Courting Darkness: Chapter Sampler

By Robin LaFevers

Return to the World of the New York Times bestselling series His Fair Assassin with this five-chapter sampler.

First in a duology, this darkly thrilling page-turner set in the world of the best-selling His Fair Assassin series is perfect for fans of THRONE OF GLASS, RED QUEEN, and GAME OF THRONES. Told in alternating perspectives, when Sybella discovers there is another trained assassin from St. Mortain’s convent deep undercover in the French court, she must use every skill in her arsenal to navigate the deadly royal politics and find her sister in arms before her time—and that of the newly crowned queen—runs out. 

When Sybella accompanies the Duchess to France, she expects trouble, but she isn’t expecting a deadly trap. Surrounded by enemies both known and unknown, Sybella searches for the undercover assassins from the convent of St. Mortain who were placed in the French court years ago.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she no longer knows who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. When she discovers a hidden prisoner who may be of importance, she takes matters into her own hands.

As these two worlds collide, the fate of the Duchess, Brittany, and everything Sybella and Genevieve have come to love hangs in the balance. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9780358074199

Robin LaFevers

Robin LaFevers, author of the New York Times best-selling His Fair Assassin books, was raised on fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and nineteenth-century poetry. It is not surprising that she grew up to be a hopeless romantic. She was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in California. Visit her online at robinlafevers.com and on Twitter @RLLaFevers. 

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Robin LaFevers

All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [e-mail] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

hmhco.com

Cover art © 2019 by Billelis

Cover design by Whitney Leader-Picone

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: LaFevers, Robin, author.

Title: Courting darkness / by Robin LaFevers.

Description: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, [2019] | Summary: When Sybella discovers there is another trained assassin from St. Mortain’s convent deep undercover in the French court, she must use every skill in her arsenal to navigate the deadly royal politics and find her sister in arms before her time—and that of the newly crowned queen—runs out.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018021262 | ISBN 9780544991194 (hardback)

Subjects: | CYAC: Assassins—Fiction. | Courts and courtiers—Fiction. | Kings, queens, rulers, etc.—Fiction. | Brittany (France)—History —1341–1532—Fiction. | France—History—Charles VIII, 1483–1498—Fiction.

Classification: LCC PZ7.L14142 Co 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018021262

eISBN 978-0-358-07419-9

v1.0918

To fierce, determined girls everywhere.

Especially those still discovering how to be fierce.

You are the true heroes.

Dramatis Personae

From the Convent of Saint Mortain, patron saint of death

Sybella d’Albret, Death’s daughter, lady in waiting to the duchess of Brittany

Ismae Rienne, Death’s daughter, lady in waiting to the duchess of Brittany

Annith, handmaiden to Death

Lady Margot, Death’s daughter, lady in waiting to Louise de Savoy, countess of Angoulême

Lady Genevieve, Death’s daughter, lady in waiting to Louise de Savoy, countess of Angoulême

The Breton Court

Anne, duchess of Brittany, countess of Nantes, Montfort, and Richmont

Gavriel Duval, a Breton noble, half brother to the duchess

Isabeau, Anne’s sister (deceased)

Duke Francis II, Anne’s father (deceased)

The Privy Council

Benebic de Waroch, Beast, knight of the realm, captain of the queen’s guard

Jean de Châlons, prince of Orange

Captain Dunois, captain of the Breton army

Phillipe Montauban, chancellor of Brittany

Jean de Rieux, former marshal of Brittany

Bishop of Rennes

Father Effram

The d’Albret Family

Alain d’Albret, lord of Albret, viscount of Tartas, 2nd count of Graves (deceased)

Sybella d’Albret, Death’s daughter, lady in waiting to the duchess of Brittany

Pierre d’Albret, second son of Alain d’Albret, viscount of Périgord and Limoges

Julian d’Albret, third son of Alain d’Albret (deceased)

Charlotte, daughter of Alain d’Albret

Louise, youngest daughter of Alain d’Albret

Tephanie Blaine, lady in waiting to Sybella

Breton Nobility

Viscount Maurice Crunard, former chancellor of Brittany

Anton Crunard, last surviving