The Ninja Reviews....Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Ismae, the daughter of a turnip farmer, grows up hated and feared among her village. When her father arranges a marriage to a brutal man, Ismae escapes to the convent of St. Mortain, the Old God of Death. The sisters here serve Mortain as his handmaidens of death, and Ismae must choose whether to serve Him or go back into the hateful world of men.

She desides to train as an assasin, taking the reigns of her own life as she vows to serve justice to others in the name of the God of Death. Her path leads her to an important assignment in the high court of Brittany where she must play games of politics, intrigue, and espionage. She accompanies the Knight Duval, who has his own reasons for throwing himself into Brittany's welfare, trying to save the Duchy from French invasion. Together, Duval and Ismae are faced with near impossible odds, fighting foes both visible and invisible, until Death hands down an edict that Ismae cannot fathom.
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Well ninjalings, I told you back in December that this book was on my must read list. I am lucky enough that Ninja Amanda was given the advanced copy at the American Library Association winter meeting held in Dallas. I DEVOURED this book in two days. Lately the last few books I have read have been somewhat blah, with poorly written characters or a stuttering plot line that left me feeling crummy.

I'm happy to say that Grave Mercy has cured me. This book reads a bit like a mix between historical fiction and romance, though it really is not either one. I found it to be so full of politics, back-stabbing and spying that I did not find the history overwhelming. There is just enough romance and strong-female characters that you feel enticed to read more. But what I was really excited about was the thoughtful writing and smart characters. Ismae especially intrigued me and I felt was fully fleshed out in the book. She is damaged goods but is eager to prove herself to her convent. Her faith at first is unwavering, but as the plot moves forward she begins to explore her beliefs, questioning her convent training while remaining faithful. This to me makes her a true heroine - standing up for herself and keeping her faith while actively seeking out answers.

Oh, and there are assasin nuns people....assasin nuns.