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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Religious text basically, & supposedly there's homophobia later (including by the fmc)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Physical abuse
Oggettivamente questo libro è scritto molto bene, i personaggi sono interessanti e le descrizioni sono giuste, né troppo corte, né troppo dettagliate.
Soggettivamente questo libro non è il mio genere e quindi non ho apprezzato appieno la lettura.
L'unica cosa che mi è piaciuta sono stati questi tre personaggi: Lada (grande protagonista, che si differenzia da tutte le altre), Radu (dolcissimo) e Bogdan (che deve stare insieme a Lada).
Non so se leggerò mai il seguito, ma forse un giorno, chi può dirlo.
Soggettivamente questo libro non è il mio genere e quindi non ho apprezzato appieno la lettura.
L'unica cosa che mi è piaciuta sono stati questi tre personaggi: Lada (grande protagonista, che si differenzia da tutte le altre), Radu (dolcissimo) e Bogdan (che deve stare insieme a Lada).
Non so se leggerò mai il seguito, ma forse un giorno, chi può dirlo.
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Re-read: October 2019
“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?”
What if the infamous Vlad the Impaler had been a girl? Lada Dragwyla is dismissed at birth by her warlord father for her gender, but grows up unexpectedly fierce and strong, the complete opposite of her younger brother Radu. Abandoned by their father as hostages in the Ottoman court, Lada and Radu find themselves in the enemy’s den with only each other to rely on, knowing that their every move is being watched. But a chance run-in with the Sultan’s youngest son Mehmed changes everything, and the siblings unexpectedly find themselves accompanying the Prince to distant Amasya as his companions, where, far from the watchful eyes of the court, the trio grow to be firm friends. Yet, Lada has not forgotten her home and still longs for vengeance on the Ottomans, but Radu is content in this new world, feeling safe for the first time in his life.
Let me start by saying this book is completely insane and even darker than I expected, and I loved every last page of it. Now that I’ve finally got around to rereading it, I can put together this long overdue review. And I Darken is definitely not fantasy like I thought at first glance, but rather historical fiction – with one major twist. I’ve seen this concept only once before, in Laura Andersen’s The Boleyn Trilogy, and I was really intrigued to see how this story would be approached. This time period was also one I knew little about when I started the series, and I held back from doing any research until I finished reading book 2, which turned out to be a very good decision as learning the facts alongside the story through this book was a lot of fun.
I found that I appreciate this book so much more after a re-read, and even more, after having completed the series. Initially, this felt really slow-paced, and many parts of the story felt like filler, but this book contributes to helping the reader understand exactly how the three central characters develop as they grow and how they are shaped by the events of their childhood – and as such, I’m a whole lot more sympathetic towards them, particularly Radu, whom I found rather whiny on my first read. It’s impossible not to feel for Radu when he starts realizing the truth about himself.
Lada is the best anti-hero I’ve ever come across. And I Darken pulls no punches in showing us just how brutal she is, how fierce she has had to become to survive in a world of men. Radu is a truly intriguing character. Initially something of a weakling, if a rather adorable one, it was a delight to see his character grow throughout the book. Lada was always the one to protect Radu, in her own way, but as Radu finds his own footing in the Ottoman court, learning to maneuver its politics and growing more devoted to Mehmed by the day, he also starts to consider it a home, feeling safer and more content than he ever did in Wallachia.
One scene I really loved in this book was the brief encounter Lada has with the women of the Ottoman Court, where she learns for the first time, the power a Lady can wield from behind the scenes, that some battles are fought entirely off the field, and most importantly, that everything comes at a cost. I thought that this scene was very well written and an important moment for Lada, who has grown up rejecting her femininity in an attempt to gain her father’s approval.
