I LOVED coming back to this world and characters that Robin has created. Although the last book in this series was written years ago I could easily fall back into this world and it’s sorely missed characters. I realized how much I missed her writing and cannot wait for more.

I need to read the previous books from this author because based on the reaction I got when I posted about reading this ARC this author is a MUST READ.

I obviously haven’t ever read this author before, but this novel wasn’t hard to follow and it dragged me in from the very start.

This read follows Sybella and Beast and I don’t want to give anything away since I guess this was a book people are dying for. I plan to go back and read the previous series that this finds off for because if it impacted me this much with not having the backstory, I can’t image the punch the it is going to pack when I have that story.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

Courting Darkness was nothing like I expected. I knew it was going to be dark but the darkness level and the way the story was told was very difficult for me to follow.

Another great story by Robin LaFevers! Looking forward to see what happens next!!! Thank you netgalley!

Loved this it had me hooked from the biggining of the story. Loved all the assassins and I loved the action. I can’t wait to read more of this series.

This is a historical fantasy, set it in France, and we switch between the POVs of our two main characters, Sybella, and Genevieve. Both are powerful and dangerous, and I really enjoyed their intertwining story lines. LaFevers is a master of building tension as the plot heads to its finale, and I was a big fan of her writing style. I think I would have got more out of this book if I had read the original trilogy first. I was told that I didn't need to have read it, but the first few chapters had little exposition and it felt like the second or third book in the series, rather than the first. Overall, this was still a great read though.

I love these assassin nuns so much. I think my main hangup here is that I didn't want Gen, I wanted Ismae and Annith. Maybe that would have been too much in one book, but the entire time as things were happening to Sybella all I wanted was for her to find comfort in her sisters.

Also, snaps to Tephanie, let's get her a nice partner soon, she deserves it.

A wonderful continuation of a fantastic fantasy series. Will definitely recommend to young women! I think girls can really related to the dichotomy of the standards society places on women vs. the desire to choose your own path.

Thanks to the publisher for access to this title in return for a fair review.

As a huge fan of the His Fair Assassin trilogy, I've been anxiously awaiting for this. I've been a huge fan of Sybella and Beast, and I was excited to see more of their story. This has a lot more (at least to my foggy remembrance) political and historic tones, but that just adds to the story for me.

I was a little confused by the similar names in some cases, though I know that is part of the historical factor of the story. I can't wait to see how this all plays out in the second installment.

Courting Darkness is the very first book in the brand new Courting Darkness duology by Robin LaFevers, and is also the very first book I have ever read by Robin as well! I have had her His Fair Assassin series on my TBR for the longest, but I have not yet had the pleasure of reading it. I am beyond thrilled to have finally read something by her, and now I can’t wait to read more!!

Courting Darkness has both a very interesting storyline, and a great cast of characters. The story is told from two main characters’ viewpoints, and I definitely enjoyed reading both of their stories. Genevieve and Sybella are both daughters of Death, and the whole idea of this being a thing was completely fascinating. Both girls lead completely different lives, yet also have entwining storylines, and I was completely awed by them both. I’m super curious to see what their futures hold in the next book. There are also a lot of interesting secondary characters to meet in the story as well.

The storyline for this book was very interesting, and while it got off to a bit of a slow start, (for me, anyways), it picked up pretty quickly and I devoured it as sooner than I expected to. I really wish that I would have read the His Fair Assassin trilogy before starting this new series, as I feel like there were a lot of things referenced from that series in this new book that I didn’t understand. However, most things were pretty well explained, and I was only confused a few times. (I will, however, most definitely check out that first series asap!)

Overall; My first experience with a book by Robin LaFevers was definitely a success, and I absolutely can’t wait to read more to see where this Courting Darkness duology will go. I am also super excited to check out the His Fair Assassin series as well, and since I just recently added the first book from that series to my collection, I am hoping to get to it soon!

Happy Reading!

*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this title!*

The daughters of Saint Mortain are back! Trained as assassins and schooled in political intrigue, the ladies are ensconced in their lives - one in the French court, having been placed there years before with absolutely zero contact to the convent, the other traveling with the Queen.

My notes: I absolutely adored the His Fair Assassin series, but it had been a few years since I read it. Since the reviews said that I didn't need to have read it to understand this one, I didn't reread... and that was a huge mistake! Who is this person? Why do I care about that person? What did I know about this again? It was extremely confusing. There wasn't a lot of world-building or even reminding me of what I read in the first series. For those who are new to it, I can't imagine getting past the first half.

In addition... for girls schooled as assassins, there was very little killing, and far more politics than my brain could bear. I really wanted to love this, but... maybe next time.

The government ties across the land have changed after many bloody battles. Now a marriage will create an alliance that should bring peace to the land. As a trained assassin of St. Mortain, Sybella will take the bride-to-be and her entourage and protect them on the journey to the new court. Sybella has abusers from her past, who attempt to hurt her beloved sisters. Sybella will need to stay ahead of the game to keep everyone she loves safe.

