Two Mini Reviews

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) by Robin LaFevers
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Released: April 2nd 2013
My Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Find it on Goodreads

When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for... (from Goodreads)

This book was a lot darker than the first in this series, and I’m not sure I enjoyed it as much. Sybella was definitely an interesting character, who had been through some truly awful stuff in her life. She was less, I don’t know, righteous, than Ismae from Grave Mercy, which I liked, because not everyone can be so sure that what they are doing is right, all the time. She questioned Mortmain and whether what she was doing was really the best way to serve him, or to rid the world of evil. Having to go back to her family, after everything that happened, was so difficult, but she did it because that's what the Abbess asked of her, as a daughter of Mortmain. And her character developed so much over the book; she learnt more about herself, about Mortmain, about what needed to be done. And her relationship with Beast was one I really enjoyed reading about. I didn’t like Dark Triumph as much as book one because I think I just enjoyed the plot of the first book more. However, Sybella was a compelling character and it was a good sequel as whole, so I will be picking up the final book in the series at some point.

The Grift of the Magi (Heist Society #3.5) by Ally Carter

Publisher: Orchard Books

Released: November 15th 2016

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Find it on Goodreads

Katarina Bishop is a thief. To many it wouldn't matter that she now uses her considerable skills to re-steal valuable works of art and return them to their rightful homes.

She's still a thief.

So that's why Kat's surprised when an Interpol agent comes to her one snowy evening, asking for her help.

The Magi Miracle Network was set to auction off a very rare, very valuable Faberge egg two days before Christmas, but the egg's been stolen and now the charity's reputation - and their future - is on the line.

This Christmas, Santa isn't the only person skulking in the darkness... (from Goodreads)

This novella was everything I wanted it to be. I didn’t realise how much I had missed these characters, but oh my. The story was great, I got the exact same vibe I always get from the Heist Society books and it was it was so easy to jump back into Kat and Hale’s world. And it was so festive! And Christmassy and a perfect little winter read. The story was engaging; perhaps not the most complex or exciting Heist Society story, but it was a short novella and a lot of the time, I still couldn’t guess what was going to happen. And there were so many cute moments between Kat and Hale - I love these two so much. Please, please, please, with triple cherries on top, will someone publish a fourth Heist Society book?! I need more – this novella has proven how much! I mean, we still haven’t been told what Hale’s first name is. Wulfric? Wilfred? Warburton? I HAVE TO KNOW. Overall, I loved it – I only wish it were longer! And I am missing this series and these characters more than ever (seriously, if you’ve not started the Heist Society books yet, get on that, because you are missing out).