Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

LaFevers brings this duology to a stunning conclusion in Igniting darkness. Following the adventures of Genevieve in Courting Darkness Sybella and Genevieve find themselves in the French court. Genevieve has been left alone for many years waiting for the call from the convent which never came, and has become the friend of the King, trying to guide him on a more tolerant path. She has unknowingly drawn attention to the convent and the assassin nuns and must use all her ingenuity and wit to help Sybella and to keep herself safe. Meanwhile Sybella has the arduous task of attempting to guard the Queen, the Duchess of Brittany. Sybella's younger sisters, in grave danger from her evil brother, have been spirited out of the court, under the protection of her love Beast, and Sybella is in danger of being accused of treason.

This is historical fantasy of a very high calibre. At the end of the book, the author recounts who are the real historical figures and the mixture of unique fantasy with novitiate nuns of St Mortain trained as assassins and real history makes for a heady and engrossing tale. Court intrigue is described vividly, and it is not difficult to imagine the scenes of the king and his advisors, church and state, and the manipulations going on by power hungry people. 

The relationships between Sybella and Beast and Genevieve and the prisoner that she helped escape add an extra dimension to the book and will thrill any reader who enjoys some romance in their reading.

I am very sorry to see this series ending and look forward to whatever Robin Lafevers writes in the future. Readers who have missed the His fair assassin series, Grave mercy, Dark Triumph, and Mortal heart will certainly want to go back and find out more about the nun assassins, while other readers would enjoy Lumatere chronicles by Melina Marchetta and any book by Leigh Bardugo.

Themes: Historical fantasy.

Pat Pledger