Top Ten Favorite Books by My Top Ten Favorite Authors

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Favorite Books By My Top Ten Favorite Authors

.

1. Slammed by Colleen Hoover
2. We Met Like This by Kasie West
3. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
4. The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
5. The Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson
6. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
7. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
8. Ten Tiny Breaths by KA Tucker
9. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave by Darynda Jones
10. Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice for the win. Sorry Persuasion.

I find it a little odd that most of my favorite books by my favorite authors are the first ones that I read by those authors, but of course, this isn't always the case. Also, picking a favorite author, even 10, was really difficult. What are your favorite books by your favorite authors? Let me know!

Ten Authors I Wish Were Still Publishing New Books

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Authors You Wish Were Still Writing Today

.

1. Katja Millay - Wrote The Sea of Tranqulity and hasn't published since.
2. Leah Garriott - Published Promised and hasn't published anything since.
3. Richelle Mead - Her last published book was in 2018. Granted, none of her later books compared to her Vampire Academy series for me, I would still like to read more by her.
4. George R R Martin - As far as I can tell, George R R Martin is still publishing, but we all know that we're waiting for Winds of Winter which will probably never come.
5. Stephenie Meyer - Your girl has been busy pursuing other paths, but I sure wouldn't mind some of those "other stories set in the Twilight world."
6. Katie McGarry - Last published in 2024, but I still want more.
7. Priscilla Glenn - Priscilla Glenn has two published books that I never knew about, but still, her last published book was in 2014.
8. Robin LaFevers - Last published in 2020 unless she's writing under a different name.
9. Tammara Webber - Last published in 2017. I want more.
10. Jane Austen - I mean who wouldn't want more Jane Austen.

Which authors do you wish were publishing new books? Let me know!

Top Ten Authors (Books) to Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This week's topic is Top Ten Authors (Books) to Read if You Like Jennifer L Armentrout.

When I think of Jennifer L Armentrout books, I think of fantasy, twists, romance, friendships, and stories where most of the pieces are connected and mean something. So that was my criteria for choosing other authors or books I think you should check out if you're a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout.

1. KA Tucker (specifically the Fate & Flame series)
2. Jennifer Anne Davis (all of her books, but Knights of the Realm series & True Reign seires)
3. Marissa Meyer (her Lunar Chronicles series)
4. Darynda Jones (specifically the Charley Davidson & Betwixt & Between series
5. Sarah J Maas (specifically the Throne of Glass series & A Court of Thorns & Roses)
6. Richelle Mead (specifically the Dark Swan series)
7. Robin LaFevers (specifically the His Fair Assassin series & Courting Darkness Duology)
8. Mary E Pearson (specifically the The Remnant Chronicles series & Dance of Thieves series)
9. Pierce Brown (specifically the Red Rising series)
10. Alwyn Hamilton (specifically the Rebel of the Sands series

Are there any books you'd recommend to me because I love Jennifer L Armentrout? What do you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Igniting Darkness

Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness, # 2)

By: Robin LaFevers

Publication: August 4th 2020 by HMH Books for Young Readers

496 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From New York Times best-selling author Robin LaFevers comes the follow up to “sharp and breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) historical fantasy Courting Darkness. Set in the world of the beloved His Fair Assassin series, this is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Game of Thrones.

When you count Death as a friend, who can stand as your enemy?

Sybella, novitiate of the convent of Saint Mortain and Death’s vengeance on earth, is still reeling from her God’s own passing, and along with him a guiding hand in her bloody work. But with her sisters on the run from their evil brother and under the watchful eye of her one true friend (and love) at court, the soldier known as Beast, Sybella stands alone as the Duchess of Brittany’s protector.

After months of seeking her out, Sybella has finally made contact with a fellow novitiate of the convent, Genevieve, a mole in the French court. But when Genevieve mistakenly draws the attention of the French king to the convent of Saint Mortain and its deadly arts, she may do her sisters (and herself) more harm than good. Sybella, having already drawn the ire of the French regent, may not be able to depend on her sister and ally as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.

