And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga #1) by Kiersten White - Restarting November 4th 2021

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Review: (view spoiler)[This was one of the best books I've read this year and one of the best historical books I have ever read!

I loved how strong Lada was. She was a unique YA heroine that didn't fall prey to love in the end.

I also loved Mehmed and Radu. I felt bad for both of them though having Lada as a loved one. lol.

It took me a while to figure out that Radu loved Mehmed in a way that Mehmed would never be able to love him but in the end I think they have both tried their best to love each other as much as they can. I really like that Radu married his friend's sister for her own happiness. He is the most selfless and most selfish of the three.

Mehmed is the typical Sultan. He is both the most powerful and the least powerful man in the country. I am sad for him that Lada chose Wallachia instead of him.

I envy the authors ability to make me care for all three almost equally. I couldn't figure who I was cheering on more throughout the book.

I'm eager to see what the next book was in store! (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 5th of May 2017

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[Rebecca]

OK, I do want to do this one but I may be slow because I'm starting another one on this day as well.

[Shae]

that's ok, I am not a quick reader. I probably take roughly a week to do a book sometimes longer. I have a few running at once, so no rush!

[Michalina]

I'm going to start this book today :)

[Michalina]

25% (view spoiler)[I'm enjoying it very much so far. I love that we get chapters from perspectives of both siblings and I love how different the are from each other. I like them both for different reason. I love Radu's sensitivity and how he struggles to find his place in the world. I love how Lada is so devoted to her country and is willing to fight for her own independence.
I hope that the book will jump into future a little bit so we could see how both Radu and Lada would change over time. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

OK yes, I know I'm late but well life got in the way. Tonight I completed a mammoth task of finishing my previous buddy read and Gunslinger by Steven King and now I'm ready to start this one. I still may be the slowest reader in this buddy read but hey at least I'm trying.

[Shae]

Don't worry! I am playing catch up too and will have a few running so I'll be slow

[Rebecca]

23% (view spoiler)[ I feel like if I had the time to just sit and read this that I would devour it in a few hours but I don't have the time so am currently splitting it between the small amounts of time I am at home, my travels to and from work and the weekends.

What can I say I'm hooked, the character are magnificant except Radu who is annoying and honestly I am just loving how 'in control' Lada is trying to appear to be (or be).

I've left them currently at the two of them going off with the relative of the guy Lada was going to marry and look forward to what happens next (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

52% (view spoiler)[ I am loving this book! It is honestly excellent, gripping and a great story. I just wish I had more time to read it in one sitting but I'm struggling to find time to read at the minute.

The characters are growing but I'm still waiting for vampires, I'm not even sure if they're going to come into the book or why I think they are going to but there we go. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I'm finished and I don't think I've got enough comments on this so let me first tell you what I thought of the ending then I'll think of something else to comment. (view spoiler)[ So I honestly thought it dragged a little too long on the ending but then at about chapter 50 it was WHAM! Lada totally came into her own level of bitchy killer baddassness. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

(view spoiler)[ My main issue with this book is how selfish Lada is and how helpless Radu is and honestly I think I was hoping the two would even each other out at least a little to make two good people. But that didn't happen Lada got more and more selfish and Radu just stayed helpless and useless. I still can't wait to see what happens in the next book (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting June 16th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[TheBookHuntress]

I would love to buddy read the book with someone :)

Anyone who wants to read 'And I Darken' too??

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I was going to start today but I have about 100 pgs left in City of Glass. Want to start Monday? Someone else is supposed to be reading this with me but I haven't heard from her yet.

[Fuzaila]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "I would love to buddy read the book with someone :)

Anyone who wants to read 'And I Darken' too??"

Hey I'm in. Is it started and going?

[TheBookHuntress]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I was going to start today but I have about 100 pgs left in City of Glass. Want to start Monday? Someone else is supposed to be reading this with me but I haven't heard from her yet."

I have no problem starting on Monday cause I have a lot to do this weekend...

How many pages/chapters do we wanna read on Monday and the rest of the week then?

[TheBookHuntress]

Fuzaila wrote: "TheBookHuntress wrote: "I would love to buddy read the book with someone :)

Anyone who wants to read 'And I Darken' too??"

Hey I'm in. Is it started and going?"

Cool :) I'm looking forward to read the book with you :)

If it's ok for you I'd say we wait for Kelby to join us on Monday when she finished her current book.

[Fuzaila]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "Fuzaila wrote: "TheBookHuntress wrote: "I would love to buddy read the book with someone :)

Anyone who wants to read 'And I Darken' too??"

Hey I'm in. Is it started and going?"

Cool :) I'm looki..."

Yeah that's cool. Three is better than two anyways :)
So monday? Waiting for my first buddy read!

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

Yep, Monday is perfect! If one of you wants to look and see how many chapters there are and how long they are we can go from there!

[TheBookHuntress]

The book has 55 chapters.
As I flipped through the book the longest chapter I came across was 14 pages long.
The other chapters are mostly about 10 pages long.

[Fuzaila]

@Kelby @TheBookHuntress
So how do we do this? Starting tomorrow? Do we need to fix a schedule or something? Sorry if I seem oblivious :)

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

My only reading time is after my kids go to bed and on my lunch & breaks at work. I would be comfortable with 5 chapters a day. I'm afraid I would get behind if I tried to do anymore. What are you guys thinking?

[Fuzaila]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "My only reading time is after my kids go to bed and on my lunch & breaks at work. I would be comfortable with 5 chapters a day. I'm afraid I would get behind if I tried to do anymore. What are you ..."

Yeah I'm okay with that. Just need to finish before June for the one keyword challenge. Let's see what TheBookHuntress has to say?

