This is the first book in a duology which continues the story begun in the His Fair Assassin trilogy. It picks up right where Mortal Heart ended. If you haven’t read the trilogy, you will not understand anything in this book. That being said, if you are Team Sybella, you will probably really like this book. Personally, I’ve always been more Team Ismae, but I still found the book enjoyable. As much as I do think Ms LaFevers is an excellent writer, I did find this book to be a little long-winded and, at times, dragging. I think this was due to it having two main characters. I usually like books that switch POVs, but it just seemed to slow things down here. Maybe the author was trying to put in too much story? Things did pick up at the end; which was a bit of a cliffhanger. Overall, though, a good next installment in a very fun series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The synopsis for this book sounded amazing but I didn't realise when requesting this book that it was a follow up to His Fair Assassin trilogy also by this author. Having not read the trilogy, and although it's not supposed to be necessary, I did find myself completely lost when I started reading. I felt like I was missing vital information on who the characters were and what had happened to make them this way.

Having said that, I did continue reading because the writing was excellent and that characters were fully formed and dynamic. I wish I hadn't read this book before reading the trilogy because I know I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

His fair assassins are back in a new series. We follow alternating points of view of Sybella (from Dark Triumph) and Genevieve. Sybella is quested to protect her younger sisters from their brother. To do so, she serves the duchess on their journey to France. The French court may provide shelter from her brother, but Sybella finds more enemies lurking.

Genevieve has been hiding in the French court awaiting orders from the convent for some time. Hardship sends Gen on a quest of her own.

Reading the original trilogy is not necessarily a must, but it would help one to understand and appreciate the characters and the world of what a daughter of Mortain is capable. It’s been some time since I’ve read the original series and I would have appreciated some recap. I loved the characterization and magic of the original trilogy. Courting Darkness falls short from the originals. It felt slow and more of a set up for upcoming books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

4.5 Stars - I liked being back in this world SO MUCH. This book was just as good as the initial three books and I enjoyed meeting the new characters. I thought that Genevieve's backstory was interesting, and while I did not quite understand her character, I really enjoyed her journey throughout the story. I anticipate that she has a lot more to do in book two of this duology (Or book #5), both as a person and as an assassin. I liked Marauad quite a bit as well, he's a saint of a man. Very patient with a hurting and gruff Genevieve. It was fun to see some of the older characters, Sybella, Beast, The Duchess, Ismae, and Duval again as well. At first I didn't love the dual perspectives. I found myself looking forward to Genevieve's chapters quite a bit more, but then the action rose in both plots and later they converge which was really kind of fun. I'm very excited to see where the next book goes.

I loved the His Fair Assassin trilogy. Maybe my expectations were too high for this especially since one of the main characters is Sybella. Her book was my favorite of the three. The POV switched between Sybella and Genevieve. The parts with Sybella were great despite much of the focus being on political maneuverings of the time.

Unfortunately I found this book to be lacking in a few ways. There wasn’t a well defined plot. The Duchess of Brittany was marrying the King of France. There was a lot of upheaval because the duchess’s station in life was changing and she was losing some power. Sybella had to assist her and help to make the transition as smooth as possible. Other than that Sybella was focused on keeping her sisters safe. There was a lot going on but no main goal to achieve.

If this book had only been from Sybella’s POV, I would have loved it especially if it meant there would have been more time to focus on her personal issues. Roughly half of the book was about Genevieve who is another of Mortain’s daughters. She’d been placed in the French court and essentially abandoned by the convent.

Genevieve was unbearable. At first, I had some sympathy for her situation, but the more I learned about her the less I liked her. After a while, I really began to dread it when her name would appear at the top of a new chapter. She was selfish, judgmental, and cold. Her lack of empathy for others bothered me greatly. Her treatment of Maraud made me hate her. Last but not least, she was not a good spy. Her resources for obtaining information were limited, and she had a habit of making opinions and decisions based on unreliable information. What she did at the end proved that she was a hypocrite and doesn't think things through. I’ll read the next one for Sybella and Beast, but I’m not broken-hearted that I have to wait another year to get it.

Sybella was my favorite from LaFever's His Fair Assassins Trilogy and I'm glad to see she's back and stronger than ever in this YA novel. Well done and great for anyone who loves historical fiction and intrigue.

Courting Darkness is the first book in a duology to follow up the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFever. It is currently scheduled for release on February 5 2019. I do recommend reading the initial trilogy before jumping in here, because understanding the characters and politics of the world will help readers understand and enjoy the story. Besides, assassin nuns- why wouldn't you want to read it all?

