I was intrigued at first, but then lost interest halfway through, because the story and characters just didn‘t keep me engaged.

Gahh, I really thought this was a fantasy book! Turns out it is historical fiction, and one of the best ones I've read at that. I really loved the world-building, and the characters were some of my favorites!

It took me far, far too long to become emotionally invested in this book (the thing is basically a brick), but I am now in a glass case of emotion rooting for my girl, Lada Dracul. I’ll be honest and say that I hated the first half of this book. It was drier than the Sahara Desert, but once it hit the 50% mark, the pace seemed to pick up and things finally got interesting. Thank god.

And I Darken is a gender-swapping, historical retelling of the Prince of Wallachia, and I’m not a historian in any sense of the word but from what I’ve heard it seems pretty accurate (with its own embellishments for plot purposes of course).

If anyone walks into this thinking it’s a fantasy. Stop right there! It’s not. It’s politics from beginning to end. With plenty of stabbing, murder and volatile characters (aka my three favourite things in a book). At times, it felt too politically heavy. You spent more time trying to remember who was who and why so and so hated someone else, that you sometimes get lost along the way and don’t have a map to get back home. So to summarise: Everyone wants power. Your enemies are anyone and everyone. Trust no one.

Barring all of that, Lada Dracul is what really makes this book great. Vicious, headstrong and brilliantly complex, she does whatever the hell she wants and has no qualms about stabbing anyone that gets in her way. Basically, I loved her. The other main characters were pretty great too (you will def be invested in their outcomes by the end) but Lada was my fav. #GirlPower

All in all, don’t let the slow burn of White’s storytelling turn you away (or the fact that it’s basically 500 pages long). Keep reading! It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

This was an interesting book. Lada was a strong heroine. At first her relationship with Radu seemed strange, but then it changed. I liked the setting and Lada's full-of-life character, also Radu's thinking. My only complaint is that it was a little slow to start.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. This was a fantastic read and cannot wait for more by Kiersten White

It is dark and very brutal.
I liked the fact it wasn’t really a love story as such. I need to finish the series!

This book is so interesting and has complicated characters that are very unique and stand out against the books that I've read. 

I really liked the first half of the book but one thing that was surprising was the focus on the characters when they're younger like 30/40% of the novel was of them from birth to 12/13 years old which was surprising since it was a YA novel. I liked the main characters and their clashing personalities and their intensity in their actions. Lada stood out for me with her anger and fierceness but my favourite character was Radu because of his character development and how he turned his weakness into a strength to help with his survival. I liked the plot of the first half and how it was intriguing with the added history and new places we get introduced to. 

However I felt the second half was disappointing with it being boring and there being way to much focus on Mehmed. I literally skimmed the last 40% of the novel. Also i liked that there was Islam in a YA novel which isn't a contemporary novel and was really surprised when I first read the scenes with religion. However i felt whenever Radu mentioned religion he just repeated the same points over again and for someone (Radu) who was obviously taught a lot about the religion I thought there would be more mention of stuff not just prayer. 

Honestly I finished this novel thinking the novel was decent but writing this review mixed with the disappointing ending I don't think I actually like the book.

Loved this brilliant take on the historical tales of Dracula and his family, Lada is an antiheroine I've long awaited, wonderfully short, ballsy and kickass. So excited for the next book in the series.

There aren't many historical novels out there, and I love historical fiction. This is a retelling of a historical moment and figure Vlad the Impaler. But with a twist, Vlad is a female; Lada. We also have Radu the Handsome, more prominent figure despite history. We get the history of Wallachia, the Ottoman Empire and many others. The political aspect of this book was intriguing, albeit confusing at times, it did all make sense to an extent of my knowledge of the actual history of Vlad the Impaler, some parts where added to makes sense and it was amazing.

