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

[Amanda]

Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[ Lada believes she always knows best, but things always go wrong. I hope Mehmed doesn't realize her betrayal, even if she meant if for the best. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Chapter 36: (view spoiler)[ It seems Radu has more leadership skills than Lada or Mehmed. Not sure how Radu leading a group of men will workout. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End: (view spoiler)[ Wow, I did not expect that turn off events! I believe that the second son of Mehmed is what truly what pushed Lada over the edge. Can't wait to see what comes of Lada and Radu. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I need to catch up! My daughter had a softball tournament this weekend and I didn't get my reading in! I will try to get as far as I can tonight.

[Fuzaila]

Kelby (Toes In the Sand) wrote: "I need to catch up! My daughter had a softball tournament this weekend and I didn't get my reading in! I will try to get as far as I can tonight."

Yeah, same here. With Eid and all, been a little busy.!

[Fuzaila]

Chapter 45 (view spoiler)[ So Mehmed is back to the throne. Lada and Radu aren't so much as looking at each other. And the romance seems non-existent if it is even there. I wonder what Halil Pasha has in mind though. (hide spoiler)]

[Fuzaila]

I couldn't wait, I'm sorry. Finished (view spoiler)[ Lada is finally back to Wallachia, away from Mehmed, as I hoped! And Radu, is staying but I still can't understand why he chose to (hide spoiler)]

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I should be able to finish up today!!! Only 53 pages left!

[TheBookHuntress]

I finished it yesterday :)
(view spoiler)[I do not understand why Radu want's to stay in Edirne when he knows he can never have Mehmed's love...
And I wonder what Lada will do, now that she is in Wallachia again... (hide spoiler)]

[Kelby *TwistedCactusReads*]

I will still pick up the sequel because I want to know how Lada will rule and what will happen. Radu needs to find his own way and stop living in everyone else's shadow. He will never have Mehmed so he needs to create a new happiness for himself. I see him as weak and an afterthought. I didn't care for his character too much.

[Abi]

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Reading from the 2nd of July 2017

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[Keyona]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[So far this is a nice change from the normal princess story. I like Lada even though she's a hard ass. Do you think Radu will turn out to be gay? I do like him. Even though he's not as tough as the rest of his family he does have strength in other ways. I can't believe Mircea is about to get away with his plans. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[
I find the fathers diatance so strange, but I am guessing that was the custom of the time. I wonder how Radu would be different if he had a stronger and more interactive relationship with his father. It seems all he craves is approval but is never really able to get that, which is why he's such a cry baby. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 21
(view spoiler)[
Well, that escalated quickly. I expected it based off of the comments and general unease from the Janissary. I don't really understand the sultan being retired and being called to war but then getting put back into retirement? It's confusing. Sucks they won't give Mehmed a chance, but is he a good leader? (hide spoiler)]

[Keyona]

Ariel wrote: "Chapter 21

(view spoiler)[Well, that escalated quickly. I expected it based off of the comments and general unease from the Janissary. I don't really understand the sultan being retired and being called to war ..." (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[Basically Mehmed only forced him out of retirement to fight since he's now sultan and can make people do things. If the father had refused him that would mean he's sultan again. Either way it was a win win situation for Mehmed. (hide spoiler)]

[Keyona]

Chapter 36 (view spoiler)[I like where this is going. Lada has finally found a place for herself commanding her own little army. For awhile it's like she's just been floating around pining after Mehmed but having no real purpose. I love that Radu is now a man of importance as I always knew he would be. I suppose good looks and charm can get you quite far. I'm very curious to see how he will get rid of Halil as Huma requests. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 31
(view spoiler)[
Finally the truth, it was almost painfully slow. I mean, I think it was very predictable that Radu is gay and in love with Mehmed. I wonder how this will pan out. I feel very bad for Lada, because she is physically unattractive and has a harsh personality I'm sure it would be difficult for her to connect with anyone who hasn't known her for a long time. (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
Finally she is going home. I definitely expected Bogdan to pop up again and I wonder if there will be a bit of romance between the two in the next book. I wasn't sad that Mehmed and Lada "broke up". I'm not exactly sure why. (hide spoiler)]

[Keyona]

Chapter 46 (view spoiler)[I knew Nazira was fooling around with her maid! Her and Radu have the perfect setup here. Apparently Radu's being gay is very apparent to everyone except Mehmed. (hide spoiler)]

[Keyona]

Finished (view spoiler)[I'm also not surprised that Bogdan showed up. Something tells me he's definitely not the same guy Lada knew. I did think he'd have a bigger impact than he did when he did show up. The middle was quite slow once Radu went to war. I'm glad Lada is finally home. It should be nonstop action now. I am anticipating the next book. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Starting now because I'm behind in life.

