Joint Review: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers

Title: Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3)
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Acquired Via: Personal Collection
In the powerful conclusion to Robin LaFever's New York Times bestselling His Fair Assassins trilogy, 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.

Book Trailer


Our Review

You can read Kayla's review of Grave Mercy, the first book in His Fair Assassins trilogy, HERE.

Amber: So, my first thoughts about Mortal Heart were that I should have re-read both Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph. I remembered little to nothing about the story so far and was pretty lost in the first couple of chapters.

But once Annith was away from the convent, I started enjoying it. My favorite parts by far involved the hellequin (and Balthazaar) and the followers of Arduinna. I really hope that LaFevers writes a spinoff with the other followers of the Nine.

What were your first impressions?

Kayla: When I started reading it, I was worried about how LaFevers would tie it in with the history of Brittany. And, like most other people, I wondered how in the world I would like Annith as much as I liked Ismae. As for the other two books, I had reread Grave Mercy and read Dark Triumph for the first time earlier this year.

I really liked that Mortal Heart had a bit more of the supernatural element to it than the other books. I loved learning about LaFever's Nine and their history. I thought that I would like to read about Arduinna's followers, but after finishing the book, I'd love to read more about Dea Matrona or Amourna. (Yes, I'm aware that it would be tricky, but I am sure there will be MEAT.)

Amber: How did you end up feeling about Annith? I really liked her. She truly cared about her sisters, and she had a lot of compassion. Both of these tempered her almost perfectness. I also LOVED the love interest. If I ever swooned over anything, it would definitely be over Balthazaar.

I didn't really know the fate of Brittany other than the obvious, but I do like that she wove the supernatural elements into the factual history. I do wish that it wouldn't have been as neat and tied in a bow, but it was a good ending for the series. Dark Triumph is still my favorite though. How do you think Mortal Heart stacked up to its predecessors?

Kayla: I really liked Annith a lot. Her devotion to St. Mortain was different from what we saw with Ismae and Sybella. I also loved her backstory. I mean, yeah it sucked for her, but it really made her into a three-dimensional character. And I don't know who I like more in the trilogy - Gavriel Duval or Balthazaar. Balthazaar was most certainly perfect for Annith.

I feel the opposite way - I really liked the ending. Honestly, I was a bit worried about how LaFevers would pull it all off, and to have it tie up so nicely is truly a magnificent feat. I don't know that there was anything that I would change, to be honest. Maybe some more time spent with the followers of Arduinna? I'll have to wait a month or two before I know for sure which is my favorite, but it's going to be a toss-up between Grave Mercy and Mortal Heart. There was a lot in Dark Triumph that was too uncomfortable for me to read, and Grave Mercy had me swooning more than any book I've read before it.

Was there anything with Mortal Heart that you would have liked to see done differently?

Amber: I wouldn't change anything in these books.

LaFevers is one of the best at combining history and fiction, especially paranormal fiction. Even though it's fiction, the deft twining of the events makes it seem that the actions, characters and events from the novels were plausible. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Kayla: Me too, and I'd love to see more along the lines of His Fair Assassins!

Amber: 4.5/5 Stars
Kayla: 5/5 Stars

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