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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
lost me at the racism :/ also its taking too long all the abusive nature of this book can’t possibly be worth it.
This book had some serious plot and pacing issues in the beginning. If I hadn't been listening I don't know that I would have stuck with it. That being said, by the end things picked up enough for me to want to read book 2. This is kind of a Game of Thrones with Sultans instead of Kings.
Summary: In this first book in a trilogy, a girl child is born to Vlad Dracula, in Transylvania, in 1435--at first rejected by her father and always ignored by her mother, she will grow up to be Lada Dragwlya, a vicious and brutal princess, destined to rule and destroy her enemies.
Summary: In this first book in a trilogy, a girl child is born to Vlad Dracula, in Transylvania, in 1435--at first rejected by her father and always ignored by her mother, she will grow up to be Lada Dragwlya, a vicious and brutal princess, destined to rule and destroy her enemies.
the characters were compelling; i am especially interested in the strongly anti-hero main character (where her character arc will take her). writing is average. historical aspects are also interesting. solidly average novel.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Lada is the daughter of Vlad, ruler of Wallachia. Even though Lada is a girl she is stronger and smarter than most of the boys around her. She loves Wallachia and dreams of one day ruling her motherland. When her father trades Lada and her brother Radu to the Ottoman Empire for security of Wallachia, Lada's dreams of one day being recognized for her father evaporate. Lada and Radu grow up as prisoners with a lot of luxury and freedom. They are taken care of and educated but are still part of the sultan's household. Lada fights for everything she can: education, training, security and Radu. Radu is much weaker than strong Lada even though he is better liked and the more socially adapt of the two.
Lada and Radu eventually come to the attention of the sultan's son Mehmed and are swept out of the capital and off to the country. There they grow and prosper and learn to love Mehmed in their own ways. However, it is unrequited and impossible love for both Lada and Radu. Lada because while she might care for Mehmed she doesn't want to be under the power of a man. Radu because he can never really love Mehmed in the way he wishes. Court intrigue and politics force the three friends down different paths, but towards the same end: power.
Lada is one of those characters I love: strong, passionate, fierce and independent. She does what needs to be done and thinks of the future. She is better than most of the men around her and disgusted by the fact that her gender places her behind these lesser men. She is perfectly capable of doing whatever needs to be done. I loved her and her journey to finding her power. However, I thought this book was overly long and could have been cut down a lot. It covers pretty much everything from when Lada was a small child till she becomes a young woman. There was a lot that was repetitive and could have been edited down. I did enjoy the different paths Lada and Radu and even Mehmed ended up taking in this book and will read the sequel to find out what happens during the next stage of their lives.
Lada and Radu eventually come to the attention of the sultan's son Mehmed and are swept out of the capital and off to the country. There they grow and prosper and learn to love Mehmed in their own ways. However, it is unrequited and impossible love for both Lada and Radu. Lada because while she might care for Mehmed she doesn't want to be under the power of a man. Radu because he can never really love Mehmed in the way he wishes. Court intrigue and politics force the three friends down different paths, but towards the same end: power.
Lada is one of those characters I love: strong, passionate, fierce and independent. She does what needs to be done and thinks of the future. She is better than most of the men around her and disgusted by the fact that her gender places her behind these lesser men. She is perfectly capable of doing whatever needs to be done. I loved her and her journey to finding her power. However, I thought this book was overly long and could have been cut down a lot. It covers pretty much everything from when Lada was a small child till she becomes a young woman. There was a lot that was repetitive and could have been edited down. I did enjoy the different paths Lada and Radu and even Mehmed ended up taking in this book and will read the sequel to find out what happens during the next stage of their lives.
“The last time she was up here, she had been... staring up at the sky and dreaming of stars. Now, she looked down and plotted flames.”
*3.5 STARS
I have heard so many great things about [b: And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449153532s/27190613.jpg|41682914]; I agree with many points-- this book is dark. It has a novelty to it. And it has a fantastic concept. But I also think that this installment is weaker than what the next could be-- and I'm excited to see what White does for #2, which I think has the potential to be better.
[b: And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449153532s/27190613.jpg|41682914] is a uniquely set-up story, which was what first drew me into reading it. Lada and Radu are the two main characters and are opposite siblings-- Lada is the genderbent version of Vlad the Impaler (so you can guess what she's like), cruel and ruthless at times, and Radu is more of the charismatic and soft-spoken, gentle compromiser. As children, the two are given by their father, a political figure in Wallachia, a subservient nation to the Ottoman Empire; the book follows their transformation in an alien and enemy land.