Overall, yes, this book is slow at times, possibly even boring now and again, but it is worth pushing through those parts because once the action starts in this series, it doesn’t stop. I loved how this book (and the entire series) is based on fact, but manages to be original all the same, and despite the obvious twists added to the tale, I was very impressed with how historically accurate it stayed. And I Darken is a beautifully written, thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
“Well, are you ready, Lada Dragwlya, daughter of the dragon?” Fire burned in her heart, and her wounded soul spread out, casting a shadow like wings across her country. This was hers. Not because of her father. Not because of Mehmed. Because the land itself had claimed her as its own. “Not Dragwlya,” she said. “Lada Dracul. I am no longer the daughter of the dragon.” She lifted her chin, sights set on the horizon. “I am the dragon.”
Re-read: October 2019
“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?”
What if the infamous Vlad the Impaler had been a girl? Lada Dragwyla is dismissed at birth by her warlord father for her gender, but grows up unexpectedly fierce and strong, the complete opposite of her younger brother Radu. Abandoned by their father as hostages in the Ottoman court, Lada and Radu find themselves in the enemy’s den with only each other to rely on, knowing that their every move is being watched. But a chance run-in with the Sultan’s youngest son Mehmed changes everything, and the siblings unexpectedly find themselves accompanying the Prince to distant Amasya as his companions, where, far from the watchful eyes of the court, the trio grow to be firm friends. Yet, Lada has not forgotten her home and still longs for vengeance on the Ottomans, but Radu is content in this new world, feeling safe for the first time in his life.
Let me start by saying this book is completely insane and even darker than I expected, and I loved every last page of it. Now that I’ve finally got around to rereading it, I can put together this long overdue review. And I Darken is definitely not fantasy like I thought at first glance, but rather historical fiction – with one major twist. I’ve seen this concept only once before, in Laura Andersen’s The Boleyn Trilogy, and I was really intrigued to see how this story would be approached. This time period was also one I knew little about when I started the series, and I held back from doing any research until I finished reading book 2, which turned out to be a very good decision as learning the facts alongside the story through this book was a lot of fun.
I found that I appreciate this book so much more after a re-read, and even more, after having completed the series. Initially, this felt really slow-paced, and many parts of the story felt like filler, but this book contributes to helping the reader understand exactly how the three central characters develop as they grow and how they are shaped by the events of their childhood – and as such, I’m a whole lot more sympathetic towards them, particularly Radu, whom I found rather whiny on my first read. It’s impossible not to feel for Radu when he starts realizing the truth about himself.
Lada is the best anti-hero I’ve ever come across. And I Darken pulls no punches in showing us just how brutal she is, how fierce she has had to become to survive in a world of men. Radu is a truly intriguing character. Initially something of a weakling, if a rather adorable one, it was a delight to see his character grow throughout the book. Lada was always the one to protect Radu, in her own way, but as Radu finds his own footing in the Ottoman court, learning to maneuver its politics and growing more devoted to Mehmed by the day, he also starts to consider it a home, feeling safer and more content than he ever did in Wallachia.
One scene I really loved in this book was the brief encounter Lada has with the women of the Ottoman Court, where she learns for the first time, the power a Lady can wield from behind the scenes, that some battles are fought entirely off the field, and most importantly, that everything comes at a cost. I thought that this scene was very well written and an important moment for Lada, who has grown up rejecting her femininity in an attempt to gain her father’s approval.
Overall, yes, this book is slow at times, possibly even boring now and again, but it is worth pushing through those parts because once the action starts in this series, it doesn’t stop. I loved how this book (and the entire series) is based on fact, but manages to be original all the same, and despite the obvious twists added to the tale, I was very impressed with how historically accurate it stayed. And I Darken is a beautifully written, thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
“Well, are you ready, Lada Dragwlya, daughter of the dragon?” Fire burned in her heart, and her wounded soul spread out, casting a shadow like wings across her country. This was hers. Not because of her father. Not because of Mehmed. Because the land itself had claimed her as its own. “Not Dragwlya,” she said. “Lada Dracul. I am no longer the daughter of the dragon.” She lifted her chin, sights set on the horizon. “I am the dragon.”
I broke my book ban for this one! No regrets :D
Writing
I liked the writing, and some quotes are really powerful!
Story
The story is rather slow. The point is more to showcase the different culture the characters are thrown into, and to see how they evolve in that new environment. By the end, things shake up a little, and it ends with a great premise for the next book!
