janne1999's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
charlottee96's review against another edition
4.0
Lada is one of my favourite characters. Such an interesting perspective from someone who hears the words you can’t and proves she absolutely can.
jcarvajal23's review against another edition
4.0
This book is unique, fresh, brutal, and well written. I really enjoyed reading this dark historical fiction loosely based on the Vlad the Impaler story. I love how this is strictly historical fiction and contains no fantasy (vampires, magic, monsters, etc.). The characters are fully realized and so detailed I truly felt like I was in the story. If you are looking for a truly badass heroine, look no further than Lada. She is a force of nature and such a unique character that I haven't seen before. I'm so glad there are more books.
novelheartbeat's review against another edition
DNF
This book was SO boring I just couldn't bring myself to finish. It's sad, because I usually really enjoy Kiersten White's books. I'm not sure if it was because it's Historical (which I'm pretty picky about on the very rare occasion I do pick it up), because I just wasn't in the mood to read it (I'm going to be honest, my brain is in Raven Cycle mode at the moment), or because it simply isn't for me (most likely, tbh). I made it to page 117 before giving up and skimming through the book, and there was nothing happening whatsoever. There was a lot of politics and religion, and discussions that droned on and on and on about absolutely nothing at all. The only thing that really happened was Lada beating people up. Constantly.
Spoiler
Seriously, she beat a maid to within an inch of her life because she accidentally walked in and discovered that Lada had begun menstruating.Lada was a terrible person. At first, I loved her. The beginning is good, actually. I read a couple chapters from an excerpt and that's what made me want to read this in the first place. Female version of Vlad the Impaler? Yes, please! And in the beginning, it was what I expected. Lada was a badass, unapologetic and unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself. But she took, took, took. Whatever she wanted. I don't think there was a single character introduced that wasn't threatened by Lada at some point. She was a prickly, violent, unforgiving, brutish girl; the sad part being that she was only around the age of 12. Yes, she was pitched as "ruthless" and "brutal" in the synopsis, but the ONLY redeeming quality she had was that she was protective over her brother. And even then it was almost more out of duty than love. Maybe that changes, who knows. I'm sure there's character development that I missed out on by DNFing this, but that's what I saw of her.
Radu was the exact polar opposite. He was quite possibly the weakest character I've ever read in my life. I lost count of how many times he cried. He cried for absolutely no reason at all! He was pathetic. Again, maybe I missed out on some character development, but what I saw of the two was pretty negative.
The main thing that killed this book for me was the awful pacing. If I hadn't been bored to the point of tears I probably could have overlooked the character issues in hopes that they have some sort of development. It just read like a history lesson to me, and if you love Historical you'd probably enjoy this. I can only handle Historical in very small portions and I think this one just had too much for me I'm afraid.
Spoiler
Oh, and also apparently there's a love triangle, which I didn't realize before picking it up. (Let's be honest, I saw "Vlad the Impaler as a female" and pretty much skipped the synopsis) Radu loves Mehmed, who loves Lada. No thanks...I may try to pick this one up again at a later time because I do usually like Kiersten White.
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.
snunley0621's review against another edition
4.0
this is not the kind of book i’m used to reading, but i loved it. however, i think if i had to actually sit down and read the physical book instead of listen to the audiobook, i would have lost interest a long time ago. this book is perfect for people who like books like “The Cruel Prince.” i loved the dynamic between Lada and Radu and their shared love for Mahmed. although, like with all characters, i wish they would put their pride aside and have a little bit of COMMUNICATION. i can’t wait to dive into the next one!
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This was good, but it took me some time to get into. The beginning is a bit slow. I only really started feeling invested when it skipped to when Lada and Radu were around 15-16 years old and the plot really started picking up. I'm always here for politics and scheming, so I definitely ate all of that up. Most of all, though, I got so invested in Radu. While I could've done without some of the early stuff of Radu and Lada's childhoods (and it did start to feel a lot like Radu was just constantly getting tortured, which wasn't fun for me to read through), it was necessary to get the full impact of how he grows and how, while he doesn't turn out like Lada or what his father would've wanted him to be, he's able to figure out how to use his strengths to his advantage. Like, I feel like I should've been all about Lada, and normally I identify more with female characters, but I'm just never going to be super into the character that's all about brute force and physicality and murder. And I know literally nothing about Vlad the Impaler, so the whole, "Vlad the Impaler as a teenage girl!" thing wasn't a huge draw for me on its own like it was for some people.
And I did like Lada, but Rada was what got me hooked. I did like his relationship with Lada, or at the very least, I found it interesting. I loved when he kind of revealed to her how he had started spying and using his talents to protect Mehmed, and she was kind of lost and didn't know what to do, and he had the upper hand for once.
