Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Literature / HisFairAssassin

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Up To Eleven is a defunct trope


* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: While the real D'Albret was ambitious, cruel, and manipulative, it gets [[UpToEleven taken up to eleven]] in the series.

to:

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: While the real D'Albret was ambitious, cruel, and manipulative, it gets [[UpToEleven taken up to eleven]] eleven in the series.
Tabs MOD

Changed: 4

Removed: 86

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



Both the main page and the character page [[NeedsWikiMagicLove Need Wiki Magic Love]].

to:

\nBoth the main page and the character page [[NeedsWikiMagicLove Need Wiki Magic Love]].\n----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ConsummationCounterfeit: Accidentally done. Ismae, is pretending to be the mistress of Viscount Duval in order to explain her presence at court. He visits her bedchambers every night for a few hours to keep up the ruse, but they do not have sex and Ismae is a virgin. However, when Duval tries to wake her from a nightmare, she immediately lashes out at him with a knife and ends up cutting him. The next morning, the housekeeper sees the blood on the sheets and kindly assures Ismae that "it will not always hurt so", much to Ismae's embarrassment.

to:

* ConsummationCounterfeit: Accidentally done. Ismae, is pretending to be the mistress of Viscount Duval in order to explain her presence at court. He visits her bedchambers every night for a few hours to keep up the ruse, but they do not have sex and Ismae is a virgin. However, when Duval tries to wake her from a nightmare, she immediately lashes out at him with a knife and ends up cutting him. The next morning, the housekeeper sees the blood on the sheets and kindly assures Ismae that "it will not always hurt so", so," much to Ismae's embarrassment.



* BloodKnight: Literally, in the case of Beast: in battle (or at the faintest sniff of danger to himself or his friends) he is taken over by unshakable blood lust, and has stated that he does, in fact, enjoy his "work".

to:

* BloodKnight: Literally, in the case of Beast: in battle (or at the faintest sniff of danger to himself or his friends) he is taken over by unshakable blood lust, and has stated that he does, in fact, enjoy his "work"."work."

Added: 456

Changed: 506

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* FemmeFatale: The handmaidens are trained in "womanly arts" in additon to killing.
* ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt: [[DefiedTrope Defied]]. Isame askes if anything incriminating, such as foreign coins, were found on an assassin. Duval responds that he had French coins, but since French currency is widely used in the area, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

to:

* FemmeFatale: The handmaidens are trained in "womanly arts" in additon addition to killing.
* FingerLickingPoison: This is how [[spoiler:Duval]] gets poisoned. Since this particular poison goes through the skin, the victim had no idea where it was picked up and only suspicions about who the poisoner was... Until Ismae realized that it was on [[spoiler:the chess pieces]], it quite the gutsy move considering the poisoner would also need to touch the tampered surfaces too in order to avoid suspicion.
* ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt: [[DefiedTrope Defied]]. Isame Ismae askes if anything incriminating, such as foreign coins, were found on an assassin. Duval responds that he had French coins, but since French currency is widely used in the area, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.



-->'''Duval''': ''Sweet Jesu! ...you are supposed to eat it, not disembowel it.''

to:

-->'''Duval''': -->'''Duval:''' ''Sweet Jesu! ...you are supposed to eat it, not disembowel it.''''
** Similarly, when Ismae is asked to assist in some embroidery, Duval comments on her lack of skill. Ismae responds that she ''is'' good at embroidery... with the back of the skull.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Crosswick

Added DiffLines:

* ConsummationCounterfeit: Accidentally done. Ismae, is pretending to be the mistress of Viscount Duval in order to explain her presence at court. He visits her bedchambers every night for a few hours to keep up the ruse, but they do not have sex and Ismae is a virgin. However, when Duval tries to wake her from a nightmare, she immediately lashes out at him with a knife and ends up cutting him. The next morning, the housekeeper sees the blood on the sheets and kindly assures Ismae that "it will not always hurt so", much to Ismae's embarrassment.

