Rivetingly addictive!
Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #1)
by Robin LaFevers
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
*****
by Robin LaFevers
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
*****
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