Characters
I’m in love with Lada and Radu. I just enjoyed everything about them, the way they interact, and how utterly terrible they are both capable of being. The characters in this book felt so real, it was amazing.
Conclusion
This is not a fast paced book, but I really appreciated the portrayal of the ottoman empire (which I honestly don’t know much about), it felt really vivid. There’s really good representation in this one, too!
Writing
I liked the writing, and some quotes are really powerful!
Story
The story is rather slow. The point is more to showcase the different culture the characters are thrown into, and to see how they evolve in that new environment. By the end, things shake up a little, and it ends with a great premise for the next book!
Characters
I’m in love with Lada and Radu. I just enjoyed everything about them, the way they interact, and how utterly terrible they are both capable of being. The characters in this book felt so real, it was amazing.
Conclusion
This is not a fast paced book, but I really appreciated the portrayal of the ottoman empire (which I honestly don’t know much about), it felt really vivid. There’s really good representation in this one, too!
It's not a bad concept; it's just not well written. Some concepts are neat, and I liked that the characters weren't typical.
“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?”
4 1/2 stars. This book is totally fucked up. In the best possible way.
Well, holy shit. Even with the positive reviews rolling in, that was completely unexpected. How do I begin to explain this vicious little nightmare of a book? All I know is: it's different to anything else I've read.
[b:And I Darken|25324111|And I Darken (Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462983948s/25324111.jpg|41682914] is dark, gritty and compelling. It pulled me into its darkness from the very first chapter and I didn't come up for air until I'd finished all 496 pages of it. It's the kind of book that is everything that hooks you, fuelling your rage and your desperate need to turn the page, whilst also being a well-written, highly-original story.
"Fantasy" is a loose term for this book. You won't find any [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335819760s/7896527.jpg|11138426]-esque heroines or magic here. It's more alternate history, set in Transylvania at the height of the Ottoman Empire (based on history, though not historically accurate), and richer, more political than typical YA fantasy. And much nastier.
As the baby latched on with surprising fierceness, the nurse offered her own prayer.
Let her be strong.
Let her be sly.
And let her be ugly.
Lada is a freaking fantastic, psychotic heroine. She is not one of those faux-antiheroines who proclaim their badassery and never do anything other than defeat the bad guys and fall in love. From the moment she is born, she is fierce, resilient and a little bit nuts. As she grows, she becomes ever more cold, cruel and calculating. She quickly recognizes what it means to be a woman in this world and she is not playing along.
“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.”
In fact, she's furious. [b:And I Darken|25324111|And I Darken (Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1462983948s/25324111.jpg|41682914] explores Lada's disdain for women and her own confused feelings over whether she should deny or defend her femininity. But don't worry, this is paired with the revelation that there are many kinds of power and women have their own ways of wielding it, biding their time and eventually getting what they want.
However, though she is fascinating, the book isn't just about Lada. The third person narrative is also about the experiences of her brother - Radu, a beautiful, delicate boy whose weakness both aggravates Lada and draws her protection. They have a complex sibling relationship, once again quite unlike anything we usually see in YA, and it is filled with frustration, jealousy and misunderstanding.
A few other things:
1) I absolutely loved this unconventional setting in Eastern Europe. It's so rare to see novels set here and I thought the author captured it perfectly.
2) I liked how the novel explored different religions and a lack of religion in a way that wasn't preachy - also very refreshing to see a non-judgmental portrayal of Islam.
3) There is no love triangle. There is a complex web of relationships that is guaranteed to get messy, but it is not a love triangle (at least not yet). I thought you might want to know because there are some LT signs early on.
I loved this book. I really did. It's a gory, horrible trek into a place inspired by gory, historical truth. Everything is intricately-woven in perfect detail, from the setting to the characters, and from the relationships to the politics. It is unlike anything Kiersten White has written before. And it is virtually unputdownable.
It's about power, and all the ways it can be gained and used. It's about women, and what it means to be a woman. And it's about fighting, every day, to be what you want.
