Betrayal, treachery and danger in this heart-pounding follow-up to last year's Grave Mercy.
R. L. LaFevers (Robin Lorraine LaFevers) is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. R. L. La Fevers grew up in Los Angeles, California and now resides on a small ranch in Southern California with her husband, two sons, dog and cat. R. L. LaFevers has had a life-long love of animals, which often make appearances in her novels, and a sensitivity to ecological responsibility best apparent in the Nathaniel Fludd books. She admits to a belief in the magical, which is also a driving element of stories such as Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Grave Mercy is her first young adult book.
"Brimming with powerful emotions, thrilling sword fights, and
accurate period detail, this tightly plotted tale will enthrall
readers of romantic historical fantasy." * Publishers Weekly *
"The prose's beauty inspires immediate re-reads of many a sentence,
but its forward momentum is irresistible. An intricate, masterful
page-turner." * Kirkus (Starred Review) *
"Beautifully written with a strong female protagonist. It is sure
to bewitch fans of Philippa Gregory and Lauren Kate." * Lovereading
*
"If you thought that Ismae was a dark and troubled character in
Grave Mercy, then wait until you get to know Sybella... Highly
recommended reading for anyone looking for exceptional
storytelling" * YA Book Reads *
"Thrilling, stomach churning stuff in the vein of Game of Thrones .
. . If you enjoyed Graceling or Witchstruck then you will love this
series." * Ink and Paper Hearts *
In this electric sequel to Grave Mercy, LaFevers tells the story of another 15th-century "handmaiden to Death" from the convent of St. Mortain, Lady Sybella. Raised in terror by her father, the monstrous nobleman D'Albret, Sybella was barely sane when she entered the convent. Years later, still filled with rage, she has returned home to spy on the traitorous D'Albret and foil his attempt to kidnap and forcibly marry his liege, the young Duchess of Brittany. Sybella must navigate a complex web of political subterfuge, violence, and self-hatred to stay alive, while secretly assassinating those traitors whom the god Mortain has "marqued" for death ("When I see a dark shadow covering his chest, my heart soars. He is marqued! This makes everything so much simpler"). Ordered to save the life of the ugly Beast of Waroch, a knight loyal to the duchess, Sybella soon ends up on the run from her father's vengeance. Brimming with powerful emotions, thrilling sword fights, and accurate period detail, this tightly plotted tale will enthrall readers of romantic historical fantasy. Ages 14-up. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Gr 9 Up-In this sequel to Grave Mercy (Houghton Harcourt, 2012), Sybella leaves the convent where she has learned her assassin's skills and returns to Brittany, where she must endure her father's unspeakable cruelty and the incestuous love of her half brother. Determined to undermine D'Albret at every turn and stay loyal to Duchess Anne, she carries out covert operations and looks for opportunities to use her skills and bring evildoers to justice. She helps to foil a plot to capture Anne and frees the Beast of Waroch, the duchess's most loyal and fierce champion, from D'Albret's prison, all the while waiting for an opening to kill her father. When the knight knocks her out and takes her along with him, her cover is blown and she despairs that no one will be able to stop D'Albret's reign of terror. As with the first book, LaFevers has filled the pages of her novel with adventure, and the pace is electrifyingly fast. The characters are well drawn, and even the secondary figures have dimension. Sybella's quick-thinking and fearless approach to terrifying personal and political situations renders her an incredibly strong protagonist with whom readers will identify. The love that develops between her and Beast provides a model of a healthy relationship built on mutual trust and understanding. Realistic details of 15th-century Breton life abound, providing an overall clear and accurate picture of the times. There is much talk about St. Mortain as the Lord of Death, which some may find disturbing, but these topics are handled well and the story will leave readers eager for the series' finale.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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