When Sybella discovers there is another trained assassin from St. Mortain’s convent deep undercover in the French court, she must use every skill in her arsenal to navigate the deadly royal politics and find her sister in arms before her time—and that of the newly crowned queen—runs out. Sybella accompanies the Duchess to France, she expects trouble, but she isn’t expecting a deadly trap. Surrounded by enemies both known and unknown, Sybella searches for the undercover assassins from the convent of St. Mortain who were placed in the French court years ago. One of those assassins is Genevieve, who has been undercover for so many years, she no longer knows who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. When she discovers a hidden prisoner who may be of importance, she takes matters into her own hands. As these two worlds collide, the fate of the Duchess, Brittany, and everything Sybella and Genevieve have come to love hangs in the balance.

Courting Darkness is a book about being yourself, finding your place, and dealing with intrigue and politics. Genevieve and Sybella have their own battles to fight, and some are more obvious and easier to face than others. Fan of the series will enjoy the continuation of the story, and how Sybella and Beast continue to grow and face the troubles that surround them. I found the character and world building to be very well paced and written. I thought the introduction of Genevieve and her story with the alternating narration between the two added some depth and complexity to the story. There is a lot going on; travel, plotting, and personal growth for all the major players. I look forward to seeing where this all is going and how it all comes together in the end. I really was not ready to put the book aside when I finished it, I desperately want to know what happens next. My only disappointment with the book is my personal desire not to let go of the characters and their story. I want it to continue and to know what dangers they will face next, and how they will find their way through ad hopefully find happiness.

Courting Darkness is another highly engaging read from LaFever. While it took me a bit to get lost into this world again, when I finished the book my only complaint was that the next book is not scheduled for release until 2019. I am impatient.

I really did enjoy this book, but I was glad that I read the original His Fair Assassins trilogy prior to picking this book up. It gives necessary background information about the characters, but I think I was more connected to them because I read the original trilogy.

I enjoyed the addition of Gen, a new character in the court, and the plot that surrounded her. It did not feel like a forced addition, but rather a needed character at this point in the book. I am also glad that the plot continued on from the trilogy because it was definitely not finished. The D'Albret family drama continues, and I am so thankful for this because they are a family not to be trusted for the most part. This book definitely picked up in excitement in the second half and I had a hard time putting it down when I hit that part of the novelI am so curious about how the young girls will develop in the next book and am already eagerly awaiting the sequel to Courting Darkness!

Robin LaFever is a great writer and brings her characters to life with their background issues and their love interests!

Sybella is one of Death’s daughters and a trained assassin. Her current mission is to attend the duchess to France where she is to marry the king. She quickly discovers that she has enemy’s everywhere, but all isn’t over. She is also told that two fellow novitiates were placed in the French court many years ago, now she just needs to find them. Genevieve has been in the French court for so long she no longer believes she will ever be contacted. When she discovers a hidden prisoner, she befriends him and hopes they can help each other. Will Sybella be able to contact Genevieve in time? What are they willing to lose in order to complete their missions?

Courting Darkness is the first book in the Courting Darkness Duology. It is set in the world of the His Fair Assassin trilogy, but readers do not need to have read the first series to enjoy this book. LaFevers has outdone herself with strong female protagonists in a historically tremulous time. This is an action-packed novel told in alternating voices that will leave readers breathless after each chapter. Courting Darkness should be added to most reader’s TBR list, whether they like action, adventure or historical fiction.

Please note that this review contains spoilers for the His Fair Assassin trilogy by Robin LaFevers. Courting Darkness is an immediate followup to the trilogy, beginning only a few days after the end of Mortal Heart.

Sybella was my favorite of the three protagonists from the His Fair Assassin trilogy, and I'm thrilled to see her story continue in Courting Darkness. The other two protagonists, Ismae and Annith, also show up, but they have taken on other roles that do not keep them as close to the action. The plentiful action, as it turns out, since the end of a war does not mean the end of hostilities. Sybella knows all too well that violence lingers, since her past is shadowed with some truly horrible events. But as Dark Triumph showed, and Courting Darkness continues to elaborate upon, she has an enormous capacity for love and a burning desire for redemption.

Now Sybella is on her way to the French court to protect the duchess of Brittany—soon to be queen of France—from further threats. All kinds of new danger crops up, from mercenary attacks to the machinations of the French regent, an odious woman unwilling to let go of her power. There are also less immediate threats from the political landscape of fifteenth-century Europe, and LaFevers does her usual excellent work in summing them up and making them accessible. Even though I had forgotten all the finer points of the political situation, LaFevers made it possible to jump right back in with a minimum of confusion.

