Title: And I Darken (The Conquerors Saga #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Rating: ★★★½

Ever since I read an excerpt for this book, I have been dying to get my hands on it. While I wasn’t as blown by it as I was expecting, it was still an excellent book that I enjoyed a whole lot. The writing was amazing and magnetic, drawing you into the story from the first chapter. This is a fantasy book unlike any other; it was dark, suspenseful, and engaging. 

“Let her be strong. Let her be sly. And let her be ugly.”

None of the characters are likeable, but I absolutely loved Lada. She was fierce, tenacious, brave, and calculating. I admired her courage and her willingness to break through what was expected of her at the time and pursue her own wants and desires. Her relationship with her brother, Radu, was tense. We see it develop over a period of time and become full of jealousies, possessiveness, and vexation. However, beneath all that, Radu and Lada do have a sense of love for each other and desire to protect one another. I also enjoyed Lada’s relationship with Mehmed. It wasn’t rushed and felt natural. He loved her for who she was, and understood her without attempting to change her. Unfortunately, I couldn’t care for Mehmed as a character. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that annoys me about him. Some of his actions in the book bothered me. I don’t like him, but I don’t dislike him either. I really liked the dynamic relationship between Lada, Radu, and Mehmed. It’s messy and gritty and I hope it continues into the next books. 

“One future-bleak and unknowable, filled with violence and pain and struggle-unfurled before her. Another, with her brother and the man who knew her and still loved her, shone like a beacon.
And so she cut out her hear and offered it as a sacrifice. She would pay whatever price her mother Wallachia demanded.”

I think the reason I didn’t like this as much as I was expecting was because I was hoping for more action. I’m guessing that will change it the next books and I look forward to it. And I Darken is a dark, vicious book with beautiful storytelling, well-developed characters, and a fast-paced, intricate plot.