And I Darken is told in third person, alternating between Savage, ruthless and downright vicious Lada, and sweet, innocent, seen as weak, Radu. Their relationship was one that really touched my heart. Unconditional love, regardless of anything that may come between them, they would always choose each other and Lada will always protect what is hers! Mehmed was a great addition to the trio - in a way he balanced both Lada and Radu. His role as the Sultan's youngest, most ignored son played a great deal in this and in ways shaped the man he had become. Their friendship was so sweet and reading of their adventures was really amazing - this is what Lada and Radu deserved.

The characters development was astounding. Lada always angry at the world for what she was and what she could never achieve - reigned in her anger and put it to better use and became the strong dragon that she always was. Radu became his own person, no longer anyone's shadow - he used his ability of kindness to gain trust. Lada and Radu are like two sides of a coin - complete opposites, but you cannot have one without the other.

Kiersten has woven an amazing retelling, also showed how things where in the 1400, how females were seen and how religion played a role in everything. Islam was a prominent religion in the Ottoman Empire and it was conveyed as it is - beautiful and peaceful, and it was really lovely to read about my religion in its truest form - bringing peace and wholeness. This book has simply outdone itself and I cannot wait to read the next installment. There were so many other characters that blew me away and who I will remember; I despised Halil Pasha, the Sultan's Vizia. But other characters where amazing, Nicole, kümmel, Nazira. Can we also appreciate the fact this book has multiple LGBT characters, which was amazing to see in YA! I recommend this book to all, this historical retelling will grip you tight and show you what life was and to some extent is still like for a female, what war and battles can do to people and above all show you the extent to which a sister will go to protect the thing she loves most; her brother. And what she is willing to sacrifice for her Wallachia.

This book is basically a take on Ottoman history’s famous- Vlad Dracula. What if he was a girl? Meet Laga Dragwyla. She and her brother Radu, have been abandoned at the hands of the Ottomans, who she despises. From a very young age, we see Lada being fierce and Radu being gentle and kind, traits that are “expected” to be in the opposite genders.

Then they meet the Ottoman prince Mehmed, and as they grow up with him in the kingdom, their friendship and loyalties are constantly at peril.

PROS: So much betrayal and female badassery. Our main protagonist, Lada was not a character that bounced off of other male characters. She was just really intriguing and bitey on her own. Way ahead of her time, where men were all the rage, she makes a place for herself and not by being a pawn.

Their story as children was all fun but as they grew up the things they were dealing with were more mature and interesting to me. There was a lot of politics, history and religion and normally I stray away from books that deal with religion (especially Islam) because it’s almost always dealt with in a negative light, this book however takes a very non-biased view on it and that was refreshing.

Also, NO LOVE TRIANGLE! That deserves a whole star.

It’s a little gory and a very unconventional Young Adult novel, but I think that’s where its beauty lies. Do be aware that this is NOT a historical fiction. It’s a just a fictional take on history.

There was not a single dull moment. The plot was constantly progressing at a good pace and the characters were so beautiful and adoptable. I loved the writing style and it was overall a really good read. A series that I’m definitely going to continue.

CONS: There was a lot of focus on the love interests once they grew up and that did annoy me a little because I wasn’t really in love with Mehmed… Yikes. Also, even though we are told how fierce she is, we hardly see her kill or go to battle. I’m not saying I want her to go around killing people but I did want more action.

But that’s about all I have to complain about this book.

Final declaration: I would definitely recommend this book for mature young adults out there because this book is a breath of fresh air.

DNF at 32%
I really wanted to love this book, and I had heard SUCH great things about it, but it just wasn't one for me. I could not get into it at all and struggled to make it to this point before deciding to give up.

A historical knockout by Kiersten White. Lada Dracul is the most fierce MC you will ever meet. This book has action, adventure, amazing characters and a incredible plot that will hook you from the beginning.

I've never been much of a historical fiction reader but this book broke me out of the reading slump I was in at the time. I adored the characters and tone of the book, and it has encouraged me to do some research on what parts 'really happened'. I will be picking up the sequel. when it is released.

Literally my fave read of 2016. I adore this book. See full review on my blog (link included)