Book Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?

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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

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

“I stare into my own eyes for a moment. Today is the day of the aptitude test that will show me which of the five factions I belong in. And tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide on a faction; I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them.”

For anyone who is an avid fan of The Hunger Games trilogy or just loves a good helping of action-packed dystopia, Veronica Roth’s debut book Divergent definitely earns it place as one of the freshest young adult dystopian novels on the bookshelves.

Set in the futuristic urban environment of Chicago, our heroine, Beatrice “Tris” Prior, lives in a society divided and ruled by five personality-based factions: Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the kind), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), and Abnegation (the selfless). Although separated, these factions work peacefully together in a checks-and-balances fashion that allows everyone to live harmoniously without the consequences of warfare or corruption. The story begins on the day of Tris’s aptitude test, an examination that all sixteen-year-olds of the society are required to take that recommends which faction best suits their character. Because her parents are from Abnegation, Tris has endured a strictly basic lifestyle with her family, a selfless and simple life that has left her feeling more like an outsider than a member of society. Upon this realization comes the allure of the Dauntless, the notoriously dangerous and dare-devilish faction that Tris feels drawn to despite her modest upbringing.

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Ultimately, Tris grapples with her identity and her independence, the choice to stay with her family or to embark on a different path, and the novel traces the shocking reveal of her tests results to the faction she inevitably chooses in the end. Does she choose the faction that she feels safe and familiar with, or the one that can help reinvent her into the person she feels she was meant to be?

Seriously, for anyone who loves dystopia, an action-packed story, or a heroine who isn’t annoying, this book is definitely for you. Dystopia has sky-rocketed to one of the hottest genres in young adult literature, and this book is a clear example of why. For starters, Roth sets the reader in a very grounded environment and society, one that is so creatively and eerily systematic that something is bound to go wrong. This situation gives the opportunity to tell the story of Tris, an unassuming, bullied Abnegation girl who starts to grow into herself through the decisions she makes and the shocking secrets she discovers about her seemingly perfect society. The story doesn't really begin until after she makes her choice of what faction she wanted to choose—but of course I couldn't reveal that little spoiler. 

The book then goes on to trace the initiation process of her chosen faction, where she encounters an interesting handful of characters, along with a mysterious and intense guy (a.k.a. the love interest), who help guide her and the plot line itself. One of the best things about this book is that although there is romance, it does not define the story’s momentum or slap you in the face every other page. While the romance factor is a definite pull for all the love-junkies out there, this book has a lot more to offer than dewy-eyed teenagers repeatedly mooning over each other. Roth has managed to ground real life teen problems within this unbelievable and futuristic setting, such as independence, identity and self-discovery, fear, bullying, parents’ expectations, separation, and more. Roth has even created a pretty strong heroine that people can actually appreciate, one who becomes stronger and tougher in dealing with these real life issues in her surreal world (no Bella Swans in here, I assure you). There is action and good, quick writing in this book, and there are also messages that hint at something in our own society like a precautionary tale. But then again, what did you expect from a dystopia? I promise you, pick this book up and it won’t disappoint.

Written by Janella Angeles