Reading round up (63)

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.

26th January

I started Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (18% read). I adored Grave Mercy, and have a hunch the love interest in this is my darling De Waroch, so I'm hoping to enjoy this!

27th January

Currently Reading: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Current page/percent: 66%

Read today: 48%

Thoughts: SCREAMING BECAUSE SYBELLA/BEAST!! He keeps blushing and getting embarrassed and he is this HUGE HULKING MAN and it is fricking adorable. I didn't wanna put this down to go to bed!

28th January

Finished Dark Triumph (34% read) and I am still screaming about Sybella and Beast. Those little glimpses of Duval and Isme were lovely too!! For such a dark, gut-punch of a series, it really is cute in parts.

29th January

Quickly read the end of Avalon by Mindee Arnett (163 pages) because I've been neglecting it and I'm not sure if I'll have time to finish properly. 

I also attempted to start Switched by Amanda Hocking (47 pages read) but a noxious combination of insta-love, stalking, and a lack of self preservation turned me off pretty quick. 

So I'm now reading Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis (28 pages) instead and I'm having much better luck with this.

30th January

Currently Reading: Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis

Current page/percent: page 152

Read today: 124 pages

Thoughts: LOVING THIS!! It's got parts of Cinder, parts of Cress, and something entirely new.

31st January

Currently Reading: Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis

Current page/percent: page 213

Read today: 48%

Thoughts: I love Dane, I love Essie, I love Dimwit, I love everyone. READ THIS BOOK.

1st February

I finished Stitching Snow (125 pages) and I adored it. The end made me cry like a moron over a robot being proud of Essie. Oh Stitching Snow, what have thou done to me?

Books finished this week: 3
Books DNF'd this week: 1

Silent Blade | Ilona Andrews

Monster | Carmen Caine

Clearly I am craving revenge-based urban fantasy. Been wanting to read something of Ilona Andrews for a while and that novella was cheap. Monster sounds pretty cool, as well, even if the cover is dubious.

Monster | Carmen Caine

Jenny was kind enough to give me a review copy of this and I am realllly excited to start reading it!!!

I also got a handful of free NA genre novels, since I'm attempting an experiment to see if there's any decent fantasy/sci-fi NA! More on this later this week.

Avalon (reread review on Goodreads)

Dark Triumph

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)