Changed: 87

Removed: 77

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


--> -- '''The Abbess on St. Mortain's mission'''

to:

--> -- '''The Abbess Abbess''' on St. Mortain's mission'''
mission



* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Abbess is never named.
** Actually, she does sign a letter with her real name, Etienne de Froissard.

to:

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Abbess is never named.
** Actually,
Abbess. One time she does sign a letter with her real name, Etienne de Froissard.Froissard, but otherwise.



-->'''Duval''':''Sweet Jesu!... You are supposed to eat it, not disembowel it.''

to:

-->'''Duval''':''Sweet Jesu!... You -->'''Duval''': ''Sweet Jesu! ...you are supposed to eat it, not disembowel it.''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


#''Grave Mercy'': Ismae's book
#''Dark Triumph'': Sybella's book
#''Mortal Heart'': Annith's book

to:

#''Grave Mercy'': Mercy'' (2012): Ismae's book
#''Dark Triumph'': Triumph'' (2013): Sybella's book
#''Mortal Heart'': Heart'' (2014): Annith's book

Added: 84

Changed: 496

Removed: 124

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hisfairassassin.png]]



A plot-heavy historical drama/romance by Robin [=LaFevers=], revolving around the stories of three friends: Ismae, Sybella, and Annith -- who are also all half-sisters, each being a Daughter of [[TheGrimReaper Mortain]]. Growing up in a convent under the tutelage of the handmaidens of Death and raised to be assassins themselves, they find themselves drawn into the political machinations of the power struggle between Brittany and France, as Brittany fights to retain its independence while France works to seize control of the country.

''Grave Mercy'': The first book in the trilogy, it focuses on Ismae Rienne, daughter of the God of Death and rising assassin in the convent of St. Mortain. After two relatively easy assignments, she is sent into the high court of Brittany to find and eliminate the traitors who plot to undermine the soon-to-be duchess Anne and hand the country over to France.

''Dark Triumph'': The second book in the trilogy, it is told from the [=POV=] of Sybella [[spoiler:D'Albret]].

''Mortal Heart:'' Released in November 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it is told from the [=POV=] of Annith.


to:

A plot-heavy historical drama/romance trilogy by Robin [=LaFevers=], revolving around the stories of three friends: Ismae, Sybella, and Annith -- who are also all half-sisters, each being a Daughter of [[TheGrimReaper Mortain]]. Growing up in a convent under the tutelage of the handmaidens of Death and raised to be assassins themselves, they find themselves drawn into the political machinations of the power struggle between Brittany and France, as Brittany fights to retain its independence while France works to seize control of the country.

''Grave #''Grave Mercy'': The first book in the trilogy, it focuses on Ismae Rienne, daughter of the God of Death and rising assassin in the convent of St. Mortain. After two relatively easy assignments, she is sent into the high court of Brittany to find and eliminate the traitors who plot to undermine the soon-to-be duchess Anne and hand the country over to France.

''Dark
Ismae's book
#''Dark
Triumph'': The second book in the trilogy, it is told from the [=POV=] of Sybella [[spoiler:D'Albret]].

''Mortal Heart:'' Released in November 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it is told from the [=POV=] of Annith.

Sybella's book
#''Mortal Heart'': Annith's book
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* Annith travels with TheWildHunt for quite a while.

Added: 378

Changed: 263

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* IntimateHealing: This is how Ismae saves Duval, who has been poisoned. Being one of Death's daughters, and she has the ability to neutralize poison via skin-on-skin contact. While sex isn't strictly ''necessary'', Duval certainly didn't object.



* BloodKnight: Literally, in the case of Beast: in battle (or at the faintest sniff of danger to himself or his friends) he is taken over by unshakeable bloodlust, and has stated that he does, in fact, enjoy his "work".
* GentleGiant: Subverted by Beast. He's light-hearted, caring and honorable while still huge, hideous, and driven by battle lust.

to:

* BloodKnight: Literally, in the case of Beast: in battle (or at the faintest sniff of danger to himself or his friends) he is taken over by unshakeable bloodlust, unshakable blood lust, and has stated that he does, in fact, enjoy his "work".
* DrivenToSuicide: Unsurprisingly given the abuse she suffered from D'Albret, Sybella tried to hang herself in the past. She's stopped, and told [[spoiler: he isn't really her father]]. This cheers her up immensely.
*
GentleGiant: Subverted {{Subverted}} by Beast. He's light-hearted, lighthearted, caring and honorable while still huge, hideous, and driven by battle lust.

