7. lip 2014.

Mini-reviews: Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

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Book summary: 
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?
         As usually I'm late for the party because I always wait too long to start a series. Grave Mercy is one of those books that everyone is talking about and you must live under a rock not to hear about it. I have on multiple occasions but considering this is a book about assassins I knew it'd be a right match for me.

          This book takes to Brittany in century and time of great intrigues and fights between courts. Ismae,a girl who managed to escape her father and survive all the years of torture is now ready for a new period in her life. Convent of St. Mortain is not only a nunnery but also a school for assassins, girl assassins who were very valuable for courts and nobles at the time. Being sent for a assignment is a dream for them all, but three friends Ismae, Sybella and Annith (you will notice that they are narrators each book in this series) and after Sybella leaves Ismae has finally got a chance. She has to play a deadly game and make sure that she is on the right side, especially when there is so many sides.

         Ismae is a character I connected with right away. I could feel her pain of being abandoned and tortured all her life and her ambition and eagerness to kill stands on right basis. But despite that she is merciful and it was so good to see her out of her element, even though it was obvious.

         That leads us to only one problem I had with this book, it's predictability. This is one of those books you know the ending as soon as you crack the first page. But despite that world and charters building was highly enjoyable.

Rating: 4 stars.

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Book summary:
When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

         The biggest surprise for me while going through some reviews for Dark Triumph was that people generally enjoyed it more than Grave Mercy while here I am wishing Ismae back. I do understand the switch in narration as Ismae's story is right where it should be and we definitely need Sybella to show us another side of the story so we can have the whole picture. Only problem for me was that Sybella wasn't someone I connected with.

          Like Ismae, Sybella has been through hell and back while growing up. Always used and without real protection especially as her father changed wives like some people change shoes. She never had a strong maternal figure to lead her trough life. For that she is used to protecting herself but even being strong and independent her father is not someone she will tackle easily. But now she has new purpose and covenant and her friends give her strength she never had and with that she meets someone who show her that vengeance is not the only feeling there is.

           My only struggle here was that at moments I felt like Sybella's character is taken too far and her life is so dark that I have no idea how she get out of that sane. I wasn't sure I could  admire her inhuman strength as it was too much to take in.

           But next book Mortal Heart will be about Annith and her situation is the most interesting to me for many reasons and I truly hope it'll put some new light on the story.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Until the next time,

41 komentar:

  1. Yay! I am so glad you read these! I love this series and even though it can be slow at times it really is a wonderful series with the historic and paranormal blend, not to mention the romance!

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    1. Yes it's truly great and I cannot wait to read the third. Thanks, Ali :)

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  2. I still haven't read this series yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to reading Grave Mercy. It sounds like exactly the kind of books I like to read. Plus, I love a understandable, connecting protagonist. :) Great review!

    Cindy @ In This World of Books..

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    1. I really hope you'll get to read it soon. Thanks, Cindy :)

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  3. I have read Grave Mercy a few years back when it came out and I loved it at that time. I'm looking forward to reading Dark Triumph as well. I'm glad you liked the books. Lovely reviews, Tanja!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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    1. I really hope you'll enjoy Dark Triumph :) Thanks, Sarika :)

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  4. I adore this series, and was one of those who loved book two even more..in fact I gave it my first and only 6 coffee cup rating..LOL. It's hard when you don't connect with a character, it is a real game changer. I am glad you read these!

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    1. This series has been on my to-read for a long time. Glad to see a couple of thumbs up reviews here.

      Terri M.
      Second Run Reviews

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    2. LOL Kim that tells me a lot about your love for this one! :) Thanks.

      Terri I really hope you'll get to read it soon :)

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  5. Ooh I have been wanting to read these ones! I will definitely be reading them sometime soon--hopefully before the end of the year.

    Brilliant reviews! <33

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    1. I really hope you'll read them soon. Thanks, Mel :)

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  6. Oh you know I heard a lot about the first one but it's true that it's the first time I hear about the second one. I'm glad you had a good time with them.

