Dark Triumph
(His Fair Assassin 2)
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books, 2013
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
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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?
St Mortain’s convent was Sybella’s escape. A place where she could forget all the horrors and the abuse she suffered in her home. She worked hard to become a handmaiden of death to have the opportunity of killing the one who’d destroyed her life—her father. So, when the abbess sends her undercover to spy on the d’Albrets, Sybella steels herself and goes face her fears. But the task is harder than she could ever imagine. Then an unexpected turns of events has her traveling with a ‘beast’ and a ‘gargoyle.’ Sybella finds allies and love, but will she be brave enough to accept them?
Robin LaFevers brings on a darker but equally epic story on Dark Triumph, second book of the His Fair Assassin trilogy.
Sybella’s story picks up on the other side of the battle presented in the Grave Mercy. It’s only been a couple months among the enemy and already Sybella longs to die and be at peace. Because there’s nothing worse than when enemy is your family. She is D’Albret’s daughter, Julian and Pierre her brothers. Between her father’s brutality, the perverted relationship with Julian, and all the plots going on in the house, Sybella is more than ready to kill everyone. But not everyone is marked for death! Is Mortain failing her?
Benebic of Waroch. He’s not Mr. Gorgeous, but his kindness, dedication to his duties and the people, and his bravery is all that counts and all that Sybella really needs. She’s intrigued by the Beast of Waroch even before meeting him, and once she gets to know him there’s very little she can do not to fall for him. In turn, the Beast likes Sybella’s fire and see right through her lies. They share a love for killing and that is all right!
Other characters like the jailer and the charbonaire were fun additions to the story. Those ending chapters were full of surprises unending and had me at the edge of my seat. But I wish the beginning had been as good. I had a lot of trouble getting into the story. Sybella’s faith in Mortain wavers from the beginning, and we get a couple of repetitive stuff about this. It wasn’t until Beast enters the picture that I was finally sucked into the story. In spite of that, Dark Triumph is still a great addition to the trilogy.
Favorite Quotes:
~Rescue Mission Gone Wrong~
“What did I ruin?” His voice is rough, like a shower of rocks tumbling downhill.“Plans that I worked six long months to pun it place. Why? Why did you do it?” I ask.“Do what?”
I reach up and touch my tender jaw. “Take me with you.”
He shakes his head, as if trying to clear it. “The last thing I remember is an insistent, soul-searing voice spewing venom and lies.”
“That was me,” I say curtly.
“You?” He looks thoroughly nonplussed, as if he cannot reconcile that voice with what he sees before him.
“Yes, you great lummox. It was the only way I could get you moving up the stairs and into the cart.” “You tried to bring the battle lust upon me? Have you feathers for brain?”
~A Heart so Big~
Unable to help myself, I put my hand to his cheek, needing to be certain he is real and not some vision my overwrought brain has concoted. His skin is warm, and his whiskers rough beneath my fingers. “How did your heart grow so very big?” I ask.A flash of something—pain and perhaps a touch of bitterness—shines briefly in his eyes, then is gone. “Because I have had no one to share it with since [my sister] left.”
