Death's Daughter

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers is the second of the His Fair Assassin series.  This book follows Sybella, a daughter of Death and one of his handmaidens trained by the convent.  While the first book, Grave Mercy, is more about the politics and court intrigue of the Brittany, this book is more of Sybella's personal journey.

When Sybella arrives at the convent of St. Mortain death would be a welcome relief to her life, she finds that there are uses for her skills, and trains as an assassin along side Ismae and Annith.  There she finds comfort, but it does not last for she is sent on assignment by to her old home, back to her father d'Albret and her brother Julian who loves her too much.  She awaits the orders to kill d'Albret, what she was promised for her return to him.

When she finally receives orders, it is not to kill d'Albret, but to free his prisoner, and return him to the duchess.  The prisoner is the Baron of Waroch, or Beast as he is known in the tales and to his friends.  She frees Beast, and on their attempt to smuggle him out, he knocks her out, and she is taken along with them.

In Beast, Sybella finds a kindred spirit and a kind heart.  She must decided whether to trust him with her secrets.  Time is running out, and d'Albret is after them and still has plans for the duchess.

I believe this book was every bit as good as Grave Mercy, if not better.  Sybella has a seriously messed up home life, and it is amazing she as any kind of sanity at all, let alone being extremely intelligent and cunning. She is a strong and wonderful character, and I simply love the moments when Ms. LaFevers shows her gentler side.  I enjoyed seeing how every different Sybella is from Ismae, and not just in her upbrining, but in her personality too.  I think Beast puts it best when he says while Ismae does her job as Death's handmaiden well, it is just that to her, a job, but Sybella enjoys the thrill of the job and the righteous kill.

I like the fact that Beast is not a traditional male lead. He is by no means consider handsome, but he has the most wonderful spirit.  He is loyal to his duchess and friends, and inspiring to the men he leads into battle.  He cares for those weaker than he is.

Sybella and Beast make a wonderful pair. They work so well together in battle and in their planning.  Plus, each of them has deeper ties to each other than they are first aware.

So I have to admit, one of my absolute favorite parts of the book, just like in Grave Mercy, is when Sybella meets her true father, Death.  It is touching, and enlightening to what Death expects from his children, which is nothing but to be happy.  It proves that the ways of man are not the ways of the gods, and that even the abbess is not always right.

Speaking of the abbess of St. Mortain, I don't like or trust her.  I have a feeling that there is more going with her than we know, yet.  It will be interesting to see what roles she will play in the next book.

So the next book in the series is not due out until November, bummer, but it looks like it will be following Annith.  I cannot wait to know her story, and what role she will be playing.

Currently Reading:
The Power of Six
by Pittacus Lore