sarahbousq's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book. Wow.
I was stunned. When I started it, I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was fantasy or something. ITS NOT FANTASY. It is historical fiction. Mostly. I think people are getting confused because it doesn't read like historical fiction. It's a retelling of Vlad the Impaler's history, but as a girl. This book is so good as soon as I finished I messaged all my friends and told them to read it so I could talk about it with someone.
This story is about history. And its actually pretty accurate too, besides the gender swap of Vlad to Lada. In one of the podcasts I listened to did Vlad the Impaler, and I kept comparing the story to that, as well as wikipedia because I had to know how accurate it was.
I'm not going to lie. Some of this story was pretty slow. There were some points that I was just waiting for something to happen. It was very plot driven, but in a good way. There was war, deception, trickery, stabbing, some impaling (not very vividly described, so if you don't know what it is, please don't look it up. The podcast I mentioned before did vividly describe it and I definitely did not want to know what impaling really meant).
This is the story of how Lada and her brother, Radu, are sent to the ottoman empire as insurance that their father won't do something stupid like betray the ottoman empire. They become friends with Mehmed, who is the Sultans son, but not really in line for the throne unless something happens to his older brothers.
This book was clearly building up for the rest of the series. It was giving us this world, and the players in it. It was a lot of information packed in, but it was necessary in order for us to understand what was happening and this hugely complicated war that was going on at the time.
The characters in this story were absolutely amazing.
Lets start with Lada, shall we? Ugh. She is so vicious, its incredible. She is a badass, warrior princess with no sympathy. She is cruel, and when she was younger she was described as 'feral'. She almost reminds me of Katsa from Graceling, except without Katsa's empathy or sense of justice. Lada is completely wild, and all she wants is to go home and rule her land. She and her brother, Radu, have this crazy relationship. They love each other more than anything else, but have different ways of showing it.
Lada believes that she must stay distant from her brother, protect him by not protecting him. She thinks if others knew she loved him, they would beat him to get to her. She doesn't tell her brother any of this though, so he just thinks she is letting him get beat up because she doesn't care. It made me want to shake Radu.
Now Radu. Another character I absolutely loved. He was so precious. He was always seen as weak, especially compared to Lada. But what he lacked in strength, he made up for in looks and charm. He was described as Radu the Handsome, which was legit what he was called in real history. Amazing.
Radu kept surprising me. He was a lot stronger than Lada gave him credit for, and it shows, especially in the second half of the book. He was clever, more clever than his sister at times. Their relationship was so heartbreaking.
They are both in love with the Mehmed, Lada reluctantly and Radu fully. Mehmed loves Lada, but its a bit of a possessive kind of love that she hates. She is not a thing to be owned, as she makes clear.
There are so many more things I want to say, but I will refrain because of spoilers. Just know there were a few scenes that I almost shouted because I was so excited or mad.
I highly recommend this book, to anyone and everyone, because it is amazingly written, has strong, interesting characters, and has some plot twists even though it is historical fiction.
I was stunned. When I started it, I had no idea what it was about. I thought it was fantasy or something. ITS NOT FANTASY. It is historical fiction. Mostly. I think people are getting confused because it doesn't read like historical fiction. It's a retelling of Vlad the Impaler's history, but as a girl. This book is so good as soon as I finished I messaged all my friends and told them to read it so I could talk about it with someone.
This story is about history. And its actually pretty accurate too, besides the gender swap of Vlad to Lada. In one of the podcasts I listened to did Vlad the Impaler, and I kept comparing the story to that, as well as wikipedia because I had to know how accurate it was.
I'm not going to lie. Some of this story was pretty slow. There were some points that I was just waiting for something to happen. It was very plot driven, but in a good way. There was war, deception, trickery, stabbing, some impaling (not very vividly described, so if you don't know what it is, please don't look it up. The podcast I mentioned before did vividly describe it and I definitely did not want to know what impaling really meant).
This is the story of how Lada and her brother, Radu, are sent to the ottoman empire as insurance that their father won't do something stupid like betray the ottoman empire.
Spoiler
their father is the worst person ever and of course does lots of stupid thingsSpoiler
obviously something happens to his older brothers and he becomes sultanThis book was clearly building up for the rest of the series. It was giving us this world, and the players in it. It was a lot of information packed in, but it was necessary in order for us to understand what was happening and this hugely complicated war that was going on at the time.
The characters in this story were absolutely amazing.
