Grave Mercy

Set in the mid-1400s in France, this series starter contains action, court intrigue, romance, and assassin nuns! I read it years ago and it remains a favorite, not only for the beautiful language, but for the strong heroine, Ismae, and her journey from following the rules and doing as she’s been told, to learning how to discern right from wrong and follow the guidance of her own moral compass. This is a book I would love to watch as a movie, not only for the action, but the costumes.

Ismae is trained at the convent of Saint Mortain in France as a daughter of Death. Sent to the high court of Brittany, she must navigate treachery and intrigue while assassinating the marks assigned to her by the convent. As she begins to fall for one of her marks, she starts to question if the convent really speaks for Saint Mortain or for its own interests. I love a dutiful assassin who begins to question her loyalties, which is especially interesting here because being an assassin is part of her religion. This novel blends historical fiction with fantasy, as each… show more.

Ismae is the daughter of Death and trains in the ways of violence, so it’s no surprise when’s she sent deep into Brittany’s high court on an assassination mission. What she doesn’t expect is falling in love with her target. I was fascinated and enthralled by the combination of history and politics, but I fell in love with these courageous and complex young daughters of death.  

This book had me hooked from the first page, and features some of the most captivating world-building I’ve ever read. In France in the middle ages, Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage to a convent where an ancient god is worshiped by warrior nuns. There, she becomes an assassin, killing men whose wickedness marks them for death. But when her violent destiny leads her to the high court of Brittany, she’ll have to team up with a handsome young lord whose motives she doesn’t trust. Treachery, treason, magic, violence, and romance made this a thrilling read, and… show more.

This whole series was a delight—a historical fantasy full of kick-ass young women. Ismae, the heroine of book one, is brave and fierce, the love story feels rich and right, and even with such vivid and extensive world-building, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Assassin nuns—what more do you need to know?

Admittedly, this is more of a school for assassins, but they’re also spies training at a nunnery in ancient Brittany. The medieval setting feels authentic and fascinating. The plot is a little darker, especially in the beginning, but masterfully written. And I fell in love with the characters. Reading these books, I felt as if I was there, experiencing every scene, living through every action, and I can still remember years later. That’s great storytelling!