Book Review: Grave Mercy His Fair Assassin
2¢ Worth: This book snared me. From the moment it starts with Ismae (the survivor of an abortion attempt) getting sold to a brute who tries to rape her promptly after their wedding vows, I could not put it down. Like a bug in a spider web I couldn't get out. This story is a 560 page historical fiction but believe it or not, it never seemed to drag to me. In fact, I read it in 1 day. A record for me 'cause I don't do chunksters. I don't know if it was that I connected with Ismae's unyielding spirit or that I just couldn't get enough of Robin LaFevers' world of nobility and charlatans, but once I was in - I was in. 4 stars.
Whippersnappers: The worship of gods, murder, two attempted rapes, and mentions of mistresses and sex.
Wooed:
- Ismae lives in the 15-century. It is a time when women have no say, very few options, and no respect. Her experience with men has been nothing but awful. So I loved watching her feelings for Duval turn from distrust and disdain to attraction, admiration, and amor.
- What great characters. From the mysterious and slightly mad Sybella to the kind yet ugly and battle hungry Beast, Robin's characters are intriguing.
Wondering: Have you read Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin? What do you think of the girl on the cover? Will you be reading Dark Triumph? What do you think of the girl on the cover of Dark Triumph?
Review Copyright © of Tales of Whimsy.com
Loved this book and Yes I will be reading this book too. :) Love the girl on the cover
ReplyDeleteMe too :)
DeleteDo you like the GM or DT cover better?
The cover is stunning but I've not read the novel though I've seen it EVERYWHERE.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWait a moment, did you just say you found time to actually READ, not listen to, a 560 page book? OMG! I'm totally impressed. That's awesome. I've heard lots of great things about this story. It must be great because all my book blogging friends are raving about it. I plan to read it, just not this year. I didn't know about the sequel, I'm sure if I like book 1 I'll plan on reading the second one. The girl on the cover of grave mercy is more innocent looking, the girl on Dark Triumph looks evil and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI know?
DeleteCan you believe it?
Not that Baby Whimsy is crawling but not yet walking (independent but not destroying) I get to read things on my iPod.
But yah 560 pages sorta hurt me.
I had some serious eye strain.
Good point on the covers.
Your description totally fits the girls.
560 pages in 1 day! It's officially on my reading wishlist!
ReplyDeleteYay!
Delete:)
I'm with Bluerose...560 pages in one day... that says it all. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say that this looks just like something I would totally get sucked into.
It's on my list!!
~Liz
P.S. The girl on the cover looks like she fell into a time warp...But she looks like she is ready to kick some butt and take names later. :)
:)
DeleteYay! So glad to hear that.
As for the cover, you have a point :)
She kinda does doesn't she?
I'm queing it up next. I can tell by your review that you loved it.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteRight? For such a big book, I zipped right through it! And I wanted more! (Duval!!! Their slow-burn romance...gah! *melts*)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Sybella's story: I want to know if the knight in the story is Beast or not. As for the covers, I love the GRAVE MERCY one but I only somewhat like DARK TRIUMPH (the girl's face for me is slightly off).
Right? Me too! *high five*
DeletePersonally, I don't know how Miss Thang held out so long.
As for Beast, yes yes yes me too! *fingers crossed* I need more Beast. Especially after learning he's an awesome kisser.
I was just telling Senator, I love the Dark Triumph cover because she's off. I get to so tired of pretty girl covers. :)
But I do love the Grave Mercy cover. It's so butt kicking good!
I KNOW. I was like, Ismae, what are you doing GO AFTER HIM HE'S WAITING. *sighs dreamily* Duval was so awesome.
DeleteLOL, not gonna lie, that got me excited too. Will the Beast get his beauty? xD
That's true: the pretty girl covers are everywhere. But idk, I didn't imagine Sybella like the girl on the cover. I'll probably get used to it once I read the story though. :)
Yes exactly! :)
DeleteRight? Beast needs some loving!
Good point. I don't think I imagined Sybella quite like that either. :)
lol, I could NOT get through this one, but I know a ton of people, like you, loved it madly. I do have to say I like this cover over the next one. I think it's the red dress...
ReplyDeleteYou're like Cari, she didn't dig it either.
DeleteThat is a fly dress.
I think I like book Dark Triumphs cover more because the girl is less pretty and looks more insane.
Yay, I loved this one so much, too! And I do credit part of it with having to do with the strength of Ismae's character, as well. I'm a little bummed that we won't get to continue with Ismae and Duval's story, but I am placated that we'll get to see Sybella's side of the story, which should be interesting! And I have a feeling Beast will be involved somehow seeing as how he was captured there... Exciting! And I'm not really a fan of seeing characters faces on covers, to be honest. Though I don't HATE these covers.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean.
DeleteI'm hoping we get to know more about them (Ismae & Duval) as side characters in the next book. *finger crossed*
On Sybella - me too! Since the moment we meet her in the sleeping area I've been fascinated by her. I'm itching to know what's her past and what they sent her to do. I'm SO hoping Beast is involved. I sorta love him.
I haven't read the book, but it's on the wishlist (as so many are). I can't wait to read this book! It sounds so..different. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really is. The whole gods things was totally new to me too. :)
DeleteTerrific review & I must say -- I LOVE that cover!!