“The sooner you stop fighting, the easier your life will be. This is what your purpose is.”
Lada stood so abruptly she nearly fell backward. “No.”
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This is the book I needed in high school. Back before I was a feminist and back when I didn’t give a shit about anything but myself. If I had had this book when I was in high school and was forced to read it for class or something, I hoped it would have opened my eyes to feminism and what sorts of power a woman could have.
I absolutely love this book and the characters. Kiersten White has such a way with creating a cast. I found that the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me to get through but it was the right way to introduce us to the three main characters. Lada, Radu, and Mehmed. Lada and Radu are the perfect example of how to form full and dynamic characters. I was blown away by them, the themes that follow their characters, and their interactions with others and each other. Best brother and sister relationship I’ve read.
As for Lada. The themes that surround her character are so important. Power. Masculinity and Femininity. Being a woman in the patriarch. I think the most important relationship, the one that really shapes Lada, is her relationship with Mehmed’s mother, Huma, who teachers her about how a woman can gain power in so many different ways than just strength and violence. I am so tired of stories that demonstrate “strong female characters” as women who bear only masculine traits or who deny femininity. I don’t think that is a good message to send. But this story explores that with both Huma, Lada, and a concubine that Lada meets named Mara. A woman can be feminine and still hold power. A woman can be intelligent and still hold power. A woman can be like Lada, fierce and powerful and violent, and still hold power. The different woman all represent a different sort of strong female character that I believe is truly important.
The LBTGQ+ themes also were a high light of the book. Radu’s ache for Mehmed is tragic and I am dying to see what happens between the two characters once we get the sequel next year. Gosh, I don’t know how I can wait that long. But I found the representation important and I’m not so secretly rooting for Radu and Mehmed.
I did have a few issues with the book. I wasn’t too big a fan of Lada and Mehmed together but I didn’t hate it. There were some pacing issues at the end I felt, and sometimes the writing felt choppy. But that really didn’t deter from how much I loved these characters, the setting, and the themes presented in this novel. I loved it. So far, this is my favorite read of 2016. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This review will include spoilers, so read at your own risk.
So..Where do I start this? I know that this review may sound repetitive and that many other people have also said the exact same thing, but really this book... How to describe this book? It's historical fiction, but without the research needed for a believable and respectful historical side. I do not understand why someone would decide to write a historical fiction book knowing they won't put in the work to make the story justice. I'm sorry to break it to you, but a few quick Google searches aren't going to cut it when you decide to start writing about historical figures - especially when it's another country's history.
That being said, I find that most of my faults with the book could have been avoided had the book been marketed as a loosely- inspired by history, fantasy book.
Let's start with the begining. Our first few scenes revolve around Lada and her brother Radu. I will point out (as plenty of other reviewers did) that Lada's name is neither a Romanian name, nor an actual female name. Even if it would have taken roughly 3 minutes to do a quick Google search and see tha Ladislav is a male name that's a variant of Vladislav, who guess what? It's actually closer to Vlad. She could have named her Vlada, Vladimira - even Vlăduța would be better for god's sake. Then, obviously to show us that Lada is such a strong, spirited young child, we need to have a scene where she thinks that her mother - who's mentioned to be a woman in her very early twenties ( if my calculations are correct she's supposed to be twenty or twenty one in chapter three, as it is mentioned that she's fifteen when she have birth to Lada but alas ) who has probably been forced to marry Lada's father and therefore, maybe not doing brilliantly mentally speaking - is worthless because she "can't help herself" and then a following one where said mother is humiliated and hurt by her husband. Lovely. I'm going to skip over the early chapters before Lada and Radu go to Edirne, because frankly they are some of the most boring chapters I've ever read and talk about the story in a more general way.
Lada. Oh, little Lada. Of course because she's so different from other girls, she immediately dislikes every female character who's feminine, the only exceptions being the older, motherly mentor figures, because how else are you supposed to show an audience that your female main character is a strong, independent girl but by putting other women down? She's also cruel and violent, which makes her soo badass.
