Three girls I would be friends with

I read a lot of books, mostly novels, some YA, some fantasy, some romance, some space sci-fi, some non-fiction. A little bit of everything. The ones that speak to me are usually coming of age stories about girls whose inner strength is just begging to be recognized. And the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers has this in spades.

The trio of books takes place in 15^th century Brittany, a country on the cusp of war with France. While Christianity has taken hold through much of the country, people still have loyalty to older gods such as Saint Mortain (god of death) and Saint Arduinna (goddess of love’s sharp bite). There is a convent on an island where the daughters of Mortain (mostly girls whose families have cast them out because their mothers were unfaithful) are educated and trained to kill in the name of their god. We meet Ismae, Sybella and Annith at the convent as they finish their training and are eager and ready for their deadly assignments. Their lives have not been easy, but at the convent they find friendship and purpose.

We are thrown into Ismae’s harrowing story in “Grave Mercy.” Her mother attempted to poison her while in the womb, leaving her baby with a nasty scar. Ismae survives childbirth only to be shunned by her father who wants to be rid of her as soon as possible. He tries to marry her off at the age of 14, but through a twist of fate Ismae narrowly escapes her brutally abusive husband-to-be. She ends up at the convent where she finds she has a talent for administering poisons and is thrown into training to become an assassin.

Sybella’s backstory is even more horrifying as she shows up at the convent nearly insane from the trauma her family has wrought. Once she learns to trust again, she thrives in her training sessions at the convent as she heals from her tragic past. Though she can be a bit prickly in nature, she forms solid friendships with both Ismae and Annith and it is the tight bonds with these two who help her overcome the abuse of her upbringing. The second book in the series, “Dark Triumph,” picks up as the convent sends Sybella right back into the heart of her family nightmare. But perhaps this time she will be strong enough to face her terrifying father.

The third book, “Mortal Heart,” gives us Annith’s story. Unlike the other two, Annith came to the convent as a young child and has known no other life. This doesn’t mean she has had it easy, but she longs to take her training and leave the island that she’s always called home. She’s frustrated as she watches her two friends leave on assignments and must stay behind to help train the younger girls. When the Abbess reveals that Annith has been selected to be the new seeress and may never leave the convent, she’s forced to consider actions that defy the Abbess’ authority and perhaps even the god she has sworn to serve.

While using their deadly skills to fight for their duchess and country, these girls also discover inner strengths that give them the courage to face the demons from their pasts. Make no mistake, these girls are fierce. Their stories involve violence, court intrigue, romance and questions of religious faith. They use their wits and specialized skills to overcome obstacles while remaining loyal to each other and their duchess.

The author has based some of her story in truth. Anne, the Duchess of Brittany, did indeed inherit her kingdom at the young age of 12. She had vision for one so young and fought for the rights of her people. She was revered in history as a conscientious ruler. In this series, she is surrounded by older councilors (mainly men with agendas of their own) and while she depends on their opinions for information, she still chooses to form her own decisions. She recognizes the skills of our fair assassins and uses them to help rule during a pivotal time in her country’s history. There is no conniving or petty back-stabbing among these girls. They support one another with an honesty that is refreshing.

These are stories about girls coming to grips with their strengths and weaknesses and realizing that they have something worthwhile to offer the world. They overcome difficult, abusive childhoods to become young women who take their destinies into their own capable hands and refuse to be mere pawns in someone else’s game. These are girls I would gladly call friends, and I hope their stories inspire you as well.

What literary characters would you welcome into your life? Let me know in the comments.