Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Historical fiction series end bogs down in palace intrigue.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
IGNITING DARKNESS continues the story of Genevieve and Sybella that began in Courting Darkness. They finally meet at the king of France's royal court, but neither is sure she can trust the other. They'll have to navigate intrigue and treachery in the palace in order to protect the queen. The king is thoroughly under the influence of advisers who lie and manipulate at every opportunity in order to hold onto and gain even more power. All this while also trying to prove to the king that one of his noblemen in Brittany is planning to rebel. Can Genevieve fix her mistakes and ensure the safety of the convent of St. Mortain? Can Sybella let go of her fears and embrace her powers as the mortal daughter of a god?
Is It Any Good?
This very long series finale is absolutely loaded with palace intrigue, but falls far shorter on the action, adventure, romance, and even magic that many fans of Robin LaFever will be looking for. Igniting Darkness has so much of it, and some of it's pretty repetitive too, that the story sags and gets bogged down in places. That being said, Genevieve and Sybella remain compelling main characters, and switching to different points of view helps keep things moving along for the most part. And there's definitely still some action, including a large-scale battle, travel around Brittany, and ninja-like stealth. There's even a little bit of magic, but it's definitely takes more of a back seat compared to the first installment.
Teens will learn a lot about the real effects on women and girls of being considered a man's property, and will feel Genevieve and Sybella's frustrations at having their knowledge and skills ignored simply because they're women. They'll also easily relate to Genevieve as she struggles to repair the damage she's caused and recover her self-esteem. Sybella's fears about the future, and about controlling her emerging powers, also mirror what many teens feel when their lives are rapidly changing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Igniting Darkness portrays Genevieve and Sybella. Are they positive role models? Did you like them? What are their character strengths and weaknesses?
What about the violence? How much is too much? Is reading about violence different from seeing in on TV, in videos, games, or movies? Why, or why not?
How did being a man's property affect Genevieve, Sybella, and even the queen? What would your life be like if laws were still that way today? Do some research to find out how and when laws about women's status changed.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Publication date : August 4, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 560
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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