Genevieve and a partner have been sent deep undercover in a surrounding court as sleeper assassins for St. Mortain. While Genevieve cannot wait to be called to duty, her partner has given up on ever being remembered again and has become a mistress of the local lord (she is also carrying his child).

While it appears that everything is working towards peace, everything is not as it seems. There are threats from all sides and Sybella and Genevieve will play an important role in the fate of their land.

This book is displayed as the first of a series, it feels like the beginning of a series. It feels that the reader should be familiar with certain characters and concepts, that are not truly addressed. It made it difficult for me to connect to the story, because it felt like I was missing big chunks of it.

Loved it! I absolutely adored the His Fair Assassin series, so hell yes I was excited to read this! I was happy to be back with Sybella (my favorite from HFA) and getting to know Genevieve. I love deadly women. :)

I highly suggest reading the His Fair Assassin trilogy first. This picks up soon after the events in Mortal Heart and sets off the next leg of a bigger overall story arc. Even though each book has a different main heroine, they each build off each other.

DNF @ 10%

Courting Darkness returns the focus to Sybella (originally from Dark Triumph) and her new mission in life. I adored the original trilogy and while it has been said that it’s not necessary to read them to appreciate the new duology, I found a definite lack of world-building and establishment of character in this installment. Whether or not it’s necessary, I would highly recommend reading them for the background knowledge alone since it does not appear to be given in Courting Darkness. And while it must be said that there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with this story (despite my obvious DNF) I realized shortly into this that while I was originally excited for more stories set in this world, I felt that the original trio’s stories had been told and nothing more was needed.

Courting Darkness is the first in a duology set in a 15th century France and follows two protagonists, Sybella and Genevieve, who have an important mission to accomplish. While the story itself is intriguing, I was very confused at times because I did not read His Fair Assassins trilogy, and most of what happened picks right up from the third book. However, it was an enjoyable read, and I now will read the trilogy so I can better understand the book in its entirety.

This is a great student book club pick, and I will suggest it to all my high school students.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for this eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Courting Darkness is the first part of a two part duology that really should be considered a supplement to the His Fair Assassin Trilogy. So, please don't all for the lies that you don't have to have any knowledge of the Trilogy before up this book. You will be lost, and frustrated otherwise. This story takes place right where Mortal Heart left off. The prologue pretty much bears that message. This is a book that features both a familiar face in Sybella D'Albert, as well as a new face in Genevieve, a handmaiden of death just like Sybella.

This is a series that takes place in 15th century France. Readers will be taken to both Cognac, France, as well as Rennes, Brittany. This series follows women who were trained to be assassins at Saint Mortain's who is the God of Death. The women who appear in this series have all been sired by the God of Death. Sybella's powers are a curious sort. She has the ability to sense the heartbeats of the living. She is also able to experience the souls of the dying which is something new.

Sybella and her fellow Handmaidens of Death, like Ismae, are trying to come to terms with a world that no longer has the presence of Mortain and the mark that guided them. Sybella will do anything to protect her sisters from her vile brother and his desires for them, as well as Sybella. In her role as Lady-In-Waiting for Anne, the future Queen of France, she has to travel with her Lady from the safety of Brittany, to the unknown of the court of King Charles where backstabbing & betrayal is a national pastime. Sybella and her beau Beast, the Captain of the Queen's guards, have their arms filled with stopping those who want to dispose the Duchess and her allies who gave France such a hard time in their recent war for independence.

Genevieve is one of the hidden sisters. It has been 5 years she and her friend Margot was sent on a mission to France to be a spy and to report back to the Convent things that are importance in the war between France and Brittany. she has never once killed anyone. She has instead, become an attendant to Countess Angouleme, and an object of desire for the Count. Genevieve's story is one of discovery. She wonders why after all this time she was sent here and what she is supposed to be doing because she is ready to return safely to the convent. She finds solace in a prisoner she stumbles across whom which the guards have forgotten about.

Over the course of the story, she befriends the man, discovers his true identity, and ends up in a collision course with Sybella. Genevieve has been gone so long from the convent, that she has no idea of the turmoil that has taken place or how much the world has changed with one particular choice made in the final throes of battle. She enlists the mans help, to a point, and then makes her way to the castle where the newly married King and Queen are now holding court. A King who has not forgotten about Genevieve and her kindness.

It's fair of me to say that Sybella never once meet in this book. They are both busy with their own missions, and when the chance does come, it leaves readers wanting to read the sequel. As an FYI, the author uses a bit her own unique twists with the time line to tell her story. Some years might be off by a year of two, but the events pretty much happened. Almost every character introduced in this story (except Sybella & Genevieve) is a historical character who you can easily research.

This was a hard book to follow. I did not understand the plot, the world-building, and the politics. This may be because I have not yet read the first book. As for the characters, I really liked Genevieve more than Sybella. This is because of Genevieve’s background and how she aspires for a better life. I recommend this for fans of medieval novels set in alternative France.

Rivetingly addictive!