Radu.. Radu is more likable than his sister ( not high praise considering who his sister is) but he's still a mix and match of stereotypes, who for the first three quartes of the book seemed to have the sole role of making Lada seem so cool because she's a girl and she can fight. Still, he manages to develop a bit more and actually do his own thing as the story goes on. (I don't even want to tackle the representation problem, suffice to say he's all your favourites stereotypes in one. Yippee)
Now let's move onto Mehmed. Going into this book, I expected him to be one of my favourite characters, as the real Sultan Mehmed is one of the historical figures I enjoyed reading about the most ( fun fact, I had just finished reading Roger Crowley's book, "1453" before picking this one up.) And yet.. The Mehmed we meet in the book is a mostly passive character, who's content with following others advice without a second thought, especially when it comes to Lada. Sincerely, I can hardly remember a moment in the book where we see him take control of the situation, where he's cunning or ambitious. Suffice to say, I was very disappointed by how he was portrayed in this book, as he mostly suffered from a lack of characterization and growth over the course of the story. Obviously, the fact that the author attributes some of his acts to Lada, in an effort to make her seem so cool and badass doesn't make it better.
This brings me to another one of my problems with the book : somehow, Lada and Radu are at age 13 (roughly) cunning and intelligent enough to solve complex political problems and fantastic strategist. Beg you pardon? Ah, and of course Lada is also a wonderful fighter who manages to embarrass older soldiers. This is not to say that she couldn't have been - but with the lack of scenes where she's properly training and being instructed, it seems like she's one of those characters who's immediately proficient at something just for the sake of it.
When Mehmed is named Sultan for the first time it is somehow Lada who writes to the Hungarian King, telling him that the peace treaty with the Sultan is no longer valid and he can try to take advantage of Mehmed's youth - where actually it was the Pope who told said king that he's absolved of his oath and that he's free to launch an attack. This happens again when (if I remember correctly) Lada's the one who tells Mehmed what to write to his father, borrowing his actual words :
"If you are the sultan, be at the head of our army in this difficult day for our state. However, if I am the sultan, I order you to come and command my armies immediately!"
(Taken from Mehmed's letter to his father in aprox 1444)
The last example I have is that she's the one who tells Mehmed to legalise fratricide for sultans, after Mehmed's mother drowns his younger half-brother. Listen, I understand that having your love interest plan his younger brother's untimely demise is not really swoon worthy - but really? In reality, Mehmed is the one who made it legal for the Sultans to have their brothers executed (Although he's only putting into law a practice that already existed, to the best of my limited knowledge.) and most likely the one who planned Ahmed's death.
Of course, the book ends with Lada saying for the hundredth time that she's never been happy here and hates basically everyone and Mehmed being like- cool, let me make you my representative in Wallachia. Because that's exactly what any normal leader will do, give power and resources to a person that's made it crystal clear has no love for you people or culture.
To end this already long review, I will simply say that although the general premise of the book is not bad or unimaginative, the overall executions is lacking in all aspects, with long-winded plots and unlikable characters, who are by no means even slightly accurate representations of the actual historical figures.
So..Where do I start this? I know that this review may sound repetitive and that many other people have also said the exact same thing, but really this book... How to describe this book? It's historical fiction, but without the research needed for a believable and respectful historical side. I do not understand why someone would decide to write a historical fiction book knowing they won't put in the work to make the story justice. I'm sorry to break it to you, but a few quick Google searches aren't going to cut it when you decide to start writing about historical figures - especially when it's another country's history.
That being said, I find that most of my faults with the book could have been avoided had the book been marketed as a loosely- inspired by history, fantasy book.
