Dust Jacket Reviews: his fair assassin

Showing posts with label his fair assassin. Show all posts

1 February 2015

Dark Triumph (RC Review)

His Fair Assassin: Dark Triumph | Robin LaFevers

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 1st 2014

Genre: YA, Historical

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via Netgalley

The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her home to the life that nearly drove her mad. 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?

Ahhh, you guys, this book!!!! Grave Mercy was off the charts of awesome but Dark Triumph was just ... essential.

My favourite thing about this series is the attention to detail. The historical elements are so effortless and genuine that it's impossible to not feel as if you're in that era, in that exact situation. It's one of those books that you see happening rather than read. The writing is just perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more in a historical novel.

But not only the writing and the scenes and tone of history, but the characters are everything. I never, in a million years, thought Sybella could live up to Ismae. It was just impossible that I could fall for her as much as I did for Ismae, but boy was I wrong. Sybella stabbed my heart out right in the beginning and she's owned it ever since. She's just so brave and broken and feral that it's hard to ignore her and even harder not to sympathise. I was riveted to see what she was capable of and where she would draw the line.

I especially loved the way Sybella was with Beast (my darling Beast). Beast and Sybella are far from the perfect couple. They are both tortured by their pasts, living in a world of war, and starved for affection. But God are they perfect together. I was dying for them to kiss, glance longingly at each other, anything. I was needy for Beast/Sybella. BUT the romance and chemistry is very much an undertone. It's nothing to the main plot of conflict and tension and mortal peril. But it's still adorable and makes me want to squeal at every romantic scene.

This book more than lives up to its predecessor. Dark Triumph is a ruthless, blood-soaked book of determination, love, and the lengths people will go to for the people, and the duchy, that they love. Recommended to the highest degree.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

This book counts toward my Monthly Key Word challenge.

See my progress on my Read in 2015 page!

Key words: Bad (Dark) & End (Triumph)

26 November 2014

Grave Mercy (RC Review)

His Fair Assassin: Grave Mercy | Robin LaFevers

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 3rd 2012

Genre: YA, Historical

Pages: 549

Format: Ebook

Source: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via Netgalley

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

This book has been on my tbr list for years. Two years, in fact. So I heaped a lot of expectations on this book, and it more than satisfied my hopes. I got it into my head that it was high fantasy, but it turned out to be historical, set in Brittany, and I couldn't have been happier about that.

The world building is flawless, the details and lush backdrop bring the book to life and give Ismae's story a sharp, real feeling. I fell pretty hard for this book from the get go. The story is dark and unforgiving, and the hint of magic lured me in while still feeling true to the period. I especially loved how St. Mortain is prominent through the whole book, an omniscient being always mentioned and there, a guide of actions and motives. It's nice, also, to see religion treated with an honest eye, instead of the villainy of so many books.

There are so many things about Grave Mercy that impressed me. The integrity and bravery of Ismae, along with her sensibleness and how lethal she was. The allure of Gaval, and how very unique a love interest he was. He felt like a genuine, real person, neither the brooding asshole or the sexy alpha stereotypes that occur so often. He's complex and genuine and I wish there was more of this book so I could see where his life, and Ismae's, goes. I was especially impressed by how dire and stern the court politics felt, and how none of the period drama, the betrayals, and the grittiness of it was tamed for a YA audience.

Robin LaFevers has stolen a great piece of my heart with this book, and I expect more pieces will be stolen by the following books in the His Fair Assassin series.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

24 November 2014

Reading round up (53)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.