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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
For full review visit: http://acliffhangercrisis.blogspot.in/2017/07/review-and-i-darken-conquerors-saga-1.html
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
My sister had this game for the PSP that was about Joan of Arc, but there was also magic girl sequences, historical figures being furries and lots of demons. It was as anime as an adaption of history could get. Why am I mentioning this? Well, this Joan of Arc game is pretty much the same as And I Darken as they're both historical retellings that don't really tell you how anything in history actually went. The difference is this game was weeb trash but it was fun weeb trash while this book was incredibly boring most of the time with no sense of direction.
The game also, despite all the furries and demons flying around, is apparently more historically accurate than this book, judging by some of the reviews from people who are actually from the culture this book describes. Apparently, And I Darken is not just a retelling, but a full on offensive bastardization of their history, which is always fun. I digress.
When I first started reading it, I was pretty into this book. Unfortunately, the dark and edgy glamor of it eventually wears off as nothing continues to happen. None of the characters are capable of being rooted for. A lot of them are boring and flat with more than a fair few just feeling like bare bone stereotypes. It was lucky the book was told from both Lada and Radu's perspectives as they're the only two remotely interesting characters in the whole thing and, even then, I don't know if either one could carry a book on their lonesome. I think it was trying pretty hard to be a political drama while having some of the most boring basic politics going on. It's really just a romance story with a love triangle in it. An unconventional love triangle but a love triangle nonetheless.
Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't entirely boring. Again, I enjoyed it when I started it, and I liked it when there was action going at the end. But, the entire middle was a slog to get through and at 500 pages, it doesn't feel worth it.
I already own the second book, seeing as I got them both as a deal, so I'll still read it, but if that one turns out as poorly as this one, this might be a series I give up on.
The game also, despite all the furries and demons flying around, is apparently more historically accurate than this book, judging by some of the reviews from people who are actually from the culture this book describes. Apparently, And I Darken is not just a retelling, but a full on offensive bastardization of their history, which is always fun. I digress.
When I first started reading it, I was pretty into this book. Unfortunately, the dark and edgy glamor of it eventually wears off as nothing continues to happen. None of the characters are capable of being rooted for. A lot of them are boring and flat with more than a fair few just feeling like bare bone stereotypes. It was lucky the book was told from both Lada and Radu's perspectives as they're the only two remotely interesting characters in the whole thing and, even then, I don't know if either one could carry a book on their lonesome. I think it was trying pretty hard to be a political drama while having some of the most boring basic politics going on. It's really just a romance story with a love triangle in it. An unconventional love triangle but a love triangle nonetheless.
Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't entirely boring. Again, I enjoyed it when I started it, and I liked it when there was action going at the end. But, the entire middle was a slog to get through and at 500 pages, it doesn't feel worth it.
I already own the second book, seeing as I got them both as a deal, so I'll still read it, but if that one turns out as poorly as this one, this might be a series I give up on.
This one was a bit of a strange one for me. I really liked Lada, but I did so with the sense that she wasn't going to be redeemed by anyone's love or become a kinder, gentler person over the course of the book. Which is good; I think it really added to the character, but it definitely made it hard to empathize with Lada at times. I'm pretty sure this was intentional; we were supposed to be confronted with this woman, this princess, who is just about as far from what we expect a princess to be as is possible. I enjoyed that, but I'm also sure that it won't be to everyone's liking. Lada starts the book out ruthless and ends it heartless, and I admire the way White manages to make that an interesting transition.
I also loved the reversal of more traditional court roles between Lada and Radu. While you might normally expect the male character (Radu) to be out leading the soldiers while the female character (Lada) plotted and planned to gain political advantage, it was actually the other way around and I think it really made the book more interesting for it. You did get to see all the court roles that have become so, so common, but pretty much none of them were being filled by the characters you might expect.
I also liked that the setting was unusual and pseud0-historical. I also really liked how White at no point made a value judgment on the relative worth of the religions present: both Lada and Radu did, but I had no sense as to White's feelings on the matter, which I really appreciate.
I wasn't a super fan of how White chose to handle same-sex attraction, although I imagine it's historically correct. (I admit to having no notion of what 15th century Islam would have had to say on the matter.)
Overall, I'm looking forward to the second installment and seeing where White goes with this.
I also loved the reversal of more traditional court roles between Lada and Radu. While you might normally expect the male character (Radu) to be out leading the soldiers while the female character (Lada) plotted and planned to gain political advantage, it was actually the other way around and I think it really made the book more interesting for it. You did get to see all the court roles that have become so, so common, but pretty much none of them were being filled by the characters you might expect.
