Ismae is saved from a marriage to an abusive pig farmer by The Convent of Mortain, devoted to serving the god of Death and carrying out his wishes. She is taught how to kill with her hands, a variety of weapons, and most importantly, poisons. When her second assassination goes wrong and her true purpose is discovered, she is sent to court as the escort to Gavriel Duval, an aloof and distant Breton noble to protect Anne, Duchess of Brittany. Duval and Ismae form an uneasy alliance, neither trusting the other, in an attempt to discover those that plot against Anne and Brittany. However, the deeper they delve into the court intrigues and politics the more danger they are in...of falling in love.
Yes, that last line, might sound a bit cheesy...but so is the plot. It is just a little far fetched to think that a trained killing machine who joins a convent of assassins merely to kill men, would be so easily swayed by a strong, stoic baron... Come on! I think the main reason I was disappointed in this book is that I heard it was a great book about a girl who kicks ass and takes names. Although it was very enjoyable and read very quickly, I was left wanting in the kick ass department. So I will recommend that you read Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers and then kick it up a notch with the girls in these books.