Ahoy there me mateys! I continue me streak of awesome readin’. While I was not granted an eArc, the library granted me a copy right at the perfect mood moment (Arrrr!). However I get me treasure is okay by me.
Previously I had read some of the broken empire trilogy and wanted to read more of Mr. Lawrence’s work. Then I found out he had written a book about an assassin nun. Sign me up!
When we first meet our main character, Nona, she is eight years old and about to hang for a murder, which she committed. Abbess Glass, a nun from the Sisters of Sweet Mercy, intervenes and offers her a chance to survive if she trains at the convent. What did Glass see in this girl to save her?
Nona is a fantastic character and no ordinary eight year old. At times she seems almost a wise little adult and then something will happen that makes her seem very young indeed. I loved her for her intelligence, her loyalty, her viewpoint of the world, and above all her ideas of friendship. She certainly drives the novel but most of the secondary characters were wonderful as well. Particular favorites included Hessa, Abbess Glass, Sister Apple and Arabella.
The book is fascinating. As the author says on Goodreads, “almost all of the book happens within a 400 yard circle” at the convent where Nona is in school. However there are a series of flashbacks where ye are granted glimpses of Nona’s background and how she ended up being condemned to the noose. This book has prophecy, politics, magic, an awesome non-traditional school system, etc. Yet the book scrambles the ideas around and I couldn’t help being foiled again and again in my figgerins about where the plot was going. All I do know fer sure if that I want the next book!
Need more proof? Check out these opinions from me crew:
this review by james @ youandibooks
this review by mogsy @ thebibliosanctum or
this review by drew @ thetattooedbookgeek
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin.
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
Stolen from the shadow of the noose, Nona is sought by powerful enemies, and for good reason. Despite the security and isolation of the convent her secret and violent past will find her out. Beneath a dying sun that shines upon a crumbling empire, Nona Grey must come to terms with her demons and learn to become a deadly assassin if she is to survive…
To visit the author’s website go to:
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I bought his Prince of Thorns couple weeks ago. I know I don’t have to read those books first before Red Sister, but I want to try his writing there first. Still looking forward to this though. Bad-ass nuns are freaking awesome!
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I highly “enjoyed” the Prince of Thorns. Fun writing and a compelling character ye love to hate. Hope ye find it to yer taste.
x The Captain.
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Cool review!! Really glad you liked this one too- I really enjoyed this one 😀
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Thanks fer stopping by matey!
x The Captain
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You’re welcome x
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I loved the Broken Empire Trilogy as well so I’m encouraged to read your positive thoughts on the Red Sister… I defo have to check this one out soonish! 🙂
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Sounds good. thanks for posting Captain.
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Thanks for letting me be part of your crew, Captain 🙂
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Welcome aboard ye scalwag. Always like to hear yer thoughts matey.
x The Captain
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Great review Captain! This was one of my absolute favorites. I am certainly looking forward to exploring more of his work. I have Broken Empire here to start soon.
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I preferred Red Queens War and you can start there
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Ah thank you! I will probably start with Broken Empire because I own the whole set, but then again, you never know 🙂
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Cool review, yeah, definitely want the next book to. Luckily Lawrence is quite prolific so should be out around the same time next year – hopefully.
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Twas yer review that led me to the fact this series existed so thank ye kindly matey!
x The Captain
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Glad you enjoyed it.😀
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If this turns into a trilogy, and the main character doesn’t turn into a female Jorge, I’ll probably try this. Broken Empire turned me off wicked bad, so I’ve not even looked at Lawrence since. But everything I’ve heard about this one sounds very promising…
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Well if ye give this one a look-see then I hope ye enjoy it.
x The Captain
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