No one can be trusted and the wolves are always waiting in this thrilling conclusion to the Courting Darkness duology, set in the world of Robin’s beloved His Fair Assassins trilogy.

Man I could kick myself. It's been 13 days since I finished Igniting Darkness and I'm finally forcing myself to write this review. And in those 13 days, I've finished 3 other books. I used to have a rule of not letting 2 days go by without writing a review and not finishing another book before reviewing. I knew I'd regret waiting so long and now I'm really struggling with remembering what I wanted to say at all. Well, all of that and pregnancy brain which is very, very real. I'm going to do my best though.

I was so angry with Genevieve at the end of Courting Darkness. She puts the entire convent at risk of the king's anger. And her disregard for her feelings for Maraud in an attempt at manipulating the King for her own benefit had me wanting to shake some sense into her. Thankfully she had Sybella to help get her back on the right path as well as fix some of her mistakes. Especially considering the terrible position she put Sybella in. So I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about her during Igniting Darkness, but she was able to put some distance between herself and the King, physically even if he did come to rely on her thoughts as an impartial friend.

I knew that Genevieve and Maraud would have to reconnect with each other and I both dreaded it and anticipated it more than anything else about the book. I just knew that if she got caught with him then the King would punish one or both of them. I worried how Maraud would handle Genevieve sleeping with the King. Of course the two weren't committed to each other, weren't even sure they would ever see each other again, but it has to feel like a betrayal nonetheless. Yet he never even questioned her about it. How convenient.

Sybella is still one of my all-time favorite heroines. She's struggling with a lot in this book...well really that's not unusual for her. She's gotten her sisters to safety but keeping them there isn't as easy as it may seem. Beast finds himself in jail for something he didn't do. A twist of the Reagent as always. Pierre plagues her on all sides. Aligning with the Reagent to turn the King against Sybella and by default the Queen. Plus she's struggling with her faith now that Mortain has become human. Who does she serve now? Even though I anticipated Genevieve and Maraud's reunion most in the book, Sybella's story always ends up being the most interesting.

Favorite quotes:

-A knowledge both primitive and true rises up from deep within me, and I feel the power of the Dark Mother fill me. Understand in my bones that while I have been broken and beaten and beyond despair, I have also rebuilt myself and have risen from the ashes of my own funeral pyre.

-“Knowing a miracle will occur does not keep one from marveling when it does.”

-And though this moment feels hopeless, that doesn’t mean I must give in to despair. Hope need not shine brightly. It need only be a dogged refusal to give up.

Igniting Darkness is so much better than my review of it. Robin LaFevers does a wonderful job of weaving a story together. So many pieces that must come together. So many characters with different motivations each. Wonderful heroes and heroines, but also equally challenging villains that thwart our heroes at nearly every turn. This story has a lot of focus on fathers. Different types of fathers who each have differing influence over their children. There's also a more feminist message to Igniting Darkness even though the entire His Fair Assassins and Courting Darkness Duology stories have focused on strong female characters leading countries, making major decisions that affect many, saving the day, and protecting others. This book had a less subtle message on the ill treatment of women from the time these books are supposed to take place. I don't mind stories that focus on strong female characters. I love them actually. And I don't mind since this is a fantasy series that the author wants to stray from social norms of the time to write what she would like to see. But I guess I just always get hung up on books with a message, even if the message is one I'm in agreement with. I end up feeling preached at and I just wonder why make the distinction in the first place? Write the story you want to read. Make society be more accepting of women if that's what you want to see, but don't put up a billboard about it so to speak. Anyway, overall I enjoyed Igniting Darkness and give it 4 Stars. Have you read Igniting Darkness? What did you think? Let me know.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for Igniting Darkness

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness, # 2)

By: Robin LaFevers

Expected Publication: June 2nd 2020 by HMH Books for Young Readers

496 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From New York Times best-selling author Robin LaFevers comes the follow up to “sharp and breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) historical fantasy Courting Darkness. Set in the world of the beloved His Fair Assassin series, this is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Game of Thrones.

