Grey Sister (2018) by Mark Lawrence is the second book in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, a dark, adrenaline-fueled fantasy that deepens the saga of Nona Grey, a warrior nun with a lethal past. Now a novice at Sweet Mercy Convent, Nona hones her deadly skills—shadow-stepping, blade mastery, and forbidden magic—while navigating the convent’s political intrigues and the looming threat of the Siccatic Empire’s war machines.
The novel’s dual timelines alternate between Nona’s present-day trials (including a harrowing gladiatorial match on ice) and flashbacks to her orphaned childhood, revealing the origins of her bond with the enigmatic Abbess Glass. Lawrence’s relentless pacing and morally grey characters shine as Nona confronts betrayals, ancient prophecies, and the mysterious Shipheart, a relic of apocalyptic power.
A brilliant bridge between Red Sister and Holy Sister, this installment cements the trilogy as a modern grimdark classic.
