Hello there guys!!
A new week is here and lucky me is starting it with a day off! Quite fantastic to have a day to recover and unpack after my trip before going back to work!
For this week's Mark This Book Monday I have an ARC review and being approved for this one on Netgalley really made my day! It's the first book in a new series that as soon as I heard about, I knew I HAD to read it!
As an eARC it counts towards my NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge and will help maintain my over 80% ratio on NG!
And I Darken by Kiersten White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
From the very first time that I heard about this book I knew it was going to be a Pili book. It's historical fiction and a retelling with a gender bender protagonits, based on Vlad the Impaler (in case you don't know, he's the historical figure Dracula was inspired on) and it's written by Kiersten White.
And the book really didn't disappoint at all! The beginning felt a lil slow, since we're dealing with Lada (our female Vlad) and her brother Radu's childhoods. It might have been a bit slow but it was quite important to build up them as characters from the very beginning, and that's what Kiersten did here. The pacing might have felt a bit uneven here and there because of that, but she crafted and developed the characters superbly!
The relationships between Radu and Lada, their father and older brother, and later on with Mehmed and those they meet at the sultan's court are built so well and in such a complex weblike way. The complexity of human relationships overlap with political manouvering and plotting.
Many facets of the characters are explored, like sexuality and gender expectations and power and religion and the sense of belonging with someone or somewhere. It is a character driven novel and as such although the plot is also fantastic and it's making progress through Lada's life to show us how she arrives to be person that made the history books (alas, as a dude), the main focus is always on the characters' journey and development and their changing relationships.
I'm already in love with this series, and it's just the first book! I'm confident I will love each coming book even more because even if they will get more brutal as Lada herself does, fighting for what she wants more than anything, her Wallachia, no matter what heartache she has to leave behind, the more I'm sure to enjoy them. So very much deserved 4 stars for this fantastic first book!
A new week is here and lucky me is starting it with a day off! Quite fantastic to have a day to recover and unpack after my trip before going back to work!
For this week's Mark This Book Monday I have an ARC review and being approved for this one on Netgalley really made my day! It's the first book in a new series that as soon as I heard about, I knew I HAD to read it!
As an eARC it counts towards my NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge and will help maintain my over 80% ratio on NG!
And I Darken by Kiersten WhiteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
From the very first time that I heard about this book I knew it was going to be a Pili book. It's historical fiction and a retelling with a gender bender protagonits, based on Vlad the Impaler (in case you don't know, he's the historical figure Dracula was inspired on) and it's written by Kiersten White.
And the book really didn't disappoint at all! The beginning felt a lil slow, since we're dealing with Lada (our female Vlad) and her brother Radu's childhoods. It might have been a bit slow but it was quite important to build up them as characters from the very beginning, and that's what Kiersten did here. The pacing might have felt a bit uneven here and there because of that, but she crafted and developed the characters superbly!
The relationships between Radu and Lada, their father and older brother, and later on with Mehmed and those they meet at the sultan's court are built so well and in such a complex weblike way. The complexity of human relationships overlap with political manouvering and plotting.
Many facets of the characters are explored, like sexuality and gender expectations and power and religion and the sense of belonging with someone or somewhere. It is a character driven novel and as such although the plot is also fantastic and it's making progress through Lada's life to show us how she arrives to be person that made the history books (alas, as a dude), the main focus is always on the characters' journey and development and their changing relationships.
I'm already in love with this series, and it's just the first book! I'm confident I will love each coming book even more because even if they will get more brutal as Lada herself does, fighting for what she wants more than anything, her Wallachia, no matter what heartache she has to leave behind, the more I'm sure to enjoy them. So very much deserved 4 stars for this fantastic first book!
I am looking forward to reading this! Thanks for the review. Are you going to do a Rome trip recap on the blog?
ReplyDeleteI think so! Probably Friday or Saturday...
DeleteI had such a difficult time finishing this, but not because I didn't like it. It was just too intense, too painful, too much! I had to take breaks often or I would have died. But Kiersten is made of magic. I can't wait for everyone else to read this, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was so intense, you need to take breaks!
DeleteDoes their childhood take up a portion of the book? I'm impatient lol.. But I love the sound of this one! Definitely going to be keeping an eye out for it :D
ReplyDeleteYeah, they're childhood is like one quarter of the book...
DeleteI'm reading this right now so it's really great to hear that you liked it a lot. I definitely hear you on the beginning being a little slow. I'm liking it but it's not totally capturing my interest. I'm just getting into the stuff with Mehmed though so I'm hoping it will pick up soon. Great review!
ReplyDeleteCassi @ My Thoughts Literally
It's very much character driven! I do hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
DeleteYaaassss, I liked this book a lot too! It was more of a 3.5-star-read for me, but I rounded up. I was taken aback by how much time was spent during Lada and her brother's childhood! But I love that White did that, it makes sense and really aided the story. Biggest negative for me though - the love triangle. Also, harems/babies (though historically speaking, that is a very authentic part of the book). Blergh. BUT a great story, and I must keep reading the series! :D
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Pili. <3
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Yeah, the beginning felt a bit slow but it really helped define them as characters too!
DeleteGah, you get to have so many trips :) So jealous, lol. <3 And ee, lovely review Pili :D It was a four star for me too. I also liked it oh so much. Thank you for sharing your awesome thoughts about it :)
ReplyDelete