[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”0544022491″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51taGdUInuL._SL160_.jpg” width=”106″][simpleazon-link asin=”0544022491″ locale=”us”]Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin Trilogy)[/simpleazon-link] by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The narrative instantly grabs the reader and never lets go. The author maintains a dark sense of looming danger and impending deception. The romantic tension is well-played. The story also contains intense political mystery, a delicious murder mystery, and intrigue. The connection to death is compelling with the main character, Ismae Rienne (daughter of death), possessing the power to experience someone’s last thoughts, knowing when someone is about to die, and being an assassin in service to death as well. When Ismae begins to question her duties as an assassin, the absoluteness of the marque, and her allegiance to the convent, the story grows even more interesting. I can’t wait to read the next book. Highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy.

Quotes:

“It is the well-tempered blade that is the strongest” (p. 15).

“People hear and see what they expect to hear and see” (p.97).

“I am a handmaiden of Death. I walk in His dark shadow and do His bidding. Serving Him is my only purpose in this life…” (p. 97).

“I can dodge a blow or block a knife. I am impervious to poison and know a dozen ways to escape a chokehold or garrote wire. But kindness? I do not know how to defend against that” (p. 220).