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Dark Triumph

(His Fair Assassin #2)

Robin LaFevers

4.13 · Rating details · 40,921 ratings · 3,684 reviews

I lean forward, pushing my body out past the battlements. The wind plucks at my cloak, buffets against me, as if it would carry me off in flight, just like the birds or the knight's soul. Let go, it cries, I will take you far, far away. I want to laugh at the exhilarating feeling, I will catch you, it whistles seductively.

The convent has returned Sybella to a life that nea ...more

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Hardcover, 387 pages

Published April 2nd 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

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Dec 04, 2012 Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars
About a year ago, the words ‘assassin nuns’ first started showing up around the blogosphere. Pretty soon they were everywhere, and everyone was talking about Grave Mercy, some obviously thrilled and some not so much. Seeing as I neatly fell into the first category, Dark Triumph became one of those books I often thought about… dreamed about, to be completely honest. And I was not disappointed.

The darkness of Ismae’s story pales in comparison to the utter hopelessness of Sybella’s circums 4.5 stars
About a year ago, the words ‘assassin nuns’ first started showing up around the blogosphere. Pretty soon they were everywhere, and everyone was talking about Grave Mercy, some obviously thrilled and some not so much. Seeing as I neatly fell into the first category, Dark Triumph became one of those books I often thought about… dreamed about, to be completely honest. And I was not disappointed.

The darkness of Ismae’s story pales in comparison to the utter hopelessness of Sybella’s circumstances. Sybella’s tale is so deeply personal and painful, a story of torture and degradation, a story full of monsters and betrayals. It is not an easy read, that much I can tell you, and yet it is certainly worth your tears, for you will be a better person once you finish it.

Unlike Ismae, who is well-trained but not that experienced, Sybella is a seasoned assassin. She kills those who deserve it and she does it without mercy. From the outside, it seems that her heart has hardened and that there isn’t a flicker of warmth inside her.

Through Sybella, LaFevers raised some interesting questions. Can a wounded animal ever completely heal? Can a person who’s been hurt in ways unimaginable to a normal human being ever find it within herself to trust anyone? What does it take to repair a shattered soul? Believe me when I say you will feel Sybella’s pain. It was an ugly cry I cried for this girl and yet my perception was limited because a human heart truly can’t stretch that far without breaking. There’s only so much I can imagine without unconsciously raising barriers to protect myself, and Sybella’s suffering went far above those limits.

The most interesting part by far were Sybella's doubts regarding her god and father, Mortain. Her shaky beliefs were only natural – with all the hurt and betrayal she’s suffered, it’s hard for her to believe in anything, least of all a powerful father who supposedly loves her. Love? Sybella knows no such thing. No one ever truly loved her when she was a child, not without ulterior motives, and until she met Ismae and Annith, the concept was completely strange to her.

And then she saves Beast, the duchess’s mighty hero, and she finds compassion and tenderness in the most unlikely of places. There are secrets between them, but there’s love and admiration too, and they both have to decide which part is more important.

Beast as a hero made me think about all the other heroes I hold close to my heart, which lead me to conclude that I’ve matured somewhat as a (romance) reader. Perfection no longer holds any appeal for me. It’s not all those rich, gorgeous and successful male characters I remember to this day. Instead, it’s Curran, with his broken nose and his eyes filled with violence. It’s Terrible, with mutton chops on his ugly, scarred face. It’s March, brutal, determined and strong, but nowhere near beautiful. Duval, a soldier above all, both inside and out. And finally, it’s the mighty Beast of Waroch, uglier than you can imagine.

LaFevers took a lot of risks in Dark Triumph, made a lot of choices that proved her worth, although they might not sit well with some. These days, when packaged books have become the norm rather than an (unwanted) exception, it’s comforting to know there are authors like Robin LaFevers who are artists above all. Some of us tend to forget that literature is art first, and business second (if at all), but luckily there are those who remind us over and over again.

Finishing Dark Triumph wasn’t easy at all. LaFevers did a fabulous job of wrapping things up, but I did not want to part with Sybella and Beast. In fact, the second I finished the final page, I wanted to go back to the beginning and start all over again. That’s really not something I get to say very often.

