Sybella’s true identity gets revealed by that awful abbess. Cue the heartwarming reunion of Sybella and Ismae, sisters in assassination and besties in badassitude.

After some trust exercises, they join the SAVE BRITTANY AND ITS DUCHESS cause as well. They also run into the charbonnerie, a people that live in the woods and serve the Dark Matrona.

They help some peasants in the process and it turns out that Beast is somewhat of a hero of the people, and the farmers/millers/other peasants gladly pledge to join their cause. While making their way to Rennes, where the Breton court currently resides, they run into some trouble with either d’Albret’s men or the French. I will forever hate the abbess of Saint Mortain for this. Things don’t go entirely to plan and Sybella ends up tagging along on the great escape, for which I am eternally grateful because it was about that time she got out of that den of sexual and physical abuse. While trying to get inside info on his plans so that she can help the Breton court be victorious, she also receives a message that she needs to help the Beast of Waroch, who turns out to be locked up in the dungeons, escape. That’s the bastard who tried to rape duchess Anne when she didn’t want to marry him in Grave Mercy. A million thanks to the incredible Ellis for this incredibly detailed recap! In shortĪfter repeatedly proving herself to be the best assassin-spy the convent has ever had (you can’t convince me otherwise), Sybella gets sent back to the d’Albret court.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers