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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I won't lie -- the beginning of this book is slow. It took me a few days to read the first half and then I breezed through the second half. I think now that the characters are established that the second book should be more enjoyable as a whole.
DNF @ 53%
I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. There were some great quotes, there were some great moments but overall, I was not interested in the plot at all. One day I put down the book and then I never picked it back up again. Nothing in the book made me curious about what happens in the end. Nothing in the world. I wanted to love it soooo much but I just didn't.
I wanted to love this book but I just didn't. There were some great quotes, there were some great moments but overall, I was not interested in the plot at all. One day I put down the book and then I never picked it back up again. Nothing in the book made me curious about what happens in the end. Nothing in the world. I wanted to love it soooo much but I just didn't.
Received an advanced copy via NetGalley.
I had a hard time deciding if this was a 4 or 5 star book for me. I think it's probably closer to 5 stars though, it checked all the boxes of what makes a good story. But I found it to be slow moving at points and I had a hard time focusing.
The best part of this is the introduction of characters and relationships unlike any I've read before. Lada is tough, complicated, and absolutely captivating. Even when she is being cruel she is not unlikable, which is a true testament to the author's character development, that always have a sense of what motivates her. I understood her completely and rooted for her, even when her actions made me uncomfortable.
Lada's relationships with Radu and with Mehmet, and likewise Radu's relationship with Mehmet, are so complex that at times it borders on heartbreaking. To see the constant conflict between what the characters what and what is right, it's difficult not to be moved. Especially when their own wants are at war with themselves. I did not envy the choices they are forced to make. However, each time Lada was forced to make those tough choices, I was (mostly) impressed by how true she remained to herself.
Even though the story focuses half on Radu, who is also developed as fully and no less interesting than Lada, it was Lada I kept wanting to focus on. I identified so completely with her struggle of how to reconcile being a female immersed in a man's world. For all her fighting ability, which can match any man's, being a female still sets her apart. And yet with other women, even as she tries to understand who they are, she still can't seem to find a place among them. I don't have the words of my own or writing ability of my own to engage in a more hearty discussion of it but it was fascinating.
"Perhaps if she had more women in her life, she would not feel so outraged at the physical demands of being one."
I had a hard time deciding if this was a 4 or 5 star book for me. I think it's probably closer to 5 stars though, it checked all the boxes of what makes a good story. But I found it to be slow moving at points and I had a hard time focusing.
The best part of this is the introduction of characters and relationships unlike any I've read before. Lada is tough, complicated, and absolutely captivating. Even when she is being cruel she is not unlikable, which is a true testament to the author's character development, that always have a sense of what motivates her. I understood her completely and rooted for her, even when her actions made me uncomfortable.
Lada's relationships with Radu and with Mehmet, and likewise Radu's relationship with Mehmet, are so complex that at times it borders on heartbreaking. To see the constant conflict between what the characters what and what is right, it's difficult not to be moved. Especially when their own wants are at war with themselves. I did not envy the choices they are forced to make. However, each time Lada was forced to make those tough choices, I was (mostly) impressed by how true she remained to herself.
Even though the story focuses half on Radu, who is also developed as fully and no less interesting than Lada, it was Lada I kept wanting to focus on. I identified so completely with her struggle of how to reconcile being a female immersed in a man's world. For all her fighting ability, which can match any man's, being a female still sets her apart. And yet with other women, even as she tries to understand who they are, she still can't seem to find a place among them. I don't have the words of my own or writing ability of my own to engage in a more hearty discussion of it but it was fascinating.
"Perhaps if she had more women in her life, she would not feel so outraged at the physical demands of being one."
Rated up. This was more of a 3.5 stars book. The concept was really unique and I liked that it was based off of real history with just a gender swap for the main character. Both Lada's character and Radu's character were well written and developed. They did not have these immediate changes that happened overnight. There was growth in both of them and they still struggled with things at the end of the book. There were times were it felt like the story was dragging on though and I wanted to more to happen.
Brilliant. Love the style, how it was written, the history, the weaving in of Islam in such a positive way--just awesome. Super non-traditional heroine that I can really really sell to all kinds of readers. Definitely NOT fantasy, but much more historical fiction. (Even though it really isn't.)