(In case you're wondering about the heroes I've mentioned, they are from the Kate Daniels series, The Downside Ghosts series, the Sirantha Jax series and of course, the His Fair Assassin trilogy, respectively.)

...more

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Oct 06, 2014 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, read-2014, netgalley

It had been awhile since I had read the first book in this series Grave Mercy and I was a bit afraid I would be lost going into this book, but the author didn't info dump me into oblivion and I was able to step right into the story again.

Assassin nuns-what a great story idea. These nuns are bad-ass. They come across as real since the author gives them flaws and they admit they aren't perfect. *Gasp* A main character that isn't perfect?!!

These nuns do their killing under their dark god Death ...more

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Apr 14, 2015 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: genre-young-adult, 2015-reads, genre-fantasy, old-ratings-i-don-t-trust-anymore

Reread 03/12 : Beast and Sybella still own the show. LOVE THEM.

➸ Book 1 : Grave Mercy ✮✮✮

There's a fangirling Gremlins in me who's lurking to spread his love. ~~Picture the mohawk one ← Always been my favorite.~~ You've been warned.

☠ Possible side effects :
- Irrepressible squeals (Yes. Like fucking mice. You got it)
- Overuse of the words love/like/enjoy/swoon/...
- I'll stop here otherwise I'll scare you away ~~if that's not already too late anyway~~

"There is a wild, frantic energy in this part

...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-the-run, france, action, historical, religious-spiritual, siblings, assassin, mental-illness, quest, ya

I am so glad I disregarded the weak first book of this series and followed through to Sybella's story. I have to admit, the girls in the convent did not appeal to me. Ismae, tragic though her story was, initially came off dull-as-dishwater, and she still did not grow on me throughout her book (I did not know murder could be so boring). Annith was almost nonexistent in her quiet presence. Sybella was a holy terror when we first met her, and we saw little enough of her in book 1 that my initial ba I am so glad I disregarded the weak first book of this series and followed through to Sybella's story. I have to admit, the girls in the convent did not appeal to me. Ismae, tragic though her story was, initially came off dull-as-dishwater, and she still did not grow on me throughout her book (I did not know murder could be so boring). Annith was almost nonexistent in her quiet presence. Sybella was a holy terror when we first met her, and we saw little enough of her in book 1 that my initial bad impression of her as a tantrum-throwing brat didn't get dispelled. I was turned off enough by Sybella in the first book that I really didn't want to pursue this series furthermore until I was desperate for something to read, and to my own surprise, she has turned out to be one of the best female YA characters I've read this year. This is an outstanding book.

Sybella is not a likeable character at first, she says so herself. She's killed, she's had lovers, and some very, very twisted relationships. She is no innocent, and my first impression of her was bad because she was so tormented when she first arrived at the abbey. We only got to see what's on the surface of her in book 1, and in book 2, everything changes. Her past is a tragic, tortured one, full of abuse. Even after witnessing so much pain that she should be immune to it, Sybella is still in pain herself and still seeking approval, however much she tries to deny it to herself. She is given orders from the abbess (who is still hell-bent on hating Sybella) to rescue the Beast of Waroch, who has been imprisoned and tortured by her father, and bring him to Rennes.

Sybella succeeds in rescuing the Beast from the dungeon, only to get dragged along with him against her will. Along the way to Rennes, they get to know each other and begin a reluctant truce, mainly because Sybella feels she has a debt to pay, due to her past with the Beast's sister. Their relationship grows, the Beast does not become a handsome knight, and she doesn't care. Against her will, Sybella falls in love with him. Their relationship is beautifully written, all of it; I loved seeing how it grows, how much pain Sybella suffers because of her secrets. Seeing how easily the Beast turns Sybella from an angry, aching soul into one who forgives herself is a beautiful, bittersweet process. There is so much doubt in Sybella's soul. This is truly one of the best, most realistic transformational process that I've ever read. She is like a wounded animal that bites anyone that comes near, and she is unbendingly loyal to those who have won her loyalty and love, like her sisters, the Duchess and Ismae, even Julian to a point.

