Female Vlad the
Impaler. I was in. Nothing else just that and I wanted to read
it. Oh and the pretty cover didn’t hurt
matters.
This book covers so much
ground literally starting with our MC Lada is born. We follow along as she grows giving us enough
in certain years to understand who she is at each point which was a huge plus
because Lada is a bit rough and having her story, her backstory, really
develops her character. Plus things of
importance were happening early on. Very
intricate story.
The world is lushly
described and I feel like I could have been there which is good since I wasn’t
the best student in history. So I knew
next to nothing about the Ottoman Empire.
And Vlad is what people say spurred the Dracula story is the extent of
my knowledge there. The lands change as
the story progresses and the characters grow they move around. In her original home of Wallachian, where she
feels a sense of home and connection.
When she is away from there she always sees the Ottoman Empire as her
prison even if sometimes the prison isn't so bad.
Lada was a strong
character for me and I enjoyed her immensely as she voiced or thought many of
the same things I was thinking when I was reading. I normally don't read historical fiction all that
often being one who doesn't take well to the whole women's place is to be used
for trade like cattle and having no rights and such. She doesn't agree with that either and
refuses to be defined by her gender. I
adore this! The way she interacts with
everyone from servants to people who are supposed to be her superiors. She understands the world and how it
works. She is cruel but she is also
cunning and smart as a whip she is made for this world. Including her interaction and dedication to
the Janissaries specifically my favorite one, Nicolae!
"The sooner you stop fighting, the easier your life will be. That is what your purpose is."
Lada stood so abruptly she nearly fell backward. "No."
Another POV we see
through is Lada's younger brother, Radu. He is much the opposite of Lada. While she is brawn and sheer might and a
force to be reckoned with Radu is more of a quite force working from the
sidelines playing long games. I remember
reading and likening him to Littlefinger or Varys on Game of Thrones in the way
he can change and adapt. My favorite thing about dual POV books is seeing how
different halves see the same event so vastly differently and you get tons of
that here.
This book has lots going
for it from the history and world to the diverse and complex characters even
before diving into the action of a world at war with battles to be fought on
many fronts. Both from outside forces
and within. It's a political story as
well as there is always a power play happening with thrones and leadership.
With all this going for it and the ability to keep me on the edge of my seat it
also held some romance as well. Romance
that conflicted my emotions.
What held this book back
for me a bit is also something that despite my issues with it kept me hoping
for more and wanting so desperately to root for it. Romance.
The romance was well played out and I could see how it naturally fell in
so many different forms throughout the book but my biggest issues is more a cultural
one. I couldn’t really ship the ship I
wanted so badly to ship. I wanted to but
any feelings expressed from one party while they seemed so sincere, they lost
that when he would say this then visit his harem full of wives and
concubines. I understand that is a
cultural thing and what is to be expected and such but I don't like it. Still the fact that I wanted so badly to want
to ship it even when it would ruffle my feathers says a lot.
This is the first book in
a new series and I do intend to follow up with the next book for sure and recommend
this one! Lada, Radu, and Mehmed have a
lot more story in them to be sure and I'm excited to see where it will take
them.
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