Kiersten White – And I Darken

And I Darken

Author: Kiersten White
Series: The Conqueror’s Saga, Book 1
Date read: 14 May 2017
Times read: 1

Book page

I remember seeing this book on so many BookTube channels – it was in one of Owlcrate’s boxes last year and I heard so much good things about it. And I must say I was very tempted to read it as soon as I saw Bulgaria on the map. I should tell you, guys, that I’m from Bulgaria and I was excited to read YA book, including Bulgaria and East Europe territory. I’ve been obsessed with buying this book for months. But now, I’m glad that I didn’t and read it from the library.

As you can already say, I didn’t liked the book. At all. I’ve been hooked in the beginning and I started to like it, but then – they went in Edirne (Ottoman Empire) and everything felt down for me. Actually, the story is interesting in huge parts of it, but there’s some things that I’m not okay, so let’s just list them. But first of all, let me say that I know that this book is fiction, but this alternative to the history is so unrealistic, that I can’t help myself.

1. Tirgoviste – I can’t understand why the main city of Wallachia is called with the name of Bulgarian city. I saw the map and it’s not supposed to be even close.
2. The Janissaries – their whole concept seems to be so wrong. Their names, the things they do, everything. That part when Lada leads her own contingent was absolutely hilarious for me, because no Janissary would ever be under control of a woman.
3. That thing with other countries paying to Ottoman Empire to “take care” of them (Vlad leaving his own children, so he can rule Wallachia) – this is the most annoying part for me. In real history, the Ottomans are not good, like… at all. Even now, in my country we still mourn all the killed people. They had known no justice – killing not only men, but women and children. Sending Janissaries to kill their own families in order to show the sultan that they’re loyal to him. Bulgaria was under slavery for 5 centuries and we clearly remember our history.

But let me talk about the main characters.

Lada is strong heroine, yes. She grew up with hope – to be recognized and loved by her father. But she was also brutal. Kiersten White describes her mostly as masculine character and that’s because she was around men whole her life and she understand the power she can have. She have the option to switch and act as a women, but she don’t know how. Lada’s not perfect, but despite all this, she’s my favorite character from this book. She’s the one always standing behind her words.

Her brother Radu is whole other thing. He is weak, mostly feminine and so beautiful. But, oh boy, how I hated him. He was the most annoying character of them all and I really do hated him with passion. And his love for Mehmed was absolutely fake for me.

Mehmed, even though being the son of the sultan, he was the most boring characters of them all. I didn’t get him and I didn’t care for him.

About the ending:

I didn’t expected it to end like this, in this kind of cliffhanger, but this is actually plus. I wasn’t invested in main characters, but Lada and the fact that she’s back to Wallachia is the only reason for me to try and read the next book in the series. I’m masochist after all and will do my best to read it. Despite all the wrong things.

All in all, I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hated it as much, apart of Radu. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it, so consider yourself being warned!

Rating: 3/5 stars