and promising premise, all it really needed was a great and a badassery, variety kind of protagonist and the author, in this case, delivered in every way imaginable, even to my own surprise. I've been waiting for a book like this one for quite some time now in the YA genre and it definitely came at the right time too because I loved it to pieces from the heroine all the way down to its dark, itty gritty side of the 15th century!

The story's main heroine, Ismae, was one of my favourite characters by far this year. With very little effort on the author's part, I was instantly drawn to this deadly, stubborn, strong-willed young woman and I loved every single thing about her. Ismae may have had an awful upbringing and you hated her family for treating her the way they did, but as Ismae is shipped off to a covenant and introduced to the world of assassins, and soon figuring out what kills her makes her stronger to become the person she was always meant to be . . . she became everything that I love in my heroines: A a fiery passion to survive. The thing that separates her from every other heroine I know of today is that she never questions her loyalties and never allows anyone to make her feel weak - not even for a second - she was just being Ismae and let me tell you this Ismae will kick your ass any day if you get in her way!

As far as romances go in YA historical books, this romance was beyond AWESOME and one of the best romances I've read yet this year! I wholeheartedly adored Isame's love interest, Duval, not because he was mysterious and handsome from head to toe (okay, maybe it was part of it), but rather I loved his relationship with Ismae because it was an uneasy alliance between them and it was all about their mission rather than it being about love, love, love. At least at first, which is why I loved these two main characters so, so much. They just clicked together, you know? On a whole other level. Passion and all. With his desire to protect his charge, with his half-sister being the Duchess and with him having this unseemly desire to protect Ismae when his heart is always telling him otherwise, I'm sure many readers will fall for this guy and melt your insides. He sure had that affect on me.

But when you overlook the characters, what I truly loved the most was the historical aspect of the book and the detail it offered to me. Whether you're a fan of history or not, I thought Robin LaFevers painted the perfect picture of the 15th century of Brittany - the whole feel I got from the book gave me chills as if I was right there with the characters. The writing, the attention to details, the clothing people wore and even the mannerisms, and the way people spoke to each other, just felt so real to me in this past setting and it was so easy for me to visualize what people were like back then so . . . I just loved it! But of course, it certainly helps me already being a fan of this certain period so kudos to the author for writing such a book for me to enjoy!

Overall, with a book containing a strong-willed heroine, secret societies, an in-depth storyline and a well developed young romance, along with some classic action and magic and all sorts of political drama that sets things on very high stakes, GRAVE MERCY will definitely appeal to historical readers and even readers of the likes of A Game of Thrones, Shadow and Bone and Graceling! Trust me here: You DON'T want to miss out on this book!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

30 comments:

  1. I LOVED the beginning. It was thrilling, captivating and way badass and I loved it but then as the story progressed, it began to get really political and I just found myself losing interest - fast. Oh and the characters! I couldn't remember them all, there were just way too many for my liking. So after about 150 pages, I sadly decided to put it down.

    I was really looking forward to Grave Mercy and though it didn't work for me, I'm glad to see your such a huge fan of it! Great review :)

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    1. I'm sorry to hear that though I can see why this book may not have worked for everyone considering there's a lot to keep track of. Thanks Rebecca!

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  2. I really need to read this book Erin I have no idea why I haven't picked up yet! The words "assassin nuns" are more than enough to make me want to dive into this one, and then all your talk of the awesome romance has me even more excited. I live for a fabulous romance:) MUST READ IMMEDIATELY! Thanks for the fantastic review:)

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    1. Thanks Jenny! Hope you get to read this soon. Anything with assassins I'm so there for! ;)

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  3. I still haven't gotten round to reading this one! I've heard that it's awesome, and your review has just completely backed that up. I need to read this one soon! Thanks for the brilliant review. :)

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    1. It's definitely awesome. I can tell you that! hehe. Thanks Hollie.

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  4. Hi Erin! I've heard so many amazing things about this one. Sadly, I wasn't able to download it on Netgalley and I can't find copy of it in my country. It sounds really good though. Great review! :)

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    1. I hope you can get a copy of it soon. Thanks!