Lets start with Lada, shall we? Ugh. She is so vicious, its incredible. She is a badass, warrior princess with no sympathy. She is cruel, and when she was younger she was described as 'feral'. She almost reminds me of Katsa from Graceling, except without Katsa's empathy or sense of justice. Lada is completely wild, and all she wants is to go home and rule her land. She and her brother, Radu, have this crazy relationship. They love each other more than anything else, but have different ways of showing it.
Lada believes that she must stay distant from her brother, protect him by not protecting him. She thinks if others knew she loved him, they would beat him to get to her. She doesn't tell her brother any of this though, so he just thinks she is letting him get beat up because she doesn't care. It made me want to shake Radu.
Now Radu. Another character I absolutely loved. He was so precious. He was always seen as weak, especially compared to Lada. But what he lacked in strength, he made up for in looks and charm. He was described as Radu the Handsome, which was legit what he was called in real history. Amazing.
Radu kept surprising me. He was a lot stronger than Lada gave him credit for, and it shows, especially in the second half of the book. He was clever, more clever than his sister at times. Their relationship was so heartbreaking.
They are both in love with the Mehmed, Lada reluctantly and Radu fully. Mehmed loves Lada, but its a bit of a possessive kind of love that she hates. She is not a thing to be owned, as she makes clear.
There are so many more things I want to say, but I will refrain because of spoilers. Just know there were a few scenes that I almost shouted because I was so excited or mad.
I highly recommend this book, to anyone and everyone, because it is amazingly written, has strong, interesting characters, and has some plot twists even though it is historical fiction.
kirstyreadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to netgalley and Random House Children's for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To put it simply this is a historical retelling if Vlad the Impaler (also known as Vlad Dracul, the namesake of Dracula) was born a female. Lada (Vlad) and her brother Radu grow up together in Wallachia, their father clearly favouring Lada, until they get sent off to the Ottoman Empire after a lot of political moves and betrayal. This novel follows the pair as they try to build a live for themselves in their new empire with their new found friendship with the heir to the Ottoman empire: Mehmed.
I had some really mixed feelings about this book. I was disappointed in that there was a hell of a lot less impaling than I expected, but it is the first in a trilogy and I assume there will be a lot more blood in the next instalments. It felt like a first book as well, it was quite slow and it seemed to be all about the set up. However, by the end of the book I found myself desperate for the second part so I clearly ended up liking it.
To read the rest of my review: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/and-i-darken-by-kiersten-white
To put it simply this is a historical retelling if Vlad the Impaler (also known as Vlad Dracul, the namesake of Dracula) was born a female. Lada (Vlad) and her brother Radu grow up together in Wallachia, their father clearly favouring Lada, until they get sent off to the Ottoman Empire after a lot of political moves and betrayal. This novel follows the pair as they try to build a live for themselves in their new empire with their new found friendship with the heir to the Ottoman empire: Mehmed.
I had some really mixed feelings about this book. I was disappointed in that there was a hell of a lot less impaling than I expected, but it is the first in a trilogy and I assume there will be a lot more blood in the next instalments. It felt like a first book as well, it was quite slow and it seemed to be all about the set up. However, by the end of the book I found myself desperate for the second part so I clearly ended up liking it.
To read the rest of my review: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/and-i-darken-by-kiersten-white
daybreak's review against another edition
I'm just going to give it up. I tried but couldn't get hooked.
The main problem I had was with the characters and how Lada and Radu were handled. I understand the point of foil characters but it's just too on the nose here how different brother and sister are. The way they are set up to be completely different from each other didn't feel organic. They end up feeling more like caricatures than characters. I also disliked how they went to their opposite extremes, Lada so strong, Radu so weak and pathetic, Lada completely rejecting the new setting, Radu completely embracing it etc etc.
It's not bad per se but I don't have the patience for it right now...
The main problem I had was with the characters and how Lada and Radu were handled. I understand the point of foil characters but it's just too on the nose here how different brother and sister are. The way they are set up to be completely different from each other didn't feel organic. They end up feeling more like caricatures than characters. I also disliked how they went to their opposite extremes, Lada so strong, Radu so weak and pathetic, Lada completely rejecting the new setting, Radu completely embracing it etc etc.
It's not bad per se but I don't have the patience for it right now...
laikiaroo's review against another edition
4.0
Sweeping story that avoids falling into typical YA tropes
emilykatereads's review against another edition
5.0
"If you try to keep me, I will hate you, and you will lose me forever. You already know you cannot rule me."
