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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Something about the marketing of this book made promises that the book didn't deliver on - a dark fantasy about the ruthless daughter of Vlad Dracul set certain expectations for me. In that light, a coming of age historical war story with not a single mention of vampires was pretty disappointing.
4.5 stars rounding up to 5. I thought And I Darken was incredible. I'll go into more detail in my blog review but I thought this was amazing alternate history because it felt SO real. The details of the countries, the people, the religions, the politics. It was all so very well done. And the characters! Oh my god. From the opening pages, you are painted a very stark picture of brutal Lada and her scared little brother Radu. But as with any good story there are layers and twists in every relationship. It's all so complicated in the best way, sometimes loving and sometimes toxic. The story is definitely slower paced but not boring; this is a long haul kind of story and we're setting the scene. The political machinations, the attention paid to religion, and the moral grayness of characters, the sometimes Machiavellian attitudes, really do bring A Game of Thrones to mind. Every action has a reaction. I also loved the diversity in every aspect, from culture (Turkish/Wallachian/Ottoman/etc) to religion (I learned a lot about Islam!) to sexuality (an unexpected but very welcome surprise). Everything was woven into the story seamlessly. I can't say enough about the writing, I thought it was wonderful. White really knows how to weave a complicated web. There are also some excellent kisses, a few ships, and some complicated romance, though not in the way you might expect (the sultan's harem, for example). It was also interesting to watch how Lada and Radu's characters shifted over time, learning to soften and strengthen in turn. The book faltered slightly in the middle just because it is a looong book and it can't keep up the pacing the whole time. But I can't wait to follow Lada, Radu, and Mehmed and see how their lives intertwine; loyalty (to family, to yourself, to your country) are big themes throughout. If you love historical fiction, and a lot of political cleverness mixed with action, violence, and romance in a non-Western setting, you need this book.
3.5
This took me a little bit to get into as I'm not used to reading political intrigue. I did really love the characters and the ending was great, but I didn't like it as much as I had been hoping to.
This took me a little bit to get into as I'm not used to reading political intrigue. I did really love the characters and the ending was great, but I didn't like it as much as I had been hoping to.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
¡Se me hizo muy lento! La trama comienza a tener el nudo cerca de las últimas páginas, lo cual, fue desesperante. Ame el poder que ejerce Lada, el amor de Radu y la determinación de Mehmed, sin embargo, las traiciones no me sorprendieron, las esperaba y no me causaba emociones a cada momento, solo en algunos capítulos. Siento que entre con muy altas expectativas que no las cumplió.
And I Darken is without a doubt one of the best YA fantasy novels I've ever read. Lada is not one of the typical YA heroines who tells the reader how badass and fierce they are, she actually is a fucking badass. I found myself cheering for her, even when she was fully bloodthirsty and evil. Radu was also a surprising character who acts as Lada's foil while also having a dark side.
The political scheming and manipulation were very well written. Sacrifices were made with clear justifications and the power dynamics of the Ottoman court were gripping. Even with no background knowledge about Wallachia and mid-15th century Ottoman Empire, I managed to become immersed in this setting. Christianity and Islam also played an important role in the setting of this book, which was fascinating and incorporated well.
The political scheming and manipulation were very well written. Sacrifices were made with clear justifications and the power dynamics of the Ottoman court were gripping. Even with no background knowledge about Wallachia and mid-15th century Ottoman Empire, I managed to become immersed in this setting. Christianity and Islam also played an important role in the setting of this book, which was fascinating and incorporated well.
Loved it, bring on book two!
4.5! And I Darken was so good! This was the first book I’ve read by Kiersten White and I’m so happy I did! I loved Radu and the accurate and deeply saddening representation of unrequited same-sex love. I’ve definitely been I the position Radu was in with Mehmed. And Lada was such an interesting and dark character, she was flawed yet perfect at the same time. There were times where she was really pissing me off but that’s exactly how Kiersten White intended it to me. I really really liked this book and I can’t wait to read the last two. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
I didn't make it past the first 50 pages. It just wasn't my style of writing.