Review - Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by R.L. LaFevers

Title: Dark Triumph
Author: R.L. LaFevers

Series: 2nd (Grave Mercy)

Pages: 385

Published: April 2nd 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 

ISBN: 9780547628387

Source: Around the World Tours

Description: 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. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella 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. Her father’s rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother’s love is equally monstrous. 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? 

I Give This ...

  

I actually kind of waiver on this one.  The idea of assassins who are nuns was just awesome.  But, I felt the first book in the series was a little too much romance and not enough on the assassination front (put into those words, it sounds horrible.).  I wanted to give it another shot.

First off, I do not know how the hell I managed to read almost half the book before I realized the narrative was a different person than the first time around.  Considering they are shockingly different, I'm not sure how I manged that.

This narrative is what I was looking for.   Maybe it's because the subtle art of poisoning was much less exciting that Sybella's skillful knowledge of weaponry and just how to get close enough to kill.  Her background was excruciating to read about.  So many people would have just crumbled after the things that she has been through.  Instead they have made Sybella tough as nails.   She has a hard exterior, but I really felt for her as well.  The author managed to portray her fear just right.  She was walking a fine line.   

The events inside her father's castle are fast paced.  I  never knew if she was going to mange to get out of there alive and how she was going to do it.  When she helps the prisoner escape and accidentally ends up going with him, there is no turning back.  It's a good thing to because the prisoner is by no means able to reach safety on his own.  And Sybella has to much powerful information to share.

I loved Sybella so much more than Ismae.   And along the way I've come to really appreciate most of the rest of the characters.  I still have a hard time grasping the idea that the duchess is as young as she is.  I do have to say that I'm beginning to really dislike the Mother Abbess.  She's up to something, and I can't quit grasp what is.  I wanted to reach through the pages and really hurt her at the end of this book.

Really excited for book 3 now!

  

Review - Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by R.L. LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy

Author: R.L. LaFevers

Series: 1st

Pages:  549

Published: April 3rd 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

ISBN: 9780547628349

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: 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? 

I Give This ...

Oh man was I looking forward to this.  Assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, yes please.  I love historical fiction and this sounded like just that mixed with a little bit of spunk.  Sadly, I think I missed something.  It was nearly as good as I had built it up to be.

I think I had Ismae's character held to a higher stander.  Being a female assassin with her set of circumstances behind her, I just didn't expect her to fall in love as easily as she did.  I really thought she would have more of an internal struggle.  She's been through some pretty extreme things that would cause her to dislike men.  Duval is the first man she's had any real contact with outside of the convent and she falls for him.  Seems a little too convenient.  I struggled with this fact a lot because I liked Duval too.  

I liked the historical and political parts.  The intrigue with who the duchess might marry and the pull for political power was intense.  I was intrigued that Duval was so involved with the court considering who he was.  He would do anything to protect the duchess even at the expense of his own life.  I think that's probably what makes Ismae so willing to overlook everything she's ever promised herself.  But, there's almost too much information presented.  It a really long book, and some of the details really drag it down.  I'm not looking for a historical fiction to rival in length to the Outlander series. I think the story could have been told in much fewer pages.

I think I was most disappointed in the lack of actual assassinating.  Sure, its there a little bit.  But, I wanted more of it.  We barely get a glimpse of this life that Ismae has been trained for.  I enjoyed that we so much of her knowledge of poisons and how it pertains to her work.  I also liked how she becomes more than just a handmaiden of death.

I will probably still read the next in the series.  I'm curious as to what Ismae might do with her new knowledge of death and how she can play a part in it.  Plus, I'm curious as to what might happen with the romance between her and Duval