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And I Darken | August 17, 2016

by Kiersten White (Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books, June 2016)

And+I+Darken

When I first saw the cover of Kiersten White’s new YA novel, I assumed it was straight up fantasy. And it is fantasy in that it portrays a sweeping adventure full of heroes and villains in a land that is very unlike our own. However, it is not a fantasy in the literal sense of the genre. I point this out at the top of my recommendation, because had I known this ahead of time, it would’ve altered my expectations entirely! I would’ve appreciated the detailed history woven throughout the narrative, as you do in historical fiction, which this ultimately is.

This is a genderbent retelling of Vlad the Impaler, and his (or I should say her) ultimate rise to power over the Ottoman presence in Wallachia in the late 15th century. Here, Vlad becomes Lada, a Transylvanian noble born with the heart of a vicious warrior into political upheaval. Through a maze-like turn of events, Lada and her delicate younger brother, Radu, are taken captive by the Ottoman courts as punishment for their father’s disobedience. As they mature in their own ways, both Lada and Radu befriend the sultan’s son, Mehmed, creating a conflict between their patriotism and the only true friend they’ve ever known.

The sprawling narrative introduces readers to gorgeous landscapes in very foreign countries. White fully embraces the genderbending of characters, not only assigning Lada conventionally masculine attributes and traits, but imposing feminine qualities onto her brother as well, creating a stark contrast between the two points of view that are as refreshing as they are frustrating in their constant conflict.

The language is beautiful and lyrical, and the insight into politics and how interpersonal relationships can be the kiss of death or life in this kind of strife is perfectly balanced. White does not shy away from mature content, but it makes the stakes even higher. Machiavellian and deliberate, And I Darken is the first book in an exciting trilogy, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!


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