Book Review: Grave Mercy, by Robin LaFevers

LaFevers, Robin. Grave Mercy. 549 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2012. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780547628349. 

This is the third book I'm reviewing for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by the Story Siren.

Set in medieval Brittany and layered with inventive supernatural elements, Grave Mercy is an appealing read for fans of historical fantasy. Young Ismae escapes an arranged marriage and finds refuge in a convent dedicated to St. Mortain-- the god of death. Blessed with supernatural powers, she becomes a handmaiden of death, expertly trained in the art of assassination, and is sent on an undercover mission to protect the Breton duchess from those who would betray her. And of course, since Ismae can't just waltz into court, she is accompanied by a handsome nobleman who isn't exactly thrilled to have her along for the ride.

LaFevers offers a tightly-written, suspenseful narrative with believable romance and inventive fantasy elements against a historical backdrop. There's also some unexpected and delightfully dark humor in the midst of political tension; Ismae can be very matter of fact about what she does, sometimes to hilarious effect.

I also enjoyed the thoughtful exploration of women's roles in the Middle Ages; Ismae is driven to serve the god of death not only because she is his daughter, but also because her circumstances in life have been cruel and she has no agency to choose her own path. The reader will root for Ismae on her journey of self-discovery as she learns to claim her power.

This book involves a lot of political intrigue surrounding the protection of the young duchess, Anne, with much hinging on finding Anne a suitable marriage prospect who will help defend the independent state of Brittany from French rule. I found this aspect of the plot fascinating because I read up on Breton history after the first few chapters of the book piqued my interest, so I understood the significance of the duchess and the importance of her marriage for the entire duchy. I'm not sure all the political scheming would come across as quite so interesting to a reader who's unfamiliar with the history of the region, however. Although the history is well incorporated into the story, this book would be enriched by a foreword or author's note.

(Of course, my librarian self says: all the more reason to learn some truly interesting history while you read an awesome book!)

Because Grave Mercy is the first volume in a trilogy, I was expecting a cliffhanger ending, and was pleasantly surprised to find a very satisfying conclusion. The next book will focus on one of the most intriguing secondary characters from this volume, and I'll be looking forward to it!

Grave Mercy is now available in bookstores everywhere. ARC for review provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Book Review: Harbinger, by Sara Wilson Etienne

Etienne, Sara Wilson. Harbinger. 309 p. G.P. Putnam's Sons. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780399256684. 

This book marks my second review for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by the Story Siren.

Harbinger is original, unpredictable, and very different from anything else I've seen on the YA shelves lately. In fact, with its supernatural elements and psychological suspense, this title reminds me of those classic Lois Duncan novels from the '70s and '80s-- which I loved. So if you're in the mood for something strange and fascinating, this book might just be your cup of tea.

Although Faye isn't happy when her parents enroll her in a discipline-heavy boarding school for troubled youth against her will, even she has to admit she might be insane. She has visions of floods, and she and her schoolmates wake up each morning with blood red hands and no memory of what transpired the night before. What's really going on at Holbrook Academy?

Vivid imagery, short chapters, and a relentless procession of twists and turns engage the reader, and the tension doesn't let up until the book's conclusion. And it is a true conclusion-- bucking the current YA trend, this one's a standalone, not a trilogy.

The writing is tight, with brisk pacing and a strong, eerie sense of setting. I enjoyed Faye's role as a possibly unreliable narrator, with her uncertain mental state. Supporting characters are fairly well-rounded, though I found the large cast challenging to keep track of at times. There is an element of romance in this story, but it doesn't overtake the other plot elements, making this title a good choice for anyone growing weary of the typical paranormal romance formula.

Sara Wilson Etienne has made a memorable debut with Harbinger, and I look forward to seeing what else this creative new author has in store. I had the pleasure of meeting Sara at the Passion & Prose conference last month-- stay tuned for her appearance on the Authors are ROCKSTARS! podcast soon!

Book Review: Incarnate, by Jodi Meadows

Meadows, Jodi. Incarnate. 384 p. Katherine Tegen. 2012. Hardcover $17.99. ISBN 9780062060754.

With its gorgeous cover and intriguing premise, this was my first pick for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by the Story Siren.

Incarnate is set in a world where everyone's soul is reincarnated over and over-- until one soul disappears forever, and later, Ana is born. Her soul is new, and nobody knows what to make of her. Raised on the fringes of society by an unloving mother, she is determined to discover the truth of her existence. As she begins her search for information, she is aided by a young man named Sam, and must learn to trust the first person who has ever shown her kindness.

This book is filled with truly lovely writing that drew me into the story and kept me reading, even though I felt mixed about several elements. Brisk pacing moves things along nicely, yet the plot is slightly unfocused. Ana's mission to find out more about herself is set alongside the development of her romance with Sam. The two aspects of the story don't always seem to mesh, and even compete for importance at times.

As far as characterization goes, I enjoyed the practical and patient Sam, but found myself frustrated by Ana's constant angst, even as I empathized with her difficulties and doubts in navigating a society where she's the ultimate outsider.

The worldbuilding in this book is inventive. But with fantasy elements such as dragons intermingled with mundane contemporary items like backpacks and handheld electronic devices, I felt like I never quite had a grasp on the setting. Is an an alternate universe? Our world in another era? I couldn't get my head around it, and the uncertainty nagged at me. That said, I think the need for a strictly defined setting may very well be a personal quirk of mine! I can see other readers really getting into this world-- it's unique, mysterious, and there's an intensely vivid segment toward the end of the book that takes place in a surreal location that stands out as particularly memorable.

Ultimately, even though this was an uneven read for me, I can see its appeal for readers who love fantasy and are looking for something a little different. I predict that this book will circulate often in my library.

Incarnate comes out tomorrow, January 31st, in bookstores everywhere. ARC for review received from Katherine Tegen, an imprint of HarperCollins, via NetGalley.

Challenge Accepted!

In keeping with my New Year's resolution of being a more interactive blogger, I'm signing myself up for a few reading challenges.

The Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren, looks like just my cup of tea. I love reading debut authors! A quick count tells me I read and reviewed nearly 20 books by debut authors last year, so I'm thinking I can probably manage the official goal of the challenge, which is to read and review at least 12 middle grade or young adult novels this year.

The first debut novel I'm reading this year is Incarnate, by Jodi Meadows. Thanks, HarperCollins and NetGalley!

Eye-catching cover, right? I'm only about 25 pages in, but the story is intriguing so far. I'm really liking it.

I'm also going to try the Newbery Book Challenge, hosted by Mr. Schu and Colby Sharp. This challege encourages participants to read every single Newbery book... ambitious, right?? But the challenge very kindly allows for modifications and above all, NO STRESS.

So I'm going to take Mr. Schu's advice and simply commit myself to reading one Newbery winner from each decade this year. I have way too much going on to read all the Newberys, and to be honest, that's not a particular goal of mine. But I am curious about some of the older Newbery winners, and I'm sure I can find at least one winner per decade that I'll enjoy.

I haven't decided yet what I'm going to read from the 1920s, but my selection from the 1930s will be Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, by Dorothy P. Lathrop.

When I was a kid, my mom told me it was a really good story, and I completely blew off her suggestion because I was the kind of reader who needed to discover books on my own. (Also, maybe because I was being kind of a brat.) I'm sorry, Mom. I'm going to read Hitty, and I bet you're right about this book!

How about the rest of you? Are you excited about any particular reading challenges this year? Any tips? Recommendations?