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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
So much better than the first book!!! I devoured this one! The character development is superb. Can’t wait to read the next book
Second book in the series, and it did not disappoint.
What I loved about this particular sequel is, one, the action scenes, and two, the character developments.
I learned long ago from Crash Course that Constantinople will get sacked, but the way that Kiersten White writes about it is much more devastating. She writes it not in the point of view of Mehmed and his forces, where Constantinople is reduced to this idea, this objective. By placing the siege with Constantinople, we get a taste of the hopelessness, the fear, and the fighting of a city under attack, the city is no longer a grey mass idea, but intimate, and our sympathies shift, as we spent the first book in the Ottoman Empire.
I also want to touch on how well Kiersten White handled religion in both books, this one particularly, as it added Christianity to the mix. Religion in the medieval times is messy and convoluted, much like the countries and treaties with them, but I never got a hint of bashing towards Islam or Christianity, and both religion was treated with respect in the novel, which means that flame wars and boycotts would never happen. (Insert sarcasm here)
I loved the character developments in this particular story, I just love it! Radu was sent as a spy into Constantinople, and through that particular journey, we can really see him change from this Bella Swan type character that would do anything and everything for his love (Mehmed), disregarding everyone else, including throwing his own sister to the wolves (she would've slaughtered all the wolves but that's not the point), and become a very complex character that is determined but also confused, loyal but also unhappy. And that was so well done!
We see a lot of character development for Lada as well. Vlad the Impaler is infamous for putting the corpses of his enemy on stakes on the lawn in front of his castle, mad and brutal, and we finally sees Lada swerving into that path at the end of the novel, where she kills those who wants to demean and disgrace her. She also broke off with Mehmed, because to be with him was an easy path to power, but she would continue to be someone's lesser, she would never be her own person, and I LOVE THAT. Her breaking off with Mehmed is an event I take perverse pleasure in, because Mehmed is now officially the Boyfriend That Keeps On Promising You Nice Things But Continues To Dangle You An Arms Length Away. He sent Radu into a city he's bringing a gigantic army to sack for crying out loud.
All in all, this series is definitely worth your time and space, give it a try, please please please. You will at least take vicious joy in how Lada cuts down her enemies, because you rarely get that They Finally Got What They Deserved satisfaction.
What I loved about this particular sequel is, one, the action scenes, and two, the character developments.
I learned long ago from Crash Course that Constantinople will get sacked, but the way that Kiersten White writes about it is much more devastating. She writes it not in the point of view of Mehmed and his forces, where Constantinople is reduced to this idea, this objective. By placing the siege with Constantinople, we get a taste of the hopelessness, the fear, and the fighting of a city under attack, the city is no longer a grey mass idea, but intimate, and our sympathies shift, as we spent the first book in the Ottoman Empire.
I also want to touch on how well Kiersten White handled religion in both books, this one particularly, as it added Christianity to the mix. Religion in the medieval times is messy and convoluted, much like the countries and treaties with them, but I never got a hint of bashing towards Islam or Christianity, and both religion was treated with respect in the novel, which means that flame wars and boycotts would never happen. (Insert sarcasm here)
I loved the character developments in this particular story, I just love it! Radu was sent as a spy into Constantinople, and through that particular journey, we can really see him change from this Bella Swan type character that would do anything and everything for his love (Mehmed), disregarding everyone else, including throwing his own sister to the wolves (she would've slaughtered all the wolves but that's not the point), and become a very complex character that is determined but also confused, loyal but also unhappy. And that was so well done!
We see a lot of character development for Lada as well. Vlad the Impaler is infamous for putting the corpses of his enemy on stakes on the lawn in front of his castle, mad and brutal, and we finally sees Lada swerving into that path at the end of the novel, where she kills those who wants to demean and disgrace her. She also broke off with Mehmed, because to be with him was an easy path to power, but she would continue to be someone's lesser, she would never be her own person, and I LOVE THAT. Her breaking off with Mehmed is an event I take perverse pleasure in, because Mehmed is now officially the Boyfriend That Keeps On Promising You Nice Things But Continues To Dangle You An Arms Length Away. He sent Radu into a city he's bringing a gigantic army to sack for crying out loud.
All in all, this series is definitely worth your time and space, give it a try, please please please. You will at least take vicious joy in how Lada cuts down her enemies, because you rarely get that They Finally Got What They Deserved satisfaction.
The ruthlessness of Lada is incredible and admirable considering the time she is living and I fully support her! She’s not taking any rubbish from anyone and will not take no for an answer. Carving her own destiny in her own (bloody) way. Routing for this girl all the way!
have y'all ever heard of the middle book syndrome?? [a: kiersten white|3027554|Kiersten White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1254205920p2/3027554.jpg] clearly hasn't, because this. was. AMAZING.
i need to write a review for this babe. and for book one. and i will! i swear! this trilogy is shaping up to be one of my life-time favorites, and definitely will be on my top reads of 2018. i can't not write reviews for them. but i also can't focus on anything right other than starting book #3 immediately, soooo....... this will have to wait.
BUT I LOVE THIS WITH ALL MY HEART.
i need to write a review for this babe. and for book one. and i will! i swear! this trilogy is shaping up to be one of my life-time favorites, and definitely will be on my top reads of 2018. i can't not write reviews for them. but i also can't focus on anything right other than starting book #3 immediately, soooo....... this will have to wait.
BUT I LOVE THIS WITH ALL MY HEART.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
MUCH better than the first book! In And I Darken, I got constantly annoyed with Lada throughout the book, but there wasn't much side action to take me away from her. In this book, we get to see more of Radu, which I love because he is my precious cinnamon roll. I still felt like the politics bogged me down a bit, but eventually, I didn't mind so much. I can't wait to read the next in this series, and I am pleased that this one was an improvement.
Did not care about the characters
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't actually get to finish this book before it went back to the library (ebook), which was unfortunate as it was finally starting to get interesting. The fact that it took me the whole loan time to read 3/4 of it speaks to how slow I found this. I just wasn't that invested until Lada's plot got more interesting. I will be reading the 3rd book as I just got it from the library, and I'm hoping it's more my style.