Dark Triumph Review

I never had the chance to review Grave Mercy  by Robin LaFevers on my blog, so let me preface this review by saying that I loved Grave Mercy. Ismae, the protagonist, is strong and sensible, and very well developed. The romance that buds between her and Duval is cute and intriguing, and I couldn't wait to read Dark Triumph to continue on with the story line. At first I was a little disappointed to learn that Dark Triumph would be following a different character's storyline, but in the end it didn't really matter, because Sybella's story was equally good..

Dark Triumph Summary:
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?

Dark Triumph Review:
If you've read Grave Mercy and loved it, you'll love this new installment in the series. If you haven't read Grave Mercy yet, while it's not entirely necessary, I would highly recommend reading it first. It sets the stage for the entire series and provides you with insight into the characters that you'll need before jumping into this second book. Overall, I thought it was a strong addition to the series, but there was something about it that didn't make me love it as much as Grave Mercy did. Still good though, don't get me wrong.

Dark Triump follows Sybella's story, and begins right where Grave Mercy left off, at her father, D'Albert's, estate. Sybella warns Ismae of what her father is about to do, and gives Ismae's army the fighting chance they need to get the Duchess to safety. The story then begins with her brother Julian's suspicions of Sybella's loyalty. Her back story then unfolds and readers have the opportunity to see into Sybella's past, and what it was like to grow up with D'Albert as a father, and Julian as a brother. (Not fun, to say the least.) I thought LaFevers did a really excellent job with this.

The story then leads to Sybella reaching her breaking point, and breaking one of the prisoners out of her father's dungeon and helping him escape back to the duchess. She ends up being pulled along for the ride, and a budding romance begins between Sybella and the Beast of Waroch, who is ugly and large, but one of the fiercest warriors ever seen. And if you've read Grave Mercy, you may remember him as one of Duval's friends.

Once the two finally reach the duchess, Sybella is forced to question the motives of the convent, and ultimately her religion, her family, and herself. Her character was exceptionally well-developed, and I really loved reading her tale, and being able to get a glimpse of how things were working out for Ismae. A gripping and worthwhile installment in this historical action-packed series.