Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly 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?
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Sexual Content - 3/5
3/5
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Violence - 3/5
3/5
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Language - /5
/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 2/5
2/5
Summary
Wow! Grave Mercy- an engaging, fast-paced, and richly historical (if rather lengthy) read. I was originally drawn to this book for one reason alone- I stumbled across a review for it in which the reviewer mentioned that this particular novel's plot was nuns as assassins. I was intrigued, to say the least. And I wasn't disappointed. Not only did this book contain actual old ladies in habits mixing poisons and stuffing sharp objects into their bodices, it actually had a decent plot that didn't cause me to roll my eyes even once (which is all I ask for in a book these days). And if you're an advocate of female empowerment, this is your book. All the female characters in this book had independent, not-dealing-with-your-manly-shenanigans attitudes. The action was ever-present and while the plot started out a little slow, it picked up speed like someone's spit falling from a fifth-story window. To sum up this book, I'd like to make use of the excellent tagline on the novel's front cover- why be the sheep when you can be the wolf? Why be a defenseless sheep of a book when you could be a big, awesome wolf of a story- like Grave Mercy? If that makes sense. I'm recommending this book to anyone looking for an engrossing, intriguing high-fantasy with a very unique storyline.
Violence-This book is violent. People kill without remorse. There is poisoning, stabbing, throat-slitting, and random violence I don't even remember because after a while you stop keeping track of the ways people are dropping dead.
Language-None I can remember
Sexual-The book opens with a scene of domestic assault but it's over very quickly and not especially graphic. Later there is some kissing and a fade-to-black sex scene.
Drug & Alcohol-A few times people become drunk but it is not portrayed in a positive light.