Let's start with the begining. Our first few scenes revolve around Lada and her brother Radu. I will point out (as plenty of other reviewers did) that Lada's name is neither a Romanian name, nor an actual female name. Even if it would have taken roughly 3 minutes to do a quick Google search and see tha Ladislav is a male name that's a variant of Vladislav, who guess what? It's actually closer to Vlad. She could have named her Vlada, Vladimira - even Vlăduța would be better for god's sake. Then, obviously to show us that Lada is such a strong, spirited young child, we need to have a scene where she thinks that her mother - who's mentioned to be a woman in her very early twenties ( if my calculations are correct she's supposed to be twenty or twenty one in chapter three, as it is mentioned that she's fifteen when she have birth to Lada but alas ) who has probably been forced to marry Lada's father and therefore, maybe not doing brilliantly mentally speaking - is worthless because she "can't help herself" and then a following one where said mother is humiliated and hurt by her husband. Lovely. I'm going to skip over the early chapters before Lada and Radu go to Edirne, because frankly they are some of the most boring chapters I've ever read and talk about the story in a more general way.
Lada. Oh, little Lada. Of course because she's so different from other girls, she immediately dislikes every female character who's feminine, the only exceptions being the older, motherly mentor figures, because how else are you supposed to show an audience that your female main character is a strong, independent girl but by putting other women down? She's also cruel and violent, which makes her soo badass.
Radu.. Radu is more likable than his sister ( not high praise considering who his sister is) but he's still a mix and match of stereotypes, who for the first three quartes of the book seemed to have the sole role of making Lada seem so cool because she's a girl and she can fight. Still, he manages to develop a bit more and actually do his own thing as the story goes on. (I don't even want to tackle the representation problem, suffice to say he's all your favourites stereotypes in one. Yippee)
Now let's move onto Mehmed. Going into this book, I expected him to be one of my favourite characters, as the real Sultan Mehmed is one of the historical figures I enjoyed reading about the most ( fun fact, I had just finished reading Roger Crowley's book, "1453" before picking this one up.) And yet.. The Mehmed we meet in the book is a mostly passive character, who's content with following others advice without a second thought, especially when it comes to Lada. Sincerely, I can hardly remember a moment in the book where we see him take control of the situation, where he's cunning or ambitious. Suffice to say, I was very disappointed by how he was portrayed in this book, as he mostly suffered from a lack of characterization and growth over the course of the story. Obviously, the fact that the author attributes some of his acts to Lada, in an effort to make her seem so cool and badass doesn't make it better.
This brings me to another one of my problems with the book : somehow, Lada and Radu are at age 13 (roughly) cunning and intelligent enough to solve complex political problems and fantastic strategist. Beg you pardon? Ah, and of course Lada is also a wonderful fighter who manages to embarrass older soldiers. This is not to say that she couldn't have been - but with the lack of scenes where she's properly training and being instructed, it seems like she's one of those characters who's immediately proficient at something just for the sake of it.
When Mehmed is named Sultan for the first time it is somehow Lada who writes to the Hungarian King, telling him that the peace treaty with the Sultan is no longer valid and he can try to take advantage of Mehmed's youth - where actually it was the Pope who told said king that he's absolved of his oath and that he's free to launch an attack. This happens again when (if I remember correctly) Lada's the one who tells Mehmed what to write to his father, borrowing his actual words :
"If you are the sultan, be at the head of our army in this difficult day for our state. However, if I am the sultan, I order you to come and command my armies immediately!"
(Taken from Mehmed's letter to his father in aprox 1444)
The last example I have is that she's the one who tells Mehmed to legalise fratricide for sultans, after Mehmed's mother drowns his younger half-brother. Listen, I understand that having your love interest plan his younger brother's untimely demise is not really swoon worthy - but really? In reality, Mehmed is the one who made it legal for the Sultans to have their brothers executed (Although he's only putting into law a practice that already existed, to the best of my limited knowledge.) and most likely the one who planned Ahmed's death.
Of course, the book ends with Lada saying for the hundredth time that she's never been happy here and hates basically everyone and Mehmed being like- cool, let me make you my representative in Wallachia. Because that's exactly what any normal leader will do, give power and resources to a person that's made it crystal clear has no love for you people or culture.
To end this already long review, I will simply say that although the general premise of the book is not bad or unimaginative, the overall executions is lacking in all aspects, with long-winded plots and unlikable characters, who are by no means even slightly accurate representations of the actual historical figures.