In terms of its theme, it reminds me of City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett, which also grapples with the implications of a world in which the gods are absent and the afterlife is no longer certain. Courting Darkness is on a much more intimate scale, however, since both Genevieve and Sybella are literal daughters of Mortain. Now that their god is mortal, how do these two priestesses re-align their universe? Sybella in particular is tormented by her newly uncertain place in the grand scheme of things, since she spent much of her first book struggling to find that place for herself.

But there is limited time to pursue philosophical ends, since not only are there assassins to thwart, but also a whole court to deceive. Brittany placed the veneer of Catholicism over its pagan beliefs, calling the gods "saints," and generally ensuring peaceful coexistence. France, however, has no such tacit understanding, and would destroy whatever heresy it found. Sybella, therefore, must be more cautious and subtle than ever before—two things she finds increasingly difficult, as many of the French nobles she encounters are in desperate need of a few stab wounds.

Sybella hopes to find the two deep cover agents placed in the French courts years ago to aid her in her defense, but the girls are not easily found. Genevieve and Margot were sent away at only twelve years old, and have had no contact from Mortain's convent since then. If they are even still alive, are they in any shape to help?

It turns out the Genevieve, at least, is ready and willing to serve—more than willing. For five long years she has waited for the signal from the covenant, and her restlessness has led her to keep dangerous company. Genevieve is an interesting enough character, but she mostly reacts against things, and it's a little hard to get a handle on her personality, even though she is, like all of Mortain's daughters, smart and deadly.

Though there is plenty of action and intrigue to keep each chapter fresh, the overall structure of the plot lags a little on Genevieve's end. It is much longer than expected before we see her even begin to meet up with Sybella, and her preparations, while reasonable, are belabored. Her suspicious nature may be warranted, but perhaps not to the degree she pursues it, especially when we can tell—by conventions of plot and stipulations of YA romance—that it will not be remotely successful in some areas.

Sybella and Beast's romance, though stuffed into stolen midnight moments, is far more satisfying, since it is established enough for emotional intimacy and humor. The two really bring out new aspects of each other's personalities, and it's a welcome dimension to a book fraught with otherwise tense relationships.

When Genevieve and Sybella's paths finally do cross, it comes on the heels of a miscalculation on Genevieve's part, one so glaring that it made me sigh with frustration. There are mistakes characters make, and then there are mistakes characters are forced to make because the plot needs additional drama--or, in this case, a painful cliffhanger. I dislike cliffhangers because they're usually a crutch. Publishers think you won't buy the next book unless you're trying to relieve agonies of unknowning, but for interesting characters and good writing, I'd basically show up to watch them make soup and sing their to-do lists. Robin LaFevers has those characters and that writing. (Sybella's to-do list would be full of murder, but my point remains (heh).) She spent most of Courting Darkness describing historical realities, which are not the same as literary conventions. There was no single driving plot element, so establishing one in the last fifteen pages was a bit irritating.

Even so, I can't ding a 500+ page book too much for a final stumble. I'm sure it will be satisfactorily resolved in the next book. I'm sure I will enjoy spending time with Sybella, Beast, the Duchess, Genevieve, and so many more when the duology is complete in 2020. Just as I am sure that this was a thrilling, fascinating read that is definitely worth your time.

Courting Darkness will be released February 5th.

4.5/5 Stars

Top 5 Reasons to Return to the His Fair Assassin World

Sybella is Back - My favorite handmaiden of Death is in action once again protecting the soon to be queen of France while dealing with more family drama. Sybella is a persistent as ever and the love she carries for the people in her life is quite endearing.
New Novitiate - Genevieve has been hidden in the French court for years searching for a purpose, forgotten by the Convent. She wants to make her mark and takes on an ambitious journey to prove herself.
Court/Political Intrigue - While His Fair Assassin had plenty of politics, Courting Darkness is on a whole other level. With the Regent in play, the slyness and mind games are at an all time high and the threats are more mystery than is safe.
Unique Mythology - LaFevers has created such a lush religious based story with Nine Old Gods developed from vast historical and cultural knowledge. Each god has their own role to play as does their followers and it's quite enthralling.
Pulse-Pounding Action - It would be foolish to think that court drama meant no action especially with all the skills Death's handmaidens possess. There's plenty of fights, up close and personal, to get the blood pumping.

