Impressive Debut Young Adult Fantasy- Grave Mercy

GRAVE MERCY (His Fair Assassin Trilogy, Book 1)
Robin LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
April 2012


Set in late 15th century Brittany, then it's own sovereignty, now a province of France, Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is a very impressive debut YA Fantasy. Part of a projected trilogy, it is firmly rooted in history with very strong fantasy elements.


The strong young heroine, Ismae, is rescued from an unloved and abusive childhood and even more abusive forced marriage to a pig farmer by the local parish priest. As far as she knows she just the daughter of a farmer but she knows that her father has always hated her and made her life miserable. Anything is better than what she has known so when the Abbess of the Convent of St. Mortain tells her she is the daughter of Mortain, God of Death, and she is to be trained as an assassin in his service, she embraces her training completely. "Why be the sheep when you can be the wolf?"


Trained in the poisoner's art and all other methods of assassination, she is sent out on her first mission at the age of 17 after about 3 years of training. Having succeeded in the mission the Abbess sends her on a more important mission to the court of Anne, Duchess of Brittany who is besieged on all sides by importunate suitors and the Envoy of France. France would very much like to absorb Brittany. Under the terms of a treaty, the King of France must approve any marriage she makes. Accompanying her is Gavriel Duval, a courtier loyal to Anne (and Anne's illegitimate half-brother). The Abbess wants her to watch him and any of Anne's advisers for signs of disloyalty.If they manifest the "marque," a dark shadow on the skin placed there by Mortain, she is to dispatch them.


The novel really shines after Gavriel and Ismae arrive at court. It seems that everyone is involved in some sort of intrigue and possible double-dealing. As Ismae grows closer to Gavriel, she begins to wonder about the motivations of the Abbess and her purposes. Perhaps there is a more positive way for Ismae to use her burgeoning powers. In the absence of the "marque," can she move against Anne's enemies? And has the Abbess told her everything she needs to know? And who of those close to Anne is at the heart of treasonous activity?


The combination of a strong heroine, a selfless hero and a intricate mystery should appeal to the older end of the spectrum of Young Adult readers, and adults as well. Anne of Brittany is an actual historical figure who did have the marital difficulties described in the novel, but St. Mortain is completely fictional. However, it was common for the Catholic Church to integrate local pagan deities into worship as saints when wooing converts to Christianity in Europe. Grave Mercy is a exciting and promising debut for a new trilogy. I particularly like the positive new direction for Ismae and her understanding of her mission as a Daughter of Mortain.  


Thanks to Houghton Mifflin and netgalley for access to a digital copy of Grave Mercy.




Rating 3.5 stars