Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Young, beautiful and deadly. Trained as an assassin by the god of Death, Ismae is sent to the court of Brittany, where she finds herself under prepared - not only for the 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?

The first in the series, I've been eyeing it up for a while and finally picked up a copy in the library. And while some parts took me by surprise, it was still a great story. This was a new piece of history for me, set in medieval France when Brittany was its own country and under threat from the French.

Ismae has been rescued from an awful arranged marriage and an abusive husband, and has been trained as a handmaiden for the old god of death. She was an incredibly cool heroine. Strong and skilled, Ismae is out on her first proper mission but soon finds she's out of her depth and surrounded by possible enemies. Not sure who to trust, she awaits instructions from the abbey but they seem to contradict what she's observing. So who's lying, the people at court or the abbess? 

The whole story, taking instructions from marks made by a god, the subterfuge at court with its politics and lies, and never knowing who to trust made for some very well-paced tension as well as a great adventurous plot. Ismae has a lot to deal with, some threats more dangerous than others, and all by herself. Her story battling the politics and the enemies of state was exciting and interesting, and LaFevers writing style, blending history and intrigue, was gripping. 

Published 7th June 2012 by Anderson Press.