Lada, in case you're curious, is something along the lines of what is implied by this:
"On our wedding night," she said, "I will cut out your tongue and swallow it. Then both tongues that spoke our marriage vows will belong to me, and I will be wed only to myself. You will most likely choke to death on your own blood, which will be unfortunate, but I will be both husband and wife and therefore not a widow to be pitied."
Her less cruel, more human side is also apparent in the book due to White's characterization, but if you like anti-heroes with a bit of unconventionality, then I think you'll like Lada just fine (especially if you liked her dialogue just then).
For the most part I liked this, but something also kept me from quite being willing to give this five stars, to agree with what seems to be the popular opinion. That something was the plot and the romance. I wanted grit, I was given it; I was able to see the crafty facades of the courts; and I reveled in the YA historical-based elements that always grab my attention. But it was at times overwhelmed by other plot devices. I wanted a more complex plot with warring, espionage, etc. But I didn't necessarily get it to the fullest caliber.
Hopefully I will like the second installment in The Conquerors Saga more-- I'm crossing my fingers that the plot evolves in its focus and that some warring and warfare tactics start appearing in detail, and that the conflict thickens and darkens.
*3.5 STARS
I have heard so many great things about [b: And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449153532s/27190613.jpg|41682914]; I agree with many points-- this book is dark. It has a novelty to it. And it has a fantastic concept. But I also think that this installment is weaker than what the next could be-- and I'm excited to see what White does for #2, which I think has the potential to be better.
[b: And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449153532s/27190613.jpg|41682914] is a uniquely set-up story, which was what first drew me into reading it. Lada and Radu are the two main characters and are opposite siblings-- Lada is the genderbent version of Vlad the Impaler (so you can guess what she's like), cruel and ruthless at times, and Radu is more of the charismatic and soft-spoken, gentle compromiser. As children, the two are given by their father, a political figure in Wallachia, a subservient nation to the Ottoman Empire; the book follows their transformation in an alien and enemy land.
Lada, in case you're curious, is something along the lines of what is implied by this:
"On our wedding night," she said, "I will cut out your tongue and swallow it. Then both tongues that spoke our marriage vows will belong to me, and I will be wed only to myself. You will most likely choke to death on your own blood, which will be unfortunate, but I will be both husband and wife and therefore not a widow to be pitied."
Her less cruel, more human side is also apparent in the book due to White's characterization, but if you like anti-heroes with a bit of unconventionality, then I think you'll like Lada just fine (especially if you liked her dialogue just then).
For the most part I liked this, but something also kept me from quite being willing to give this five stars, to agree with what seems to be the popular opinion. That something was the plot and the romance. I wanted grit, I was given it; I was able to see the crafty facades of the courts; and I reveled in the YA historical-based elements that always grab my attention. But it was at times overwhelmed by other plot devices. I wanted a more complex plot with warring, espionage, etc. But I didn't necessarily get it to the fullest caliber.
Spoiler
I do like Mehmed, but I also think that there's too much emphasis placed on the at least temporary love-triangle, which I never truly find a genuine conflict in any situation; it always brings down my rating. However, I would say that it is done much better in comparison to many others, so perhaps others -namely, the make-up of the general consensus- liked it more, and I less simply due to divergent tastes.Hopefully I will like the second installment in The Conquerors Saga more-- I'm crossing my fingers that the plot evolves in its focus and that some warring and warfare tactics start appearing in detail, and that the conflict thickens and darkens.
3.5 stars
The first quarter was cute, I loved them as children. The last quarter was amazing, all the drama and hurt and love shown made me real happy.
Everything in between was soooo slow and just really didn’t seem to matter.
Regardless, I adore Lada and the storyline so much.
The first quarter was cute, I loved them as children. The last quarter was amazing, all the drama and hurt and love shown made me real happy.
Everything in between was soooo slow and just really didn’t seem to matter.
Regardless, I adore Lada and the storyline so much.
I am so pleasantly pleased with the ending. Yay for it not being a typical YA ending.
This book was very different from what I was expecting. I thought it was another story about a princess trying to reclaim her throne, and in a way it is, but not really. Way to be vague.
Lada is a fierce girl living in a world of men, and it's about her struggle to find her own power without having to rely on men.
At times I was bored, at times I was loving it. I didn't care for Rudu's parts as much as Lada's.
A solid story.
This book was very different from what I was expecting. I thought it was another story about a princess trying to reclaim her throne, and in a way it is, but not really. Way to be vague.
Lada is a fierce girl living in a world of men, and it's about her struggle to find her own power without having to rely on men.
At times I was bored, at times I was loving it. I didn't care for Rudu's parts as much as Lada's.
A solid story.