Katherine Harbour's Blog - Posts Tagged "medieval"

And I Darken
A fictional historical fantasy set during the time of turmoil between Transylvania and the Ottoman Empire.
Radu and Lada are the son and daughter of Vlad Dracul, who ignores his youngest, Radu, in favor of his fierce daughter, Lada. This has an impact on both of them. When they are kept in the Ottoman court as hostages and threatened daily with terrible cruelty, it is Lada who becomes dark and ruthless, and Radu who begins to use charm and cleverness.
When they meat Mehmed, the handsome, devout, and charismatic son of the sultan, the three instantly become friends. Mehmed takes them away from his father's dangerous manipulations and the three mature together. Their chemistry as they negotiate the intrigues of the Ottoman court is complicated, especially with Lada's determination to become a warrior, the existence of Mehmed's harem, and Radu's realization that he's in love with Mehmed.
This is YA at its best-- character-driven, the world beautifully detailed, with a complex story inspired by history. It could just as easily be in the fantasy/SF section of a bookstore. For any fans of Judith Tarr, Sarah Maass, and Laini Taylor.