When you count Death as a friend, who can stand as your enemy?

Sybella, novitiate of the convent of Saint Mortain and Death’s vengeance on earth, is still reeling from her God’s own passing, and along with him a guiding hand in her bloody work. But with her sisters on the run from their evil brother and under the watchful eye of her one true friend (and love) at court, the soldier known as Beast, Sybella stands alone as the Duchess of Brittany’s protector.

After months of seeking her out, Sybella has finally made contact with a fellow novitiate of the convent, Genevieve, a mole in the French court. But when Genevieve mistakenly draws the attention of the French king to the convent of Saint Mortain and its deadly arts, she may do her sisters (and herself) more harm than good. Sybella, having already drawn the ire of the French regent, may not be able to depend on her sister and ally as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.

No one can be trusted and the wolves are always waiting in this thrilling conclusion to the Courting Darkness duology, set in the world of Robin’s beloved His Fair Assassins trilogy.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish, but is currently hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is Top Ten Auto-Buy Authors.

Interestingly enough, there are no 100% auto-buy authors for me. I have authors that I've read all of their published books and would certainly check out anything else they publish in the future. But I have certain topics that are just off limits. So *shrugs* this is as close as I get to an auto-buy list. I've done this topic in the past and it was interesting to go back and see which authors have fallen off my top ten list and which have remained. Here's my list from 2015 and 2013.

1. Colleen Hoover - So I've been a CoHort from way back when. Slammed was my first read by her when it was available on NetGalley. I've loved all of her books and have read each and every one of them.
2. Kasie West - I've read all of her published books. And since her content has always been clean I can pretty much guarantee that unless my reading tastes drastically change I'll always count Kasie West as an auto-buy author.
3. Mary E Pearson - I still have Mary E Pearson's earliest releases to read, but since the Remnant Chronicles I at least want to check out everything else she decides to do.
4. Sarah J Maas - Confession: I don't actually own any of her books although I've read all but Kingdom of Ash (cutting my eyes at you Holly). I've just borrowed them all from Holly. But all of her books are good enough to own, and certainly good enough to make this list. I can see where she might one day venture into territory that I'm not up for, but I'll always look into her books.
5. Amy Harmon - There are quite a few that Amy Harmon has written that I still haven't read, but all of the ones by her that I have read have been really good. I'm skeptical of What the Wind Knows because it is about time travel, and I don't usually enjoy that subject.
6. Katie McGarry - I've read all of Katie McGarry's books and haven't found one that I didn't like. Will definitely continue to check her books out in the future.
7. KA Tucker - Another author that I've read all of her releases. Wait no. I take that back. She has some very early releases that I haven't read even though I own the first one. I need to get around to that one soon.
8. Robin LaFevers - I always hesitate to add authors to lists like this when I've only read a few of their books or only one series because a different series could be vastly different. But I think I can trust her writing to be good.
9. Kristi Ann Hunter - Christian Historical Fiction - You can't go wrong. Well...maybe you could, but Kristi Ann Hunter has never led me astray. Probably an actual auto-buy author for me.
10. Jenn Bennett - Ok so Jenn Bennett is a tricky one. I've loved everything I've read from her, and I certainly want to read more of her books. However, I do know that she can trickle into subject matter that I'm not a fan of, and one of her books hasn't gotten the best reviews. So...we'll see.

Which authors are on your auto-buy List? Let me know!

Courting Darkness - Review

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, # 1)

By: Robin LaFevers

Publication: February 5th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Source: Amazon Vine

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.

As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?

I'm not quite sure why Courting Darkness has been listed as a spin off series and part of a duology instead of just extending the original His Fair Assassins series. The events basically pick up right where Mortal Heart left off. Unlike the previous series, Courting Darkness has two narrators: Sybella and Genevieve. Sybella we've read from before in Dark Triumph, but Genevieve is a new narrator.

