Books I'm reading

I just finished reading two great novels:

Divergent by Veronica Roth is a dystopian science fiction thriller about a young woman who lives in a society stratified into five factions. Each faction reflects an aspect of life in the society, and once a person chooses their faction they must do their utmost to support its goals. But Beatrice is a "divergent", whose personality does not fit into one mold. And when she makes discoveries that lead her to realize something is deadly wrong, her secret divergence may be the only thing that can save her.

This was a great story, with a strong heroine and good secondary characters. The world-building was thorough, and creative, and I believed in the world as I read it. It isn't quite as intensely violent or emotional as "Hunger Games", but it is equally well written. If you like science fiction, action-adventure, and a bit of romance, you'll love this one! The sequel, Insurgent, is due out soon.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is a fantasy with a strongly realistic medieval setting. This book for older teens (and adults) is a fantastically well-told tale of a teen girl with a powerful ability; she can see the marque of death on people. She was raised in a very abusive household, and at the beginning of the book she is helped to escape from an unwanted marriage, and her life is dedicated to St. Mortain, the "god" of death. She is trained, over the next three years, as an assassin. When she is sent out on her first assignment, though, she finds that the world, and the act of killing, are both far more complex than she had ever realized. Ismae has to come to some very powerful realizations about herself, her god, and her place in the world. Again, there's a beautifully written story, a strong heroine who is both flawed and powerful, a wonderful hero with his own personal agenda and desires, and a terrific set of secondary characters. A sequel, featuring one of Ismae's fellow assassins of the god of death, is to follow.

I read Grave Mercy in an advance reader copy, and it is now on order for the library. Our copy should be available within a few weeks!