This book had me swooning. The romance wasn't what got me, rather Lada's strength and determination to get what she wants. That quote I started with? Not your typical romantic line to make a girl swoon, but here I am, swooning. (I mean it also takes a lot to get me to swoon over a straight relationship, so my swooning here is just more a one-sided appreciation for a strong female character not giving up what she wants because of a love interest). Enough of the word "swooning." It doesn't even feel like a word now.
Anyways, this book was filled with information and a very politically driven plot. At times when I didn't have as much time to commit to reading, it felt like it dragged a bit, but honestly I think taking away parts of this book would have taken away from the overall effect and building of the characters. There was a lot that happened to get Lada and Radu into the main plot of the story, but it was all relevant and helped build complex characters and an incredible world.
This book is an excellent example of multiple POVs done well. We got really into what was going on with both Lada and Radu and were fully immersed into the sibling dynamic between the two. This really came out with scenes such as Radu being punished by the tutor as a means to gain control over Lada, meanwhile she doesn't react so she can protect Radu and they can't have power over her. She let them hurt Radu to protect him, whereas he sees it as his sister not caring for him. And this moment is mentioned a few times throughout the book, each character having a totally different view on the moment. Poor Radu omg.
Yes I'm rating this 5-stars because I loved it and it's one of my favourite books now, but that doesn't excuse it from the few issues I had. The things I loved just outweighed the things that bugged me and I loved aspects of it so much that it deserves the 5 stars. But anyway, tbh I was expected this book/Lada to be MORE brutal. But then I remembered this is still a YA book, so I'm not too mad. There was still some great brutal moments, and the ending sets up for a potentially violent and more action-packed next book. My next issue is just the fact that Lada had a love interest, which made some parts seem quite out of character for her. My issue with this is overrided by her internal conflict over the romance and her fighting it, and then also how her brother and Wallachia still outweigh the love interest. Thank god.
"What must be sacrificed to secure a future where no one can touch you?"
All the power conflict and one-liners about power really had me thinking of that scene in season 2 of Game of Thrones with Cersei and Littlefinger and their power displays.
PS: CAN I PLS GET A SPINOFF WITH NAZIRA'S LIFE STORY?
This book had me swooning. The romance wasn't what got me, rather Lada's strength and determination to get what she wants. That quote I started with? Not your typical romantic line to make a girl swoon, but here I am, swooning. (I mean it also takes a lot to get me to swoon over a straight relationship, so my swooning here is just more a one-sided appreciation for a strong female character not giving up what she wants because of a love interest). Enough of the word "swooning." It doesn't even feel like a word now.
Anyways, this book was filled with information and a very politically driven plot. At times when I didn't have as much time to commit to reading, it felt like it dragged a bit, but honestly I think taking away parts of this book would have taken away from the overall effect and building of the characters. There was a lot that happened to get Lada and Radu into the main plot of the story, but it was all relevant and helped build complex characters and an incredible world.
This book is an excellent example of multiple POVs done well. We got really into what was going on with both Lada and Radu and were fully immersed into the sibling dynamic between the two. This really came out with scenes such as Radu being punished by the tutor as a means to gain control over Lada, meanwhile she doesn't react so she can protect Radu and they can't have power over her. She let them hurt Radu to protect him, whereas he sees it as his sister not caring for him. And this moment is mentioned a few times throughout the book, each character having a totally different view on the moment. Poor Radu omg.
Yes I'm rating this 5-stars because I loved it and it's one of my favourite books now, but that doesn't excuse it from the few issues I had. The things I loved just outweighed the things that bugged me and I loved aspects of it so much that it deserves the 5 stars. But anyway, tbh I was expected this book/Lada to be MORE brutal. But then I remembered this is still a YA book, so I'm not too mad. There was still some great brutal moments, and the ending sets up for a potentially violent and more action-packed next book. My next issue is just the fact that Lada had a love interest, which made some parts seem quite out of character for her. My issue with this is overrided by her internal conflict over the romance and her fighting it, and then also how her brother and Wallachia still outweigh the love interest. Thank god.
"What must be sacrificed to secure a future where no one can touch you?"
All the power conflict and one-liners about power really had me thinking of that scene in season 2 of Game of Thrones with Cersei and Littlefinger and their power displays.
PS: CAN I PLS GET A SPINOFF WITH NAZIRA'S LIFE STORY?
alba_marie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
"When do borders ever stay as they are? Our own people were driven from the east, fleeing destruction. They saw cities and walls, and they wanted that. So they took them. If they had not taken them, they would have died. And someone else would have come and taken them instead."