The villains in the book are believable; even if they're so tremendously evil with no redeeming qualities. Actually, D'albret is the only truly evil character, and he is still believable in his evilness; the rest of the villains are under his influence, and while they do bad things, they do so under his influence and power (can you say Stockholm syndrome?) and so it's not hard to imagine their actions. Even the worst (stupid Jamette) redeem themselves somewhat eventually.

I'm looking forward to book 3, but it's going to be anticlimactic given how epic this book is. ...more

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Dec 16, 2015 Maggie ☘ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: great-reads-2015, kick-ass-heroines, sobfest, great-ships, amazing-female-leads, historical-fiction, tbr-to-buy-physical-copy, amazing-reads, assassins, flawed-female-characters-i-love

*5/5 HOW F** AMAZING WAS THIS stars*

“I am in desperate need of killing something.”

Dark Triumph, the second book from His Fair Assassin trilogy is, to my surprise, even better than Grave Mercy. The story follows another very interesting character - Sybella. In the first book, Sybella shows up at the doorstep of convent St. Mortain full of grief and nearly on the verge of madness. After Ismae convinces her to stay there she become Death's handmaiden and after years of training, leaves for her ...more

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Dec 23, 2014 Rachel Reads Ravenously rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-fantasy, library-checkout, fantasy, hardcover, young-adult

4.5 stars!

“Hate cannot be fought with hate. Evil cannot be conquered by darkness. Only love has the power to conquer them both.”

These books just keep getting better and better!

A daughter of Saint Mortain, Sybella has been trained in the art of assassinry and death. Now that she is a grown woman and fully prepared, the nuns send Sybella to return to her childhood home to spy on her father, and to endure the horrors within.

One evening, Sybella is tasked with aiding the prisoner, Beast, ...more

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Oct 16, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Dark Triumph is a stunning sequel to Grave Mercy. I had high expectations picking it up and I was not disappointed. I loved this story just as much if not more than Grave Mercy!

Sybella is one of St. Mortain’s daughter’s and thereby gifted with deadly talents, and skills in the art of killing to carry out his will. She owes a debt to the convent in service to St. Mortain since they brought her back from the brink of madness, taking her in at fourteen and training her for special assignments. Syb Dark Triumph is a stunning sequel to Grave Mercy. I had high expectations picking it up and I was not disappointed. I loved this story just as much if not more than Grave Mercy!

Sybella is one of St. Mortain’s daughter’s and thereby gifted with deadly talents, and skills in the art of killing to carry out his will. She owes a debt to the convent in service to St. Mortain since they brought her back from the brink of madness, taking her in at fourteen and training her for special assignments. Sybella never thought she would be forced to go back to the very same household that caused all the terror in her life, but that’s exactly what she’s had to do. To aid the young duchess of Brittany she is sent as a spy into the d’Albret’s household, one she knows only too well. For the last year there she’s been there, languishing in hell until she is instructed to move against him. The only thing that keeps Sybella going is knowing that she’ll be the one to kill d’Albret, and finally bring retribution to this vile man.

Finally Sybella receives word to take action, but it’s not what she expected. Instead she’s instructed to save one of the duchesses’ knights being held in d’Albret’s dungeons, the mighty Beast.

While I was thrilled to pick up Dark Triumph, I was also a little nervous. Knowing it would be Sybella’s story, I knew it would be darker than Grave Mercy, because she was such a tortured character. I was even more nervous when I found out Sybella was in d’Albret’s house. I shuddered thinking of what she might be going through, because one thing you found out in Grave Mercy is that d’Albret was a man of twisted and dark depths! It was heartbreaking to find out the full story of Sybella’s past but her strength and bravery made you love and admire her. Plus, she was no defenseless creature, and I love that she dealt out some much needed kick-ass!!

Another hesitation I had was the thought of a romance between Sybella and Beast. He’s described as a big hulking and ugly character, and to be honest, that didn’t sound very appealing as a potential love interest. I had nothing to fear because what Beast lacked in looks he made up for with his big heart, and charismatic personality, he’s like a magnet you can’t help but be drawn to. I loved the slow progression of their relationship and how is lightened Sybella’s soul. I can’t tell you how much this romance touched and filled my heart!