Changed: 15

Removed: 265

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


''Mortal Heart:'' To be released in November 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it will be told from the [=POV=] of Annith.


to:

''Mortal Heart:'' To be released Released in November 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it will be is told from the [=POV=] of Annith.




** Considering the author is taking quite a few liberties with history (she ''has'' done extensive research, but [[WordOfGod fully admits to making numerous changes]]) it is possible that this will become a case of AlternateHistory rather than a ForegoneConclusion.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* BloodKnight: Literally, in the case of Beast: in battle (or at the faintest sniff of danger to himself or his friends) he is taken over by unshakeable bloodlust, and has stated that he does, in fact, enjoy his "work".
* GentleGiant: Subverted by Beast. He's light-hearted, caring and honorable while still huge, hideous, and driven by battle lust.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


''Mortal Heart:'' To be released in Spring 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it will be told from the [=POV=] of Annith.


to:

''Mortal Heart:'' To be released in Spring November 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it will be told from the [=POV=] of Annith.

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

->''"Of course, many die without our help. However, there are those who deserve to die but who have not yet encountered the means to do so. At [[TheGrimReaper Mortain's]] bidding, we help them on their way."''
--> -- '''The Abbess on St. Mortain's mission'''

A plot-heavy historical drama/romance by Robin [=LaFevers=], revolving around the stories of three friends: Ismae, Sybella, and Annith -- who are also all half-sisters, each being a Daughter of [[TheGrimReaper Mortain]]. Growing up in a convent under the tutelage of the handmaidens of Death and raised to be assassins themselves, they find themselves drawn into the political machinations of the power struggle between Brittany and France, as Brittany fights to retain its independence while France works to seize control of the country.

''Grave Mercy'': The first book in the trilogy, it focuses on Ismae Rienne, daughter of the God of Death and rising assassin in the convent of St. Mortain. After two relatively easy assignments, she is sent into the high court of Brittany to find and eliminate the traitors who plot to undermine the soon-to-be duchess Anne and hand the country over to France.

''Dark Triumph'': The second book in the trilogy, it is told from the [=POV=] of Sybella [[spoiler:D'Albret]].

''Mortal Heart:'' To be released in Spring 2014. The third and final book in the trilogy, it will be told from the [=POV=] of Annith.


Both the main page and the character page [[NeedsWikiMagicLove Need Wiki Magic Love]].

!!Tropes used in ''His Fair Assassin'':