This quote pretty much sums up this book and the sentiments within held by all of the characters. Me want something so me take something. Its like all of the despicable people in the book never got past 5 years old.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I love Romania (after all, I chose to spend my honeymood there!) and have a fascination with Vlad Tepes, and the Dracula legend his legacy inspired.
I wanted to.
But I really didn't. I struggled to care about Lada. I couldn't give two sh*ts about Mehmed - I have pretty much zero respect for the raiding Ottomans. Radu was the least despicable character but he was just so whimpering and selfish... Well they were all so selfish while thinking they were so noble it was aggravating.
The childhood first half of the book was slow and hard to get into. I can't remember half the stuff that happened because it just wasn't memorable.
The second half really picked up and I flew through it in a couple of days. But though the second half was closer to 4 stars, the first half was closer to 2 stars, so I've settled somewhere I the middle.
I don't know if I will continue the series. Halfway through, it would have been a flat out no. But by the end, I was a little more invested....
I didn't realise how much of the book would be set in the Ottoman Empire, a part of history that holds no interest for me. I also mistakenly thought that when people said "female dracula" (Which I was like cool!), they meant that the book was about Elizabeth Bathory, a nobleman and prolific female serial killer, who is sometimes called a sort of female version of Dracula. I didn't realise it was a book where Vlad exists.... but is weak and pointless and his daughter is the real Tepes legacy. Meh.
Anyway, the book has high ratings and I can see why! It just didn't meet my expectations. Apparently book 2 is better and its worth holding out, so we'll see 🤷♀️
"When do borders ever stay as they are? Our own people were driven from the east, fleeing destruction. They saw cities and walls, and they wanted that. So they took them. If they had not taken them, they would have died. And someone else would have come and taken them instead."
This quote pretty much sums up this book and the sentiments within held by all of the characters. Me want something so me take something. Its like all of the despicable people in the book never got past 5 years old.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I love Romania (after all, I chose to spend my honeymood there!) and have a fascination with Vlad Tepes, and the Dracula legend his legacy inspired.
I wanted to.
But I really didn't. I struggled to care about Lada. I couldn't give two sh*ts about Mehmed - I have pretty much zero respect for the raiding Ottomans. Radu was the least despicable character but he was just so whimpering and selfish... Well they were all so selfish while thinking they were so noble it was aggravating.
The childhood first half of the book was slow and hard to get into. I can't remember half the stuff that happened because it just wasn't memorable.
The second half really picked up and I flew through it in a couple of days. But though the second half was closer to 4 stars, the first half was closer to 2 stars, so I've settled somewhere I the middle.
I don't know if I will continue the series. Halfway through, it would have been a flat out no. But by the end, I was a little more invested....
I didn't realise how much of the book would be set in the Ottoman Empire, a part of history that holds no interest for me. I also mistakenly thought that when people said "female dracula" (Which I was like cool!), they meant that the book was about Elizabeth Bathory, a nobleman and prolific female serial killer, who is sometimes called a sort of female version of Dracula. I didn't realise it was a book where Vlad exists.... but is weak and pointless and his daughter is the real Tepes legacy. Meh.
Anyway, the book has high ratings and I can see why! It just didn't meet my expectations. Apparently book 2 is better and its worth holding out, so we'll see 🤷♀️
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Death, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
curly_entropy's review
4.0
Hating knowing that it makes no sense, killing cause it is politically necessary, awkward teen years of a tomb boy with penis envy that has big boobs, choosing to ignore feelings without them becoming that messy cause it’s a waste of time. I got my Female Sith, evil cause she wants to, unlikable cause she wants to, she wants to be powerful. Of course nothing is perfect, her penis envy and the whole: you gotta be a masculine strong person to be a leader annoys me but I like Huma’s point of view and how she realizes it might be true and Radu is the other side. Even if it seems Radu’s relationship might be historically accurate and his mixed feelings are perfect, maybe the love triangle is a bit much, but I can see how it is a good way to make us see the personalities of the characters. Love Nicolai. Let’s read the next one.
haikx's review against another edition
4.0
I remember being a 12-year old guy getting into the amazing world of reading. With no friends but my books I read one of my first books and it was one written by Kiersten White. I still remember how much I loved it.
Here I am six years later, the same guy but a little bit older and ready to love this one too.
This book was so beautiful and just as good as expected by the amazing Kiersten White.
......................................................................................................