While Dark Triumph is an adventure and full of action, I felt there wasn’t as much focus on political drama as there was in Grave Mercy, and I liked that change. I would like to know more about the abbess: her motivations whether they’re good or bad. I couldn’t stand the woman for most of the story.

If you’re a fan of Graceling, Fire, or Poison Study, I highly recommend this story and Grave Mercy. You won’t be disappointed. Dark Triumph is a story you won’t be able to put down! I was addicted to the point of sneaking pages in between work when I could! Robin La Fevers’ writing utterly captivated me, and I will be picking up anything she writes in the future. I can’t wait for Annith’s story!

A copy of this story was provided by the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in exchange for an honest review.

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.
...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Eve rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-books

All the gifs cannot describe how awesome this book was.

Minor Spoiler. Just one. If you don't want to know who the knight was, don't read on. But we were all expecting it.

I have to admit, in the beginning, I was a little unsure of how this was going to turn out. One, I forgot kind of what happened in Grave Mercy, and two, I was a little confused. But 20 pages later, I was sucked into the absolute insanity that was Dark Triumph.

Let's take a moment to appreciate what a total badass Sybella is. He ...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Mitch rated it really liked it

Now this is the book Grave Mercy was supposed to be. I was on the fence about Ismae’s story, basically when I discovered (along with everyone else) that the assassin nuns weren’t so much espionage, murder, and mayhem as much as forbidden romance and courtesan intrigue, but I ultimately came down on the ‘pro’ side because the backdrop of Anne of Brittany’s attempts to keep her duchy independent and out of French hands resonated with this admitted historical junkie. Still, I think it’s probably te ...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, re-read, kick-ass-heroines, chick-i-want-to-hang-out-with, 4-5-stars, book-boyfriend-material

Sale Alert 24Mar19 - Kindle Daily Deal for $2.99

I loved this book. Sybella and Beast together are phenominal. This is a great blend of HF with a splash of romance and a little dash of magic.

Original Review:

While grave Mercy was more of a political intrigue Dark Triumph is a personal story of redemption. Sybella and Beast’s story is compelling how they are very similar people with very different attitudes toward what they do. I was immediately captured by our broken Sybella. Seeing the inner dial Sale Alert 24Mar19 - Kindle Daily Deal for $2.99

I loved this book. Sybella and Beast together are phenominal. This is a great blend of HF with a splash of romance and a little dash of magic.

Original Review:

While grave Mercy was more of a political intrigue Dark Triumph is a personal story of redemption. Sybella and Beast’s story is compelling how they are very similar people with very different attitudes toward what they do. I was immediately captured by our broken Sybella. Seeing the inner dialog of her made me realize just how masterful she was at hiding her true self and feelings from those around her the game she has had to play all her life with her family. Her rode to mend her broken heart and learn to love again was all I could hope it would be and Beast is such a great love interest. I loved his carefree being in Grave Mercy and to see him in this is wonderful. He is ugly, hard and fierce on the outside but on the inside he is patient, tender and caring.

The story picked up quickly overlapping only slightly with Grave Mercy as Sybella is trying to save Ismae and the Duchess from a trap. Soon it is discovered that Beast has been captured and Sybella must save him from a terrible fate at the hands of her father. On their journey to reach the Duchess, Sybella finds how the story of her life is intertwined with Beasts’ and the seed of love begins to grow in the shriveled heart she believes she has. It was so tender and true and I loved how unsure she was of herself and how even though she didn’t need Beast to save her she is able to grow to love herself after seeing through his eyes. In a way they save one another and become even stronger together.

Sybella about Beast - I am left with the conviction that an avalanche would be easier to dissuade than that man.