[[folder:Series-wide tropes]]
* BroadStrokes: While [=LaFevers=] [[ShownTheirWork Shows Her Work]], she does take liberties. Notably, she compresses two years of events into one year by cutting out times when nothing interesting was happening.
* ForegoneConclusion: Let's just say you shouldn't be planning on making any trips to the sovereign nation of Brittany.
** Considering the author is taking quite a few liberties with history (she ''has'' done extensive research, but [[WordOfGod fully admits to making numerous changes]]) it is possible that this will become a case of AlternateHistory rather than a ForegoneConclusion.
* FourLinesAllWaiting: Each book in the series has a different narrator, with some overlap in chronology.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: While the real D'Albret was ambitious, cruel, and manipulative, it gets [[UpToEleven taken up to eleven]] in the series.
* TheLateMiddleAges: Set in the 1488, right before the fall of Brittany to the French.
* PeripheryDemographic: This series has a decent number of fans who dislike like the romance and historical genres.
* TwoLinesNoWaiting: Not the book, but the series appears to be shaping up this way with the second book being about Ismae's friend Sybella.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Grave Mercy]]
* AssInAmbassador: The French ambassador.
* BigDamnHeroes: Ismae arries in time to stop D'Albret from raping Anne and [[spoiler:Francois sends troops to protect Anne from the ambush]].
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: It involves 15th century European nobility, so this is more wide spread than the bubonic plague.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Mortain is often referred to as a dark god, but is also considered merciful.
* DivineIntervention: Mortain will mark the targets he wishes his handmaidens to kill. [[spoiler:He also gives Ismae full understanding of her gifts, which also grants her the knowledge of how to save Duval]].
* DontFearTheReaper: Mortain is actually a merciful deity and kind to his daughter.
* DramaticDrop: Ismae drops her goblet when the Abbess casually mentions that the convent kills people.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Abbess is never named.
** Actually, she does sign a letter with her real name, Etienne de Froissard.
* FemmeFatale: The handmaidens are trained in "womanly arts" in additon to killing.
* ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt: [[DefiedTrope Defied]]. Isame askes if anything incriminating, such as foreign coins, were found on an assassin. Duval responds that he had French coins, but since French currency is widely used in the area, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: While talking to Duval, Ismae is cutting a pear and not paying attention to how much damage she is doing to it with her knife.
-->'''Duval''':''Sweet Jesu!... You are supposed to eat it, not disembowel it.''
* HonorBeforeReason: Ismae refuses to assassinate anyone not marked for death either by the Convent or Mortain, no matter how much they need killing. The readers (and Ismae) are given a chilling look at what happens when someone steps outside of Mortain's grace: there is a ''void'' where their soul should be. Ismae has good reason not to kill anyone without Mortain's blessing.
* HopeSpot: [[spoiler:Marriage to Fedric would provide Anne both a good husband and a chance to secure Brittany's borders. Then he gets assassinated.]]
* [[spoiler:ImprobableAntidote: Ismae herself!]]
* KarmaHoudini: As of the end of the first book, numerous evil characters are still alive and well.
* KnightTemplar: All of the convent, and Ismae in particular, are willing to kill because Mortain says so.
* MasterPoisoner: Ismae is trained to be a MasterPoisoner because she is completely immune to all poisons; the most she might feel is a light tingling sensation, and only if the poison is ''exceptionally'' strong. It's one of the rarer perks of being a daughter of [[TheGrimReaper Mortain]]. [[spoiler:Ironically, it turns out that she is also a ''[[ImprobableAntidote cure]]'' for any and all poisons. Prolonged skin-on-skin contact will draw poison out of anyone afflicted]].
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Several of Isame's feats could be the result of skill, luck, divine heritage, or direct intervention from Mortaine.
* MissingMom & DisappearedDad: Ismae's mother died early and her father is never seen. [[spoiler:Until near the end, anyway]].
* RapeAsDrama: D'Albret tries to rape Anne partly to ensure that no other suitor would want her.
* SomewhereAnOrnithologistIsCrying: Ismae mentions hummingbirds at least once. Hummingbirds are native to the Americas, and this takes place before Columbus's infamous hop across the pond. Ismae shouldn't even know hummingbirds exist.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: On a few occasions, characters start to explain their actions to Ismae without being asked. Since they usually either ignore or or treat her with contempt, this raises her suspicions.
* TitleDrop: Of the series title by Duval.
* TooDumbToLive: The herbwitch points out to Ismae's father that trying to kill the God of Death's lover and their child will probably not end well for him.
* TrueLovesKiss: [[spoiler:Ismae is able to draw the poison out of Duval's body with a kiss, among other things]].
* [[WickedStepMother Wicked Step Father]]: Ismae's father is scum, to say the least.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dark Triumph]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Beast and company show up at the end to pull Sybella out of harm's way.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Julian]] jumps in front of a blade meant for Sybella.
* LesYay. In-universe as invoked by Sybella. She lets her treacherous handmaid read more into her relationship with Tephanie in order to piss her off. Sybella also mentions casually to Ismae that Duval has much to thank her [Sybella] for, as Sybella was the one to teach Ismae how to kiss.
* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Sybella has no love for Mortain in the beginning, and only continues to consider herself to be his daughter because the alternative would mean considering [[spoiler:D'Albret]] to be her father.
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: Sort of. The Beast throws a sword, and while the blade doesn't hit the target, the hilt does, which stuns the soldier long enough for Sybella to finish him off.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mortal Heart]]
[[/folder]]

Top