Dark Triumph: His Fair Assassins, Book II (2) Paperback – April 1, 2014

Three years ago, when Sybella first came to the convent of St. Mortain, she had just escaped her family who had driven her half mad. The convent took her in and trained her alongside Ismae and Annith in all manner of assassin techniques. When she is finally ready for assignments, where does that complete witch of an abbess send her? Right back into the evil clutches of her family she had finally escaped. Back to her father who is none other than the vile d'Albret who cares for no one but himself and her brother, Julian, who cares for her in a way that brothers shouldn't care for their sisters. So basically, I was concerned for Sybella's well being during this whole book. She doesn't especially seem to value her own life.The only reason that Sybella can hold out so long with d'Albret is because the abbess has promised that she would be able to kill him. But no matter what horrible, treacherous things he does, he never gets marqued for death! Frustrated, she waits for a message from the abbess. When it finally comes, it's not an order to kill d'Albret, but to free the Beast of Waroch from her father's dungeon and send him to aid the duchess. He is a big dude and seriously injured, but she manages to get him out by bringing out his battle fever and he knocks her out and when she comes to, she is also on her way to the duchess. She thinks she is finally free of d'Albret.Sybella is a great character. She has had an incredibly rough life. The book focuses a lot on her dark past and how she is trying to move on from it. She questions the existence of her god on many occasions, positive he can't be real if a man like d'Albret is not marqued. She is selfless. She enjoys killing those who deserve it and does everything she can to help protect those who cannot help themselves. She is a good person.Beast is also wonderful. In the first book you see how very loyal he is to the duchess and his friend Duval. He is described as being incredibly ugly, but on the inside he is so far from ugly. He is kind, caring, gentle. On the way to meet the duchess, he goes out of his way to save every innocent person he finds to be in trouble. He is a killing machine and will be the first to put his life on the line in a battle. Especially if he is asking the same from others. He seems to have no care at all for his own life when his battle fever comes over him. He is just a good person.Jamette.. I hated her. She is a rat and uses Sybella's secrets against her to gain favor with d'Albret. In the end, the only reason she tried to help Sybella was for her own sake. She couldn't bear what was going to happen to someone she loved if Sybella couldn't help them. Witch.The only other character I feel the need to say anything about is the abbess. And this will mostly be a rant. Why is she so awful!? Sybella FINALLY gets away from d'Albret when she makes her way to the convent just for that witch to send her back to gather information! What information do you need? He's awful and there isn't a single thing he can do to redeem himself, just have to kill him, marque or no, and be done with it! And then she gets out of there again when she leaves with Beast and when they make their way to Rennes, the abbess is there and tells her that she needs to go back there AGAIN?!? That is so obviously a death sentence because obviously she's the one who freed the prized prisoner as they went missing at the same time!! And the she black nails her saying if she doesn't go she'll either send Ismae or Annith?!? In the first book, I thought the abbess was just a witch to Ismae because she saw Mortain and tried to tell her stuff about his will and the abbess was jealous and not about to take advice on the subject from a novice. She's shady man. I don't think that she's out to do Mortain's will at all. I think she's just out to get vengeance on her own will. Okay.. Rant over.The romance in this book felt a bit fast. They only knew each other a few days. But I really liked it. They're perfect for each other. Sybella needs someone kind and gentle after all the horrors she's been through at the hands of the men in her life. Beast is just the man for the job! He's so full of love and can look past the darkness about her and love her the way she needs to be loved!Other than the escape from d'Albret and the journey across the country, not a whole lot happened plot wise. But it was still an excellent story and I cannot wait for the last part of it from Annith! This series is so excellent and I just love the little history lesson you get with them!

