Stabby, Stabby Sword Fights – And I Darken Book Review

Title: And I Darken

Author: Kiersten White

Blurb (GR): 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, 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.

What can I write in the Plot section when there was no plot. This was like a dry, crusty piece of bread. A book when you have no idea of what’s going on.

It just explained to us what alliances got broken, who tries to murder who, who loves who. And ugh I cannot write a thorough review, because this book was not in any sense thorough. If I wanted to know more about kingdoms, and war I would’ve chosen this book. But I wanted at action-adventure book. Not a guide to politics!

While it did revolve Radu, and Lada’s life story (which was filled with what one might call action-adventure, bt what I found totally boring), I wish it revolved more about other characters like Mehmed. What did he feel about this. How did he feel about taking over the throne at age 13.

The romance was okay. It revolved around Mehmed. Radu loves Mehmed. Lada loves Mehmed. Mehmed loves Mehmed. I love Mehmed. We all love Mehemed. What I don’t like is how long, and predictable this was. It took Lada so loooonng to love Mehmed back (emphasis on back). But we all knew they were soul mates from the start!

 

Lada- I expected to like her. She was kick-ass, violent. Very violent.

“On our wedding night,” she said, “I will cut out your tongue and swallow it. Then both tongues that spoke our marriage vows will belong to me, and I will be wed only to myself. You will most likely choke to death on your own blood, which will be unfortunate, but I will be both husband and wife and therefore not a widow to be pitied.”

*Claps*

But she was just to angry, and foolish. She’s always like Wallachia this, Wallachia that. Like girl, GET OVER IT. You country is basically a wasteland, your father hates you, and you still want to back there? Of course you do because that’s #LadaLogic (I’m going to use this every time it reminds me of Lada’s way of thinking)

Radu – Oh he was a sweet one! He’s like the baby of the threesome (like The Golden Trio, but twisted) But he kinda got on my nerves because he was babyish. So of course, he goes through extreme character development, and becomes the smart, and cunning, and extremely handsome…

Mehmed- He was okay as a character, and love interest for Lada. I really want to know more about him though. From what I read wasn’t enough. I WANT TO KNOW MORE!!

 

It was dark. And thrilling, and sinister. It all seems to flow. Most of the time it’s told through Radu, and Lada’s P.O.V.