Grave Mercy
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is $1.99! This is a YA fantasy novel that was nominated for a RITA in 2012. Michelle wrote in her RITA Reader Challenge Review:
The biggest reason I picked up Grave Mercy originally was because of the assassin nuns. Because come on, how awesome does “assassin nuns” sound?
Then I saw it was first-person present tense, and almost held back from getting it. That particular style has been notoriously difficult for me to get into in the past, and I’ve been getting burnt out on it.
However, I went ahead and got the book anyway, and I’m thrilled I did. LaFevers uses language so well that I sank immediately into her style without the 5-10 pages of struggle that normally accompanies reading present tense.
Here, she’s created a fantastic medieval world of gods, saints, political intrigue, and romance that swept me away completely.
And yes, the assassin nuns were pretty much as great as they sounded.
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?
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Trying It All by Christi Barth is $1.99! This is the fourth book in the Naked Men contemporary romance series, but it can be read on its own. Readers say this is a contemporary that does a good job weaving in emotional moments with cute flirtation. However, others who have read the other books in the series say this one isn’t their favorite.
Order. Attention to detail. Never leaving anything to chance. These are the qualities that make Riley Ness such a terrific federal agent . . . and a pain in the ass to everyone else. The only time Riley lets loose is when he’s hanging out with his closest pals. So when he’s thrown together with gorgeous, flighty Summer Sheridan, Riley’s brain tells him she’s a ticking time bomb—but his body doesn’t want to play by the rules.
Riley has to be the most irritating man Summer has ever met. The brooding hunk thinks he needs to teach her a few lessons about real life, while she’d rather show him how to enjoy it. But her BFF’s all but engaged to Riley’s best friend, and besides, their intense physical chemistry is all too real. Summer just needs Riley to try to meet her halfway and take a chance with the one thing that matters: his heart.
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Must Love Dukes by Elizabeth Michels is $2.51 at Amazon and $2.99 elsewhere! This historical romance is the first in the Tricks of the Tonseries and many readers loved the heroine. However, there is a warning that the historical research is a little lax and I know that’s a hot button issue here at the Pink Palace.
The Mad Duke lean in closer, his lips gently brushing her ear, and whispered, “I dare you.”
She Can’t Resist the Dare
Lillian Phillips could not imagine how her quiet, simple life had come to this. Blackmailed by the Mad Duke of Thornwood into accepting one wild dare after another…all because of a pocket watch. Desperate to recover her beloved father’s pawned timepiece, Lily did something reckless and dangerous and delicious—something that led to a night she’d never forget.
He has a Reputation for Scandal
When Devon Grey, Duke of Thornwood, runs into a mesmerizing, intoxicating, thieving woman who literally stole from his bedchamber—with his new pocket watch—Devon plots his revenge. If the daring wench likes to play games, he’s happy to oblige. After all, what’s the ruse of being the Mad Duke if you can’t have some fun? But the last laugh might just be on him…
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Who’s Afraid? by Maria Lewis is $1.99! I originally first heard about this on Twitter, though I can’t remember where. This is an urban fantasy novel set in New Zealand. Content warning as I read one review where the heroine was born out of rape, so please take care while reading. Especially today.
Meet Tommi Grayson: she’s all bark . . . and all bite
‘It was like my wolf had been there all along, waiting for me to tap its hand and step into the ring . . .’
Tommi Grayson’s never exactly been a normal girl. Bright blue hair, a mysterious past and barely controlled rage issues have a way of making a woman stand out. Yet she’s never come close to guessing who she really is . . .
When her mother dies, a shattered Tommi decides to track down her estranged father. Leaving Scotland for a remote corner of New Zealand, she discovers the truth of her heritage – and it’s a whole lot more than merely human.
Barely escaping with her life, now Tommi must return to her her friends, pretending everything is normal, while all too aware of the dangers lurking outside – and within. Worse still, something has followed her home . . .
With the clock ticking, can Tommi learn to control her new powers in time to save the ones she loves?
Mixing elements of fantasy, mystery and romance, Who’s Afraid? is a must-read tale about one woman who takes on the world, one bite at a time.
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I didn’t love Grave Mercy, but Dark Triumph (the second book in the trilogy) was great. CW/TW for sexual abuse/incest/child loss.
Who’s Afraid? certainly sounds intriguing and the fact that it’s set in New Zealand makes it all the more appealing. I can’t think of any urban fantasy I’ve read that is set in NZ. Am I missing more?
Who’s Afraid is coming up $0.99 which is a very one-clickable number!
I really enjoyed Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph, but did not like Immortal Heart. I mean, I know that we’re supposed to suspend disbelief because its fun fantasy, but…yeah. I couldn’t suspend it THAT far.
Assassin nuns, you say?
OK, I didn’t really NEED to read the next book waiting in my stack this weekend…
I loved the assassin nuns. Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph were just amazing. Mortal Heart… mmm… Electra complex doesn’t speak to me.
Agree with everyone else – Grave Mercy is enjoyable, but Dark Triumph is the best of the series. I DNF Mortal Heart – there was nothing precisely wrong with it but I just found myself not caring much about the main character and I got bored. I think it’s hard to follow up such a stellar heroine in Dark Triumph (and the hero is pretty great too).
Yep – the third book in the series just went sideways. It wasn’t horrible (writing was still good, etc.); the plot just went in a direction that I didn’t want to go.
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas is 2.99 at Amazon.