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A review by caitybell
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
5.0
The thrilling sequel to the already superb Grave Mercy surpassed all my expectations. Dark Triumph is a remarkable, brutal book that will definitely stay with me for a long time to come.
Following the events of Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph features a new protagonist in Sybella, another daughter of the dark god Mortain. Sybella has been sent on a dangerous mission by her abbess to infiltrate the very family she escaped years before. Sybella has suffered so much trauma at the hands of her deranged father and incestuous brothers. Going back is the last thing she wishes to do, but ultimately has little say. Before she is able to assassinate her evil father, she is forced to help free a prisoner, and doing so disrupts all her hard work and subterfuge, leading her to once again flee from her family's clutches.
Sybella was such a strong and heartbreaking character, wrapped up in a cage of her own making. I rooted for her the whole time, no matter what choices she made. There were parts of this book that made my skin crawl and my temper rise irrationally in defense of Sybella. Her path to forgiveness, love, and, ultimately, revenge is a twisty one that ends beautifully bittersweet. The romance in this book was so achingly perfect I found myself a little speechless at times. Sybella and her love interest needed each other long before they met and watching them grow to realize it was as enjoyable as the brutal action scenes. The way LaFevers crafts her characters just so, as if they were little pieces of a very large puzzle gives everything an edge of realism rarely seen in books.
Dark Triumph was a pleasure to read and I can only hope book three, Mortal Heart, exceeds my expectations as well.
Following the events of Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph features a new protagonist in Sybella, another daughter of the dark god Mortain. Sybella has been sent on a dangerous mission by her abbess to infiltrate the very family she escaped years before. Sybella has suffered so much trauma at the hands of her deranged father and incestuous brothers. Going back is the last thing she wishes to do, but ultimately has little say. Before she is able to assassinate her evil father, she is forced to help free a prisoner, and doing so disrupts all her hard work and subterfuge, leading her to once again flee from her family's clutches.
Sybella was such a strong and heartbreaking character, wrapped up in a cage of her own making. I rooted for her the whole time, no matter what choices she made. There were parts of this book that made my skin crawl and my temper rise irrationally in defense of Sybella. Her path to forgiveness, love, and, ultimately, revenge is a twisty one that ends beautifully bittersweet. The romance in this book was so achingly perfect I found myself a little speechless at times. Sybella and her love interest needed each other long before they met and watching them grow to realize it was as enjoyable as the brutal action scenes. The way LaFevers crafts her characters just so, as if they were little pieces of a very large puzzle gives everything an edge of realism rarely seen in books.
Dark Triumph was a pleasure to read and I can only hope book three, Mortal Heart, exceeds my expectations as well.