Parents' Guide to

Courting Darkness

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Absorbing historical fiction ramps up the palace intrigue.

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Fans of Robin LaFevers' His Fair Assassin trilogy will enjoy this immersive return to Brittany in the 1400s as they follow familiar characters and meet new ones. Courting Darkness still has fights and battles -- and assassinations, of course -- but it also ramps up the palace intrigue. A marriage of political convenience brings the war between Brittany and France to an end, and teens will easily relate to narrators Sybella and Genevieve as they figure out how to stay true to their beliefs, their missions, and their sisterhood while learning who they are and what they're capable of.

If you haven't read the previous trilogy, it may take a little longer to immerse yourself in this world, and it may take some extra time to get to know the characters and some of their previous relationships. But fans of historical fiction that skews a little to the dark side without sacrificing adventure, romance, and strong female characters will find the journey well worthwhile. Nongraphic but mature sexual content and violence make it best for teens and up.

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