Review: Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

Title: Grey Sister

Author: Mark Lawrence

Series: Book of the Ancestor #2

Genre: Fantasy/Adult

Publisher: Ace

Publication Date: April 3rd, 2018

Edition: Kindle Edition, 432 pages

Source: Library

Purchase: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | BAM

Synopsis:

  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 epire’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:

These books are so intense, hardly know how to review them. Lawrence took the world-building of the first book, and just built on it, expanding the world and the magic system; which is woven so seamlessly into the plot, avoiding info dumps. 

Nona continues her training and I can honestly say that she is a favorite character. She is ruthless, but still cares deeply for many people. She is a warrior and is willing to fight for those she cares about. And I gotta say, she is one of the better written female characters. She has layers, somethings that many authors who are trying to write female warriors, or really any warrior, need to remember. 

Something that I'm not sure if it's a detriment to the plot of the series yet or not is, the start and end of each book seem to be a jump into the future. An undetermined amount of time, jump. Nona is using her "sister" name in these jumps and is a full sister of Sweet Mercy, but since you know it's her, and you know it in the future, it's hard for me to feel that her life is in any kind of peril. I am still really interested in that future jump, especially the one at the end of this book, and it makes me doubly excited to read the third book (and equally happy that I don't have to wait for it to be released). 

I think what Nona goes through in this book might be more trying than her ordeal in the first book. It might be that I am in a slightly better headspace reading this book, but the magic system made more sense this time around than it did in the first book. 

This is honestly one of the best series I have ever read. I plan on reading all of his other books after I am done with this series.