Overall Robin LaFever's Courting Darkness is a compelling start to a new duology and a delightful return to a much loved world. Sybella is as fascinating as ever and the introduction to Genevieve was excellent. The court drama drew me in and the adventure/fights were incredibly riveting. I'm honestly just so freaking glad we're getting more of this story and I highly recommend picking this one up or get started with Grave Mercy.

I have not read any books before by Robin LaFevers, so while I could still follow Courting Darkness, I feel like I was missing out on the significance of some of the things that happened in the book.

It is so well written, and the characters are so brilliant that it actually makes me want to go back and read the His Fair Assassin books, and I am not the type of person who likes to go back read things!

I haven't read Grave Mercies (I didn't realize this was so entangled with those books when I requested). I tried to get through this book but I feel like I need to go back to the original books in order to fully appreciate it and enjoy it.

That said, the writing is great. Stylistically it is solid and the characters are dynamic from the beginning. I will come back to this book!

While it was a little slow to start, this book definitely packs a punch in the end. As I have read Robin’s Grave Mercies series this book was a great read. While you do get to see many of the characters we know and love we are also introduced to some new ones.
I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next book.

LaFevers continues the world set in "Grave Mercy". The initiates of Mortain are a little lost and confused without his "presence", and wondering whether their gifts work the same now that the god is gone. But life continues to move forward, and so shall they. Sybella was an assassin but is now one of the duchesses most trusted guards, disguised as her lady-in-waiting. The duchess is about to become the Queen of France through her marriage to the king, but quickly Sybella and her allies realize that this is not going to barter the peace that it should between Bettany and France. Meanwhile, two other initiates have been hidden in the French court for years, waiting orders from the convent of Mortain that have never come. For Genevieve this means that she may need to carve her own path in the world - without the secure assistance she thought she would always have in the convent.

This book was a great read to start off the New Year! I haven’t read any of the other books by Mrs. Lafevers but I will now.

I got so caught up in Sybella and Genevieve’s stories that time ceased to exist. Each page I read became desperation as I couldn’t read fast enough to know what was going to happen next. I could not put this book down.

Two stories intertwined by a common thread. They both make sacrifices that are hard and they both suffer at the hands of the one they loved. One is a whore’s daughter and the other never knew her mother. Two completely different people with two different stories but in the end they share something that makes everything they went through look like childs play.

I loved this book so much. There was action. Suspense. Intrigue. Fantasy. Even love. I don’t know how anyone could not love this book. I had a love/hate relationship with some of the characters and I became frustrated when I seen the obvious path and they took a more complicated one. Some times I wanted to kiss the author or cuss her out. I’m still debating the latter because of the cliffhanger. Lol

Overall this is a fun and addicting read. I think everyone should read this when it releases. I can’t wait for Book 2! I need more of these characters.

Since this was a new series, I didn’t think to re-read the previous one. Within a couple chapters, I was wishing I had. It would have been better if this book could have stood on its own. That being said, I loved the writing syle. The book drew me in quickly, and the twisting plot kept me reading. The novel ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so now I will have to anxiously await the last half of the story.

As a reader not having read the previous trilogy, I felt a little lost reading the book. I feel the book should have been able to stand up a little better on its own merits.

Grave Mercy has remained consistently popular at my library but I haven't read it yet, so when I a new LaFevers available a decided to give it a try. Since it's phrased as 'first in a duology,' I assumed it was a new series and didn't realize how heavily it leaned on the previous story.

I was quickly pulled into the first chapter (with a brand new character) and loved the writing style. I had that spark of hope you get when starting a new book and think, 'oh, this could be good.' However, once it moved into the second chapter and the perspective of a character from the previous series, it grew confusing; this is definitely a book that is better enjoyed if you are already familiar with the previous works.

I decided not to finish it because based off what I did read, I think I will really enjoy the Grave Mercy series and want to read those ones first, so I can fully understand and enjoy this one when I come back to it.

While Death's estranged daughters, Sybella and Genevieve have grown up leading two very different lives in two different parts of the kingdom, they soon find themselves with the same purpose. Desperate to keep her two younger sisters safe, Sybella pledges herself to protect the Duchess and grief forces Genevieve to undertake a mission that soon finds these girls on the same path.

Genevieve's story is quite predictable but I absolutely love Sybella and Beast's love and devotion for themselves, Sybella's younger sisters, and their friends. Surrounded by unscrupulous enemies and a nefarious brother who all mean to cause Sybella harm, she races against time to find the one person who can either help her or destroy everything she has worked so hard to save.