Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Title: And I Darken

Series: The Conquerors Saga (#1)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: June 28th, 2016

Source: ARC Received from Publisher in Exchange for an Honest Review

My Rating: 5/5   

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, who’s expected to rule a nation, 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.

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken. (Summary from Goodreads)

How do I love thee, book? Let me count the ways.

Legit though, how do I even start reviewing this beautiful, masterpiece of a book? Do I start with the captivating landscape? The slow burn plot underlying everything? Or maybe with the characters who appeared so fully formed on the page they felt more like friends? I had very high expectations for this book and it truly smashed every one of them. As soon as I turned the last page I wanted to flip back to the first and start all over again. And I Darken was spectacular. It's going to be really hard to top this book for me.

I think it's pretty well known that I'm a huge Kiersten White fan. Her books constantly offer something new and unique and her characters are always memorable. There hasn't been a single book of hers that I haven't loved fiercely. And I Darken was no exception. In fact, I think And I Darken may have become my new favourite. It was passionate and heartfelt and grand and I miss it already.

Despite my love of history, I don't read a lot of historical novels. Especially now that my reading time is so limited, I like books that instantly engage me and historical fiction usually doesn't. That was not the case for And I Darken. I was captivated by this world from the first line and was pulled along for the ride. I read this book slowly, trying to savor every word and detail. The world of White's Ottoman Empire truly came alive for me, to the point where I always felt a pang when I put the book down. Even now, I long to read more of Lada and Radu's adventures. It's going to be so hard waiting for the next volume.

Kiersten White did her research for this book and it really shows. And I Darken was rich with history and mesmerizing. I felt like I was walking the streets of Edirine or wandering the thick forests in Wallachia. There were many times where I felt a swell in my heart like this, this particular scene, vision, moment was iconic, bigger than the page. I want to go back and read them over and over again. I don't particularly want to live in this world (being a woman and all) but I felt like I got to visit it in these pages. 

Okay, I guess it's time for me to sing Lada's praises. A couple chapters into this book she literally bit a guy and barred her blood-stained teeth at another and I was instantly in love. She was cold and calculating, intelligent and fierce. Lada fought for what she wanted and didn't back down. But, she wasn't always like that. Sometimes Lada was soft, caring, a young girl struggling to hold on to her past while carving a place in this new future. Sometimes I wanted to scream at her, but most of the time I felt so proud watching her come of age. Watching her defy all the limits society tried to put on her. She is a character to remember, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Although I expected Lada to blow me away, I never saw Radu coming. Here's a tidbid of information about me: I don't read book summaries. I knew And I Darken was about a female Vlad the Impaler, written by one of my favourite authors and...that's it. I didn't even know Radu would be such a central character until I got to his chapters. And wow, did I adore him. Seriously, my heart ached for him half the time, but the other half I was just so dang proud of the man he was. I have so many Radu feelings, guys. The contrast between Lada and Radu's chapters worked marvelously. Where Lada was vicious and calculating, Radu was soft and sensitive. He used his intelligence and social skills to survive and thrive in this cruel environment. Watching him grow from scared young boy to confident young man was incredible. 

The relationship between Lada and Radu ruined me. I loved them both so much and hated when they couldn't see eye-to-eye. The bond between them was tested, twisted, pulled, and prodded constantly but it never broke. Despite everything that happened, they were still siblings, still loved each other, and still made me feel like a weepy mess, basically.

Then there was Mehmed. I won't lie, I was very skeptical of him at first. I was solidly in Lada's corner of distrust but, just like her, managed to warm up to him. The three of them together were powerful and I couldn't help but root for them.  

There was a lot of talk about the love triangle when it was first announced. I'm not anti-love triangle by any means, but sometimes I don't see the point of them. This love triangle though was so well done and really added to the tension of the story (and killed my heart just a tiny bit). There was angst and heartbreak and romance and me feeling like my heart was being slowly ripped out of my chest thanks for that Kiersten White.