Sybella's story is necessary in the largest part because she's one of the Duchess's ladies so she's close and involved with all of the political moves which leads the story in this case. Sybella offers strength to the Duchess when no one else can. I loved the continuation of Sybella's story. She still has much to work through emotionally. After the events of Mortal Heart, being a follower of Mortain isn't as clear as it once was. There are no more marques, but that doesn't mean that the gifts he's given to his children are all gone. However, Sybella has always struggled with her desire to cross the line and kill those who might not have been marqued in the first place. She's battling her fear of being like the man who raised her. We also experience more of her relationship with Beast which I adored.

Genevieve was back and forth for me. I liked her easily enough in the beginning. I sympathized with her over several things. She was placed in an undercover situation 5 years ago. Initially when she and Margot (a fellow initiate) were sent out they were told that there would be no contact for at least a year, maybe even two. But now FIVE years have passed without contact at all. No instructions. No updates. Nothing. It's quite easy to feel forgotten after 5 years. Not to mention she was barely trained in many areas and not at all in others. And none of this is helped by the fact that Margot has increasingly embraced being forgotten and being back into the world she was familiar with from her time before the convent. Genevieve has lost her closest and really only friend and ally. When she's given information that the convent has been disbanded, she steps up to take matters into her own hands. Like all of the previous books and relationships, I easily found myself rooting for Genevieve and Anton. Until Genevieve gets this ridiculous plan in her head which I feel like I need to discuss separately. I want to say so much more about this but don't want to spoil anything. I assume the 2nd book in the duology will also follow Genevieve and Sybella and will give me more closure.

I've mentioned in all of my past reviews from Robin LaFevers how impressed I always am with her phrasing and that was yet again the case. I even told Husband that I want to bring back the word "mayhap" into modern-day conversation. Her sentences flow, yet there's no way you'd forget that you're reading historical fiction.

Favorite quotes:

-But Sweet Jesu, this loving someone is hard. Might as well rip a piece of one's heart from one's chest and feed it to wild pigs.

-"No. You are not a piece of fruit. You are a blade that has been brutally forged, painfully hammered, and wickedly honed. You are steel, not poison. You are deadly, not depraved. They are very different things, Sybella."

Another thing I've mentioned in each of my previous reviews for the His Fair Assassins series is symbolism. It felt to me that Robin LaFevers was using the assassins relationship with Mortain (the god of Death) as symbolic to the Christian's relationship with God. I'll continue to read the symbolism into those books, but Courting Darkness kind of made it clear that this was not her intent. She brings in Christianity and God with the French and makes it clear that they do not support the nine gods that Brittany served. The author's note at the end tells us that the gods of Brittany are based off some Celtic gods from actual history. Bringing Christianity in made this feel much less like a fantasy and much more like a historical retelling--which it is that too. Robin LaFevers takes some major historical moments from 1489-1491 and brings them into her story. I don't fault her for this, but the addition of Christianity actually took away from this book and my enjoyment of it as backward as that may be.

I appreciated how actual events and reality weren't shied away from. It wasn't abnormal for men in high ranking positions to have wives and mistresses. And while this hurts my romantic heart, I appreciate the reality of it all. I did find it frustrating that Genevieve could so wholly abhor the idea of lowering herself to becoming one of Count Angouleme's mistresses, yet the thought of becoming a mistress for the king of France wasn't beyond her realm of possibility. I also struggled with how Genevieve had no thought of Anton at when it really should have mattered. I'm sure there could be an explanation for that, but it felt important to me that it was missing.

While I certainly didn't want to stop reading Courting Darkness anytime I needed to put it down, I also found it lacking in some ways when compared to the His Fair Assassins series. Some of the things I loved most from that series were either missing entirely or twisted in some ways with the start of this duology. I did continuously think about Courting Darkness when I had to put it down and finished it within two to three days. It was still a great read, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Yet overall, I can't rate it as highly as the prior books. That being said, Courting Darkness still gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Courting Darkness? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Courting Darkness

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Courting Darkness (His Fair Assassin, # 4)

By: Robin LaFevers

Expected Publication: February 5th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.

