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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Review - And I Darken by Kiersten White
I was simultaneously so surprised and not surprised at all that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kiersten White has a way with myth and historic events. Long passed that I very rarely encountered because she makes them so vivid and so accessible while still being so well researched and lived in in the historical space which is something I really enjoy as a reader And as a historian. When my dear friend told me that this book was about a gender bend on Vlad, the Impaler I was already locked in, but I learned to love, Radu and Mehmed and especially Lada so deeply within the course of the story, not only for who they were in the historical narrative (Lada is Vlad the Impaler), but also as rich, three-dimensional, and dynamic characters in this book who are as complex as the times in which they are living. This is not my historic. So I’m not as familiar with the political relations between Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire, but White’s book has achieved what I think all historical fiction should achieve, which is it makes me want to learn more not only about these characters in continuing the series, but also in reading historical monographs about what really happened. What an excellent start to this trilogy. 4/5 stars
I was simultaneously so surprised and not surprised at all that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kiersten White has a way with myth and historic events. Long passed that I very rarely encountered because she makes them so vivid and so accessible while still being so well researched and lived in in the historical space which is something I really enjoy as a reader And as a historian. When my dear friend told me that this book was about a gender bend on Vlad, the Impaler I was already locked in, but I learned to love, Radu and Mehmed and especially Lada so deeply within the course of the story, not only for who they were in the historical narrative (Lada is Vlad the Impaler), but also as rich, three-dimensional, and dynamic characters in this book who are as complex as the times in which they are living. This is not my historic. So I’m not as familiar with the political relations between Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire, but White’s book has achieved what I think all historical fiction should achieve, which is it makes me want to learn more not only about these characters in continuing the series, but also in reading historical monographs about what really happened. What an excellent start to this trilogy. 4/5 stars
Wow wow wow I did not expect this to be so good. My heart was constantly tugged back and forth between Ladislav and Radu. My heart ached for them and the fate that they had been dealt. And Mehmed was just made me speechless. I liked him but at the same time I disliked him for the impact he had on Ladislav and Radu. I felt like it all came down to him, which it kind of did to be honest. Then Bogdan, I had so much hope for him and Ladislav but I guess I'll have to see how things play out in the next book. They're friendship was so cute and pure. I am actually really excited for the next one.
always a good time with Kiersten white. I remember reading and I darken when it came out and then never finished the series. so here we are. I will be finishing it in 2024
I can't believe it took me almost two months to read this book. The fault lies with me and my busy summer, not the book.
I'm late to the party, but this is my favorite book I've read so far this year. I don't even know what else to say about it, except that I absolutely loved it.
I'm late to the party, but this is my favorite book I've read so far this year. I don't even know what else to say about it, except that I absolutely loved it.
3.5 stars. This was good, but it took me some time to get into. The beginning is a bit slow. I only really started feeling invested when it skipped to when Lada and Radu were around 15-16 years old and the plot really started picking up. I'm always here for politics and scheming, so I definitely ate all of that up. Most of all, though, I got so invested in Radu. While I could've done without some of the early stuff of Radu and Lada's childhoods (and it did start to feel a lot like Radu was just constantly getting tortured, which wasn't fun for me to read through), it was necessary to get the full impact of how he grows and how, while he doesn't turn out like Lada or what his father would've wanted him to be, he's able to figure out how to use his strengths to his advantage. Like, I feel like I should've been all about Lada, and normally I identify more with female characters, but I'm just never going to be super into the character that's all about brute force and physicality and murder. And I know literally nothing about Vlad the Impaler, so the whole, "Vlad the Impaler as a teenage girl!" thing wasn't a huge draw for me on its own like it was for some people.
And I did like Lada, but Rada was what got me hooked. I did like his relationship with Lada, or at the very least, I found it interesting. I loved when he kind of revealed to her how he had started spying and using his talents to protect Mehmed, and she was kind of lost and didn't know what to do, and he had the upper hand for once.
I don't really have a handle on Mehmed yet. He's very much a spoiled prince, and that's fine, but I don't know if he's going to become more than that, or what. Radu definitely deserves better than him — Lada, too, even. So I'm definitely not shipping Lada/Mehmed at this point, and if they do end up together, there's going to need to be a lot of work done to get me to the point where I'm okay with that.
So yeah, this was interesting, and while parts of it dragged and took me awhile to get into, I ended up having a lot of feelings about Radu, and it left me eager to move on to the sequel.