Also also! There are multiple LGBT characters in And I Darken and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. They are all fully fleshed out and truly some of my favourites. I can't wait to see how White explores their narratives in the next books.

So much in this story was not cut and dry. There were shifting alliances, long-held secrets, and unexpected conflicts. The bad guys weren't always  as bad as first thought, and the good guys did some pretty bad things. I never knew what to think or who to trust and just hoped that Lada and Radu could survive this chaotic world.

And I Darken was powerful, magical, and basically everything I wanted in a book. Even weeks later, my heart tugs just thinking about it. This is one of my favourite books. Hands down. Read it, read it, read it. Do not miss this book.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Delcatore Press | Kiersten White       

Waiting On Wednesday (64): Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for!

This Week's Pick: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: September 9th, 2014

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.

Everybody who has ever talked books with me knows I am a massive Kiersten White fan. I will read absolutely anything she writes because she is an amazing and talented author. She is, in my opinion, one of the best YA writers out there. Her novels are so diverse (compare Fia from Mind Games to Evie from Paranormalcy and you'll know what I mean) and she never fails to craft a beautiful story. She's been an auto-buy author for many years now, and Illusions of Fate is no exception! Even if she wasn't an auto-buy, I would want this book! It sounds magical and mysterious and just the kind of book I love to read and I can't wait to do just that.

P.S. How wonderful is this cover? Look at how detailed it is! I can't wait for a finished copy so I can pet it. (Unless that's creepy, in which case I'll just, you know, look at it).

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)  

Review: In the Shadows by Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo

Title: In the Shadows

Authors: Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: April 29th, 2014

Source: Purchased

My Rating: 4.5/5

From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures.

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t. (Summary from Goodreads)

When I first heard about In the Shadows, I was beyond excited. I mean, it's a new Kiersten White book, so obviously I would be jumping for joy! But, it was the concept that seriously intrigued me. A story told in illustrations and writing, in YA? That's pretty much unheard of. I couldn't wait to pick it up and In the Shadows did not disappoint. 

I have to say that, despite my excitement, this book took me a bit to get into. I was mesmerized by the beautiful illustrations and very by the spooky writing, but I wasn't sure how the story was going to work. There waere a lot of characters and different scenes pictured and I wasn't sure how they were all going to fit together. That said, once I found the rhythm (about fifty pages in) I could barely put the book down! I was absolutely fascinated by every aspect of the story. 

I was blown away by Jim Di Bartolo's artwork. I had seen the little sneak peeks that had be posted, but seeing the illustrations in person was just incredible. There was so much detail, so much talent poured into those pages. The vivid scenery was gorgeous. The creepy characters were gorgeous. And the ominous vibe was almost palpable. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the artwork and found myself trying to soak in every detail. They were just simply stunning, and worked perfectly with the written story. 

Now, onto the written story! Seriously, Kiersten White? You are a GEM. A talented, incredible gem. I am constantly wowed by your writing talents and your enchanting storytelling. In the Shadows was another book added to my "awesome" column. That opening chapter was just spooky, and I was dying for more. The writing itself was so fitting of the story, and just simply amazing. I read some lines over and over and ended up bookmarking a bunch of them! And then there was the characters! I think Kiersten White is so talented, not just in In the Shadows but in all of her novels, because of her ability to create distinct and original voices while still maintaining her crazy amazing writing style. From Evie's quirky voice, to Fia's destroyed psyche, to Isadora's creative mind, White delivers again and again fresh and intriguing characters with unique perspectives. In the Shadows is no exception. Minnie obviously stole my heart right away, because who doesn't love a spunky girl? But she wasn't the only stand-out! I was dying to unravel the mystery behind Arthur, felt so much pride in Thom's fierce protectiveness, loved Charles positive attitude in the face of death, and enjoyed Cora's blooming confidence. Each character added so much to the story, and every word had me itching for more!