This story was so representative and emotional and yet I can’t say if I liked it or not. I enjoyed this book a lot, the characters, the world, the plot-twists, conspirations, among other amazing things as well. On the other hand, it was hard to get into the story.
When I first read the synopsis I instantly expected a badass female mc killing everybody and becoming Empress of the world. I was wrong, and that may be another reason why I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I expected.
The story is about Radu and Lada, the youngest heirs of Vlad the Conqueror who have to leave their home (Wallachia) because their half-brother put them in a difficult situation. When they arrive at the Ottoman Empire, their father, Vlad makes a peace deal, but he is asked to leave Lada and Radu there as a sign of peace. Without hesitation, he leaves and compromises the life of their two younger children who will have to endure a life of love, pain, loss, war, and condemnation while they try to make their dreams come true.
Emotional is the way this book made me feel.
Plot:
I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction and my knowledge of the empires mentioned in the book are very vague, yet I found myself invested into the story (though bored at some parts) and I even did a little research to learn more about them.
The first 100 pages were a kind of martyrdom to me, it was so difficult to be attracted by the idea of having to read the character’s childhood. However, once I caught the thread of the story I found myself even dreaming about it. I couldn’t stop reading.
Writing style:
There weren’t long descriptions, which I’m thankful for because another way this book would have been impossible to read. The dialogues are perfectly fitted to each character personalities and I liked the way Kiersten had to end each chapter and beginning the next one with the same dose of intrigue.
Worldbuilding:
I consider myself unfitted to rate this part of the book due to my lack of knowledge of the history of the Ottoman Empire.
For what I read and my own personal perception, I’d say it was utterly well done.
Characters:
Lada: she isn’t the prettiest woman in the empire, she’s ruthless, she wants to conquer, she is what Radu was expected to be and she is the one who will ruin them all.
Reading Lada was an enjoyable adventure. Throughout the book, Lada will encounter unexpected situations, will have to endure the hard work of being a woman in a world where men are the ones who have the power. Choosing alliances and deciding what is the thing she needs the most in her life, will turn Lada’s goals into an apparently impossible task and will forge a strong ruthless woman.
Radu:he’s the reason this trilogy is worth the time of everyone who reads it.
Throughout his childhood, he was seen as the coward, the useless son of a powerful man and a shame for the family. But get ready you all, because you will find out how wrong all of you were.
As an adult he isn’t the same, he has learned through secrets, through hiding and listening, and all because of love. A love that isn't reciprocated and one that will become his suffering and the cause of most of his decisions.
*I approve the love triangle in this story, it’s new and refreshing and also heartbroken.
Mehmed: Let’s pretend this little bastard doesn’t exist. I hate him. If it weren’t because of Radu, Lada and his mother, he would be no one.
P.S. I don't understand why this book isn't famous!
P.S. 2 I don't understand why the second book is so expensive!
Here I am six years later, the same guy but a little bit older and ready to love this one too.
This book was so beautiful and just as good as expected by the amazing Kiersten White.
......................................................................................................
This story was so representative and emotional and yet I can’t say if I liked it or not. I enjoyed this book a lot, the characters, the world, the plot-twists, conspirations, among other amazing things as well. On the other hand, it was hard to get into the story.
When I first read the synopsis I instantly expected a badass female mc killing everybody and becoming Empress of the world. I was wrong, and that may be another reason why I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I expected.
The story is about Radu and Lada, the youngest heirs of Vlad the Conqueror who have to leave their home (Wallachia) because their half-brother put them in a difficult situation. When they arrive at the Ottoman Empire, their father, Vlad makes a peace deal, but he is asked to leave Lada and Radu there as a sign of peace. Without hesitation, he leaves and compromises the life of their two younger children who will have to endure a life of love, pain, loss, war, and condemnation while they try to make their dreams come true.
Emotional is the way this book made me feel.
Plot:
I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction and my knowledge of the empires mentioned in the book are very vague, yet I found myself invested into the story (though bored at some parts) and I even did a little research to learn more about them.
The first 100 pages were a kind of martyrdom to me, it was so difficult to be attracted by the idea of having to read the character’s childhood. However, once I caught the thread of the story I found myself even dreaming about it. I couldn’t stop reading.
Writing style:
There weren’t long descriptions, which I’m thankful for because another way this book would have been impossible to read. The dialogues are perfectly fitted to each character personalities and I liked the way Kiersten had to end each chapter and beginning the next one with the same dose of intrigue.