As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Upon Further Review - Grave Mercy

Upon Further Review is an original feature here at Somewhere Only We Know. I have always loved re-reading my favorite books, and I wanted a way to incorporate re-reading into my blog. Thus From the Ashes and Upon Further Review were born. From the Ashes is where I re-read a book that I have never reviewed before and finally review it. Upon Further Review is where I re-read a book that I've already reviewed and see if my original rating stands or not. This is also the time for me to discuss any new revelations that my latest re-read has brought to my attention.

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, # 1)

By: Robin LaFevers

Published: April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

549 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Source: Free Audio Download from Sync Audiobooks

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository )

Goodreads description--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?

HERE’s my original review of Grave Mercy. I was originally drawn in by the cover of this book. A girl standing in front of a castle wall in a big dress and holding a crossbow. Um…yes please. Then to find out that we’ve got assassin nuns! Does it get much better than that? Yes, yes it can!

Ismae’s backstory took a little bit longer to set up this time through than I remember upon initially reading it. But since listening to this on audiobook, it didn’t take THAT long. Plus I knew what was coming. I knew that Ismae was still a novitiate when she was sent out on her first assignment, and even after that while being assigned to Duval. But I didn’t remember how much Duval gave her flack for being so “green” and unexperienced. He is outspoken about it on numerous occasions. But even still, Ismae proves her worth time and time again.

Speaking of Duval, I loved the banter that he and Ismae had at first. Neither trusts the other to begin with and it was really a slow building relationship and trust that only came from being proven with time and circumstance. I didn’t remember them being as combative at first. Theirs was an easy relationship to root for.

I discussed in my original review how much I loved the reasons why Duval and Ismae come to each other. It’s not just a physical attraction that they have. They’re both attracted to character and behavior just as much as physical attraction.

One particular bonus from listening to the audiobook was all of the French words got pronounced for me. I mean I struggled through reading them and kind of made up my own pronunciations, but it was nice to finally hear them correctly. Some of the words were so far off from what I was saying in my own head that it took me a minute to realize who (or where) the narrator was talking about.

I didn’t discuss this in my original review of Grave Mercy, but I did in Dark Triumph and Mortal Heart, but I absolutely love the symbolism used in this entire series—specifically the parts that pertain to Mortain. It was a nice way to add a religious flare to the books without feeling beat over the head with anything.

My original rating of 4.5 Stars still feels like a pretty good rating to me. I still love this series, and I can’t wait to re-read the other two. Have you re-read Grave Mercy? What did you think? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review - Mortal Heart

Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassins, # 3)

By: Robin LaFevers

Expected Publication: November 4th 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

480 pages

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!!!)

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--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.

You guys, I am so sad that this series is over. I have absolutely fallen in love with this series and with these characters. I want more. Robin LaFevers has definitely made my list of authors to check out more of her work. Must do so immediately.

Before I discuss the book itself, I’d like to say that while I’m totally not complaining—I’m truly just happy to have been giving the opportunity to read and review Mortal Heart--but the egalley version I had used a special version of Adobe that I could only read on my computer. This super sucked because I had to put it down a lot more than I would have otherwise. I would have been reading it on my phone and kindle at every opportunity, but with the version it was that wasn’t possible. Again….not complaining….just commenting.

Mortal Heart had everything that I fell in love with in Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph plus some. I love the strong females that Robin LaFevers has created. This convent of assassins dedicated to serving Death. They’re all skilled in so many ways and smart to boot. Ismae and Sybella both have dark pasts filled with abuse from various men in their pasts. Annith has a past that includes abuse, but her abuse didn’t come from any man. I loved how real Annith was. Despite how much love she bears for her sisters at the convent, she’s insanely jealous that she hasn’t been called on to serve Mortain by going out on a mission of her own. When the abbess resorts to sending out a much younger novitiate, Annith decides that’s the last straw. She must confront the abbess as to why she has been passed over.

