#Robin LaFevers

[lady-sybella]

—Mortal Heart, Robin LaFevers

[elliepassmore]

Grave Mercy review

4/5 stars Recommended if you like: fantasy, Medieval fantasy, assassins, political intrigue TW child marriage, assault/abuse, attempted SA I first read this when I was 13 and haven't read it since, so it was a shock to go back and realize just how young Ismae is when the book opens. I do think LaFevers could've done to age her up a little (and Sybella in her book). Even 15 or 16 would be better (still bad, but better). Luckily, Ismae is only 13/14 for the first chapter or so, after which she's 17, though at times she reads older. I really like the concept of a convent for assassins. There are so many intriguing possibilities there and we get glimpses of the lessons Ismae and her peers get in fighting, poisoning, and seduction. While we spend only a brief time at the convent, I'm definitely intrigued by the goings-on there and wish the book explored that setting a bit more. The reasoning behind certain things in this book is a little confusing for me and I wish there was a more thought-out explanation. The convent trains assassins who are fiercely loyal to Brittany and their young duchess, which is fine and good, but then it's cloaked in this idea that Mortain wants them to be patriotic because keeping Brittany independent keeps him alive since the French would stamp out their religious practices. I can understand one position, protect the duchess and Brittany as a whole, or the other, serve Mortain, but the way they were combined is a little weird to me. I mean it does make sense, but the way it's been put together just doesn't quite fit. That being said, I loved seeing Ismae put her training and abilities to use. As a novitiate about to be ordained, Ismae is only just coming into a lot of her Mortain-gifted skills, such as the ability to read souls and see the marque of death. As a result, we get to learn a lot alongside Ismae as she goes through trial and error on her mission and discovers that some of her abilities are more complex than she, and the convent, initially thought. I also liked reading about Ismae's assassin skills and think she does a good job keeping it subtle while still managing to get the job done. Ismae herself is determined to do her job protecting the duchess and Brittany. She's a good assassin and is able to put her skills to multiple uses, from actually killing people to snooping to soothing a sick child. What perhaps stands out the most is her intense loyalty to Duchess Anne and to her sisters in arms. Despite being raised in an abusive household, then sent to a loving convent of assassins, Ismae has a gentle soul and wants to see justice done. Duvall is a mirror to Ismae, though not an assassin, and is equally, if not more so, dedicated to keeping Duchess Anne safe and Brittany independent. He comes off as pretty gruff at first, for good reason, and he's infinitely suspicious of Ismae when they first get paired together. As the book goes on, however, it's clear that his suspicion and gruffness are just the surface and underneath he has clear love for the young duchess and his other friends. Duval is a strategist and I enjoyed the scenes where he's laying out plans or trying to puzzle something out. The romantic pairing in this book is, obviously, Ismae and Duval. There is insta-lust going on there, but at least it takes them most of the book to get together, which is at least a few months. Ismae is skittish due to her past, busy trying to protect Anne, and has her duties to the convent, which does keep a lot of the romance at bay, but I do like the two of them together and think they work well. There are a lot of court politics going on in this book. Ismae spends the majority of it in Rennes with Anne and Duval, where there are schemes upon schemes. The French are hovering at the borders and Anne desperately needs to make a marriage match in order to secure troops. On top of that, the chancellors of the Privy Council have their own agendas, only some of which map onto what Anne wants/needs. There are a lot of layers to unravel here and schemes within schemes. I enjoyed reading about the politics and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Overall, I enjoyed this read and loved reading about Ismae again. I think Ismae could've been aged up a bit without impacting the story, especially since she often reads as older than she is, but I still enjoyed the politicking.

[sarcasmiclife]

Me trying to seduce him:

[lockedinabookstore]

Beast and Sybella are bi4bi

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: Courting Darkness

Author: Robin LaFevers

Series or standalone: series

Publication year: 2019

Genres: fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, romance

Blurb: Sybella has always been the darkest of Death's daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice...but she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella's fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent...provided Sybella can find them. Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she's supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands...even if it means ignoring the long-awaited orders from the convent. As Sybella and Gen's paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife's edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Mortal Heart | Author: Robin LaFevers | Publisher: Clarion Books (2018)

[annafromuni]

Let Death's Assassins Thrive in Robin LaFevers's Grave Mercy

I read this many moons ago but there is something that’s calling me to reread the His Fair Assassin trilogy. Robin LaFevers’s Grave Mercy is a historical fiction young adult fantasy novel rife with political tensions. In a time when women had no autonomy, Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, a convent where…

[revvethasmythh]

trying to find the physical copy of the book i'm currently listening to, and wishing i could have put an air tag on the damn thing. given the highly limited locations a simple book could be in in my home, you'd think i would be able to locate this one, but no apparently not

[obi-wann-cannoli]

Sometimes you reread a book from your teen years and realize it simply wasn’t that good but sometimes you realize it *is* that good and you were right to be obsessed with it.

[author-a-holmes]

Ironically, I was only talking about this today.

It's been a while since a book surprised me with a plot twist. Not because the books I've been reading are badly written, but because usually I can see where the plot is leading and can make educated guesses either based on the clues the author has left, or based on who I would write it. Enough to give me a rough idea, at least.