This is a great companion novel to Grave Mercy and I really can’t wait to be transported back into this world in the next novel about Annith. There is even a little time with Ismae and Duval in Dark Triumph. I loved seeing them together again. I look forward to the wrap up to all the story arcs I think that Annith’s story will bring. ...more

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May 10, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-fantasy, on-my-shelves, owned-print-copy, favorites-historical, bitches-get-shit-done, right-in-the-feels

I have made no secret of my immense love of Grave Mercy, and have been recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy, and kickass heroines. As with every sequel to a book I loved, trepidation filled me as I approached Dark Triumph. There's always that chance that the sequel will not live up to its predecessor and will color your enjoyment even of that first book. Robin LaFevers, though, hits her sequel out of the park. Dark Triumph does not fall victim to middle book I have made no secret of my immense love of Grave Mercy, and have been recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys historical fiction, fantasy, and kickass heroines. As with every sequel to a book I loved, trepidation filled me as I approached Dark Triumph. There's always that chance that the sequel will not live up to its predecessor and will color your enjoyment even of that first book. Robin LaFevers, though, hits her sequel out of the park. Dark Triumph does not fall victim to middle book syndrome and even surpasses Grave Mercy.

Grave Mercy was fairly dark, but still a nice readalike for Maria V. Snyder or Kristin Cashore. Dark Triumph is even darker, not a novel I would recommend to those who do not like unhappy tales. Sybella's dark past makes what Ismae went through look like a healthy childhood, and, those who read Grave Mercy, know that Ismae's youth was no picnic. Ismae and Duval do make a couple of appearances in Dark Triumph, and it's startling how much more optimistic and friendly Ismae is in comparison to Sybella.

My attachment to Ismae formed immediately in Grave Mercy, but Sybella took me some time to adjust to. She's darker, moodier, more pained, and sometimes verges on crazy, though one can't blame her. However, as I got used to her and came to know more about why she is the way she is, I became even more bonded to Sybella, and even more desirous for her to overcome the horrors of her life.

Sybella's childhood, I will reiterate yet again, was...there aren't really words for it. Her father, d'Albret, used her as a pawn, and she had to watch him kill off wife after wife. Two of her brothers sexually abused her, one for the fun of it and one from a misguided sense of love. Her past is without brightness, and I'm warning you now of triggers for rape and incest. On top of that, there is a whole lot of violence.

One of the main criticisms I've seen of Grave Mercy, even from those that liked it, had to do with the circumstances of the consummation of Ismae's romance. It was seen as a bit of a cop-out, as though Ismae needed an excuse to have sex. In Dark Triumph, the same could not be said. Sybella has had more than one sexual partner, some willed and some not, and does not have any hesitancy about having sex when she desires it. Sybella seems a bit more empowered than Ismae, and will likely be a big hit with those disappointed by that part of Grave Mercy.

The romance in Dark Triumph makes me even happier than that in Grave Mercy. Though I do think this series could just as easily have been marketed to an adult audience, I love that this book will be going to a young adult audience. LaFevers tosses aside convention and delivers a hero utterly unlike those to be found in the bulk of YA romances. He is not handsome; in fact, he is described as ugly more than once. That does not make him unlovable to Sybella or to me. This message is so important for teens, the importance of personality and common interests over physical appearance.

If you loved Grave Mercy, get excited, because you will surely love Dark Triumph too. If you were in the camp of readers who thought LaFevers pulled some punches in the first book, then I urge you to give this installment a try, because it is much darker and more unique. My love for Robin LaFevers' writing has been firmly cemented, and I shall proceed to wait impatiently for the third His Fair Assassin novel. ...more

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Nov 07, 2015 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-all, library-book

http://melissa413readsalot.blogspot.c...

I FREAKING HATE COUNT D'ALBRET!

I FREAKING HATE COUNT D'ALBRET!

YES, I HAD TO SAY IT TWICE! HE IS BEYOND EVIL!!!!!!!!!

So, Sybella is sent back to her evil father, d'Albret after spending 4 years at the convent of St. Mortain. The lovely and evil abbess thought it would be ideal to send her back to this hell and try to take him out if he bore the marque and some other stuff.

Gotta be watchin them nuns!

