Review | Holy Sister #3 by Mark Lawrence

Summary

Summary from Goodreads

They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman.

The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor's armies are in retreat.

Nona faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that Nona and her friends will have time to earn a nun's habit before war is on their doorstep.

Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war.

The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it's a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her.

A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned. 

Review

What an ending to an amazing trilogy - yet again Mark Lawrence has managed to create yet another favourite trilogy of mine - Prince of Thorns being the first and I cannot wait to finally read Prince of Fools - it’s been on my shelf for soooo long and I feel the intense stare piercing me as I write this review.

Holy Sister is set 2/3 years after the events of Grey Sister. However, unlike Grey Sister, Holy Sister has alternating chapters - the past aka ‘The Escape’ after the throw-down at Sherzal’s palace and the present - including mastermind planning and the build up to the war thrusting the doors of Verity. With the Scithrowl and the Durns coming and the biggest threat being the Ice creeping inch by inch. This book was insane like I still cannot get over those last 100 pages!

Nona Grey has been a delight to read about - and her character growth absolutely amazing. From a little 8 year old girl sold, to a woman soon to become a nun - wise with unspeakable horrors and loss. Friendship is everything to Nona and I love it. I love Ara, Zole and Jula, Ruli - the list is endless and OMG KETTLE. PROTECT KETTLE! All the Sisters at Sweet Mercy grew on me so much and oh my lord the ending was epic and everyone’s played a huge part. 

This book was a work of magic and I didn’t see a single thing coming and the revelations at the end - mind blowing - aka, Abbess Glass is one badass woman who put all the men and Sherzal, who tried to outsmart her to shame - emphasis on the TRY because they failed! HAHA SUCK IT!

Things I loved like so much -

• The world building, with a hint of Sci-Fi - amazing

• FRIENDSHIP! I don’t care how many times I say this but I love this.

• The thread bonds - this was epic beyond measure like whuttttt mind blowing

• The magic system

            - See what I did there hahaha 

• Character growth - both young and old

• I liked how it was away from the Convent and moved from different places

Overall this was a mind blowing ending to the trilogy - I feel like there’s more to be told in this universe and I really hope I’m right. I would have loved to see a map of every place they went too, plus who doesn’t love a map, right? So, who’s ready to step inside Sweet Mercy and learn the art of deception or the way of the blade or path? Do you have what it takes...? But remember, have a little faith!

Review | Grey Sister #2 by Mark Lawrence

Summary

Summary from Goodreads

In  Mystic Class Nona Grey begins to learn the secrets of the universe. But so often even the deepest truths just make out choices harder. Before she leaves the Convent of Sweet Mercy Nona must choose her path and take the red of 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 the 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

Stabtastic book 2 and it was, dare I say, better than the first. Don’t get me wrong I LOVED Red Sister but Grey Sister is where all the action was. Where Red Sister was setting the back story and placing all the players in their rightful place - Grey Sister was the fall of all those dominoes placed in Red Sister and it was EPIC!

Grey Sister sets the scene 2 years after the events that took place in Red Sister. Also bless Mark Lawrence for having a summary before the start of the book.  Not many people do that - they should. We see Nona hitting the Mystic Classes and getting a shit tonne of beating - my smol child - but giving it back just as much, scratch that, giving back even more mwahaha.

Nona, above violence and murder, takes friendship super serious and I love that so much. Sisters before killing - or in Nona’s case, killing those who dare threaten her friends. I really really like Sister Kettle, OMG - my shadow weaving friend is all levels of badass and EPIC. Also Zole - DAYUMMM! ALSO, can I punch Joeli?! K, thanks!

The plot was amazing and engaging at all times, the threads constantly being pulled and players making moves. Just a bunch of moves being made in a bigger game that puts Nona and many she cares about at the heart of it all and as key players against a number of Sis lords and Sherzal - oh my lord I need the strength to power through Holy Sister.

Ok things that where epic beyond measure - OML SO MUCH

• Stabtastic galore

• Hidden agendas and an Abbess who knows her way around politics and is just full of surprises

• Female empowerment

• Friendship - oh my heart is so full

• The test of disguise/deception - this scene was just the best ever, Nona killed it and I legit re-read this scene twice

• Dual POV (at certain parts)

All in all this was such an amazing read, I cannot stress how awesome this book was and the plot was madness. I love the fact that in their own ways, each of the girls are powerful and some more than Nona and that just awesome. I've mentioned this previously and again a map would have been so awesome, especially to see the Mark Lawrence's epic world/planet. Y’all just need to read these books already!