Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?
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| robinlafevers.com |
If that isn’t enough of a compelling tagline, then I don’t
know what is. Robin LaFevers’s Grave
Mercy is her first installment in her debut series His Fair Assassin, containing various elements that attract
audiences of all sorts: the history junkies, the action fans, the romance
lovers, and anyone who just appreciates a strong, capable heroine who don’t
need no man unless she wants one. Why? Because she’s an assassin who can defend
herself just fine. That’s right.
In fifteenth-century Brittany, a time when the region
struggles to remain independent amidst conflicting interests and political
corruption, Ismae Rienne is introduced as a poor, abused farmer girl who learns
she is blessed with a dark identity and violent destiny: she is an actual
daughter of Death himself, and must serve him and learn from the institution
devoted solely to him—the convent of St. Mortain, the patron god of death.
It is here where Ismae transforms into one of Death’s most
skilled handmaidens, female assassins trained in the arts of defense,
seduction, and espionage that prepare them to be the perfect predators until
they are finally ready to take on murder assignments. When the abbess of the
convent bestows upon Ismae the responsibility to serve the interests of and
protect of the duchess of Brittany, she finds herself masquerading as a
mistress of the cynical Gavriel Duval, the duchess’s most trusted advisor. Her
assignment is to observe the corrupt happenings of court and uncover and kill
the traitor among friends who tries to sabotage Brittany’s independence.
However, as Ismae spends more time away from the sisters of St. Mortain, their
tight grasp on their assassin begins faltering once she discovers and
experiences life outside of the convent. Throughout this journey, Ismae’s duty
grows cloudier as she feels a vast array of emotions she never thought were
possible and poses questions she never thought to ask. Her story, which begins
predominantly as a female empowerment tale, gradually becomes much more than
what was expected.
For those who shirk the idea of lofty historical fiction or
frown upon a YA author’s attempt at the genre, release those judgments at once.
This book does not only showcase the author’s knowledge and familiarity with
the time period, but bends the genre into the fantasy category without being
too overdramatic. I’m usually a big fan of historical fiction pieces, but
LaFevers style and ideas made me love it even more. The way she introduces the
convent of St. Mortain and his handmaidens is so sleek and compelling, not only
in the smooth introduction of characters and vivid world building they present,
but also in that awesome femme fatale vibe that everyone loves and is
believable even in fifteenth-century Europe. Having the main character grow up
from her lowly beginnings to a lethal assassin really makes Ismae a well
developed and interesting character to follow—she’s spunky, strong, and a daughter
of Death for crying out loud. It would be hard not to develop a girl-crush on
her— she is that cool.
And of course, there is the love aspect to consider in this
novel. For those who are bored with the hackneyed, romantic clichés that most
books seem to put forth these days, the romantic development in this book
really feels like a breath of fresh air to me. It isn’t too forced, isn’t that
love-at-first-sight crap— it is a match between equals and a natural
progression in the story rather than its driving point.
Overall, this book has many things to offer besides all the
things I have listed. It deals not only with overcoming weakness to discover
your strength, but covers a lot of issues that modern teens face everyday: the
weight of responsibility, independence, trust, the freedom to act as your own,
and finally discovering your identity and purpose and taking it into your own
hands. So if you ever wish to read something empowering, see a girl kick ass
because it’s literally her calling, brush up on some history, or take a break
from those hot dystopias, then I definitely recommend you pick this book up and
read.
Written by Janella Angeles
