Fool’s Assassin

Fool’s Assassin by Robin Hobb, 667 pages

“FitzChivalry--royal bastard and former king's assassin--has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire.  Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become, such private hurts are put aside in the business of daily life, at least until the appearance of menacing, pale-skinned strangers casts a sinister shadow over Fitz's past . . . and his future.  Now, to protect his new life, the former assassin must once again take up his old one. . . .”  This is an amazing start to this series.  I love all of Hobb’s books and this is no exception.  I can’t wait to start on the next book, especially since this one ended on a cliffhanger.  Anyone who enjoys fantasy needs to read these books.

Assassination Classroom Volumes 1-10

Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui Volumes 1-10, 1928 pages (10 books)

Koro-sensei is not your average teacher. In fact he is a quite literally monster. Having recently eaten half of the moon, he threatens to destroy Earth unless his pupils can assassinate him before the end of the school year. What at first seemed like a difficult task is made near impossible as his abilities come to light, such as moving at speeds near Mach 20 and being impervious to nearly all weapons. But the fate of the world is resting on class 3-E, or as they are known at their school, the rejects.

So far I have enjoyed this series more than I thought I would. When I first read the plot and even the first part of the book, I thought it was a little corny. My first though was this series would eventually rely on a loophole or weird twist to save the Earth. But as the series has progressed, Matsui has done a great job of convincing me that it might just be possible for this ragtag group of students to actually accomplish their goal. I got a real kick out of the way the monster helps his students both in their classwork, but also in their planning to kill him.

But since the series is not over yet, I am reserving my judgement till the end. I am predicting that he falls in love with the students and cannot bring himself to destroy the world. It would be cheesy, but at least it would not be a loophole.

A is for Arsenic by Kathryn Harkup

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathyrn Harkup.  307 pages.

"Fourteen novels.  Fourteen poisons.  Just because it's fiction doesn't mean it's all made up."   Did you know that Dame Agatha Christie had extensive knowledge in the field of toxicology and pharmacology? Well, she did, and she knew how to put her knowledge to good use by killing off characters in many of her books.   As this article in the Daily Beast puts it, "The best-selling novelist of all time actually knew how to whip up a brew that could put you 6 feet under."

Author Kathryn Harkup is a chemist and self-described Christie fanatic.  Going through the alphabet, she takes the reader through various poisons that Christie used (and how she used them on a character), and gives in-depth information about the poison.   You learn the source of a poison, the effects, the treatment (if any, both during Christie's time and now), and also read about real-life poisoning cases.

Harkup has a writing style that is informative, but has wit sprinkled throughout, so that the pacing is steady, and it's entertaining.  I don't believe you have to be familiar with all of Christie's books to enjoy this, although if you haven't already read some of her books, you will probably be inspired to pick a few up after finishing this book.   I found this book to be absolutely fascinating, and a good companion for The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum.

By the way, I know that when I raved about this book to several people, there was a definite air of nervousness in response.   This is one of those titles that if you read it on the train, or in a public place, you may get some anxious glances thrown your way.

Zero World

Zero World by Jason M Hough
578 Pages

"Technologically enhanced superspy Peter Caswell has been dispatched on a top-secret assignment unlike any he's ever faced. A spaceship that vanished years ago has been found, along with the bodies of its murdered crew--save one. Peter's mission is to find the missing crew member, who fled through what appears to be a tear in the fabric of space. Beyond this mysterious doorway lies an even more confounding reality: a world that seems to be Earth's twin. Peter discovers that this mirrored world is indeed different from his home, and far more dangerous. Cut off from all support, and with only days to complete his operation, Peter must track his quarry alone on an alien world. But he's unprepared for what awaits on the planet's surface, where his skills will be put to the ultimate test--and everything he knows about the universe will be challenged in ways he never could have imagined. " 

 I enjoyed parts of this book but was frustrated by some of the twists and turns in the plotting.  There will definitely be a sequel since there are a lot of loose ends to tie up.

Scorpion Mountain

Scorpion Mountain by John Flanagan, 451 pages

This is the fifth book in the Brotherband series.  Truthfully, I can’t get enough of this author.  Every book he writes is just as good as the last one.  Although they are a little long, they are actually pretty quick reads and books that I would definitely recommend to boys who like adventure, especially who also like humor.  In this story Hal and his group have set out to try to help the Ranger Gilan cancel a death contract that’s out for Princess Cassandra of Araluen.  This involves fightinf their way through more than large group of people, but also invlolves bearding the leader of a dangerous cult inside Scorpion Mountain.  This was a thoroughly entertaining story.

Mortal Heart

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers, 444 pages

This is the third, and I believe the final, book in the His Fair Assassin series.  Annith has been at the convent at St. Mortain since she was a baby.  Although she has not shown any special skills that Mortain’s daughters often have, she is exceedingly skilled in everything that it is possible for her to learn.  No one rides or shoots better than she and she has learned all she can about poisons and knives as well.  However, the abbess will not send her out on a mission and is sending out other girls before they are ready, Annith fears.  Then Annith comes to find out that the abbess plans to have her become the next seeress.  Annith is flabbergasted.  She has never shown any aptitude for seeing and believes that her skills would be wasted.  Not to mention, she doesn’t want to be shut up for the rest of her life as the seeress must be.  Therefore, she makes a plan and leaves the convent, following the abbess who has been called away.  Her plan is to confront the abbess and find out why she has made these decisions that seem to make no sense.  Annith may get her answers but she may not like what she finds out.  This was a good conclusion to this trilogy.  Pretty much all of the ends are tied up and I was very satisfied with how everything turned out.  I really enjoyed this series and I think this might have been my favorite book in the trilogy.  Teens that like historical novels with a little fantasy and adventure will like this series.

