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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I am holding off on a review, because Im not yet sure how I feel.
This book was promised as a gritty sort of YA vlad the impaler story, but it is more of an epic about the life of a girl and her brother - from childhood in a wild country they love that does not love them to a much longer childhood and adulthood in an empire that steals them away to be political pawns.
I really enjoyed Lada overall, and Radu felt very real, but I have mixed feelings on the arc of this book. It felt like there was a shift around the halfway point and a lot of what I enjoyed at the start changed to a different kind of story - not bad, but less compelling (to me). It seems like the other books will continue more in line with what I hoped, so I will see them eventually, because I dont think I'll rush out to grab the sequel in any big hurry.
This book was promised as a gritty sort of YA vlad the impaler story, but it is more of an epic about the life of a girl and her brother - from childhood in a wild country they love that does not love them to a much longer childhood and adulthood in an empire that steals them away to be political pawns.
I really enjoyed Lada overall, and Radu felt very real, but I have mixed feelings on the arc of this book. It felt like there was a shift around the halfway point and a lot of what I enjoyed at the start changed to a different kind of story - not bad, but less compelling (to me). It seems like the other books will continue more in line with what I hoped, so I will see them eventually, because I dont think I'll rush out to grab the sequel in any big hurry.
This book annoyed the heck out me, yet I also managed to enjoy it greatly.
First of all, Lada, the main character in this book: she is rude, bossy, violent, emotionally unavailable, and rather narcissistic. Her decision making skills are rather inept and relationships are violent and tempestuous.
Secondly, the Islamic agenda is not shared accurately within the light of two gay characters. Islam is not accepting of the homosexual lifestyle, but one of the main characters, Radu, shares in the faith and the lifestyle. A rather inaccurate portrayal for the 15th century setting.
On a less critical note, I think this book would make a fantastic movie. This book is full of descriptive fight scenes and formidable characters. Against my annoyance, I look forward to the next installment, Now I Rise.
First of all, Lada, the main character in this book: she is rude, bossy, violent, emotionally unavailable, and rather narcissistic. Her decision making skills are rather inept and relationships are violent and tempestuous.
Secondly, the Islamic agenda is not shared accurately within the light of two gay characters. Islam is not accepting of the homosexual lifestyle, but one of the main characters, Radu, shares in the faith and the lifestyle. A rather inaccurate portrayal for the 15th century setting.
On a less critical note, I think this book would make a fantastic movie. This book is full of descriptive fight scenes and formidable characters. Against my annoyance, I look forward to the next installment, Now I Rise.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Read for the Quarterly Book Club: Historical Fiction Quarter.
This has got to be one of my favourite books this year. It's heroine is perfectly antihero. It's beautiful in all its bluntness.
I loved it.
Lada was so startlingly awful, in a totally lovable way, I didn't expect it, but most certainly loved it. As one of the main focus points, she definitely caught my attention. She loves herself more than she loves anyone else. She's brutal. She's cruel. And she's almost not afraid. I think I love that there is a love interest in this book, but it's not focussed on it. Yet he is definitely a significant part of Lada's development. So Lada. I read this book for Lada.
Mehmed, interesting but I think other than as a sun, he's not quite as interesting as Lada - yet.
In fact, Radu was interesting. Not as much as Lada, but I could feel his character well through the pages. Unlike his sister, he's beautiful, and not half as strong. But as the book goes on, we see that Radu's strength is not in beating other people up or brutally telling them otherwise, but in taming the Court, and gossip gathering. He's clever in that way that Lada is not. And his loves and hates throughout this book is almost as strong as Lada's.
A more thorough review later!
Read for the Quarterly Book Club: Historical Fiction Quarter.
This has got to be one of my favourite books this year. It's heroine is perfectly antihero. It's beautiful in all its bluntness.
I loved it.
Lada was so startlingly awful, in a totally lovable way, I didn't expect it, but most certainly loved it. As one of the main focus points, she definitely caught my attention. She loves herself more than she loves anyone else. She's brutal. She's cruel. And she's almost not afraid. I think I love that there is a love interest in this book, but it's not focussed on it. Yet he is definitely a significant part of Lada's development. So Lada. I read this book for Lada.
Mehmed, interesting but I think other than as a sun, he's not quite as interesting as Lada - yet.
In fact, Radu was interesting. Not as much as Lada, but I could feel his character well through the pages. Unlike his sister, he's beautiful, and not half as strong. But as the book goes on, we see that Radu's strength is not in beating other people up or brutally telling them otherwise, but in taming the Court, and gossip gathering. He's clever in that way that Lada is not. And his loves and hates throughout this book is almost as strong as Lada's.
A more thorough review later!
something about this book didnt work for me. i wish i knew what it was.
For my current dislike of fantasy books this has been on my tbr for a while and I am so happy I read it ...I’d say it’s slightly more than 3 stars though I loved Radu for some reason, his moral dilemmas were so enlightening . And Lada was written so empowering ...strong females are always a fun read ...
✨ Read for the 2018 Madcap MacHalo Fantabulous Bookish Challenge Extravaganza (MMFBCE™) Challenge over at the MacHalos - 1. Warriors & Legends ✨
Started this a little before Xmas of 2018, read up to 25% on the spot, put it down and never touched it again besides to clean under it. It didn't really capture me then and it's not capturing me right now. Maybe I'll return one day..
DNF @ P122 (25% - Ch.16)
Started this a little before Xmas of 2018, read up to 25% on the spot, put it down and never touched it again besides to clean under it. It didn't really capture me then and it's not capturing me right now. Maybe I'll return one day..
(for Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine, I gave this three stars)
This series starter is slow to get going, and readers may find themselves struggling to continue as the story and relationships develop. Those who pursue it to the end, though, will find an action-packed finish with unpredictable results.
As the unwanted daughter of Vlad Dracul in 16th century Transylvania, Lada has grown into adolescence determined to be fiercer than any boy, protecting as well as tormenting her weaker brother Radu. When the two are sent to the Ottoman Empire in a political trade, they develop a friendship with the sultan’s son, Mehmed, eventually complicating their own relationship and leading to impossible decisions when jealousy and treachery threaten the empire, Mehmed’s succession — and his life. (DELACORTE, Jul., 496 pp., $18.99, ISBN: 9780553522310, HC, 12 & Up)
- See more at: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/and-i-darken#sthash.6DyJpscX.dpuf
This series starter is slow to get going, and readers may find themselves struggling to continue as the story and relationships develop. Those who pursue it to the end, though, will find an action-packed finish with unpredictable results.
As the unwanted daughter of Vlad Dracul in 16th century Transylvania, Lada has grown into adolescence determined to be fiercer than any boy, protecting as well as tormenting her weaker brother Radu. When the two are sent to the Ottoman Empire in a political trade, they develop a friendship with the sultan’s son, Mehmed, eventually complicating their own relationship and leading to impossible decisions when jealousy and treachery threaten the empire, Mehmed’s succession — and his life. (DELACORTE, Jul., 496 pp., $18.99, ISBN: 9780553522310, HC, 12 & Up)
- See more at: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/and-i-darken#sthash.6DyJpscX.dpuf