Sybella is trying to play her part the best she can, but ...more

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Oct 16, 2014 Glass rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tanja-zemira-miss-glass-book-club, historical, fantasy

Second book in His Fair Assassin series was something I picked up to read, expecting mediocre read compared to Grave Mercy. Tanja scared me with her 3.5 rating, but I decided that I would finish this trilogy no matter what.

Dark Triumph left me speechless! I even loved it more than previous book. It is much darker and brutal - which is something I love - characters are more complex and nothing isn't how it seems. So many times you will question your own sanity because Robin LaFevers doesn't re ...more

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Apr 05, 2016 Norah Una Sumner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: covergasm, fantasy, great-male-characters, loss, made-me-cry, psychology, 5-star-read, great-female-characters, humor, series

I just want to marry this book.

description

And Sybella. Love this girl! I seriously enjoyed reading this beauty - the story was amazing, the characters were captivating and complex and the action was phenomenal. I loved reading from Sybella's POV and it just made me like this trilogy even more. It's been a long time since I've loved a book this much. I've missed this gorgeous feeling. Also, MY ULTIMATE SHIP IS IN THIS BOOK! Asdfghjkl. Love them! And I just want them to be happy. They really deserve it. I've ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Deborah Obida rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

This is even better than the first one, I was a bit skeptical about this, that was why it took me this long to read this. This one focuses on Sybella's story, the politics and war was less in this, the book is 50% Sybella's life, 50% the other stuff. The romance also is cool, it wasn't forced or rushed but happened at a good pace. This book took place after the final battle in Grave Mercy.

The world building and writing is esqusite, I can see an improvment between this and the first book, especia ...more

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Oct 19, 2019 Laura ☾ rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

2.5 stars - rounded up

While Dark Triumph provided some insight into Sybella ‘s character, I just felt like not that much happened in this book. It was very slow to start, and the world-building was practically non-existent.

As a trigger warning: this book contains severe abuse (both physical and emotional) and incest, but somehow deals with these in a far too blasé manner.

Somehow the writing style of this not all that engaging, much less so than the first book, and the emotional responses of th ...more

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Jan 30, 2019 ♛ may rated it liked it

Shelves: decent, kickass-heroine, fantasy, historical, trilogy, meh, i-am-trash, 300-pgs

this wasn't as great as the first book, i loved grave mercy with my whole heart and sybella's story sounded interesting to me but this definitely felt LONG

i still loved the characters, though i wish we got to see more of their dynamics rather than just filler

RTC ...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Keertana rated it really liked it

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Where Grave Mercy was a lie, a novel about dancing and political parties deftly wrapped up with a bow-tie of kick-ass assassin-nuns that never assassinated, Dark Triumph is more of the dark, bad-ass story I was looking for with LaFevers's debut last year. Nevertheless, while Grave Mercy was a sore disappointment, I am glad to admit that Dark Triumph completely won me over. It seems to be the case this year that series I swore off of last year have come back to haunt me, making m ...more

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Aug 16, 2013 Fenia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-like-drugs, my-current-book-obsessions, my-horcruxes-in-books

FEELS. I have so many feels,i will burst! This book was so good. I haven't read a book that good in a while.

Sybella was such a complicated character. Everything she's been through was horrifying and the fact that somehow in the end she got over them and moved on, its a sign of hope. She's so strong and kind and good and badass and a proper assassin. I LOVE HER!! The Beast, OMG, he's the personalisation of goodness. He's so full of life,bravery,kindness, that he radiates that, he doesn't have to ...more

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Jan 01, 2019 Emma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, historical-fantasy

Loved it even more than Grave Mercy! Sybella was a stronger character, albeit darker, than Ismae. Beast helped her to want to live again and with love. I loved Yaric with his sling and rocks and the charbonniers. That abbess needs a good slap!

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Feb 09, 2019 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, ya, year-2019, 4-star-reads, historical-fiction

4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

“Hate cannot be fought with hate. Evil cannot be conquered by darkness. Only love has the power to conquer them both.”

Another one down 1 more to go in this fun and exciting Nun/Assassin Series!!