Mortal Heart

Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers, 444 pages

Perfect student and Death's number one fan Annith finally gets her due in Book Three of the His Fair Assassins series.  Annith, the long-suffering and unbelievably loyal friend of both Ismae and Sybella, has long felt she has been left behind as her friends go out to serve as handmaidens of Death.  No longer content to sit around waiting for her life to go the way she wants, Annith takes charge of her fate one night and flees the convent.   Disillusioned with her life there, Annith breaks free only to find herself mixed up with a very rough group of hellequins (read: traveling troop of demons hunting for souls trapped on earth who need an escort to the afterlife).   Shielded from the very start by the mysterious Balthazaar, Annith manages to hold her own among the demons.  As affection begins to grow between Annith and Balthazaar, it is clear there is more to this demon than brooding looks and an affinity for blood hounds.   Annith's realization that Balthazaar is really the one that needs rescuing makes for an unconventional romance with a happy ending relying heavily on mysticism.  

While Sybella and her story remains my favorite in the series, I found myself more intrigued by Annith's story then I originally thought I might be.  I thought I would be bored by her perfection, instead I found myself sympathizing with her quest to please everyone.  She has done everything right, and still she is punished.  She excels at every element of being an assassin, yet she is never sent out on missions.  The reasons for this are all explained in a plot twist I saw coming from Book One, but it is a YA novel, so I really cannot blame it for its predictability.  If the series held your interest through books one and two, Book Three is a must-read as it is over-all a satisfying read and ties up a lot of series loose ends.   

Dark Triumph

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers, 387 pages

Dark Triumph is Book Two in Robin LaFevers' His Fair Assassins series.  Book Two picks up right where Book One left off, and the action is intense.  Focus shifts from the polite but dangerous Ismae to the mysterious, rebellious, and fascinating Sybella.  Sybella makes no apologies for herself or her chosen role as a handmaiden of death. In Book One, Sybella both arrived and left the St. Mortain convent under mysterious circumstances, all of which are revealed slowly with expert pacing throughout the course of Dark Triumph.  

While the overarching genre of historical fiction still reigns supreme, this book is full of other incredible themes:  guilt, redemption, revenge, incest, forgiveness, love and justice.  While I enjoyed Ismae's story, Sybella is certainly my favorite assassin novitiate.  Her emotions and motivations are incredibly believable and even heart-wrenching at times.   The one drawback (for some) might be the love story that occurs between Sybella and a character named the Beast.   I know some might feel it is somewhat of a cop-out to make romance as a central theme of this novel, and I can completely understand that, especially considering everything Sybella has lived through.  Still, I really like the Beast character, and I liked his contributions to the plot as well as his role as Sybella's partner-in-crime.  I cannot wait to read Book Three!

Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, 549 pages
The His Fair Assassins series by Robin LaFevers has received a lot of talk based solely on its central premise: assassin nuns.  I have to admit, that is what first attracted me to this young adult series.  We meet the heroine Ismae on the day of her wedding to a very cruel man.  Her entrance into the mysterious St. Mortain convent is somewhat of a rescue mission from that rather than a direct choice.   Ismae learns that she is now in service of St. Mortain, the god of death, and her training as a highly skilled assassin begins. 

Part historical fiction, part Quentin Tarantino fantasy, Grave Mercy is an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable read.  Combining court intrigue with other-worldly figures, LaFevers writes a novel that is both fast-paced and thoughtful.  The character of Ismae is likeable without being annoying.  I found myself really cheering for her throughout the book.   The love story/romance elements were well-placed, and I think contributed to Ismae's development without detracting from her strength.  I read this book basically in one sitting (during a long day waiting to be called for jury duty) and have since moved on to the rest of the trilogy.

Falcon In The Glass

Falcon In The Glass by Susan Fletcher, 300 pages

Since his father was killed Renzo has only been able to work as a drudge in another master’s glassworks, instead of being an apprentice in his father’s shop.  However, he does have a chance to prove himself and gain status as an apprentice, if he can only get in enough practice.  Meanwhile, a group og young children, who all seem to have bird companions, have come to town.  They have been earning some money doing tricks and shows, but some people are concerned that they are witches.  Renzo meets Letta, one of the girls, one night in the shop when he is practicing and the whole group of children end up there every night, keeping warm, while Letta assists Renzo, even helping him create birds from the glass, a brand new skill.  The arrangement works well, but Renzo worries what will happen if they are caught, especially with the rumors of witchcraft.  Set in Murano, near Venice, during the Renaissance, the book has captured a lot of historical detail.  However, the book is more of an adventure with just a hint of fantasy thrown in and it will appeal more to kids who like those books than those who like history, I think.