Author: Robin LaFevers
Pub. Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 512
Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.
Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.
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I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read Grave Mercy a few years ago, but forgot to finish the series! However, after reading Courting Darkness I really want to restart and complete the His Fair Assassin trilogy. LaFevers is insanely imaginative, and I love the world she has created. I'm thrilled that the Courting Darkness duology has the same setting! Some of the characters were familiar, like Ismae and Duval, but they were only present at the start of the book and didn't play a huge role in the rest of the story. I'm not sure if any of the other characters were from previous books, since I still need to finish the first series.
Even though I read Grave Mercy ages ago, I had no trouble understanding the unique terms and phrases used throughout the book. LaFevers expertly sprinkled the information here and there (dropped in a conversation or an observation), so it wasn't overwhelming or wordy. I was so immersed in the story, I hardly noticed!
Beast was easily my favorite character. I liked that he wasn't your typical macho man with muscles for days and hair like spun sugar. He's scarred, broken, and his appearance reflects his hardships and the many battles he's fought (not all of them on a battlefield). He's a fierce opponent, loyal and loving. I enjoyed his interactions with Sybella, and how unbelievably sweet he could be. He wasn't overprotective, but trusted in her abilities. He knew she could protect herself, and fought by her side. I loved the two of them together, and how easy their relationship was. They didn't play games, but appreciated what they had. It was honest and sincere.
There are a lot of horrible characters in this book, and I found myself wanting to strangle a few of them. Awful people make me want to do awful things, especially when they hurt children. LaFevers shows a darker side of humanity, and how Sybella and Genevieve have to fight their own impulses to smack some people around. They fought for what they believed in and what they loved, and didn't go looking for a fight. However, they weren't afraid of going up against anyone that challenged them or threatened what they protected.
I really loved the concept for this book, and I'm happy LaFevers decided to expand on the world from Grave Mercy. Sybella and Genevieve are amazing characters, and I appreciate what the author put them through. She didn't pull her punches, and I think really benefited them in the end. They were smart and skilled, but they struggled with some of their decisions and the choices presented to them. It felt authentic!
I highly recommend this book, even if you haven't read Grave Mercy and the others. Courting Darkness was a hard book to put down, and something I always looked forward to picking back up again.
