GRAVE MERCY, by Robin LaFevers

**** Loved it!

Lots of intrigues, spies, deception and also love.

This story takes place in the beautiful Brittany of 1485 when the Duchy of Brittany still remained independent from France. Although the characters  travel  through " la Bretagne", there are little or no descriptions of the cities they visit, such as Guerande, Nantes, Rennes, Quimper, Amboise, fougeres, Brest, Guingamp, St. Malo...   A pity.

Grave Mercy is written in the first person of  Ismae Rienne who was raised as  the daughter of a turnip's farmer but was in fact the daughter of Mortain, the god of death. She was brutally beaten by her father until he sold her to Guillo as his wife, but he was no better.  She was saved by a herbewitch who took her to the Convent of Saint Mortain.  By the way they had to take a boat to reach the Convent, I imagine it was Mont St. Michel. A convent in a small island, very near the beach which is now a tourist place and a convent.

Ismae is fourteen years old when she learns to serve Mortain in any way he asks her. She is not only very clever but also an excellent assasin.  She despises  all men, for how they had treated her all her life, but then  she meets Duval...