Written by contributor Olivia H
Books are kind of like memories—some stick around for years, while others are eventually forgotten. Some YA titles, such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Fault in Our Stars, are still remembered today, although whether or not those memories are fond depends on who you talk to. Other titles have dissipated over the years, or simply never reached that same level of popularity. One example of the latter is the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers, which consists of Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph, and Mortal Heart.
Now, if you haven’t read it already, here are ten reasons these books are absolutely worth your time.
1. A story based on a unique concept
Hear me out—assassin nuns in medieval France. Those are two groups you never expect to be combined, right? Well, in the world of His Fair Assassin, on a secluded island, there’s a convent that worships Mortain, the patron saint of death. These nuns teach girls seduction and a variety of skills that, while intriguing, are also quite unusual: recognising and utilising different types of poison, stealth, and subterfuge, and numerous ways to take lives. Before going on their first mission, girls are given a special concoction in the form of eye drops that allow them to see special marks on certain people. Those marks are Mortain’s way of telling them who to target. But, of course, things might not be as they seem in that regard.
2. An intricate and well-developed religious system
Mortain is one of nine saints, commonly referred to on-page as the Nine. LaFevers based these saints on Celtic mythology, and there are similarities between her creations and traditional Roman deities. This is because, in our own history, Romans modified Celtic beliefs to mirror their own when the former invaded the latter’s territory. In both real life and LaFevers’ novels, the Catholic Church wanted to convert people to their religion. The whole system is fascinating, and easy to understand for those that aren’t religious or well-versed in history, such as myself.
3. The plot includes real history
LaFevers based a lot of her story on actual historical events, primarily Brittany fighting to maintain independence from France. The young duchess Anne, introduced in Grave Mercy, was a real person, and many of her romantic and political struggles—such as being promised to many suitors from a young age and facing many cruel betrayals—are represented throughout the trilogy. The most significant difference is the condensed time frame in the books, but they’re still thorough and interesting without reading like a history book. If only schools could teach history this way!
4. A lot of court intrigue
Anne’s aforementioned struggles are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of political drama. From the moment readers are first taken into Brittany’s court, it’s a tangled web of scheming and ulterior motives, and it’s captivating. There’s an unbelievable amount of tension between Brittany and France, as well as various members of Anne’s court and other societal elites. It’s nearly impossible to predict what will occur next, or who you can legitimately trust.
5. Betrayal
And on that note, all three instalments contain a decent amount of literal and figurative backstabbing. Not much detail can be given here without spoilers, so if you’re curious, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
6. Epic female leads
Now on to the protagonists. Ismae, Sybella, and Annith are brilliantly complex, three-dimensional heroines, each with a unique personality and backstory. All three have strengths and weaknesses, are extremely capable yet vulnerable, and simply amazing all around. LaFevers emphasises empowerment, and that’s evident in every girl’s narrative; each one narrates one book in the trilogy. There’s also an extensive, well-developed supporting cast—you’ll love some, hate others…as it should be.
7. Girls supporting girls
From these characters stem several distinctive relationship dynamics. My personal favourite is the friendship formed between Ismae, Sybella, and Annith. They’re so supportive of one another, and close despite their differing experiences and viewpoints. They also bring a platonic embodiment of the beloved “soft one and grumpy one” trope to the table, with Annith being soft, Sybella being grumpy, and Ismae somewhere in the middle. None of that “not like other girls” nonsense here.
8. Marvellously written romance
A close second is the romance. No love interests’ names will be named, but they’re oh, so wonderful. Each girl finds love at some point during her respective narrative, and no, it isn’t cliché or a shallow thing done to pair everyone off. All three romances are delightful slow-burns, with a few other tropes scattered amongst them—hate-to-love, forbidden romance, and more. LaFevers masterfully incorporates these subplots and their corresponding emotions into the overarching story.
9. Siblings that actually like each other
Last but definitely not least are the siblings. Anne has an older brother and a younger sister, and Sybella has two younger sisters. The familial love in each of these relationships is so heartwarming, and often cleverly highlighted by specific plot points. If you’re also tired of reading YA where siblings are brushed off as annoying trolls, you’ll enjoy these books. Nothing of the sort here!
10. A trilogy…and a duology
This last reason is possibly the best one. If you’ve read up to Mortal Heart and you want more, there is more! Sybella returns alongside a new narrator, Genevieve, in the Courting Darkness duology for shenanigans, love, and mishaps in the French court. Courting Darkness is out now, and you should have time to read all four books before the release of the finale, Igniting Darkness, on June 2, 2020. Although, alternatively, you could wait for it to be released, and then enjoy an epic series marathon.
Hopefully, this list has convinced you to pick up Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassin trilogy! Despite being older, these books are hidden gems in the YA world and truly deserve much more attention and love.
