I had a fairly good book year in 2019 but one book stands out more clearer than the others. And that is ‘And I Darken’ by Kiersten White. ‘And I Darken’ was probably one of my greatest read in 2019. It was something special – it stood out in ways of narration, characters, plot and writing.
Title: And I Darken
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Published: June 28th 2016
Pages: 475
My Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
“Her spine was steel. Her heart was armor. Her eyes were fire.”
I thought ‘And I Darken’ was going to be a regular YA fantasy book. A thrilling mixture of action and romance, we have seen so many times before. But I was wrong.
The first thing I hadn’t seen coming was the timeline. The story starts from the beginning with the birth of Lada Dragwlya and a few years later her brother Radu. One follow their childhood in Wallachia and later in the Ottoman empire where they grow up to be new adults and fiends with the sultan’s sun Mehmed. I got so invested in the characters and their stories. You got to know them so well. You knew all their internal struggles, all their hopes, dreams and fears.
This in depths storytelling naturally affects the pace of the story. This is a “slow” read and might not be for everyone. But this slow burn made me want more!
At one point, in the beginning, I didn’t really understand where the plot was going. But one basically follows Lada and Radu’s life and the expectations and obstacles they meet. Simmering beneath the surface lies court intrigues, conspiracies, lies and betrayals.
“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.”
Lada, Radu and Mehmed are all great characters. However I must admit that Lada is my favourite even though she is quite monstrous as a young child. Lada is an utterly brutal child but she grows to be a more likeable. Speaking of likeable, Radu is probably as likeable as one might get. Radu is the exact opposite of his sisters; he is a gentle and beautiful boy.
I love how Lada and Radu’s characters and characteristics touches upon so many important themes in our society, such as gender equality, sexuality, personal freedom, family and identity. The challenges, expectations and prejudices that Lada and Radu meet really make you think more about the ways of society
One thing I loved just as much if not more, was the writing. The writing was amazing. Every word and sentence is so clever and smoothly connected. The imagery and metaphors are very original and creates a linkage through out the novel. Basically this book is a feast made of words.
I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a bit tired of the regular YA fantasy, someone who enjoys great writing and historical stories.
“There are other ways to beat someone than with fists.”
Best,
Nicoline
What was your greatest read in 2019? Have you read And I Darken? What are your thoughts? Have you read any other books by Kiersten White?
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.
Synopsis from Goodreads
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
“If you are too weak to stand being hit and too stupid to avoid it, then you deserve more pain.”
This sounds like such an interesting mix of themes. Great review!
Thank you! 🖤