As usual I was grasped by the power of LaFevers writing. I found myself totally keyed up fully there with these young woman assassins thrust into a life that can unravel in an instance, a life where their choices are really few except to keep going, keep protecting; and when they're deeply undercover, to await a sign! But what if that sign never comes and you have no way of ascertaining what might be or not be?
A deeply addidictive medieval historical fantasy set loosely at the time of the court of Queen Anne in fifteenth century medieval Brittany in the latter part of the French Breton war. Right in the thick of things are the assassin novices who serve St. Mortrain (the god of Death).
Underlying all is the old age story of women being used in the struggle of intrigue and politics, where noble daughters are bartered to ensure the continuation of the rule of the powerful.
Three narratives are running concurrently:
That of assassin Sybella in her role as protector of the Duchess of Britanny, who is to marry the King of France. And Beast her partner and lover leads the Duchess's guard. They have with them Sybella's two young sisters whom protecting from her depraved brother Pierre.
Then there's the Duchess of Britanny and her struggles to maintain any vestiges of rule even as the men around her whittle them back, helped along by the King of France's sister.
And lastly we have the assassin novice Genevieve who is embedded in Anne's entourage awaiting direction. Unknown to her changes have swept away all knowledge of her and her sister novice. Except for a whisper remembered by Sybella. In the meantime Genevieve has encountered a mysterious prisoner, and that encounter will have consequences.
A strong and intricate read, where adversity against the powerful is key.

A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Young Readers ARC via NetGalley

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

title: Courting Darkness

author: Robin LaFevers

pages: 512

format: eARC

buy it: Amazon | B&N | BookDepository | Goodreads

rating: 3/5

genre: Fantasy, Historical

topics: Royalty, Mythology, Religion, Assassins

warnings: Sexual assault/harassment

Court intrigue and assassins

Immediately following the events of Mortal Heart (seriously, do a reread if you need it, this book picks up days later and does no recap), Courting Darkness follows Sybella as she supports her duchess, Anne of Brittany, in becoming the queen of France. At the same time, she's trying to protect her two younger sisters from falling into the custody of their older brother, fending off both legal and physical attacks from him. When they arrive in the French court, Sybella has to hide her convent training or risk drawing suspicion. She finds a new enemy in the king's sister, the former regent who absolutely hates Anne and is doing everything she can to strip the new queen of influence.


At the same time, Genevieve was sent as a sleeper agent into the French court five years ago. But after not hearing a single peep out of the convent in all that time, she's starting to doubt her purpose and her mission. Through a series of lies and misunderstandings, she thinks her holy duty is to travel to find the king of France and petition him to save the convent, so she escapes her household with the help of a mysterious prisoner and faces all sorts of dangers on the road to the king's court.
So...all that sounds like it should be a plot

The story is told through dual POVs, alternating between Sybella and Genevieve. And while a lot happens in the book and there's plenty for me to put in a summary it just...doesn't really feel like a plot? There's a series of events that happen, and they lead to...???? The conflict that serves as the climax of the book is actually a side issue for most of the page time, and the main drama of Anne joining the French court is rather meandering with no goal or conclusion.


Granted, I really liked the scenes in the French court, and the verbal sparing and double-speak going on between Sybella and the regent is some excellent intrigue that I was really fond of. I just wish it went somewhere.


Genevieve had a more traditional plot, with a goal and rising action and a character arc. But she was doing a disservice by sharing the page time with Sybella, who had an actual villain in the form of the regent and her brother. Genevieve, meanwhile, had mostly just random encounters that stood in the way of her goal but weren't actually related to it. It's like the pieces of a complete plot got split between the two POVs, leaving each frustratingly lacking in something.
But what about the romance?

Because of course there's romance. And frankly? I liked both of them! Sybella and Beast continue their romance from Dark Triumph, and they are beautifully supportive of each other throughout the book. It was really nice to see them continue on in this series and I hope we get even more of them in the next. New character Genevieve had a developing romance with her road trip partner, and that was really nice as well. I liked the progression of their relationship and how Genevieve's particular emotional hangups factored into things, how it made the "two steps forward, one step back" nature feel earned and organic.
Some random things


I thought the duchess was like young 20s based on how she acted and then the author's note reminded me of her real age and I got retroactively squicked by...basically everything that happened in the book. (See sexual assault content note. Which was bad enough without throwing in a reminder that she's underage.)
Ages in general are hard to tell, everyone is just called "young" regardless of whether their 8 or 18. Only one character felt like she was even acting her age, so that confused things more.
Second reminder to re-read the previous books if you don't remember them well, there is no catch-up in this book unless they added it after the ARCs.

Final Thought

I keep thinking of this book as boring and then remembering how many people get brutally murdered and then I just end up like this

Will I read this author again? Sure

Will I continue this series? Look, I hated Grave Mercy but Dark Triumph was a favorite, so I've an established pattern of much preferring second books by this author. Of course I'll read the next one. No title yet, but you can add it on goodreads.

Note: I received this copy from the author/publisher. The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.

(to be posted 2/13)