R. L. LaFevers

R. L. LaFevers is an American author primarily known for writing young adult and middle-grade fantasy novels. Her most successful works include the His Fair Assassin trilogy and the Theodosia series. LaFevers gained significant recognition for her His Fair Assassin series, set in 15th century Brittany, which follows young female assassins trained by the convent of St. Mortain. The first book in this series, Grave Mercy, was published in 2012 and received multiple awards and nominations. The author's middle-grade works feature the Theodosia series about an eleven-year-old girl who can detect ancient Egyptian curses, and the Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series following a young apprentice beastologist's adventures. These books blend historical settings with fantasy elements and often incorporate themes of archaeology and mythology. LaFevers frequently incorporates strong female protagonists and historical settings into her work, drawing from extensive research into medieval history, ancient cultures, and folklore. She continues to write and expand her existing series, with recent additions to the His Fair Assassin world through the Courting Darkness duology.

Readers praise LaFevers' detailed historical research and complex female characters. Her His Fair Assassin series receives particular attention for combining historical fiction with supernatural elements. Many readers note the depth of character development and absence of common YA romance tropes. Fans highlight LaFevers' ability to write for different age groups while maintaining consistent quality. On Goodreads, reader Sarah K. notes: "The Theodosia series respects young readers' intelligence while remaining accessible." Common criticisms include pacing issues in the first half of some books, particularly Grave Mercy. Some readers find the historical details overwhelming or the romance subplots underdeveloped. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - His Fair Assassin series: 4.0-4.2/5 (100,000+ ratings) - Theodosia series: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) - Nathaniel Fludd series: 3.8/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: - His Fair Assassin series: 4.5/5 - Theodosia series: 4.3/5 - Nathaniel Fludd series: 4.4/5

His Fair Assassin Series A trilogy set in 15th century Brittany following young female assassins trained by the convent of St. Mortain to serve as both killers and agents of death.

Courting Darkness Duology A spin-off series from His Fair Assassin, featuring two assassin spies navigating political intrigue in the French court.

Theodosia Series Chronicles the adventures of eleven-year-old Theodosia Throckmorton, who can detect ancient Egyptian curses and works to neutralize them in Edwardian London.

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist Series Follows a young apprentice beastologist in the 1920s as he travels the world documenting and protecting rare mythological creatures.

Lowthar's Blade Trilogy A fantasy series about a young blacksmith's apprentice who must forge a magical blade to save his kingdom from dark forces.

Werewolf Rising A standalone novel about a twelve-year-old boy who discovers his family's secret werewolf heritage.

Tamora Pierce writes fantasy series featuring young women training as warriors and mages in medieval-inspired settings. Her Song of the Lioness and Protector of the Small quartets focus on female protagonists who challenge societal expectations while mastering combat and magic.

Patricia C. Wrede creates fantasy worlds with determined female protagonists who subvert traditional fairy tale tropes. Her Enchanted Forest Chronicles follow a princess who chooses to live with dragons and study magic rather than fulfill typical royal expectations.

Kristin Cashore writes fantasy novels about young women with supernatural abilities in a medieval-inspired world. Her Graceling Realm series explores themes of power and identity through characters who must navigate political intrigue and personal relationships.

Mary E. Pearson combines fantasy elements with complex political intrigue in her young adult novels. Her Remnant Chronicles series features a princess fleeing an arranged marriage who becomes entangled in assassination plots and ancient magic.

Elizabeth C. Bunce crafts historical fantasy novels incorporating folklore and mythology. Her StarCrossed series follows a young thief with magical abilities who becomes involved in political conspiracies and ancient magic systems.