Reviews with content warning for Violence - And I Darken

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 🤷‍♀️

Content Warnings

reka111's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

So the question becomes, Daughter of the Dragon, what will you sacrifice?

This book was brutal. But really. In the best sense of the word. This book has torn my soul, my heart, and three hundred and sixty degrees of my life as I read it. Originally, I never planned to read historical novels, but now I am here and I am proof that vows can be very broken for good. I will probably continue this habit in the future because I learn a lot from it. This book has been on TBR for almost a full year until I took the courage to read it. I admit it honestly; I saw it so long ago that I didn't even know what it was or how it got there. But before yesterday I glanced at it and its content and cover were quite enchanting, so I started it.
But evaluation of the book; Cover your eyes and shut your ears, let your instincts end you, as do Lada.
———————————————————In fact, we see Lada's life

Spoiler

as she dies in the last part

.
At the beginning of the story, we may be present at Lada's birth, Vlad (yes, Vlad, who is pulling into the stake), of course, deeply despises his daughter and wife, who has just survived the birth. Basically, I could have killed him for treating Lada and Radu's mother like an animal. A girl child was not good for anything but allies to build marriage. Lada would have to wait for her if the little girl didn't take things in her hand. Lada grows up without the love of her parents, but she has her nanny, her useless the brother the useless Radu - who always gets in trouble - and of course Bogdan (whom I hate for no reason). After gaining little attention from his father, she begins to spread her future, which does not fit into marriage to anyone. I could simply scream with joy when we finally got a protagonist who is not only self-sufficient, but not at all interested in men unless she has some benefits. After Bodgan was taken to the Ottoman Empire and Hunyadi broke into Wallachia, it seems they lost everything. This is the case for years until their father sells them to the Ottoman Empire to maintain peace. Due to his upbringing and the apparent lack of love, Lada becomes a cruel, cunning and fearless Amazon, but in the Ottoman Empire it is tamed but not lost. You can take your dragon's teeth out and it doesn't seem so frightening anymore, but you realize that you can still blow fire, which is damn hurt.
Otherwise, I couldn't like Radu as much as his sister and there is a simple reason; The love triangle that no one needed. Mehmed is about the same age as them, so he almost makes friends with them. He is the Sultan's third son and a slave mother, so he has no chance of becoming a ruler, so he is not taught it. Essentially, the first half of the book revolves around their friendship. They live and behave as children - though Lada is a little more mature. The latter further develops her combat skills and coaches with the Janissaries because she (unlike Radu) has not forgotten that they are only prisoners and not guests. Although they have both fiercely defending Mehmed from the beginning, he's lost his throne after his father's retirement because of them.

The following chapters (about 200 pages) will be played in the future, where they are "adults" or at least approaching it. The teenager Lada is desperately trying to break out of the role she has assigned and not head over. I really like in her character that she has no break point. There is always a point when the protagonist breaks and falls in, gives up. But she doesn't. She is moving forward as a huge dragon, ignoring who is in her way and what the consequences will be.

Radu is one of the Sultan's confidants and becomes a good friend, so much so that he becomes a commander. Unlike Lada, he also converts to Muslim faith. Honestly, I like the writer not turned the two religions and did not accidentally disappear any of them, both of them retaining good habits, leaving both beliefs attractive to the reader.

Radu is not the only LGBTQ + character, since his wife - this is an interest marriage - is also a lesbian. Soulmates are not always lover and they fully present this. I really like the little part they were in. In principle, they will get more roles in the following sections, which I am very pleased about. Both sibling are in love with Mehmed, but Lada alone catches his attention. Although their love does not last long and is weak enough still wonderful.

I don't really want to mention side characters, but Mara (!) - The Sultan's Harem Rag and Princess of Serbia - is one of my favorite characters and barely got a real role. Over the years, she has forged a weapon from her body and has obtained her freedom without violence. She is a believer in common sense and always deeply believes that she will return home, just like Lada. Although she does not have much power in the harem, she becomes one of the good friends - or ally - of the dragon's daughter over time.

At the end of the book, Lada is made a choice, either her home or her love, but she chooses what has always been more important to her; Wallachia.

While Radu stays with Mehmed to occupy Constantinople.

I'll tell you the truth, no matter how much I liked the characters, the story, the time, and the turns were somehow not impressed so down. The plot went well, though the beginning was very slow and groaning, but it could still be followed despite the time jumps.

Content Warnings