I also liked that the setting was unusual and pseud0-historical. I also really liked how White at no point made a value judgment on the relative worth of the religions present: both Lada and Radu did, but I had no sense as to White's feelings on the matter, which I really appreciate.
I wasn't a super fan of how White chose to handle same-sex attraction, although I imagine it's historically correct. (I admit to having no notion of what 15th century Islam would have had to say on the matter.)
Overall, I'm looking forward to the second installment and seeing where White goes with this.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is just trash. As a history major the plot and the dialogue make me gag.
More like a 3.2 if you want to be technical.
I love the cover. The colour and objects draw your eye and make you think.
I found the synopsis to be informative, but uninteresting. BUT I've liked Kiersten White books before and I like the story of Vlad and Dracula.
Normally I read a endless amount of Paranormal and Fantasy books. I was expecting the same from this book. Instead it is a semi-historical reflection on Vlad the Impalers life.
Vlad is now a girl named Ladislav (Lada). We begin from her birth and slowly walk through her life in Wallachia with her brothers Mercia and Radu. Then Lada and Radu being used as captives by the Ottomans and the subsequent meeting with Mehmed (the Sultans 3rd son).
Lada had very little growth through the books. She had a couple revelations that changed her characters opinions but her manners and b*tchy attitude was always there. This attitude can be annoying at times.
Not as annoying as Radu's character though. He may grow and get older but he is still a whiny, crying fool.
Both are selfish characters and Radu is coddled by everyone in the Ottoman Empire. His constant crying drove me a little crazy.
Overall I liked the historical aspect and the world of Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire is fascinating. Could not care less about the characters though.
I love the cover. The colour and objects draw your eye and make you think.
I found the synopsis to be informative, but uninteresting. BUT I've liked Kiersten White books before and I like the story of Vlad and Dracula.
Normally I read a endless amount of Paranormal and Fantasy books. I was expecting the same from this book. Instead it is a semi-historical reflection on Vlad the Impalers life.
Vlad is now a girl named Ladislav (Lada). We begin from her birth and slowly walk through her life in Wallachia with her brothers Mercia and Radu. Then Lada and Radu being used as captives by the Ottomans and the subsequent meeting with Mehmed (the Sultans 3rd son).
Lada had very little growth through the books. She had a couple revelations that changed her characters opinions but her manners and b*tchy attitude was always there. This attitude can be annoying at times.
Not as annoying as Radu's character though. He may grow and get older but he is still a whiny, crying fool.
Both are selfish characters and Radu is coddled by everyone in the Ottoman Empire. His constant crying drove me a little crazy.
Overall I liked the historical aspect and the world of Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire is fascinating. Could not care less about the characters though.
I DNFed this at about 1/3 because I got some unwanted spoilers and I pretty much don't have the will to continue reading it to my shame because it is a very good book. The characters are well build and special, especially Lada, who I find genuinely fascinating somehow. The writing style is easy to read but at the same time very beautiful and the plot is very complex and a lot of things happen. Definitely recommend it, even though I haven't gotten to finish it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Very well written but not my cup of tea.
Had religious elements that I wasn't comfortable with.
I also prefer more straitforward romance, less of the will they/won't they.
great ending though! I wasn't sure what to expect knowing there are two more books. Open for more but im satisfied with stopping here.
Had religious elements that I wasn't comfortable with.
I also prefer more straitforward romance, less of the will they/won't they.
No, pokračovanie už čítať nebudem, ale kniha sama o sebe fakt veľmi zaujímavá!
More historical fiction than fantasy (in fact, where I left of there are no fantasy/magical elements). This would be a great read for fans of historical royalty books or the medieval time period.
The beginning quarter is an interesting montage of Leda and her brother growing up, alighting on moments that established their character, but it is also quite dry and reads like a fictionalized historical account of the characters. By 26% the core story has barely started (once they arrive in the Ottoman Empire and a particular court), and I found my interest waning. But I really enjoy Kiersten White's writing, so I think I'll switch to her Guinevere series next.
Morally gray characters / Historical fiction retelling / Royalty setting and Political plots
The beginning quarter is an interesting montage of Leda and her brother growing up, alighting on moments that established their character, but it is also quite dry and reads like a fictionalized historical account of the characters. By 26% the core story has barely started (once they arrive in the Ottoman Empire and a particular court), and I found my interest waning. But I really enjoy Kiersten White's writing, so I think I'll switch to her Guinevere series next.
Morally gray characters / Historical fiction retelling / Royalty setting and Political plots