The story takes off right where Grave Mercy left off. In this installment we follow Sybella's story. She has a few secrets, one being- that she is D'lbrets daughter. As a handmaiden of death, she is left with the task of returning to her fathers home to act as a spy. There are so many ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 mina rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-2019

↠2.5
buddy read with Laura and Heather

I’ve been told lies!

I’ve been told that the second book is SO much better than the first one and I saw reviews where people that didn’t like the first book loved this one. I, I’m disappointed. Sybella wasn’t a character I liked in the first book, well maybe liked is too much as she appeared only in the first few chapters, but I wasn’t looking forward to her book.

Nothing much happened in this one; there’s a lot of riding and fighting and if there’s not tha ...more

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Jun 04, 2018 clara rated it it was ok

Shelves: meh, dnf, bored-me-to-sleep, 2018-reads, fiction-ya, genre-sff, genre-historical-fic

DNF @ 77%

i’m sorry but life’s too short to read boring books. bye.

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Oct 06, 2014 Carole (Carole's Random Life) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, 2014, ya, net-galley, series

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

5 Stars!

I loved the first book in this series and to be honest I really didn't think the second one would be able to top it. But it did. This book was absolutely amazing. This was the kind of book that I hated to put down. This story grabbed me and made me feel for the characters. This type of novel is e This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Net Galley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

5 Stars!

I loved the first book in this series and to be honest I really didn't think the second one would be able to top it. But it did. This book was absolutely amazing. This was the kind of book that I hated to put down. This story grabbed me and made me feel for the characters. This type of novel is exactly why I read. I read to be swept away by a story, to feel for the characters, and hope for their triumph.

We all have our secrets. And our scars.

This book picks up right where Grave Mercy left off. Sybella has been placed in the home of d'Albret, who is by all accounts an evil man. This book had a darker feel that the prior book in the series. It also had a lot more action. Sybella is given the task of rescuing the man being kept in d'Albret's dungeon. That man is known as Beast and is known and loved throughout the region.

After fleeing the dungeon with Beast and his former guard, Sybella works to keep Beast alive. We quickly learn that these two people have a lot in common. They have both killed and are good at it. They both have a horrible past that they have been forced to overcome. They are both also very stubborn and determined to succeed.

The writing in this book was absolutely remarkable. I really did not care of Sybella too much in the first book but by the end of this book my heart was breaking for her. She was tough and a survivor and one of the most wonderful characters I have read. Beast was very likeable in the first book and as we learned more about him in this story that feeling only grew. Beast was able to see Sybella for who she really was and look beyond her past. These two characters made the story and I found myself hoping that they would find strength and healing in each other.

Through the darkness, his big warm hand tenderly takes hold of mine, and I want to weep at the understanding of his touch.

I would highly recommend this book to really just about everyone. This is the second book by Robin LaFevers that I have had a chance to read and I will definitely be reading more. I would recommend that this trilogy be read in order as it is a continuation of the overall story. I cannot wait for the final book in this trilogy to be released and I hope that we see more of Sybella and Beast in that novel.
...more

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Oct 29, 2014 Gail Carriger rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, fantasy, historical

On the flip side from Ismae, Sybella's journey is about closure. This second book Dark Triumph is a much tougher read, and darker than I normally prefer. Sybella, terribly abused and broken, is sent back from the only sanctuary she has ever known into the vipers nest that is the family that nearly destroyed her sanity. Unlike Ismae, she knows she can't trust anyone, ever. Her journey is one of rising above this background and becoming the person she should have been all along, had she not suffer ...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Cinda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, fantasy

It seems impossible, but this one is even better than Grave Mercy. Great characters, great story, high stakes, and elements of history, mystery and magic.

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Nov 01, 2014 Katerina Kondrenko rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: writing-touching-moments, era-historical-and-retro, characters-decent-villains, imo-better-than-i-thought, pov-1st-person, genre-fantasy, pov-female-only, read-in-russian, 05-out-of-10, imo-here-i-quit

5 out of 10

ревью на русском/review in russian

Sybella d'Albret, who appeared in the first book of the trilogy, was not without reason chasing a vile old man who intended to marry a young duchess. As we now see by her last name, Sybella is his daughter. The abbess told her to return to her father's house and spy on the count, the reward for the risk would be the murder of d'Albret, who is already marked for death.

