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Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 2nd 2013)
Hardcover: 385 pages
Series: His Fair Assassin #2
Add on: Goodreads
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
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?
Review:
Guys, guuys!
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I don’t even know where to begin to express me love for this book. It was basically everything I ever wanted for Grave Mercy that didn’t happen (though, that being said, I did enjoy Grave Mercy, but this, this blew my mind).
Let’s talk about the plot:
Dark Triumph is the companion/2nd book in the His Fair Assassin series. Our leading lady is Sybella, who’s story overlaps/connects with Grave Mercy. Sybella is one of St. Mortain’s daughter and assassin for the convent. She’s placed in the evil Lord d’Albret’s household undercover, but things go awry when she ends up saving Beast, one of the Duchess’ knight. Unexpectedly they escape together and go on an action-filled, bad guys butt kicking cross-country excursion! It was probably less fun for them than I might have made it sound but it was definitely a fast paced, high intense story. Once they arrive to the Duchess, there’s still more action and drama as they work on stopping d’Albert. I think I liked this book more because it was less political drama and more action and battles with bad guys who really are bad guys doing bad things. This book was definitely about Sybella, and what she could do as assassin, sort of the actual, physical component compared to the court intrigue of Grave Mercy.
Let’s talk about Sybella & Beast, and the romance.
True be told, the romance isn’t that big of a component of this book. But it definitely highlights the change in Sybella. Sybella is not the typical ideal heroine and nothing like Ismae. She is damaged and dark and has lived in utter hopelessness for so long that you wonder how she’s not so broken that she can’t be fixed. But thank the gods for Beast, the huge lummox of a knight with a heart of gold.
“I work in blessed silence for a while, marveling that a man so ugly can have such a charming grin”
It’s pretty funny, but I didn’t really connect the “Beauty and the Beast” bit until I actually saw Sybella & Beast’s name next to each other. And while Sybella is the beauty, deep inside she’s much more like the beast in need of love and healing.
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This is Sybella, working out her feeling for Beast.
I do really love Sybella and Beast together, they make such an awesome team beating up bad guys and saving the world and what not.
“Beast nods in agreement, then grins. “I’ve never met a lady who enjoys her work as much as I enjoy mine.”
“My work?”
“Killing. Assassin-ing”
And they have some really cute moments!
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Okay…So that didn’t actually happen the book, but you get the point. Adorableness.
Point is: this book is amazing. It’s got a dark undertone with a badass assassin who’s a little broken. It’s got adventure, intrigue, conspiracies, disguises and battles. It wasn’t afraid to get dark and dirty. It kept my face glued to the book and my butt on the edge of the seat. This book is
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Highly recommended to er’body.
REVIEW of Grave Mercy HERE.
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