I thought our sociopathic princess would get to be queen, not a prisoner. Interesting characters but they felt hamstringed by the plot. Nothing of important really happened in the book, it felt like it was all leading up to a climax that never happened.
I can't really decide how I felt about this one... it felt kinda long and slow and like nothing really happened, but also super compelling and tense and I was very into all of the characters?? I liked the writing and the story but it is a slow burn. I think the next book will be kind of insane. I like court intrigue and women being badasses so Radu and Lada were the best. Mehmet I could take or leave (WHY are they both so into him??)
To be honest, if I had wanted a history lesson, then I would have read a history textbook, not this.
At first, I was okay with all the background information and stuff, but when I was 15% of the way through this book, I wasn't expecting it all to still be exposition and background info. I wanted an actual storyline.
This book is tagged as fantasy, but from what I managed to read, it definitely was not. It was historical fiction, which, it actually was tagged as.
2/5, DNF.
At first, I was okay with all the background information and stuff, but when I was 15% of the way through this book, I wasn't expecting it all to still be exposition and background info. I wanted an actual storyline.
This book is tagged as fantasy, but from what I managed to read, it definitely was not. It was historical fiction, which, it actually was tagged as.
2/5, DNF.
3.5 Stars.
At first, I don't know if I should like this book or not. Yes, I love ferocious Lada; yes, I love Nicolae even more; I endear the knowledge I learned, from history to strategies; I adore the politics; and, yes, I like the writing style.
But, Mehmed is boring; Lada softened; and there are scenes that are inappropriate (the middle of the book was dragging and unappealing.).
Also, in between the time when years had passed (after Mehmed is trained) and the time when Radu's fake letter arrived, I realized that Lada's doesn't have a goal. After Halil Pasha's attempt to take the throne, her goal became protecting Mehmed. Lost is her passionate love for Wallachia when she was 12. I love her that time. It was disappointing.
On the other side, Radu. It was the first time I've read a POV like his. His character development is gradual but it is there. And the path he took in the court was something unexpected. He broke the readers' first impression of him and I'm glad.
Mehmed is the sultan and the love interest, and I see nothing special about him. While I do understand why the siblings love him, he doesn't deserve their hearts.
Overall, this is not an ordinary story. And yes, I don't know if I should recommend it or not because, until now, I have mixed emotions about this book. Maybe the anticipation made my expectations high. Anyway, I'll still read book 2 once it's out.
At first, I don't know if I should like this book or not. Yes, I love ferocious Lada; yes, I love Nicolae even more; I endear the knowledge I learned, from history to strategies; I adore the politics; and, yes, I like the writing style.
But, Mehmed is boring; Lada softened; and there are scenes that are inappropriate (the middle of the book was dragging and unappealing.).
Also, in between the time when years had passed (after Mehmed is trained) and the time when Radu's fake letter arrived, I realized that Lada's doesn't have a goal. After Halil Pasha's attempt to take the throne, her goal became protecting Mehmed. Lost is her passionate love for Wallachia when she was 12. I love her that time. It was disappointing.
On the other side, Radu. It was the first time I've read a POV like his. His character development is gradual but it is there. And the path he took in the court was something unexpected. He broke the readers' first impression of him and I'm glad.
Mehmed is the sultan and the love interest, and I see nothing special about him. While I do understand why the siblings love him, he doesn't deserve their hearts.
Overall, this is not an ordinary story. And yes, I don't know if I should recommend it or not because, until now, I have mixed emotions about this book. Maybe the anticipation made my expectations high. Anyway, I'll still read book 2 once it's out.
I first want to say that there is no magical element to this book (maybe something in the series?). I'm not sure why it is labeled fantasy, because there is nothing fantasy-like in this book besides my imaginary heart burst and beating for the first time in over twenty years, but it is really phenomenal anyway!
Reasons why you should read this book as follow:
You don't have you typical plain-awkward-clumsy-yet-extremely-beautiful-talented-shy main girl. No, the main girl, from the first page she was on, is in your face, strong, and nothing to mess with. She knows what she wants and she is going to get what she wants. You want to screw with her? She will cut your throat. You think she is less because she is a woman? She's going to show you how much more she is. Lada Dragwlya is who every young lady (old too, though LBR) should strive to be.