I was so disappointed when I turned the last page because I didn't want it to end! This book was magical, and I can't wait to go back and read it again and again. Everything came together to create one heck of a book unlike anything I've read before. This book is worth the buy, guys. And I seriously recommend you run to a bookstore and do just that!

I don't normally include book trailers, but I think you guys need a taste of In the Shadows to know exactly the fantastic-ness I'm talking about! Check out the teaser trailer below!

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters/Indigo | Goodreads | Kiersten White's Website | Jim Di Bartolo's Website 

Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Title: Mind Games

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: February 19th, 2013

Source: Borrowed ARC

My Rating: 5/5

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Um, holy cow. Like HOLY COW. THIS BOOK. 

Look, I knew I would like this book. It has a great concept, I adore Kiersten White, and it just sounds like the kind of book I would like. But, I didn't expect this. I didn't expect it to sky-rocket onto my all-time favorites list. I didn't except the characters to blow me away. I didn't expect to love it THIS MUCH. But I do, I seriously, truly, genuinely love this book. It is absolutely brilliant.

If you're thinking that this is going to be similar to Paranormalcy you are dead wrong (not that that would be a bad thing. That series rocks something fierce). This book is dark, disturbed and twisted and my goodness was it awesome. There's a bit of a foreboding air about the novel. I constantly felt on edge, waiting for everything to come crashing down.

I've said this time and time again and you'll no doubt hear it from me a million times more but I love broken, messed up characters. And Mind Games is chalk full of them. From an accidental assassin, to a blind seer, to a not-so prodigal son, the characters in this book have broken hearts and fierce wills. 

Can I just gush about my love for Fia? What a superb character! What a brilliant, beautiful, broken character. She absolutely blew me away. I felt like she reached right into my chest and stole my heart from me. She was unflinchingly honest, almost daring me to try and ignore her. She commanded the page and she moved me to tears. She was fierce firecracker, willing to push herself to the limit to help those she cared about. Entering her dark and twisted mind was a scary place and one I desperately wanted to fill with hope. One of the things I thought was so brilliant about this book was how Fia was portrayed. I have read so many books about strong female characters, fighting the good fight. About girls kicking butt with no thought about it. And that's okay. Because that makes sense for those characters. They are never completely unaffected by their actions, but it usually is not the main focal point. It's not such a huge thing. But in Mind Games, the things Fia has done, the things she's been forced to do, have permanently scarred her. She can't brush it off, she can't forget it. It pounds into her head, it breaks her down, it destroys her from the inside out. But still she fights. She still tries to do the right thing. She tries to survive in this world that has taken almost everything from her.

Her sister Annie I had mixed feelings about. I blamed her for what was going on with Fia and it infuriated me. I knew it was irrational. I knew that but it didn't stop me from being so angry with her. I wanted her to step up. To protect and help her sister. And I knew she tried to help, she tried to be strong, but it just wasn't enough. I hope to see her progress in the next installment, to really come into her own. I think I could grow to like her, and I really want to.

And with such an unconventional book, we have to have one of the most unconventional love interests. As soon as James popped onto the page, I was fascinated. Behind the confident face was a boy cracked to pieces. A boy who loved a girl just as destroyed as he was. James was complex, intriguing, captivating, and one of the most interesting characters I've read about in awhile. His banter with Fia gripped my heart, and loved them the most when they were together.

The writing at times was really frantic. Kiersten White really showed Fia's desperate and distraught state and made the reader feel exactly what Fia was feeling. My eyes were jumping across the page and my head was filling up with her destroyed voice. I couldn't pull my eyes away from the words, even as they were ripping me apart. I was so caught up in the world, and so entranced by the characters. This book absolutely messed with my mind, and I love it more than I can possibly say.

I hope you give this book a chance. I hope you love it as much as I do. It's without a doubt one of my favorite books ever. I can't wait to have my own copy and read it again and again.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Find This Book: Amazon | Chapters | Goodreads | Kiersten White's Website