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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Okay, first of all, let's address the elephant in the room. I was under the impression that this was a gender-bent, Vlad the Impaler retelling/reimagining/what have you. There is one, very brief scene of people being impaled in this book that the main character witnesses. This is not portrayed as some life-altering moment for her, but merely just people who she does not know and couldn't care less about dying in some way or another. Basically, no indication is given that she will in the future adopt this as a method of killing people, thus making her "Lada the Impaler". Therefore, I feel cheated because I did not get what I came here for.
What I did get was the world's most boring and drawn out journey through teen angst, the miscommunication trope, and lots of violence for violence's sake. It took me F O R E V E R to make it through this book. I got 200 pages through it in my first attempt, then put it down for over a year before deciding to pick it up again on audiobook. However, even having the audiobook did not help, as I still struggled to get through the story and found several excuses to avoid continuing to listen.
In my opinion, the only thing this book had going for it was the potential deeper relationship between Lada and Radu. When they were together and bonded in their weird moments of camaraderie, it was like a bright moment in the dark sucking void that is the rest of this book. But then, inevitably, something would drive them away from each other again, and I'd be stuck wading through the mire once more. Most of the time, the wedge between them is caused by Mehmed, who I hate as a character and wish they would stop trying to save. Both of these characters could be so much more, and I know this is a series, so I can't expect all of the character development to occur in the first book. But it would've been nice if these two fantastic characters were at least moving in a more positive direction in regards to their views on one another.
I'm torn about continuing the series. If it were a duology, I wouldn't hesitate. But the fact that there is yet another book to get through where things could be as bad as they were in this one makes me not want to put myself through it. I just don't know if the resolution of the story is worth the journey to me after struggling so much with this first book.
What I did get was the world's most boring and drawn out journey through teen angst, the miscommunication trope, and lots of violence for violence's sake. It took me F O R E V E R to make it through this book. I got 200 pages through it in my first attempt, then put it down for over a year before deciding to pick it up again on audiobook. However, even having the audiobook did not help, as I still struggled to get through the story and found several excuses to avoid continuing to listen.
In my opinion, the only thing this book had going for it was the potential deeper relationship between Lada and Radu. When they were together and bonded in their weird moments of camaraderie, it was like a bright moment in the dark sucking void that is the rest of this book. But then, inevitably, something would drive them away from each other again, and I'd be stuck wading through the mire once more. Most of the time, the wedge between them is caused by Mehmed, who I hate as a character and wish they would stop trying to save. Both of these characters could be so much more, and I know this is a series, so I can't expect all of the character development to occur in the first book. But it would've been nice if these two fantastic characters were at least moving in a more positive direction in regards to their views on one another.
I'm torn about continuing the series. If it were a duology, I wouldn't hesitate. But the fact that there is yet another book to get through where things could be as bad as they were in this one makes me not want to put myself through it. I just don't know if the resolution of the story is worth the journey to me after struggling so much with this first book.
I really enjoyed this one. This is my first book by this author and I can't wait to continue this series.
Interesting historical fiction set in the Ottoman Empire circa 15th century. Interesting setting, but got tired of the very YA love triangle. Probably won't pick up the rest of the series.
Okay, I have finished. I liked this book a lot.
I'm not one for politics, I can barely remember the second president. But this book was a fun read. I really loved Lada. She was ruthless, calculating, volatile. most of all she was selfish, in a good way. She never sacrificed what she wanted, and though she's a woman, she wasn't afraid to fight through a thousand men for others to see her as equal.
And Radu. OOOO, he's so precious. He's the exact opposite of Lada. And he has wisdom, which is not cleverness, but still useful nonetheless. I loved the way White described all the characters. You could certainly tell which chapters were Lada's and which were Radu's.
I became fond of Mehmed throughout the book. You can certainly see what he lacks and what he has a plenty of. I like how the love triangle wasn't actually a love triangle. I know it sounds confusing, but Lada and Radu never fought over Mehmed, and neither confirmed their love for him until about the end.
I like how its set in the real world but an alternative kind of history. it was really interesting seeing countries get to interact with eachother, and the islamic representation felt like a breath of fresh air. No muslims were barbarians or killers, they were just people and that pleased me.
I wasn't really into Lada's and Mehmeds relationship. While they were good friends, I felt Mehmed had more chemistry with Radu. In Lada's pov, though she was concerned about him, her fear for him felt like it came f rom selfish desire instead of compassion, and that ruined the spark I thought they had.