Worldbuilding:
I consider myself unfitted to rate this part of the book due to my lack of knowledge of the history of the Ottoman Empire.
For what I read and my own personal perception, I’d say it was utterly well done.
Characters:
Lada: she isn’t the prettiest woman in the empire, she’s ruthless, she wants to conquer, she is what Radu was expected to be and she is the one who will ruin them all.
Reading Lada was an enjoyable adventure. Throughout the book, Lada will encounter unexpected situations, will have to endure the hard work of being a woman in a world where men are the ones who have the power. Choosing alliances and deciding what is the thing she needs the most in her life, will turn Lada’s goals into an apparently impossible task and will forge a strong ruthless woman.
Radu:he’s the reason this trilogy is worth the time of everyone who reads it.
Throughout his childhood, he was seen as the coward, the useless son of a powerful man and a shame for the family. But get ready you all, because you will find out how wrong all of you were.
As an adult he isn’t the same, he has learned through secrets, through hiding and listening, and all because of love. A love that isn't reciprocated and one that will become his suffering and the cause of most of his decisions.
*I approve the love triangle in this story, it’s new and refreshing and also heartbroken.
Mehmed: Let’s pretend this little bastard doesn’t exist. I hate him. If it weren’t because of Radu, Lada and his mother, he would be no one.
P.S. I don't understand why this book isn't famous!
P.S. 2 I don't understand why the second book is so expensive!
l_isthename's review against another edition
4.0
The suspenseful ending really had my jaw dropped. I wasn’t expecting what had happened to happen. I really enjoyed it and I definitely recommend!
kjanie's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars
I have been so torn up about whether to buy a tub of ice cream and watch chick-flicks for the rest of the day whilst crying my eyes out or write this review. In the end, I think I'm going to do both.
The nicest way to describe this book would be to say that And I Darken ripped out my heart and stomped on it over and over again, repeatedly. This was not a happy story, rather it was filled with violence, heartache and some serious denial. Plus, the messed up characters and relationships added to the turmoil. Did I mentioned that there is also a really messed up love triangle? I hope now that you understand at least a little bit of my pain. I've come to the conclusion that the only way this story can end up semi happy would be if one of the main characters died. Yeah, I know, it's a really depressing theory.
I know that everything that I have mentioned above makes it seem like I hate this book, but I really don't. If you know me you'd know that I love emotional, angst filled books that cause some serious heartache. And therefore I loved this book, through the good times and the bad.
And I Darken is made up of three main characters: Mehmed, Lada and Radu. A brief description: Lada is basically a psychopath. She is actually the definition of badass and I am actually scared of her. Radu is Lada's brother and is the exact opposite of him. He is gentle, smart and delicate. Mehmed is really hard to describe because I never really got a full understanding of his character. He is the Sultan of the empire and is Lada and Radu's friend.
Altogether these Charles's are mixed in with webs of lies, secrets, betrayal and love. These characters have the most complex and hard to comprehend relationships that I've ever read. Really, this book is one of the most complex and hard to comprehend that I've ever read.
I have been so torn up about whether to buy a tub of ice cream and watch chick-flicks for the rest of the day whilst crying my eyes out or write this review. In the end, I think I'm going to do both.
The nicest way to describe this book would be to say that And I Darken ripped out my heart and stomped on it over and over again, repeatedly. This was not a happy story, rather it was filled with violence, heartache and some serious denial. Plus, the messed up characters and relationships added to the turmoil. Did I mentioned that there is also a really messed up love triangle? I hope now that you understand at least a little bit of my pain. I've come to the conclusion that the only way this story can end up semi happy would be if one of the main characters died. Yeah, I know, it's a really depressing theory.
I know that everything that I have mentioned above makes it seem like I hate this book, but I really don't. If you know me you'd know that I love emotional, angst filled books that cause some serious heartache. And therefore I loved this book, through the good times and the bad.
And I Darken is made up of three main characters: Mehmed, Lada and Radu. A brief description: Lada is basically a psychopath. She is actually the definition of badass and I am actually scared of her. Radu is Lada's brother and is the exact opposite of him. He is gentle, smart and delicate. Mehmed is really hard to describe because I never really got a full understanding of his character. He is the Sultan of the empire and is Lada and Radu's friend.
Altogether these Charles's are mixed in with webs of lies, secrets, betrayal and love. These characters have the most complex and hard to comprehend relationships that I've ever read. Really, this book is one of the most complex and hard to comprehend that I've ever read.