Review: Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers

Title: Dark Triumph
Author: Robin LaFevers
Series: His Fair Assassin
Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication date: April 2nd 2013
Pages: 385 (hardcover)
Source: Netgalley






When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons. 

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to her life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...

Goodreads

Dark Triumph is a marvelous sequel to Grave Mercy. I had very high expectations for this book since I loved the first book so much and I was not disappointed. I loved this story as much as I did Grave Mercy.

Sybella, like Ismae, is a daughter of St. Mortain. She’s gifted with deadly talents so that she can carry out his will. She also has to thank her life to the convent of St. Mortain since it is them that brought her back from the brink of madness. But Sybella has some doubts about all that was ever told her. Does Mortain really exist? If he does why didn’t he take her with him when her mother died? Why does he allow it that she is sent back to the same household that caused all the terror in her life? The only thing that is keeping her sane is that she knows that she is just waiting on Mortain’s sign or the convents order to finally kill the man who tormented her all these years. But when Sybella finally receives orders from the convent it is not the kind of order that she expected. Thanks to this order she might be able to finally leave behind her old life for good.

When you thought that Ismae had a difficult past then you don’t know Ismae’s story yet. Her upbringing has never been anything else than torture. Getting to know Sybella’s whole story was heartbreaking. I can’t imagine everything she had to endure. But her past made her also stronger and braver. I really admired her for it. And she is such a badass; I would never want to be on her wrong side. 

And then there was beast, gold old beast. He is such a great character. I have to admit that when I read that he was going to be Sabella’s love interest that I was like “no way”. I mean he’s described as really ugly. And Sybella is this pretty young woman. I just couldn’t see it happening. But I have to say after reading the book that they make sense together. Beast might not be the prettiest guy but he has a really big heart. And he has courage, honor and he’s quite funny. You couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Their relationship progressed nice and slowly. At first they were just civil towards each other because they had to be, they didn’t trust one another. But when the story continued they encountered so many problems and after that it was impossible for them not to trust or like each other. Their story really touched my heart and if possible I loved them even more than Ismae and Duval.

Where Grave Mercy mainly took place in the court of Bretagne and was filled with intrigues and backstabbing. Dark Triumph was more of an adventure story and it was packed with action. I really liked the change; I believe that there would have been too many similarities between the books if they had taken place in the same context. Besides the action and adventure suited Beast and Sybella way better.

I don’t really know what to think of the ending of this book. All the loose ends were wrapped up but I want to know what happened to Sybella and Beast afterwards. I guess that will have to read the last books in this trilogy, Mortal Heart, to find out. But I don’t mind because I’m really looking forward to read Annith’s book and I can’t wait to find how the trilogy will end. I highly recommend this series to everyone. It truly is a must read. I certainly can’t wait to read the last installment.  

El