Mortal Heart - Robin LaFevers

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin #3
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Source/Format: BEA 2014 (Thanks HMH!) || ARC

[I received this book for review from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has.

But across Brittany, the tides of war are drawing ever nearer, with France pressuring the beleaguered duchess from all sides. Annith’s search for answers threatens to rip open an intricate web of lies and deceit that sit at the heart of the convent she serves. Yet to expose them threatens the very fabric of her existence and risks an unforeseen chance at love, one that she can no longer deny. Annith must carefully pick a path and, gods willing, effect a miracle that will see her country—and her heart—to safety. (from Goodreads)

I may or may not have flailed tremendously when I got my hands on an ARC of Mortal Heart at BEA this year, not going to lie. It was definitely a book I was majorly anticipating after I binge read Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph earlier this year! But amidst my excitement, there was certainly a thread of doubt. Would I be able to love Annith as fiercely and passionately as I loved Sybella or Ismae?

I should never have doubted Robin LaFevers. She is brilliant. Mortal Heart, Annith’s tale, was captivating! Even now, I’m still very much in awe of how well-written this is. I find it extremely impressive that LaFevers was able to write this novel so well. It cleverly tells readers about who Annith is, while still juggling the plots of war, assassin nuns & court life that carries over in each novel.

While Sybella is still my favorite of the three girls, my love, admiration and respect for Annith grew in leaps and bounds as I read Mortal Heart. She proved herself to be so much more than I expected from her. But what I loved most is that many aspects of her personal journey – the doubt, the fear, and the hope – are easy to relate to emotionally.

Her story left me awestruck and heartbroken in equal measures. Annith certainly plays a role in the bigger picture (in terms of her country of Brittany), but it’s really her own journey of self-discovery that carries Mortal Heart along so well. Time and again, Annith faces obstacles (in the form of people or events) that threaten to block her path. But each time, Annith manages to find a way through (or around) them! Her persistence is rewarded as we learn more about her history and abilities, and also (very subtly), learn to love her as she is.

As with the previous novels, there is a romance in Mortal Heart. The love interest is pretty badass, even though his general aura is of mystery and intimidation and strength. Honestly, it’s just impossible to resist a boy who has edge & attitude balanced with vulnerability! As Annith started developing feelings for him, I did too. It was simply easy to fall in love with their relationship. Each of their encounters made me swoon a fair bit, even the bits where they would disagree. (Plus, their first kiss is certainly one of the best ones I’ve ever read!)

But this novel is not just about the romance. Nor is it simply about Annith’s personal experience. No, Mortal Heart also still touches on the political situation surrounding Brittany & France. As the court of Brittany find themselves running out of time and manpower, it is up to Annith, Ismae & Sybella to play their parts the best they can to win the best possible victory for Brittany. It’s a twisted plot, with plenty of subterfuge to boot, but it works really well. I didn’t know how LaFever would choose to end this particular plot, but the way it does happen felt right.

Honestly, Mortal Heart blew me away. It also brought me to tears, as I cried way more than one time as I read this story. There’s no way that I could have imagined such a wonderful, fitting conclusion to the His Fair Assassin series. LaFevers wrote a series ender that felt right and did proper justice to this story and these characters. While I’m sad to close the covers on these books (for now), I’m also happy that the series was strong from start to finish. If you enjoy historical fantasy, then you should totally consider picking up a copy of Grave Mercy and reading it!