But yesterday I read a book called Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (The link is to the book's Goodreads page) that actually managed to blindside me. And not by being stupid either. Not by pulling some last minute trick out of the hat that makes no sense. No, this book tricked me by being clever. The author left clues that made me assume one path, and had me entirely overlooking the clues she'd left that explained the path the plot actually took.

Suffice to say, I was very impressed.

All this to say that yes, being a writer is painful. It can make the consumption of our favourite media a struggle and, sometimes even, less enjoyable. The phrase "ignorance is bliss" springs to mind.

But keep some hope alive! Because we can still find joy and surprises in well crafted stories. They may be harder to track down, or find, but they're out there, and they can all teach us something new.

I've never seen a red herring pulled quite so masterfully as Grave Mercy managed. I'm sure it's more common in mysteries or thrillers, but in a fantasy it was a highly pleasant surprise, and it's left me with no small amount of inspiration for my own works!

It's wonderful to be a writer but also PAINFUL that it gives more of an objective view on a lot of media

Sometimes i want to enjoy things that are flawed but my Deeper Understanding Of Writing makes it HARDER

[lady-sybella]

ISMAE RIENNE

Grave Mercy, Robin Lafevers

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🗡️ What To Read After Watching My Lady Jane

❓ Have you watched My Lady Jane yet OR what's the last adaptation you watched (and was it any good)?

🗡️ Grave Mercy - Robin Lafevers 🗡️ And I Darken - Kiersten White 🗡️ Romanov - Nadine Brandes

🗡️ The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee 🗡️ Earls Trip - Jenny Holiday 🗡️ My Fine Fellow - Jennieke Cohen

🗡️ Before We Disappear - Shaun David Hutchinson 🗡️ The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels - India Holton 🗡️ A Curse So Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer

🗡️ The Princess Bride - William Goldman 🗡️ An Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason - Virginia Boecker 🗡️ Squire - Tamora Pierce

🗡️ Cake Eater - Allyson Dahlin 🗡️ Stalking Jack the Ripper - Kerri Maniscalco 🗡️ Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard

🗡️ Powerless - Lauren Roberts 🗡️ Serpent & Dove - Shelby Mahurin 🗡️ Once Upon a Broken Heart - Stephanie Garber

🗡️ The Shadows Between Us - Tricia Levenseller 🗡️ From Blood and Ash - Jennifer L. Armentrout 🗡️ Cinder - Marissa Meyer

🗡️ The Empress - Gigi Griffis 🗡️ Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess - Nancy Springer 🗡️ My Contrary Mary - Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

[littlereadsandteas]

February 2016

The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley is a stirring and imaginative read that will captivate young readers who love adventure, mystery, and fantasy, especially those who enjoy stories about found family, quirky characters, and clever twists on beloved fairy tales.

The Banished of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler is a electrifying and empowering tale that will captivate readers who crave strong, complex heroines, magical world-building, and high-stakes adventures, making it a perfect fit for fans of fantasy and young adult fiction who enjoy stories of self-discovery, rebellion, and the struggle for power.

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows is a captivating read for fans of complex, slow-burning fantasy romance and intricate world-building, particularly those who enjoy stories about strong, determined heroines navigating the blurred lines between loyalty, identity, and forbidden love.

Flunked by Jen Calonita is a perfect fit for young readers who crave a lighthearted, adventurous tale of self-discovery and friendship, set in a magical world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and the possibilities for excitement and growth are endless.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith is a perfect fit for readers who crave a unique blend of classic romance, witty humor, and riveting adventure, with a dash of horror and fantasy, making it a must-read for anyone who loves a good zombie apocalypse, Regency-era charm, and a strong, feisty heroine.

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers is a captivating read for fans of historical fantasy and romance, particularly those who enjoy stories about strong, independent heroines, assassins, and the mystical world of gods, who will be swept away by Annith's daring adventure and forbidden love.

Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon by Rena Rocford is a gripping and heartwarming tale that will captivate readers who crave a story of self-discovery, friendship, and empowerment, particularly those who enjoy young adult fantasy adventures with a strong focus on female protagonists and the complexities of identity.

Storygraph

[pathologicalreid]

what are your favorite books??

this is an incredibly difficult question. it depends on who's asking.

if im talking to like. a normal person. then i usually say something along the lines of alias grace by margaret atwood or the haunting of hill house by shirley jackson. i love both of them so dearly.

BUT if i'm talking to. someone who wouldn't judge me (i.e. the people of tumblr) i'd say the percy jackson series, the sky is everywhere by jandy nelson, or like. grave mercy by robin lafevers.

[displayheartcode]

hello! i see u have a lot of book recs so i thought id ask if you have an political fantasies (court intigue, preferably ya) recs... its a very niche genre ik lol but something like the folk of the air series / house of the dragon vibes

otherwise, book recs where the main character is ambitious + morally grey? doesnt matter genre (think kaz brekker, thomas shelby, jude duarte vibes) once again, specific but im in such a reading slump rn lol

I get what you mean!

Here are some fantasy books that are heavy in politics – and moral ambiguity! Happy reading!

*Please check content warnings for several of these books beforehand*

YA

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

White Cat by Holly Black

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

This Brilliant Death by AR Capetta

Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Three Dark Crowns by Kendra Blake

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

Crossover Appeal

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie

Babel by RF Kuang

The Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Dark Triumph | Author: Robin LaFevers | Publisher: Clarion Books (2018)