But Radu and Mehmed felt real things for each other. Radu's kindness towards Mehmed and Mehmed's soft spot for Radu felt like an amazing dynamic and I truly fell for their relationship in the end.
I'm not one for politics, I can barely remember the second president. But this book was a fun read. I really loved Lada. She was ruthless, calculating, volatile. most of all she was selfish, in a good way. She never sacrificed what she wanted, and though she's a woman, she wasn't afraid to fight through a thousand men for others to see her as equal.
And Radu. OOOO, he's so precious. He's the exact opposite of Lada. And he has wisdom, which is not cleverness, but still useful nonetheless. I loved the way White described all the characters. You could certainly tell which chapters were Lada's and which were Radu's.
I became fond of Mehmed throughout the book. You can certainly see what he lacks and what he has a plenty of. I like how the love triangle wasn't actually a love triangle. I know it sounds confusing, but Lada and Radu never fought over Mehmed, and neither confirmed their love for him until about the end.
Spoiler
Ladas departure broke the triangle, and it felt like a breath of fresh airI like how its set in the real world but an alternative kind of history. it was really interesting seeing countries get to interact with eachother, and the islamic representation felt like a breath of fresh air. No muslims were barbarians or killers, they were just people and that pleased me.
I wasn't really into Lada's and Mehmeds relationship. While they were good friends, I felt Mehmed had more chemistry with Radu. In Lada's pov, though she was concerned about him, her fear for him felt like it came f rom selfish desire instead of compassion, and that ruined the spark I thought they had.
But Radu and Mehmed felt real things for each other. Radu's kindness towards Mehmed and Mehmed's soft spot for Radu felt like an amazing dynamic and I truly fell for their relationship in the end.
Holy crap. Lada has got to be one of the best female characters written. She is smart, strong, goes for what she wants and is awfully flawed and makes mistakes. Fucking perfect!
The whole love triangle thing had me super frustrated.
Radu and Nazira are freaking adorable and I hope their friendship grows stronger.
I loved this book!
The whole love triangle thing had me super frustrated.
Radu and Nazira are freaking adorable and I hope their friendship grows stronger.
I loved this book!
I really wish I could have read this book in one sitting, I would have completely lost my mind over it! (In the best ways). unfortunately, life happens, but despite my not having the ability to consume this book in one go, I still fell in love with it.
Lada is not a lovable character, but I can definitely relate to her in many ways. She has this fierce intensity that the author was able to capture and make real. Lada is perhaps one of the realest characters I've ever read. I love that the author stayed true to the characters and never broke who they truly were. There were sooooooooo many awesome characters in this book and I felt like I knew them all. Sweet baby Radu, I just want the best for him. I want so badly for them all to get a happy ending!
I love how the book was written, filled with details and history. This book is filled with world building and just immersing you in the story. I was there with Lada and Radu and everything they went through, I went through. Everything they felt, I felt. Each skipped heartbeat, every ounce of hatred, all their confusion.
*Somewhat of a spoiler*
The ending caught me by surprise. I thought that it would end in so much death, but what I read was somehow more heartbreaking. What's worse? Having the choice ripped from you, or choosing to be ripped away? I'm not sure, but this book truly left me in the exact same way Lada felt with her heart torn out.
Lada is not a lovable character, but I can definitely relate to her in many ways. She has this fierce intensity that the author was able to capture and make real. Lada is perhaps one of the realest characters I've ever read. I love that the author stayed true to the characters and never broke who they truly were. There were sooooooooo many awesome characters in this book and I felt like I knew them all. Sweet baby Radu, I just want the best for him. I want so badly for them all to get a happy ending!
I love how the book was written, filled with details and history. This book is filled with world building and just immersing you in the story. I was there with Lada and Radu and everything they went through, I went through. Everything they felt, I felt. Each skipped heartbeat, every ounce of hatred, all their confusion.
*Somewhat of a spoiler*
The ending caught me by surprise. I thought that it would end in so much death, but what I read was somehow more heartbreaking. What's worse? Having the choice ripped from you, or choosing to be ripped away? I'm not sure, but this book truly left me in the exact same way Lada felt with her heart torn out.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a really solid historical fiction piece centered in the court of the Ottoman Empire with the added bonus of watching Lada (a genderbent Vlad the Impaler) grow up and into power. Vlad is already a compelling character, his story a mish-mash of fact and dramatization, but through the lens of Lada it becomes even more layered.
This book was so uneven, the first 2/3 being painfully boring and the last 1/3 fucking riveting