Grave Mercy

His Fair Assassin, Book 1

By: Robin LaFevers

Narrated by: Rachel Frawley

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's 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?

©2012 Robin LaFevers (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Accent so awful I can't finish listening

I've got well over 200 audiobooks and I've only ever returned a handful over the last 10+ years. This is going to be one because unfortunately the narrator is affecting a terrible British accent that is, to me, unbearable after just seven chapters.

Why they didn't just have her use her regular speaking voice, or hire someone with the actual British accent they mainly wanted I don't understand.

I cannot comment on the entirety of the plot because I couldn't much concentrate on it due to the painful voice acting. The premise was intriguing and the political aspect was shaping up to be interesting, but I already wasn't liking "abused female protagonist falls for brusque but deep down actually a good guy" romance; it's tired and such a "not all men" vibe anymore.

I would be interested in checking this book out from the library and reading it, but sadly due to asking a bit too much from the narrator, for now it's a pass.

Good premise, poorly executed

This was a book club book.

The story starts strong with the reader being thrust right into the action.

Then however after a short what feels like a movie training montage of her time at the convent, we get introduced to
Duval. It becomes an obvious romance rather than an interesting political intrigue story.
The author chose to narrate from the main character’s point of view, which can be fun, if the MC is witty and the reader excellent. To hear the MC constantly fantasize and ogle Duval, and acting awkward gets annoying rather quickly.

The story had a lot of potential. I was somewhat sad at the execution of it.