I don't really have a handle on Mehmed yet. He's very much a spoiled prince, and that's fine, but I don't know if he's going to become more than that, or what. Radu definitely deserves better than him — Lada, too, even. So I'm definitely not shipping Lada/Mehmed at this point, and if they do end up together, there's going to need to be a lot of work done to get me to the point where I'm okay with that.
So yeah, this was interesting, and while parts of it dragged and took me awhile to get into, I ended up having a lot of feelings about Radu, and it left me eager to move on to the sequel.
And I did like Lada, but Rada was what got me hooked.
Spoiler
And his marriage!!! To the sweet girl who just wants to live happily ever after with her maid and have a sweet romance!!! Nothing better happen to either of them, okay???I don't really have a handle on Mehmed yet. He's very much a spoiled prince, and that's fine, but I don't know if he's going to become more than that, or what. Radu definitely deserves better than him — Lada, too, even. So I'm definitely not shipping Lada/Mehmed at this point, and if they do end up together, there's going to need to be a lot of work done to get me to the point where I'm okay with that.
So yeah, this was interesting, and while parts of it dragged and took me awhile to get into, I ended up having a lot of feelings about Radu, and it left me eager to move on to the sequel.
ld277's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5 Stars*
To be honest, I was looking forward to finally picking this up and I had only heard and read grave reviews about it. I wouldn't say I have been disappointed because that would be a way too strong word but rather .. left unsatisfied? I expected more and as I read page after page I hoped something would happen. But .... nothing happened? It felt like it took forever at the beginning, like it took forever during the middle and like it never wanted to come to an end at all. Getting to know Lada and Radu from their childhood on should have given me some kind of connection to them but that did not happen either. Which is ironic because my birthname is actually Lada. But I simply could not feel anything towards her - except maybe annoyance. The author wanted to be her this fierce and unapprochable person and she just ended up being too unrealistic and somehow stereotypical. The overall story took forever to establish itself and in the end nothing much happened either. I could not get behind the supposed romance of like ... anyone? Mostly I was annoyed *sigh*.
However, I will probably still pick up the second book (so I guess you won, Kiersten White) because I'm simply not the kind of person to leave things unfinished. Which is probably a dumb habit but still ...? Anyways.
To be honest, I was looking forward to finally picking this up and I had only heard and read grave reviews about it. I wouldn't say I have been disappointed because that would be a way too strong word but rather .. left unsatisfied? I expected more and as I read page after page I hoped something would happen. But .... nothing happened? It felt like it took forever at the beginning, like it took forever during the middle and like it never wanted to come to an end at all. Getting to know Lada and Radu from their childhood on should have given me some kind of connection to them but that did not happen either. Which is ironic because my birthname is actually Lada. But I simply could not feel anything towards her - except maybe annoyance. The author wanted to be her this fierce and unapprochable person and she just ended up being too unrealistic and somehow stereotypical. The overall story took forever to establish itself and in the end nothing much happened either. I could not get behind the supposed romance of like ... anyone? Mostly I was annoyed *sigh*.
However, I will probably still pick up the second book (so I guess you won, Kiersten White) because I'm simply not the kind of person to leave things unfinished. Which is probably a dumb habit but still ...? Anyways.
amynoncsi's review against another edition
5.0
Oh how I loved this book. I NEED the second book right NOW.
I don't even know how to start my review it was just so tense....
I have enjoyed this book throughout. The characters were really well written and easy to relate to. I liked how we could get to know the story from two perspectives Lada's and Radu's whom by the way are siblings.
I enjoyed the character developments they were really well done. The books was easy to read, i did really enjoy the historical background it make it more relatable and was easier to imagine it. The writing style of the book was amazing, it wasn't too descriptive (extra star for that) but it was enough for me to get the idea and crack on with it.
I am still in a kind of trance as i have just finished it and my god it was a beautiful book. I cannot but advice everyone to read this amazing book I fall so hard. I loved it. 5 star :D
I don't even know how to start my review it was just so tense....
I have enjoyed this book throughout. The characters were really well written and easy to relate to. I liked how we could get to know the story from two perspectives Lada's and Radu's whom by the way are siblings.
I enjoyed the character developments they were really well done. The books was easy to read, i did really enjoy the historical background it make it more relatable and was easier to imagine it. The writing style of the book was amazing, it wasn't too descriptive (extra star for that) but it was enough for me to get the idea and crack on with it.
I am still in a kind of trance as i have just finished it and my god it was a beautiful book. I cannot but advice everyone to read this amazing book I fall so hard. I loved it. 5 star :D