His Fair Assasin Series by Robin LaFevers

Book one, Grave Mercy
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart

Book 2 Dark Triumph

Sybella’s duty as Death’s assassin in 15th-century France forces her return home to the personal hell that she had finally escaped. Love and romance, history and magic, vengeance and salvation converge in this thrilling sequel to Grave Mercy.

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My musings
This is the start of a great and addictive series. A wonderful miz of medieval history and fantasy. The first book sets the scene and backround for future stories and the story of our first heroine, Ismae. One of a handful of young women taken into the convent of St Mortain where they are trained to become assasins. The second tells of the very unstable Sybella and really isa a new take on Beauty and the Beast. I loved this one even more than the first. Darker with sensitive issues a really gripping read as Sybella fights her own inner demons as well as trying to out manipulate her manipulators.
Swashbuckling romance this series hails a new voice for those with a more historical tastes but who also like a pinch of fantasy thrown in. A machiavellian setting. Who will they trust, what pather will they follow? Their heart oro their head.

For more on the author
http://www.robinlafevers.com/books/

If you like this you will like
Books
Throne of Glass series, City of Bnes series. The Borgia Bride by Kalogridis, Pirate and Sovay by Celia Rees
Film and Tv

Game of Thrones, Alias, Xena Warrior Princess(sorry couldn't resist)