I am so glad I disregarded the weak first book of this series and followed through to Sybella's story. I have to admit, the girls in the convent did not appeal to me. Ismae, tragic though her story was, initially came off dull-as-dishwater, and she still did not grow on me throughout her book (I did not know murder could be so boring). Annith was almost nonexistent in her quiet presence. Sybella was a holy terror when we first met her, and we saw little enough of her in book 1 that my initial bad impression of her as a tantrum-throwing brat didn't get dispelled. I was turned off enough by Sybella in the first book that I really didn't want to pursue this series furthermore until I was desperate for something to read, and to my own surprise, she has turned out to be one of the best female YA characters I've read this year. This is an outstanding book. 
 Sybella is not a likeable character at first, she says so herself. She's killed, she's had lovers, and some very, very twisted relationships. She is no innocent, and my first impression of her was bad because she was so tormented when she first arrived at the abbey. We only got to see what's on the surface of her in book 1, and in book 2, everything changes. Her past is a tragic, tortured one, full of abuse. Even after witnessing so much pain that she should be immune to it, Sybella is still in pain herself and still seeking approval, however much she tries to deny it to herself. She is given orders from the abbess (who is still hell-bent on hating Sybella) to rescue the Beast of Waroch, who has been imprisoned and tortured by her father, and bring him to Rennes. 
 Sybella succeeds in rescuing the Beast from the dungeon, only to get dragged along with him against her will. Along the way to Rennes, they get to know each other and begin a reluctant truce, mainly because Sybella feels she has a debt to pay, due to her past with the Beast's sister. Their relationship grows, the Beast does not become a handsome knight, and she doesn't care. Against her will, Sybella falls in love with him. Their relationship is beautifully written, all of it; I loved seeing how it grows, how much pain Sybella suffers because of her secrets. Seeing how easily the Beast turns Sybella from an angry, aching soul into one who forgives herself is a beautiful, bittersweet process. There is so much doubt in Sybella's soul. This is truly one of the best, most realistic transformational process that I've ever read. She is like a wounded animal that bites anyone that comes near, and she is unbendingly loyal to those who have won her loyalty and love, like her sisters, the Duchess and Ismae, even Julian to a point. 
 The villains in the book are believable; even if they're so tremendously evil with no redeeming qualities. Actually, D'albret is the only truly evil character, and he is still believable in his evilness; the rest of the villains are under his influence, and while they do bad things, they do so under his influence and power (can you say Stockholm syndrome?) and so it's not hard to imagine their actions. Even the worst (stupid Jamette) redeem themselves somewhat eventually. 
 I'm looking forward to book 3, but it's going to be anticlimactic given how epic this book is.