I bought Grave Mercy with a thrill of anticipation, excited for the killer nuns, the alternate fifteenth century that still managed to incorporate Anne of Brittany's struggles and the dark and pagan recreation of the medieval Catholic church. I liked Grave Mercy but I loved Dark Triumph. LeFevers has sharpened her already great writing and setting and character development into something really special. I also loved her choice of giving each book in the trilogy a different voice and heroine and can't wait to read the last one, focused on Annith, due out next year.Sybella has been sent by the prioress of her abbey, dedicated to St. Mortrain, the God of Death, to rejoin her wicked and dysfunctional family. Sybella's father is trying to gain control of Brittany, either by forcing Anne to marry him, he is willing to rape first and marry later if that will get the job done, or via intrigue with the French, already an enemy of Anne's. Sybella fled her family for a reason, not only is she aware that her father murdered all six of his previous wives, even witnessing one of the murders, but he has twisted and abused Sybella and her brothers and virtually everyone in his sphere. de Albret is a psychopathic sadist with ambitions for power and he is a genuinely frightening character. In addition to that, Sybella has to cope with the love of her brother, Julian, which has morphed into incestuous obsession thanks to the terrors of their childhood. Even the prioress is using Sybella hard and makes her dislike and distaste for Sybella clear, when all Sybella has tried to do is survive in untenable circumstances. Nor is Sybella told the entire truth about her mission.Anne of Brittany has been betrayed by fully half of her councilors, is determined not to marry De Albret and is harried by her betrayers, de Albret and the French. Sybella is sent back into the bosom of the family as a spy and assassin in order to do what she can to ensure that Anne stays Duchess of Brittany. Sybella is a believable and lovable character in that she hates herself for what she has had to do to survive and has simultaneous pride and hatred in her ability as an assassin who brings justice rather than mercy. Sybella's survivor guilt and survivor psychology is believable and lovable - even the way that she misinterprets situations and other people's reactions to her. Ismae, the narrator of Grave Mercy is the bringer of mercy and Sybella is the bringer of justice for the God, St. Mortrain. I wonder what Annith will bring.Other reviewers said that the politics were missing in Dark Triumph, but I have to disagree with this assessment. Political intrigue is the heart and soul of Dark Triumph, but rather than the sweeping fates of duchys and peoples, Dark Triumph is the intimate, claustrophobic day to day politics in a great medieval house....betrayals may indeed lead to kingdoms falling into the wrong hands and battles lost, but the betrayal will start at the level of your lady in waiting and every word spoken, glance given, attendance at dinner noted or missed is important. I honestly loved this more than the sweeping battles of Grave Mercy.The relationship between the Beast and Sybella, as well as Sybella and Ismae are a joy to read and behold. In LeFevers universe female friendship is every bit as important as romance, if not more so and both friendship and romance are rendered with believable sympathy and clarity. In short, I cannot recommend this series enough. If you haven't read Grave Mercy, do so immediately and then move on to Dark Triumph with glee and anticipation. One of the better YA offerings and definitely fit for adults as well.I am editing this review to add that the romance in the Fair Assassin Trilogy is wonderful, readable, between equals and has fully realized male and female characters. The women of this world don't have to debase themselves for love. Beast especially is noteworthy in that he really sees Sybella and loves her not only for herself, but for the manner in which she has transformed the hardships of her life into a character that is dark, competent and compassionate. Even when Sybella confesses her supposed sexual misdeeds, Beast sees through to the truth of the matter and doesn't run off and pout thus creating a contrived bridge the characters have to cross. This is romance I can get behind and Beast is my new literary boyfriend. For those readers who are eagerly awaiting the next installment, may I recommend  The Perilous Gard , which is an oldie but a goodie and explores an alternate Elizabethan England, long before the term alternate history was invented. This too features a wonderful romance with the best ending and proof of true love and female self-respect EVER.Realistic and moral depictions of sex and love but none of the heroines are perfect or falsely chaste. Definitely for older teens and provides an opening for genuine discussion of sexual realities and mores but not meant for the proponents of abstinence only.

Absolutely loved this. Read it in two sittings (think I gulped down the previous book Grave Mercy in a similar amount of time.) this is much more a personal novel about the characters rather that being set against a political back drop. Sybella, broken, damaged and half mad was saved by the convent of Mortrain but the abbess wants a particular kind of repayment and sends Sybella back into the very hell she came from in a coldly, calculated move to gain prestige for the convent. As events unfold we learn why Sybella was so damaged. Her rescue of the Beast of Waroch will have you wanting to cheer. Brilliant stuff, fantasy that manages to be highly entertaining and richly imagined with no self indulgence. Can't wait for Mortal Heart, the third book.

This book (and the first in the series) really captured my attention. I liked the way the focus changes to a different main character for each book, whilst still keeping strong links to the prior story. The magic is fairly subtle and seems is supportive rather than being the reason for the book existing. The main female characters are well described and fun. Some of the supporting casts seem a bit two-dimensional, but that doesn’t detract from what is just a great read of murder, intrigue and assassination!

Brilliant, totally different and very exciting without being horribly gory. Three books, stand alone, but may i recommend starting with the first book; His Fair Assasin; Grave Mercy, as you'll enjoy following the 3 wonderful women's entwined, touching and griping story more.Wordery delivered the books together and superfast, even to the outer islands!

compelling, intricate and full of depth. The story of Sybella the assassin and how her complicated past weaves into the storyline of her friend Ismae (book 1). I can't wait to read the third book. Excellent book.

one of the best series of book's I have read based around the Brittany war's in 1480's all three young lady's lives' in twine for great read one hell of a great page turner