And I did like Lada, but Rada was what got me hooked.
Spoiler
And his marriage!!! To the sweet girl who just wants to live happily ever after with her maid and have a sweet romance!!! Nothing better happen to either of them, okay???I don't really have a handle on Mehmed yet. He's very much a spoiled prince, and that's fine, but I don't know if he's going to become more than that, or what. Radu definitely deserves better than him — Lada, too, even. So I'm definitely not shipping Lada/Mehmed at this point, and if they do end up together, there's going to need to be a lot of work done to get me to the point where I'm okay with that.
So yeah, this was interesting, and while parts of it dragged and took me awhile to get into, I ended up having a lot of feelings about Radu, and it left me eager to move on to the sequel.
"He had no names for a girl... He had already named his bastard Vlad, after himself. He would name his daughter the same. "Ladislav", he declared. It was a feminine form of Vlad. Diminitive. Diminished."
See reviews first on my Blog
Characters:
Ladislav (Lada)- Vlad's daughter
Bogdan- nurses son and Lada's best friends
Radu- Lada's baby brother
Mehmed- Friend of Lada and Radu, Ottoman Empire son
Huma- Mehmed's mother
Nicolae- soldier and Lada's best friend in her teenage years
Kumal- Kind man who helps Radu
From the time she was born Lada was expected to be nothing by her father. Instead what he got was a daughter that was tougher than his sons, and who would end up protecting one of them time and time again. She not only makes her father slightly proud at times but also seems to shame him at times as well when she acts un-lady like in front of others.
Then we have little Radu, the child that Vlad really seemed to not care for at all. He is weak and terrified of everyone in his families eyes. Yet Lada protects him with everything she has, while also picking on him. She does what she has to to make sure they stay alive even when it causes Radu to get hurt.
"People respond to kindness, Lada. They trust a smile more than a promise that you will leave them choking on their own blood."
"Yes, but my promise is more sincere than your smiles."
Lada and Radu are so different, but yet both still want the same things for the most part. The way they go about getting what they want is extremely different with Radu becoming everyone's friend and Lada using terror to get what she wants.
One thing that unites these two siblings the most though is there hatred for Vlad. He left them as bargaining chips in order to keep the small empire that he had.
"I did not love him. I worshiped him. And then he betrayed us by being human - so worthlessly, weakly human. He left us here with nothing and made it impossible for us to return home."
That was also when Lada realized that woman were seen as nothing and were just used as pawns to get what the men wanted for no regards to them or how they will survive. This is something that makes her become even fiercer and even more determined to get home to her country that she was taught to love so much, by the man who would treat her as if she was nothing.
With Radu we see him question not only who he is being in a foreign land with a sibling who he is terrified of, all while falling for someone who he can't have and knowing that he can never go home. We see Radu make friends of his own yet still be completely alone. He is an interesting character in the way that he would do anything for this other person he can never have, all while making sure that he also plays the part of pleasing so many other people. I might actually like his tactics for getting information more if he wasn't so busy trying to hide from Lada instead of just standing up to her.
"His heart sank as he realized that by taunting her that she could not leave, he had virtually guaranteed she would do exactly that."
Overall I really loved this story. Lada is a character that makes you dislike her and love her all at the same time. She does things that make you want to hate her, but then she does and does things like protecting Radu or slowly falling for someone who is keeping her someplace she doesn't want to be.
I also loved how we see things from both Lada and Radu's perspectives. Because of this we not only get to see how terrifying Lada can be, but how loving as well for the people she cares about.
We also get to see Radu and Lada grow up and change over time. They go from being two powerless children to some of the strongest people in the Empire. They find ways to not only get inside the military, but how to become the Emperors right hand man and confidant.
"You have him Lada. You have his heart and his eyes and his soul. I have seen the way you wait for him to look at you, the way you relish his attentions. You pretend you do not love him, but you cannot lie to me.""No one will ever love you as he does-as an equal-and you know it. You will not leave that. You cannot."
As for the love triangle it was interesting and one that I haven't really seen before. I wanted each of the characters to be able to be with one another, because of how it changed them when they with said person, but on the other hand I think they could do so much better than said person as well. Its a tough call, but I am interested in seeing what happens with everything in the next book.
To me this wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. But that could just be because I read several thrillers before I started reading this book.
I can't wait for the second book and to see what happens next!
