Igniting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

 genre: historical fantasy

Sybella and Genevieve - two daughters of Death trying to survive in the French Court. Sybella desperately wants to keep her younger sisters safe while Genevieve wants so much to atone for her mistakes and ensure the Queen’s place at the side of the King. With enemies hatching schemes and their own pasts threatening to mess with the present, the stake are so high.

This conclusion to the Courting Darkness Duology was engaging and well plotted, I read it so fast! So much intrigue, such strong female characters - and I appreciated how the historically gross double standard between the sexes is articulated so clearly. This book tells the tale of a time period and real people but adds a layer of fantasy and tells a political story from the point of view of women who are both capable and compassionate - women who also have the sorts of tools that only the God of Death could give to his daughters.

I highly recommend this series!