Sisters of Glass, by Stephanie Hemphill (2012)

I feel Giovanna's fire
as Mother prepares me for suitors,
polishes me
while Giovanna polishes glass.

Italy late-14o0s

The Barovier family has shaped glass on the island of Murano since 1291.  All Baroviers children are schooled to understand every aspect of glass.  Maria's father, Angelo Barovier, invented a clear glass, crystallo.  For 7 years the Barovier house was the only manufacturer of crystallo.  Then the secret recipe escaped.

Even though she has an older sister, Giovanna, her father insisted on his death bed that Maria needed to marry a noble.  Maria is now 15-years old; it is time her family found a proper suitor for her.  The family desperately needs Maria to make a good match.

If I marry well, then Marino
may take a wife
and acquire a large dowry
for our family.

Sixteen-year old Giovanna, has to watch Maria the family prepare her younger sister for marriage.  Giovanna is older, prettier, more graceful, and everyone loves her.  It is tradition for the oldest daughter to marry first.

Sisters of Glass is a novel-in-verse.  It's a entertaining, quick read, even if the ending isn't quite believable.  Very romantic!

Rating:  8 out of 10 stars

This book is not available at NOLS...yet!

Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin Book 1, by Robin LaFebers (2012)

I bear a deep red stain that runs from my left shoulder down to my right hip, a trail left by the herbwitch's poison that my mother used to try to expel me from her womb.  That I survived, according to the herwitch, is no miracle but a sign I have been sired by the god of death himself.

Brittany, 1485

Ismae Rienne's life has been filled with cold, hard people.  After her father sold her for 3 silver coins, Ismae thought her life would continue to be cold, hard, and abusive.  Minutes after her marriage begins, Ismae's husband sees her back.

When our glances meet, he knows - knows - that he has been duped.

He locks her in the root cellar. 

Later, the hedge priest, who had just married them, rescues her.  Like smuggled cargo, Ismae travels across Brittany to the abbey of St. Mortain, the patron saint of death.  Ismae admits to the abbess that many think she was sired by Death.

"You have found refuge at the convent of St. Mortain.  Although in truth, Mortain is older than any saint, older than even Christ."

Ismae learns more about the convent.

"We carry out Mortain's will when He wishes to alter the warp and weft of life's weave for some purpose of His own."

After three years at the convent, Ismae is sent on her first assignment: to assassinate a traitor to Brittney.  Her world, however, will be forever changed.

Grave Mercy is an excellent read for people who enjoy historical fiction, the art of assassination, political intrigue.

Rating:  10 out of 10 stars
*sexual references, religion

To check this book at out NOLS, click HERE!