Sunday Series Review: His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers
Today Kim is reviewing His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers. She rated this series 4 stars.
Books in the Series:
Grave Mercy
Dark Triumph
Mortal Heart
Grave Mercy
Published: April 3, 2012
549 Pages
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?
Dark Triumph
Published: April 2, 2013
385 Pages
I lean forward, pushing my body out past the battlements. The wind plucks at my cloak, buffets against me, as if it would carry me off in flight, just like the birds or the knight’s soul. Let go, it cries, I will take you far, far away. I want to laugh at the exhilarating feeling, I will catch you, it whistles seductively.
The convent has returned Sybella to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
Mortal Heart
Published: November 4, 2014
444 Pages
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.
She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn’t mean she has…
Kim’s Rating of the Series: 4 stars
Kim’s Review:
This series is awesome! I got Grave Mercy while I was on vacation in the Outer Banks, at the amazing Buxton Village Books. The cover is beautiful and the story is unique. LaFevers combined history with a little fantasy, yet it all still felt realistic, like it all actually happened that way. The convent of St. Mortain was fascinating. I doubt I would make a good assassin, but I would go to the convent!
The main characters, Ismae, Sybella, and Annith are all likable and relatable. Of them all, I think my favorite is Ismae. She is the main character in Grave Mercy and the first of the assassins that I got to know. She embraces everything with grace and her abilities are the most interesting. Her story sets the tone and standard for the rest of the series. I’ll admit that when I started reading book two, Dark Triumph, I was a little worried that the story was starting to get predictable. Thankfully, the further I read, the less predictable it was. Sybella’s story was definitely the most surprising and Annith’s romance came out of nowhere!
So, each book has its own merit. And each one is very good and worth reading. I did read them separately, with a couple of books between so any predictability was staved off really well. The men were all great as well. I don’t want to take about them in too much detail because I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that I was crushing on each of them as I was reading. Fictional boyfriends are all part of my nerd life, and I regret nothing!
Overall, this was an excellent series, with engaging characters and fascinating circumstances. This is also a great series for older teens.
Purchase Links to the Series:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Short Story Sunday: Mommy, Where Are You?
Author: C.G. Adler
Published: March 21, 2018
26 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: May 11, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
MOMMY, WHERE ARE YOU? is the touching story of a turtle hatchling who gets lost from her mother and siblings. Tiny Aubree searches to find her mother. She meets several endangered sea turtles on her journey. They tell her who they are. They share information about the species of endangered sea turtle they belong to. They encourage Aubree on her journey to find her mother. Information about several endangered species of sea turtles is presented so children can learn details to help save the sea turtles.
This is not just a book for children ages 2 to 8. It’s an inspiring family book that puts a smile on children’s faces while teaching us how to help the endangered sea turtles. Kids books are often inspiring, but this one will stay quite long in your memory due to:
– An enchanting children’s story
– Beautiful illustrations
– Amazing character artwork
– information about turtles
Jessica’s Review:
I thought this review would be perfect to share today as it is Mother’s Day:
This was a fun and short children’s book about Aubree the hatchling. She gets left behind by her brothers and sisters. Then she decides to try to find her mommy. Aubree goes on an adventure meeting other turtles and creatures. She finds out the differences between her and the other turtles in a fun way that educates children. There are also some fun facts at the back of the book that tells us about turtles. I really liked the photo of the ‘real’ hatchlings, this way children can see how small they really are!
The illustrations are very colorful and enhance the story. This is a good introduction to turtle for kids. If you child is a little older and likes turtles, they will enjoy this story as well!
I would say this would be good for ages three and up as two may still be a little young. Even though this is not a realistic story as turtles lay the eggs then leave the nest, but it helps children to realize that their parents will never leave them.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Sunday Series Review: The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Today Kim is reviewing The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen. She rated this series 4 stars.
Books in the Series:
The False Prince
The Runaway King
The Shadow Throne
The False Prince
Published: April 1, 2012
342 Pages
In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner’s sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
The Runaway King
Published: March 1, 2013
331 Pages
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive?
Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?
The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King.
The Shadow Throne
Published: February 25, 2014
336 Pages
One war. Too many deadly battles. Can a king save his kingdom when his own survival seems unlikely?
War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.
His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya’s throne?
Kim’s Rating of the Series: 4 Stars
Kim’s Review:
I love Jennifer Nielsen. She’s a dependable writer with great imagination and a talent for storytelling. I haven’t read a book of hers that I haven’t liked. This series is no different. I’ll admit that by the last book I was ready for the story to resolve, but when it did, I was completely satisfied. I loved each character and I was surprised many times. Sage had a consistency about him that kept me from getting frustrated with the plot. I never doubted that he could think his way out of any problem. I was usually surprised by his cleverness and the details of his schemes. Y’all know that I dislike idiot teens, but thankfully, these teens are not idiots, they’re just young and they learn and grow throughout each of the books. I know this is another short review, but I can’t talk about much without giving things away. This is a great series for younger teens and an interesting and unique fantasy series.
Purchase Links for the Series:
Amazon US
Amazon UK