The answer that Annith is given—that she has been called to be the convents new Seeress—doesn’t make any sense to Annith. She hasn’t shown any particular skill in this area. The abbess is hiding something, but Annith just doesn’t know what it is. We know from the previous two books and the interactions that both Ismae and Sybella have had with the abbess that there is definitely something going on that she’s not sharing. There’s some deception involving her. Once we got to Annith’s story, I felt like the big secret wasn’t that much of a secret, but I wasn’t 100% confident in my guess either. I’m always happy when this happens—when the author can give me enough to let me feel like I’m ahead of the crowd, but keep me from being fully confident in my conclusions at the same time.

With each of these stories, I’ve been impressed with the romantic relationship that develops. Each time the romance has been slow building and based on much more than outward appearance. Substance and relationship is built before any major attraction is kindled or acted upon. Annith was “faster” than either Ismae or Sybella though (and yet slower at the same time). I absolutely loved Annith’s relationship. This whole aspect was much more of a mystery than the previous two books and so I won’t even tell you the name of Annith’s significant other just to keep you in suspense. Just know that I LOVED this part.

As I’ve mentioned in both reviews of the previous two books, Robin LaFevers chooses each word specifically. She doesn’t just write and hope everything fits and makes sense. Each word is handpicked—or at least appears that way. This adds an authenticity to the series that puts it on a whole new level than it would have been otherwise. While period language can cause me to stumble over sentences when reading the classics, this just doesn’t happen with her. Her sentences flow in just the perfect way. I love how much actual history she brings in, yet tweaking it to fit her own needs to move the story along.

But perhaps my favorite aspect of this entire series is the relationship that these girls have with their god. While I’m always hesitant when reading books that aren’t about God, I hate when books throw in the fact that a specific character doesn’t believe in God at all. And the relationship that these girls have with the god of Death is so symbolic that I couldn’t help but think Robin LaFevers was writing about the Christian’s relationship with God. My favorite quotes always revolved around each girl’s interaction with Mortain, and I loved the symbolism that I pulled out of this book (whether it was what Robin LaFevers intended or not).

Once again, here are too many of my favorite quotes--I couldn't stop:

-...Mortain is a far more gentle god than most people give him credit for...

-...compassion is as different from pity as as a feast is from crumbs. Compassion says that I, too, have felt this and I offer you the knowledge that it can be endured so that you may draw strength from that knowledge and survive. Whereas pity--pity makes one feel smaller.

-He simply plucked the arrow from his chest, then bowed and thanked her for reminding Him that love never comes without cost.

-Wholly bathed in sin, and still seeking redemption in spite of it. It puts my own smaller sins in perspective and makes me proud to serve a god who is so forgiving.

-"I am just overwhelmed by the immensity of Mortain's grace. That even if we are lost or wandering, He will find us--always, He will find us--and try to bring us home."

-I try every way I know to lever my body against his, to upset his balance or cause him to shift, even a bit. But every time we touch, it feels far too much like a caress. Every time our bodies slam into each other, it feels like an unspoken promise.

-I do not have a specific prayer I wish to recite to Mortain. I never do. It has always been my custom to simply open my heart to Him so He may see and know all I that I am feeling--the good along with the bad, my grand thoughts as well as my small ones. I do that now, and peace washes through me, clearing me of my doubts and renewing my sense of purpose.

-I pray so that I may know my heart.

-It is hard to tell if that is a note of anguish I detect in his voice or if it is merely my own longings reflected back at me.

-...this cold, calculated desire for revenge I hold in my heart feels much more human than divine.

-As I tell my tale, I realize he listens to me in a way that few others do. I can feel him listening, and I fear he hears things I do not even know I am saying.

-"Jealous? Of that old man? Nay, it is just that if anyone is to hunt you, it should be me."

-"I do not want a love if I must bind it to me in such a manner, for does not the very binding of it make it less like love?"

-And most important, I will teach them how to love, for in the end, that has been the greatest weapon of all. It has proven stronger even than Death.

Mortal Heart gets 5 stars from me. This may just be my favorite in the series, which is pretty odd for me to enjoy the last book better than the first. It was a brilliant series ender that answered all of my questions while leaving me wanting more too. I sense a book hangover because of this one. Have you read Mortal Heart? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.