But the Abbess lied about the mark. And she doesn't care that family for Sybella ...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Ari rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013

Now we're talking!
This is what an assassin's story looks like :D

Less political compared to GRAVE MERCY, but just as captivating, DARK TRIUMPH takes its readers on a ride full of adventure and suspense, of deception and lies. And not only is it filled with action and assassin missions and strategies, but we also get a few glimpses into the lives of some of our beloved characters from the first book. There is a bit of mystery that keeps the reader going through the story but what really won m ...more

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Jul 15, 2013 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I never really appreciated this story and Sybella like I do now. When I read this in 2016, this was actually my least favorite of the three books. I’m not even sure why. It just was even when I loved all of the books so much. Sybella is such a complex characters with an incredibly difficult life. She is filled with darkness and not much light around her. She has only a few people left in the world she loves, like her sisters and her blood sisters as well later in her life. I really admire her st I never really appreciated this story and Sybella like I do now. When I read this in 2016, this was actually my least favorite of the three books. I’m not even sure why. It just was even when I loved all of the books so much. Sybella is such a complex characters with an incredibly difficult life. She is filled with darkness and not much light around her. She has only a few people left in the world she loves, like her sisters and her blood sisters as well later in her life. I really admire her strength, her desire to protect the ones she loves and her determination. Also Beast as her friend, lover and as the person that sees her how she really is and not how she would like people to see her as. She isn’t unfeeling and bloodthirsty (we’ll only sometimes). She has a heart but doesn’t want to show it as there are far too many around her to use that against her. There is just so much more to her than people think. So many secrets she wants to lock away and I’m so glad she found those whom she can trust to watch her back. Ones that she can finally open up to without worries of judgement and abandonment. This story is filled unexpectedly with so much love and I’m so glad Sybella found some reasons to smile again.

*Edit: 1/8/16

(Re-read review) I will try to make this a spoiler free review.

I love the first book in this trilogy, Grave Mercy because of the characters and how the history was woven into a story about nun assassins (which is always awesome to read about). In this sequel, we get to know the disturbed and broken, Sybella as she is sent back to the household of Count d'Albret as a spy for the Duchess and to kill D'Albret when the time arrives. A message arrives from the Abbess to rescue the captured knight, Beast of Waroch, before D'Albret can use him to exact his own evil plans. When Sybella accidently escorts Beast to the Duchess, she finds a friend and companion in him. They find a past connection between them and thus brings horrific past events to the present which only add to Sybella's tragic story. Sybella's story is less political and much more personal but there is still plenty of action, romance, and danger.

If you thought you hated D'Albret in the first book, well, surprise, you will want to send him personally straight to hell after reading this one. Somehow, even with all of her scars, both physical and mental, Sybella still manages to be a badass, protect others, survive, and find love. You really have to give props to her for making it work in the end. We get more of Ismae, Duval, and Beast so we all win in this part. Beast and Sybella are absolutely perfect for each other. They have opposite personalities, but once the fight is one, they are one in the same.

This one is much darker than the first not necessarily better or worse, just different. I had way to much enjoyment when she had the chance to kill someone. However, they were usually traitors or trying to hurt someone so I shouldn't feel that bad. Another great read. I will be heading over to Annith's story in Mortal Heart very soon. I seriously love this trilogy.

"I have my whole life before me, and for the first time, it is filled not with fear and darkness, but with love and promise."

Overall: 5 stars
Recommendation: Oh yeah! ...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Bonnie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, ya

A copy of Dark Triumph was provided to me by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children for review purposes.

'The abbess and I had a different sort of relationship. One built on mutual dislike and distrust, brought together only by our shared needs: mine for a sanctuary, hers for a finely honed weapon she could let loose as Mortain willed. I trust her as much as I do a viper.'

It seems as if each hand maiden of death has her own story to tell and in Dark Triumph we get to experience Lady Sybella's. ...more

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