Now you do have a plain-yet-smart-and-adorable-and-not-really-fitting-in brother, Radu Dragwlya at play at well. He is more strong in the mind and with wit than with the sword and brute (like his sister). He's so friendly but fragile. He wants to be seen and accepted, but with the brutality of the world he lives in, he is kind of over looked. But the fun part is that he is most definitely, tragically and beautifully gay. And with the time period this is in, that isn't accepted.
Now, I'm just going to cut right to the point: This story is so unique in the way of love triangles.
"So the question becomes, Daughter of the Dragon, what will you sacrifice? What will you let be taken away so that you, too, can have power?"
I'm not talking just any love triangle that you roll your eyes at, but like the best kind of tragic love triangle that your heart will hate but your attention craves. You don't know which why it should go because you love everyone involved and it kind of drives you a little nuts. But in a way like cracking your back feels. It hurts, but it's still amazing.
This whole story starts out with the siblings being traded to the enemy for safety. They are young, like twelve and eleven I think, and so they are basically raised in the hands of the person they were raised to not like. As you can gather from that, the book is very, very political. There are a bunch of chess pieces at play and you have to keep them straight (which isn't very hard because the author makes it very easy to follow).
On top of the politics, the not-fantasy, the love triangle and the siblings, you have a lot of historical facts. I'm not really a historical reader, though I do have exceptions, so this is where I started losing a lot of my focus with the book. It didn't take away from anything, it just added a ton of facts (which isn't bad, just information overload for me sometimes).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The ending made me bawl my eyes out. You basically are watching these two siblings grow into adults and bring havoc onto the world. So when you are in pain, it's like seeing a loved one in pain and it makes my heart weep. I am so anxious for the next book though. That cliff hanger was not okay.
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This has broken my heart... RTC.
Reasons why you should read this book as follow:
You don't have you typical plain-awkward-clumsy-yet-extremely-beautiful-talented-shy main girl. No, the main girl, from the first page she was on, is in your face, strong, and nothing to mess with. She knows what she wants and she is going to get what she wants. You want to screw with her? She will cut your throat. You think she is less because she is a woman? She's going to show you how much more she is. Lada Dragwlya is who every young lady (old too, though LBR) should strive to be.
Now you do have a plain-yet-smart-and-adorable-and-not-really-fitting-in brother, Radu Dragwlya at play at well. He is more strong in the mind and with wit than with the sword and brute (like his sister). He's so friendly but fragile. He wants to be seen and accepted, but with the brutality of the world he lives in, he is kind of over looked. But the fun part is that he is most definitely, tragically and beautifully gay. And with the time period this is in, that isn't accepted.
Now, I'm just going to cut right to the point: This story is so unique in the way of love triangles.
"So the question becomes, Daughter of the Dragon, what will you sacrifice? What will you let be taken away so that you, too, can have power?"
I'm not talking just any love triangle that you roll your eyes at, but like the best kind of tragic love triangle that your heart will hate but your attention craves. You don't know which why it should go because you love everyone involved and it kind of drives you a little nuts. But in a way like cracking your back feels. It hurts, but it's still amazing.
This whole story starts out with the siblings being traded to the enemy for safety. They are young, like twelve and eleven I think, and so they are basically raised in the hands of the person they were raised to not like. As you can gather from that, the book is very, very political. There are a bunch of chess pieces at play and you have to keep them straight (which isn't very hard because the author makes it very easy to follow).
On top of the politics, the not-fantasy, the love triangle and the siblings, you have a lot of historical facts. I'm not really a historical reader, though I do have exceptions, so this is where I started losing a lot of my focus with the book. It didn't take away from anything, it just added a ton of facts (which isn't bad, just information overload for me sometimes).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The ending made me bawl my eyes out. You basically are watching these two siblings grow into adults and bring havoc onto the world. So when you are in pain, it's like seeing a loved one in pain and it makes my heart weep. I am so anxious for the next book though. That cliff hanger was not okay.
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This has broken my heart... RTC.