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  5. Oooooooooh yes!!! This is a winner review! woohooo! Im SO happy you joined the Grave Mercy fanclub! lol
    I totally love this book (this one is definitely on my top ten) and I cant wait for the next one to come out! kyaaaaaa
    As you said, this is full of total badassery! <33333
    Marvelous review! <3

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    1. Thank you! Everything about this book was awesome . . . so let's hope the sequel has just as much badassery as the first. I'm sure it will. ;)

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  6. All I can say is, "RIGHT?!" to this review because I'm in complete agreement. It was such a winning combination of everything I love and I can only hope the next book in the series is just as excellent. Amazing review!

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    1. I know it had everything I love in a book so I too hope the sequel lives up to my very high expectations. Thanks Steph!

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  7. OMGGGGGGGGGG I feel like a complete idiot for having owned this for almost a year now and not having read it sooner!!! Strong-willed and badass heroine? Awesome ROMANCE?!? Okayyyyy I'll DEFINITELY be reading this be soon!

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    1. Say WHAT?! You must read this asap Shirley!!! It's life or death here . . . okay maybe not that drastic but still . . . you MUST! haha.

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  8. I haven't heard much about this one yet, but I do enjoy historical fiction from time to time and the romance in this one sounds great! :)

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    1. If you love anything with historical in it, you'll love this.

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  9. I’ve heard so many great things about Grave Mercy back at the time it came out, and I always wondered whether it was something I would like. But I really think it is, and after your review you have just made me want to read it so much more.

    ALSO YOU CHANGED YOUR HEADER! I like I like I like!

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    1. I'm glad to hear it. I wasn't sure about this book either but I mostly got it because of the great things I heard about it. Good job I listened. So passing my good judgement onto you now. hehe.

      Yup my banner has changed. I love it. :)

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  10. ASSASSIN NUNS!!

    Sorry, I feel the need to shout that (caps lock it?) every time I see this book ;) That should be the whole marketing plan... DONE.

    I'm so glad you loved this one too, Erin! What you said about Ismae is just spot-on. You've totally nailed what I loved about her, reasons that I didn't even realize :) And yes, the historical detail was fantastic! It was accurate without dragging down the story.

    Great review! <3

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    1. ASSASSIN NUNS indeed! The marketing department are brilliant right? hehe.

      Ismae was so awesome and - gosh I just loved this book. I could go on forever about this book haha. Thanks Sonia!

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  11. This book has been on my shelf forever and I have no idea why haven't I read it. Great review and I have no doubts that this is an awesome book. I hope to get to read it soon!

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    1. ERIN ERIN ERIN ERIN ERIN. I AM SO HAPPY YOU LOVED THIS. I've been CRAZY excited to read this and every review I read just makes me a thousand times more eager.

      Ismae sounds so BADASS and I love the way you describe the romance and it being more about their 'mission rather than it being about love, love, love'. I mean, gushy romance? SIGN ME UP, for sure. But I do prefer when it's not the PRIMARY focus and things feel more realistic. Everything about Grave Mercy screams READ MEEEEEEE, BROOOOOOOOOOODIE. I must cave in. Soon. VERY SOON. Fabulous review!

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  12. I loved this one as well, Erin! It felt like a cross between Poison Study and Gracling, as you mentioned. The romance was wonderful, which is really important to me. Lovely review. :)

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    1. I think that's why I loved it so much. LOVE Poison Study & Graceling! Thanks Rachel!

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  13. I have an ARC of this I've been meaning to get to. I've heard so many awesome things about it and now your review! I can't wait to finally get a chance to read it. Especially since I'm head over heels for Shadow and Bone and Graceling :)

    Jesse @ Pretty in Fiction

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    1. You'll definitely love this if you love Graceling! :)

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  14. FAVORITE CHARACTERS?
    A W E S O M E ROMANCE?

    And... you're comparing it GoT AND Graceling? ERIN. SERIOUSLY. You're going to EXPLODE MY EFFING BRAIN O______O

    I approve :D

    SO glad you loved this, and WOW. You have me SOOOOO excited ♥

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    1. I'm sorry for your brain. Poor brain. haha. >_<

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  15. Fabulous review. Ismae and Duval were indeed incredible. I also loved the history. I felt like it was all real, even the fantasy parts.

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    1. Thank you! I agree. The fantasy parts felt so real to me . . . can't wait to read the sequel.

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