Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence – a Review

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Description:
In Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make our choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the simple black of a Bride of the Ancestor and a life of prayer and service.

All that stands between her and these choices are the pride of a thwarted assassin, the ambition of a would-be empress wielding the Inquisition like a blade, and the vengeance of the empire’s richest lord.

As the world narrows around her, and her enemies attack her through the system she has sworn to, Nona must find her own path despite the competing pull of friendship, revenge, ambition, and loyalty.

And in all this only one thing is certain.
.
There will be blood.

Review:

Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence is the 2^nd book in his wonderful Book of the Ancestor series. In Grey Sister, Nona Grey continues as our young powerful heroine, and most of the wonderful characters we loved in the first book are back.  Once again, Mark Lawrence gives us another fantastic story line, with continued world building and an intense mind-boggling action packed thriller throughout the book. 

Two years have passed since we left off with Nona killing Raymel Tascis, and saving the Sweet Mercy convent.   But since she killed Tascis, Nona inherited a devil inside her, which makes life difficult.

Nona is now in Mystic Class, learning the next of 4 paths, which is described very well in the description (the red of a Martial Sister, the grey of a Sister of Discretion, the blue of a Mystic Sister or the  black of a Bride of the Ancestor – life of prayer and service). Nona misses her friends in the Red, especially with some of the snobbish girls in Mystic, who look down on her.   Jolei is the leader of the Mystic group, and she makes it known that she is will do anything to get Nona out. The beginning concentrates on Nona having to fend off the attacks from the Mystic group, with her Red sisters trying to help her.  Just when Nona manages to be one step ahead, her quest to find information on those behind the death of Hessa (first book) and the stolen shipheart; she makes a mistake that will bring dire consequences.

Nona will have to run to save her life, and travels back to where it all began.  While Nona is on the run, Abbess Glass is also in dire straits, as she is being threatened by the inquisitor, who plan to torture and remove her from her position.   Sister Kettle, is also missing, as she decides to find Nona and try to help her.  What follows is an amazing, violent, intense, dark & action packed adventure that will put all of their lives in danger from a corrupt empress, who controls those in power.

Nona is such a fantastic heroine, and I absolutely love her loyal friends, especially Ara, and her new powerful friend, Zole.  Nona suffers so much, yet her powers grow, as she continues to learn how to use what she has been taught.  Sisters Glass and Kettle have much bigger and important roles in Grey Sister.  Lawrence also gives us some terrible villains, besides Joeli, Tascis father and son, the inquisitor, and the empress.  You cannot help but hate them all, as we root for Nona and friends to defeat them.

The last half of the book upped the ante that left you holding your breath as Nona, Ara, Kettle, Glass, Rego faced danger & death defying situations.  They will also learn more about Nona, and her abilities as they struggle to survive. What a fantastic climax to a wonderful story.  There was an epilogue that has us waiting with bated breath for the next book in this series.   If you enjoy a well written fantasy, in a unique intriguing world, with a fabulous heroine and other wonderful characters, you must read Grey Sister.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher