And I Darken
The New York Times Bestseller! "Absolutely riveting." --Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds
This vividly rendered novel reads like HBO's Game of Thrones . . . if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. Ambitious in scope and intimate in execution, the story's atmospheric setting is rife with political intrigue, with a deftly plotted narrative driven by fiercely passionate characters and a fearsome heroine. Fans of Victoria Aveyard's THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir's AN EMBER IN THE ASHES won't want to miss this visceral, immersive, and mesmerizing novel, the first in the And I Darken series. NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets. Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who's expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he's made a true friend--and Lada wonders if she's finally found someone worthy of her passion. But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against--and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken. "A dark and twisty fantasy . . . think Game of Thrones, but with teens."--Seventeen "Sinister, suspenseful, and unapologetically feminist."--Buzzfeed "Will completely spin you into another time and place."--Bustle "Takes no prisoners, offering up brutal, emotional historical fiction."--NPR.org An ALA Rainbow List Top Ten Selection
This vividly rendered novel reads like HBO's Game of Thrones . . . if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. Ambitious in scope and intimate in execution, the story's atmospheric setting is rife with political intrigue, with a deftly plotted narrative driven by fiercely passionate characters and a fearsome heroine. Fans of Victoria Aveyard's THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir's AN EMBER IN THE ASHES won't want to miss this visceral, immersive, and mesmerizing novel, the first in the And I Darken series. NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets. Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who's expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he's made a true friend--and Lada wonders if she's finally found someone worthy of her passion. But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against--and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken. "A dark and twisty fantasy . . . think Game of Thrones, but with teens."--Seventeen "Sinister, suspenseful, and unapologetically feminist."--Buzzfeed "Will completely spin you into another time and place."--Bustle "Takes no prisoners, offering up brutal, emotional historical fiction."--NPR.org An ALA Rainbow List Top Ten Selection
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Community Reviews
For some reason I thought this was a FANTASY retelling of Vlad the Impaler. I dont know why that was in my head. I figured out there was no fantasy involved in the book but but was super confused about where Vlad was and why we were in the ottomon empire so much. It wasn't till I finished the book that I realized it was a gender-bent retelling and Lada was Vlad. I feel the confusion was entirly my own fault for going into the book with the wrong expectations. It was unexpected historical fiction. I liked the political intrigue and always enjoy that.
3.5 звезды - за длину
неровная книга. местами очень захватывающая, особенно в детстве героев, безумно их жаль. но ближе к концу начинаются провисы и пережевывание страданий. понятных, конечно, страданий, но книгу они интереснее не делают
вторую, впрочем, читать собираюсь. лада дракула - женская версия влада дракулы, obviously - отправилась захватывать валахию
а, и кстати. вот я совсем не понимаю, как можно сделать исторический ресеч - султаны мурад и мехмед, скандербег и осада круе, все балканские междусобойчики, но при этом так и не выяснить, что Ladislav это мужское имя, и девочку сделовало бы назвать Ladislava?
(про то, как яноша хуньяди назвали джон ладно уж, промолчу)
неровная книга. местами очень захватывающая, особенно в детстве героев, безумно их жаль. но ближе к концу начинаются провисы и пережевывание страданий. понятных, конечно, страданий, но книгу они интереснее не делают
вторую, впрочем, читать собираюсь. лада дракула - женская версия влада дракулы, obviously - отправилась захватывать валахию
а, и кстати. вот я совсем не понимаю, как можно сделать исторический ресеч - султаны мурад и мехмед, скандербег и осада круе, все балканские междусобойчики, но при этом так и не выяснить, что Ladislav это мужское имя, и девочку сделовало бы назвать Ladislava?
(про то, как яноша хуньяди назвали джон ладно уж, промолчу)
this was so interesting, i'm so in love with all the characters and getting to puzzle out their motivations and see how their relationships developed was just so cool! the setting was also fantastic and incredibly well researched which i loved. great book all around !!
“As I Darken” Lada and as the title suggest Darkened at the end of the book most of all. When she told the Sultan to “Make It Law.” All her killing and plotting doesn’t measure up to the grit it took to make that bold statement. That statement under immense pressure suggested she had the will to lead. She met fear with pride, and love with ego. She was able to sort threw her feelings even with the lost of her father she powered threw to the end goal; Sultan. When the current Sultan was unable to get pass the grief of loss in the moment; she did. I think thats what it means to lead. Making tough choices under pressure. The author depicted Lauda’s strength perfectly. That statement made me fall head~over~hills for Lada and thus the book.
I really enjoyed this book for my second time read. It made me tear up in a few places and to me that’s a hallmark of a fantastic book! I loved the feminism, Lada is such an amazing character and I feel like you can really understand where she’s coming from in her quest to escape the control of man ruled world and her desperate need to have something for her own. Something no one can take from her. Her brother Radu is an excellent character as well but Lada is the true star and I think her brother just serves the purpose of helping the feminist story line move forward. He’s served as a good juxtaposition to Lada’s character. He’s soft and she’s hard. They pair perfectly as brother and sister. Kiersten White writes beautifully! I gave this book a 8 though because although I do love historical fiction I prefer it to be romance. It’s not fault of the book or the authors I just would have preferred there to be a bit less politics. Lots of historical context to it. Still an amazing book!
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