ReplyDeleteRight? Me too! She's such a kick butt chica :)
DeleteWow, it sounds great! I've seen it around but didn't know what it was about. I'll definitely add it to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteYay :)
DeleteI love the cover and I know so many people who love it but I was not one of them. I listened to it on audio and about half way through it I just gave up. I didn't feel the story grabbed me and the audio was really long. I don't event think it was the narrator. Anyway I think I'm one of the few people who didn't enjoy this book.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember you mentioning that on Twitter.
Delete:)
I feel that way about Night Circus. Everyone loved it but I just couldn't get into it.
No I haven't read Grave Mercy yet but reading from your review, I ought to try it... :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteGlad that the characters were great! They sound intriguing...I'll definitely have to check this out, especially since it's historical fiction (I'm a sucker for books that have historical settings).
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Juju! :)
Thanks sugar :)
DeleteThen you're definitely going to like it.
Wow....great review Juju! Yeah...chunksters are a commitment of sorts because I for one do not like to start a book without following it through. Sounds like it made an impression indeed! As for the cover, I like it...very striking with a take-charge attitude.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThey do take allot of commitment.
Something I rarely do.
;)
Great review! I love that it takes place during the 15th century and the characters sound really good. I'll definitely be adding this to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteGoody! Knowing how you love HF, you're actually one of the first people I thought of when I started this one :)
DeleteWow! I have seen this book all over but never read any of the reviews. I had no idea that's what it was about! It does sound good. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I didn't either until I picked it up :) Odd!
DeleteI've heard nothing but good things about this one Juju! I'm hoping to find time for it in the near future, I need to get in on the Ismae action!
ReplyDeleteYes you do :) I like that way you put that.
DeleteThis has been on my to-read list since this summer, and can you believe I still haven't read it yet? Must make time to read this!
ReplyDelete:) Definitely
DeleteI love the cover on this one and I feel like I am the only one who hasn't read it yet...you make it sound like a must read!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Especially for HF fans :)
DeleteI am in awe. How on earth did you find time to get through a book of that size in one day. I think that speaks volumes and I must add it to my already massive TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know :) I basically carried my iPod around like one of those techy addicts ;)
DeleteYay so glad to hear that.
Those unputdownable books are the best! So glad to hear this one was totally captivating and consuming. And I love historical novels, so this one sounds like a winner and definite for the TBR list. And YAY for you having the time to read the whole thing in a day!
ReplyDeleteRight? I'm not really sure how I achieved it. :)
DeleteYay!!! I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
Wahoo my copy just came in the mail! I love anything historical....add an assassin and I'm sold!
ReplyDeleteRandom question but have you every played Assassin's Creed? In teh second one you're in 14th century Italy as an assassin. Pretty badass.
Amber Elise @ Du Livre
Yayyy! *high five*
DeleteGood luck :)
I haven't played Assassin's Creed. Should I? :) I'm off to ask my veteran video gamer (my hubs) about it. :)
Thanks for stopping by sweetie.
Juju, you have intrigued me. YA isn't my fave it has to be really good, and to be a chunkster on top of it, well, the last chunkster I read and was madly in love with was Outlander. I am going to put this on my tbr list :) I like the cover of this one better than the other.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Thanks for sharing with us.
Paula
Yay! I'm so honored. *high five*
DeleteI know what you mean about YA.
DeleteLately, it's felt a bit too formulaic for me.
But not this one.
Oh man Juju I am completely OBSESSED with this book. Like I am trying to get the color of her dress just right for my painting for my shrine level obsessed. :) Also I LOVE this cover, and I like Dark Triumph's too but definitely not as much. So glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDelete:) You're so cute.
DeleteI can not wait for book two!
wow--a chunkster in one day. baby whimsy must have been very good :)
ReplyDeleteShe was :) I think she was sick this day so she was very mellow and cuddly.
DeleteI haven't read this book or the next but now I feel like I should...right away. I can't believe that you managed it in one day. I need to get it asap.
ReplyDeleteYou so should :)
DeleteI know me neither!
I LOVED Grave Mercy. It was slow and plodding yet it could have been another 100 pages and I would have kept reading. I never wanted this book to end!
ReplyDeleteYes! Exactly! That's how I felt. :)
DeleteI have totally never picked this up because I thought it was YA (yes I judged it by it's cover). However, it sounds like a fantastic historical fiction read. I may need to reconsider.
ReplyDeleteYay! It is YA but deeper than regular YA. I think you would like it. ;)
Deleteany book that has a review of couldn't put it down is worth taking a look at! will put that one on my books I intend reading list :)
ReplyDeleteYay :)
DeleteThis is so on my to-read list! Hehe. I am a sucker for historical fiction and your review makes it definitely sound worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteOooo that you will like this one :)
DeleteI LOVED this one!!! I cannot wait for book two! You're right, it was huge but moved so quickly. I also finished it fast. Just could not put that thing down! I loved the concept and the setting, as well as Ismae.
ReplyDeleteRight? Exactly! :) Will you be reading book two?
DeleteThis one definitely sounds interesting! What a gorgeous cover! :)
ReplyDelete:) I think so too.
DeleteSo, I'm thinking I need to give this one a shot. I set it aside because of the historical aspects and the chunkiness, but it sounds great. And any book you read in one day...wow. Great review! And, I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteOh yes! How far did you make it in? :)
DeleteOh this is awesome, amazing review! I'm waiting for my copy to show up in my mailbox any day now & I'm now (even more) excited to get started! Thanks so much for sharing :D
ReplyDeleteNew follower via GFC ♥
Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows
Thanks :)
Delete*fingers crossed* Come on Mr. Postman! ;)