[TheBookHuntress]

Five chapters a day sounds good for me :)
We would be finished in 11 days then - in time for your one keyword challenge Fuzaila.

Have a nice day and see ya tomorrow then :)
(I just realised that in two hours Monday is already here :o)

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "Five chapters a day sounds good for me :)
We would be finished in 11 days then - in time for your one keyword challenge Fuzaila.

Have a nice day and see ya tomorrow then :)
(I just realised that ..."

We have 7 hours left here!

[Fuzaila]

Hey I'm starting right niw. What about you people?

[TheBookHuntress]

What time is it when you are already starting :o

I am at work so I can't read until my break in one and a half hours.....

[Fuzaila]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "What time is it when you are already starting :o

I am at work so I can't read until my break in one and a half hours....."

Well, that was at 1.30 pm
So which country are you both? *Just to keep track of time*
And btw would you mind to share your name @TheBookHuntress ? It's a bit awkward (not to mention long) to type in chats :)

[Fuzaila]

And btw I've read the first five chapters. Besides the strange names, the writing is quite good. Enough to keep me going in a genre I'm not quite keen on.

[TheBookHuntress]

I am from Germany and my name is Selina :)
TheBookHuntress is really long to type but I like that "name" :D

So far I have read the first four chapters. After work I will read the fifth one and then tell you my thoughts on it :)

[Fuzaila]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "I am from Germany and my name is Selina :)
TheBookHuntress is really long to type but I like that "name" :D

So far I have read the first four chapters. After work I will read the fifth one and the..."

Yeah that does sound cool. I mean TheBookHuntress? What book lover wouldn't love that?!
Anyway nice to meet you Selina :)

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I am in the United States. It's only 9:22am here. I will get my reading done on my breaks and lunch and post my thoughts tonight.

[Fuzaila]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I am in the United States. It's only 9:22am here. I will get my reading done on my breaks and lunch and post my thoughts tonight."
There's a huge difference don't you think? The world is sure big! It's 8.15pm here in India.
I've read the five chapters and I think we have a good start.

[TheBookHuntress]

It's 21:45 in Germany and I just finished the fifth chapter.
The writing is fluent and I am getting used to the odd names.

I think this book will be interesting and something new from what I normally read, with Lada's personality...

It's hard to tell where it could go after five chapters.

Already looking forward to tomorrow :D

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I am curious to see how Lada's personality develops as she gets older. She is already a real spitfire so I'm sure she will only get worse. I find myself feeling sorry for Radu. I just want to hug him...LOL

[Fuzaila]

Haha why do I feel Radu's gonna grow up to be the real hero? And Lada didn't seem like a lovable protagonist at first, but after chapter 6 I'm taking back my words lol

[TheBookHuntress]

Fuzaila wrote: "Haha why do I feel Radu's gonna grow up to be the real hero? And Lada didn't seem like a lovable protagonist at first, but after chapter 6 I'm taking back my words lol"

After chapter six you know why Lada behaves the way she does and I can understand her better now.
What I am most excited about is how Radu's character will develop throughout the story...
And I always hated Mircea :/

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I am disappointed in how easily her father let Mircea run them off.

[Amanda]

I started 2 days ago. (view spoiler)[ It's sad that the one person Lada really seems to care about is snatched away from her. I wonder how this will play out. (hide spoiler)]

[TheBookHuntress]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I am disappointed in how easily her father let Mircea run them off."

After today's chapters I dislike their father even more for letting his children in the hands of the Ottomans.
I am curious how things will turn out with Mehmed and Lada.

[Fuzaila]

Amanda wrote: "I started 2 days ago. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I was just wondering the same. There's no sign of Bogdan yet. And now we are in a completely different kingdom!

[Fuzaila]

Agh! Just started chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ and I'm not sure what's going on? ?! On whose side is Lada? Am I the only to wonder if she's a traitor? (hide spoiler)]

[Fuzaila]

(view spoiler)[ Why do I have this gnawing feeling that Lada WILL have to kill Radu? She keeps insisting that if anyone does, it would be her!! And poor Radu believes her. Oh God! I so don't want to witness the sacrifice (hide spoiler)]

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I don't think she is a traitor. I think she is trying to twist the situation to where it benefits her. Helping Mehmed rise to sultan is going to be an advantage for her somehow. I just haven't figured it out yet.

[Fuzaila]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I don't think she is a traitor. I think she is trying to twist the situation to where it benefits her. Helping Mehmed rise to sultan is going to be an advantage for her somehow. I just haven't figu..."

After Chapter 20, I've no doubt she's on Mehmed's side and she isn't as dark as it seemed initially. Just fierce I guess.
It's getting all interesting by the minute and I can't wait to read more!

[TheBookHuntress]

Fuzaila wrote: "Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I don't think she is a traitor. I think she is trying to twist the situation to where it benefits her. Helping Mehmed rise to sultan is going to be an advantage for..."

Lada really cares for Mehmed and Radu and I think that is why she is so "dark" cause if anybody knows this, they could hurt them.
Just like they did with Bogdan....

[Fuzaila]

TheBookHuntress wrote: "Fuzaila wrote: "Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I don't think she is a traitor. I think she is trying to twist the situation to where it benefits her. Helping Mehmed rise to sultan is going to be ..."

Yeah, that's how it appears. Still I wish we could see more of Lada's mind. Like, actually what's going on there and not what she wants others to see. I like her character though. A complex one at that.

[Fuzaila]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[Here's when the story actually begins! Hope Mehmed doesn't get to know what really happened, though that seems inevitable. (hide spoiler)]

[Fuzaila]

Chapter 30. I'd suspected this all along!(view spoiler)[Radu is gay, and bloody in love with Mehmed! Why did this have to happen with Lada beside him!??. He'll only feel more sorry for himself. (hide spoiler)]