One of the main characters is gay and one of the new side characters is as well.
See reviews first on my Blog
Characters:
Ladislav (Lada)- Vlad's daughter
Bogdan- nurses son and Lada's best friends
Radu- Lada's baby brother
Mehmed- Friend of Lada and Radu, Ottoman Empire son
Huma- Mehmed's mother
Nicolae- soldier and Lada's best friend in her teenage years
Kumal- Kind man who helps Radu
From the time she was born Lada was expected to be nothing by her father. Instead what he got was a daughter that was tougher than his sons, and who would end up protecting one of them time and time again. She not only makes her father slightly proud at times but also seems to shame him at times as well when she acts un-lady like in front of others.
Then we have little Radu, the child that Vlad really seemed to not care for at all. He is weak and terrified of everyone in his families eyes. Yet Lada protects him with everything she has, while also picking on him. She does what she has to to make sure they stay alive even when it causes Radu to get hurt.
"People respond to kindness, Lada. They trust a smile more than a promise that you will leave them choking on their own blood."
"Yes, but my promise is more sincere than your smiles."
Lada and Radu are so different, but yet both still want the same things for the most part. The way they go about getting what they want is extremely different with Radu becoming everyone's friend and Lada using terror to get what she wants.
One thing that unites these two siblings the most though is there hatred for Vlad. He left them as bargaining chips in order to keep the small empire that he had.
"I did not love him. I worshiped him. And then he betrayed us by being human - so worthlessly, weakly human. He left us here with nothing and made it impossible for us to return home."
That was also when Lada realized that woman were seen as nothing and were just used as pawns to get what the men wanted for no regards to them or how they will survive. This is something that makes her become even fiercer and even more determined to get home to her country that she was taught to love so much, by the man who would treat her as if she was nothing.
With Radu we see him question not only who he is being in a foreign land with a sibling who he is terrified of, all while falling for someone who he can't have and knowing that he can never go home. We see Radu make friends of his own yet still be completely alone. He is an interesting character in the way that he would do anything for this other person he can never have, all while making sure that he also plays the part of pleasing so many other people. I might actually like his tactics for getting information more if he wasn't so busy trying to hide from Lada instead of just standing up to her.
"His heart sank as he realized that by taunting her that she could not leave, he had virtually guaranteed she would do exactly that."
Overall I really loved this story. Lada is a character that makes you dislike her and love her all at the same time. She does things that make you want to hate her, but then she does and does things like protecting Radu or slowly falling for someone who is keeping her someplace she doesn't want to be.
I also loved how we see things from both Lada and Radu's perspectives. Because of this we not only get to see how terrifying Lada can be, but how loving as well for the people she cares about.
We also get to see Radu and Lada grow up and change over time. They go from being two powerless children to some of the strongest people in the Empire. They find ways to not only get inside the military, but how to become the Emperors right hand man and confidant.
"You have him Lada. You have his heart and his eyes and his soul. I have seen the way you wait for him to look at you, the way you relish his attentions. You pretend you do not love him, but you cannot lie to me.""No one will ever love you as he does-as an equal-and you know it. You will not leave that. You cannot."
As for the love triangle it was interesting and one that I haven't really seen before. I wanted each of the characters to be able to be with one another, because of how it changed them when they with said person, but on the other hand I think they could do so much better than said person as well. Its a tough call, but I am interested in seeing what happens with everything in the next book.
To me this wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. But that could just be because I read several thrillers before I started reading this book.
I can't wait for the second book and to see what happens next!
One of the main characters is gay and one of the new side characters is as well.
3.5 stars. The beginning was hard to get into. I almost quit, but persevered because of all the great reviews I read. Glad I stuck with it.
Kiersten White writes political intrigue as if it is only second to breathing. And I Darken is a toxic concoction that you'll drink down till the last drop and leave you craving more. This isn't a fairy tale in which the sultan gets the girl or the boy gets the sultan. It's a dangerous game played out among Radu and Lada as they shift their allies and enemies like chess pieces into position to claim what is rightfully theirs. For Radu, it's acceptance and to gain the love of his good friend. For Lada, it's to reclaim the glory that is owed to her homeland of Wallachia, and to break the shackles on her of what a man thinks a woman ought to be. As Lada's and Radu's carefully crafted plans come into play, things get savage. The costs are high and many times it's the siblings who find themselves covered in blood.