The dissolution of any monastery or convent is not something to be lightly undertaken. Even the might of House Tacsis, whose line was born of emperors, may not suffice.
I devoured Grey Sister in a day because I just could not tear myself away! I loved the political intrigue and the strong female friendships that formed the core of the story. I also enjoyed the greater role that Abbess Glass plays in this story as I always like clever characters who see the world as a chess game and other people as pieces to be set up as needed. My favourite thing about this series, however, has to be just how effortless the worldbuilding is. Not once is there any info-dumping - things are just presented as they are - and yet I have a real picture of the precarious world that the Sisters inhabit.
If I have any niggles with Grey Sister, it's that Nona was almost becoming too super-powered by the end of the book and some of the things she did broke the established rules of the world. However, this may have consequences in the third book, so I'll reserve judgment until then.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and fast-paced dark fantasy with lots of politics, brutal fight scenes, and brief flashes of humour. It maybe wasn't quite as good as Red Sister, but as the tricky middle book of a trilogy, it was a good read.
Recommended For: Fans of dark fantasy full of action
Read On: The final book of the trilogy is Holy Sister. Mark Lawrence has also written the Red Queen's War trilogy which is another excellent series of dark fantasies shot through with sardonic humour. The first book is Prince of Fools.