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    1. I really hope you'll find some time to read them. Thanks, Melliane :)

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  7. You've rated these books quite high, and all is looking good! I might try them out some time as well, and I love the covers. Thank you for the reviews <3

    Check out my post about keyboards: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/06/if-keyboards-could-talk.html

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    1. I'm glad you like them and I really hope you'll give them a try. Thanks, Olivia :)

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  8. Yay! So glad you enjoyed Grave Mercy. So many people have told me to read book 2 because they claim it's even better, haha! I already have it on my shelf and ready to be read. You're the first person I know who liked Grave Mercy more! I'm still glad you were able to find goof points about both. :D

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    1. LOL I have no idea what's wrong with me, but somehow the first one was closer to me. Thanks, Aimee :)

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  9. I'm right there with you - haven't started this series yet either! I'm always behind it seems! I'm really glad you're enjoying the series though - I think I will too. I mean assassins! What's not to love?

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    1. I really hope you will. But be careful, once you start you won't be able to stop. Thanks, Berls :)

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  10. Awesome that you were able to enjoy these two books, Tanja (even if the second one dropped a half star :P). I think I started the first book but stopped somewhere arund 30 or so percent, and then forgot about it. I really need to get myself back to it though because everyone's waiting for the third book and are fangirling about it and I feel so alone in my ignorance .-. In any case, thanks for the reviews! I'll definitely try them again!

    Faye at The Social Potato Reviews

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    1. Yeah I couldn't take a whole star from it ;) I think you should go on with it as it really gets interesting. Thanks, Faye :)

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  11. I've heard a lot about this series, but wasn't sure it's my thing. I'm glad you liked it, despite predictability.

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    1. I really hope you'll give it a try. Thanks, Andrea :)

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  12. I finally listened to the audiobook for Grave Mercy last summer and really liked it, I haven't done the sequel but I need to. I am sorry that you didn't like it as much, but hopefully you will enjoy the third.

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    1. I hope you'll get to read/listen to the second one soon. Thanks, Heidi :)

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  13. I wasn't a huge fan of Grave Mercy but wound up loving Dark Triumph, though I can see where you struggled with it. I'm so glad you finally joined the bandwagon, though, Tanja -- fantastic reviews!

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    1. It's so interesting that many people loved Dark Triumph more really. Thanks, Keertana :)

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  14. Happy to hear you finally got to start this series and enjoyed it =) It's too bad the second book switched narrators, I always hate when that happens. I think I'm the only person who's not interested in reading these whatsoever at all...

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    1. It's really good that they did it here, but still I liked the first narrator a bit more. Thanks :)

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  15. Lovely reviews Tanja, isn't it great when we start a series that we've been wanting to read for ages and we wonder why we didn't start sooner? I've wanted to read these books for a while, so hopefully I will soon <3

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    1. I really hope you'll get to read them soon. Thanks, Jeann :)

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  16. I read Grave Mercy back when it first came out, and I really liked it, but I haven't gotten around to reading Dark Triumph yet. I'm a bit worried now though, b/c I tend to agree that TOO much dark is . . . too much dark. I mean, how do you come back from that?

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

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    1. Yeah I have the same issue. I really hope you'll read it despite that. :)

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  17. I love this series so I'm happy to see you picked it up, Tanja. I could relate to Ismae's feelings and character as well, but I think I enjoyed Dark Triumph a little more. Such an unexpected romance, but you're right, it was a darker story. Great reviews! I hope we both love Mortal Heart. :)

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    1. That detail in DT was so amazing. Thanks, Rachel :)

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  18. I'm glad to see you enjoyed both books! I liked Dark Triumph a bit more than Grave Mercy, but really both books were awesome, haha. So excited for the new book!

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  19. I loved the first book! But you have one up on me, beacause I've had the second book forever and still haven't started yet. Guess I'd better hurry before book 3 is out. I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Tanja!

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. I really hope you'll get to read it soon. Thanks, Wendy :)

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  20. I'm one of those who liked the second book even better :P But I did love both. Anyways, I definitely understand because I was expecting more from Ismae as well. Sybella took a lot of getting used to.

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    1. Yes somehow I couldn't connect with her. Thanks Alise :)

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