[Keyona]

Alley wrote: "Starting now because I'm behind in life."
LOL I just died laughing at this! I feel the same way sometimes.

[Alley]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[I wonder if Costin made it out or not. Regardless, I love the relationship that Lana and Radu have. It's so love/hate, and I think it's probably a pretty legitimate sibling relationship. I wonder how the whole thing with Bogdan will hold up. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Chapter 30
(view spoiler)[ Well this is probably the most interesting love triangle in YA ever. (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Chapter 46
(view spoiler)[Radu and Nazira's marriage is the cutest thing ever. O.O (hide spoiler)]

[Alley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[The book made way more sense after reading the author's note. It also became way more interesting. I'm excited to read the second book even though I feel like the first book kind of dragged quite a bit.

I love how the story made Radu out to be this innocent little boy, but he turned into a manipulative snake.
(hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 26th of July 2017

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[Ashleigh]

Chapter 7

(view spoiler)[Loving this book so far. Lada is such a little badass, and I love that she fears no-one, except maybe her father. I feel a bit sorry for Radu. Not everyone can be born a fierce fighter, but I have a feeling he will come into his own and we'll find out that he's got something that can help Lada in her quest for power (hide spoiler)]

I know this book was inspired by Vlad the Impaler, and I know of his infamous deeds, but I don't know a lot about the history and politics that were happening around this time. Should I have read up on that before starting the book?

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[ Is Lada gonna be Vlad the Impaler? I think she is based on her reaction to the impaling of the criminals. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Chapter 21

(view spoiler)[I'm quite surprised at how much I'm liking this book. I think there may be a hint of romance blossoming between Lada and Mehmed. Well, until the Janissaries tried to assassinate Mehmed. I'm shocked. I know they weren't keen on him, but I didn't think one of them would try to kill him. Question is: who ordered it? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Book Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow, about 70% in, I thought it was getting a bit slow, and then towards the end, it all kicked off. As much as I love Radu, I really like Lada and Mehmed together. And now she's gone off to be 'prince' of Wallachia. Gonna have after to pick up book 2. (hide spoiler)]

[San]

Sorry, I was busy and I started it today.
Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[ I am not sure about this book yet. It feels so flat and I am waiting for more plot. Even if there was so much happening, I don't feel interested. (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 17th of October 2017

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[Rae]

Joining

[Maddie]

Awesome!

[Anfel]

Joining :3

[Maddie]

Awesome!

[Abby]

We've got a lot of people on this one!

[Maddie]

Have now!

[Abby]

Chapter 14 (Approximately): (view spoiler)[Lada is savage! Telling him how she's gonna rip out his tongue and eat it so she'd own him. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[Congratulations, Mehmed. You managed to piss off both Lada and Radu. Better be prepared for the repercussions. (hide spoiler)]

[Abby]

Is anyone else reading?

[Abby]

Chapter 38: (view spoiler)[Mehmed is sort of a piece of crap. Both of y'all need to ditch his ass and move on. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I will be soon XD I'll start it in a few days, don't worry. Got to finish my current read (around 20 mins) and then listen to another audio before I reach this audio. Will I understand it as audio?

[Abby]

Maddison wrote: "I will be soon XD I'll start it in a few days, don't worry. Got to finish my current read (around 20 mins) and then listen to another audio before I reach this audio. Will I understand it as audio?"

I'm doing audio as well and it's easy to follow. :)

[Maddie]

Oh good :D That's what I like to hear! Is it a complex story?

[Abby]

Pretty straightforward, but definitely interesting.

[Maddie]

Good :D

[Maddie]

So I thought I would start this now, but it's not available at my library, so I've put it on hold :/ I was looking forward to this one! Sometime soon though, I promise :)

[Abby]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Lada will be such a brutal leader. Let's see how she is as ruler in the next book. (hide spoiler)]