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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Loved Radu! The beginning is pretty slow and I put it down several times, but stick with it. The rest is well worth it. (really a 4.5/5)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I admit to buying the hardback last year based solely on the gorgeous cover. It's been sitting on my shelf all this time, but I decided to listen to it after noticing it audio Overdrive. My knowledge on the Ottoman Empire to limited to countless years ago during undergrad days, so the historical piece felt new and interesting. There's extensive character development and world-building, but the payoff is priceless.
Lada is a fascinating character. She is so fierce and flawed, but it made my only love her more. My heart constantly ached for sweet Radu and his endless quest to just be loved. I admit to despising Mehmed about the 50% mark and don't believe that opinion will ever change. However, the sultan and political aspect fascinated though me because it contrast from own logics. I cannot wait to start the next installment. This is intense and slow building storyline, but I definitely recommend it!
Audio Notes - Fiona Hardingham is phenomenal. If I had read this, I don't think it would have been as compelling as it listening to it. I highly recommend this one via audio!
Lada is a fascinating character. She is so fierce and flawed, but it made my only love her more. My heart constantly ached for sweet Radu and his endless quest to just be loved. I admit to despising Mehmed about the 50% mark and don't believe that opinion will ever change. However, the sultan and political aspect fascinated though me because it contrast from own logics. I cannot wait to start the next installment. This is intense and slow building storyline, but I definitely recommend it!
Audio Notes - Fiona Hardingham is phenomenal. If I had read this, I don't think it would have been as compelling as it listening to it. I highly recommend this one via audio!
Holy hell I love this book.
Seriously, there are no words to describe my awe at Lada and Radu's intelligence and my respect for the author for writing such intricate details that made the characters, the relationships, and the plot hit just right. I loved how the two main characters were each so accomplished from the outside, yet so jealous of each other for respective things, and always considered themselves inferior to the other. The dynamic felt very raw and real, and I loved how at the end of the day, the siblings always chose each other.
That said, I want to talk about the characters again. Lada was wild and crazy and ferocious, but I loved her for it. She was crazy intelligence and not afraid to do whatever was needed to reach her goals, blending the lines of morality in the process. She was "not like other girls" in the literal sense, but yet still could respect and uplift other women. But even then, she wasn't a slab of stone; her frustrations and feelings made her very relatable, and at the end of the day, she's still a brilliant strong female character.
Radu, on the other hand, might be my favorite character in the series (okay nevermind, he's tied with Lada, but the fact that I root for both of them equally really showcases the author's skills). I loved his character arc going from a weak neglected little boy to carving out a life for himself in the Ottoman Court, making himself indispensable through court intrigue and soft politics, rather than through Lada's physical strength and brute force. The only qualm I have about his character is his incessant pining for Mehmed, but then again, every character needs a weakness.
PS: I loved the abundance of historical facts! I've read some comments about how there are many small errors, but honestly, as I'm not very familiar with this part of history, I just enjoyed the setting. The only sad part was that I was listening to the audiobook, so a bunch of the time I understood the pronunciation but was not able to connect the sound to the word :(
PPS: I kind of get why they love Mehmed, but kind of don't...especially on Radu's end. However, I do think the author made a right choice by placing two scenes in the book:, that showcases how despite their love for him, he was never the thing they valued most. That was a damn good choice and I would've been very angry if the author did the opposite :)
In conclusion: solid 4.5 stars. The only thing stopping this book from becoming a 5 star read is that something needs to hit in the next two books. Despite the addictive quality and good content, something is not there and I am not obsessed yet. I eagerly await for the sequel.
Seriously, there are no words to describe my awe at Lada and Radu's intelligence and my respect for the author for writing such intricate details that made the characters, the relationships, and the plot hit just right. I loved how the two main characters were each so accomplished from the outside, yet so jealous of each other for respective things, and always considered themselves inferior to the other. The dynamic felt very raw and real, and I loved how at the end of the day, the siblings always chose each other.
That said, I want to talk about the characters again. Lada was wild and crazy and ferocious, but I loved her for it. She was crazy intelligence and not afraid to do whatever was needed to reach her goals, blending the lines of morality in the process. She was "not like other girls" in the literal sense, but yet still could respect and uplift other women. But even then, she wasn't a slab of stone; her frustrations and feelings made her very relatable, and at the end of the day, she's still a brilliant strong female character.
Radu, on the other hand, might be my favorite character in the series (okay nevermind, he's tied with Lada, but the fact that I root for both of them equally really showcases the author's skills). I loved his character arc going from a weak neglected little boy to carving out a life for himself in the Ottoman Court, making himself indispensable through court intrigue and soft politics, rather than through Lada's physical strength and brute force. The only qualm I have about his character is his incessant pining for Mehmed, but then again, every character needs a weakness.
PS: I loved the abundance of historical facts! I've read some comments about how there are many small errors, but honestly, as I'm not very familiar with this part of history, I just enjoyed the setting. The only sad part was that I was listening to the audiobook, so a bunch of the time I understood the pronunciation but was not able to connect the sound to the word :(
PPS: I kind of get why they love Mehmed, but kind of don't...especially on Radu's end. However, I do think the author made a right choice by placing two scenes in the book:
Spoiler
Radu saving his sister before Mehmed, and Lada leaving Mehmed for WallachiaIn conclusion: solid 4.5 stars. The only thing stopping this book from becoming a 5 star read is that something needs to hit in the next two books. Despite the addictive quality and good content, something is not there and I am not obsessed yet. I eagerly await for the sequel.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Started so strong and then got very monotonous...
I like the idea of this YA alternative history about the young life of a female Vlad the Impaler, but the plot throughout this first volume hasn't gripped me just yet. Although Lada and her brother are captives of the Ottoman sultan, most of the drama stems from the personal stakes of their shared feelings for his heir, a messy love triangle that's weakened by the prince's bland characterization. The narrative tells us again and again that he is their friend and later the object of their attraction, but I feel as though we are rarely shown why in any particular detail.
I may read further in this trilogy if my library acquires the sequels, yet for now I'm wishing that author Kiersten White had stuck to her usual fantasy genre. I realize that Bram Stoker's supernatural invention of Count Dracula is nothing like the historical figure, but a few well-placed vampires could really have spiced this novel up.
[Content warning for sexual assault and infanticide]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
I may read further in this trilogy if my library acquires the sequels, yet for now I'm wishing that author Kiersten White had stuck to her usual fantasy genre. I realize that Bram Stoker's supernatural invention of Count Dracula is nothing like the historical figure, but a few well-placed vampires could really have spiced this novel up.
[Content warning for sexual assault and infanticide]
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
Mixed feelings.... 3.5?
got bored in the middle, but I endured and the rest was okay. I couldn’t stand Lada for most of it, but I would die for Radu. I enjoyed it a lot in the end, might pick up the sequel.
Before picking it up, please be aware that many people that are from where this story takes place find this to be almost offensive in its inaccuracy, so if you care about that you’re free to look at the one star reviews in this site.
got bored in the middle, but I endured and the rest was okay. I couldn’t stand Lada for most of it, but I would die for Radu. I enjoyed it a lot in the end, might pick up the sequel.
Before picking it up, please be aware that many people that are from where this story takes place find this to be almost offensive in its inaccuracy, so if you care about that you’re free to look at the one star reviews in this site.
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes