And I Darken

By: Kiersten White

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

This vividly rendered novel is like HBO's Game of Thrones if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. Ambitious in scope and intimate in execution, the story's atmospheric setting is rife with political intrigue, with a deftly plotted narrative driven by fiercely passionate characters. Fans of Victoria Aveyard's The Red Queen, Kristin Cashore's Graceling, and Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes won't want to miss this visceral, immersive, and mesmerizing novel, the first in a trilogy.

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who's expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he's made a true friend - and Lada wonders if she's finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against - and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

From New York Times best-selling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled, and hearts will be broken.

©2016 Kiersten White (P)2016 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Full of sword fights, assassination plots, and palace intrigues, this novel is ambitious in scope and concept and reveals a fascinating, important, and somewhat obscure slice of history...the novel is breathtakingly good." ( School Library Journal)

"White deftly weaves historical fact into this complex concoction of love, war, politics, homosexuality, religion, loyalty, and friendship." ( Booklist)

"A dark jewel of a story, one that gleams with fierce, cunning characters - absolutely riveting." (Alexandra Bracken, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Passenger)

"Fiona Hardingham’s commanding narration steers a clear path through this densely woven tapestry of mid-fifteenth-century intrigue.... Hardingham’s resonant voice keeps listeners firmly grounded as a strange and destructive triangle of friendship and love develops, with forays into murder, lust, and homosexuality." ( AudioFile)

great characters

Now here's a girl that's scary and ferocious, but written so well you still cheer her on. Her brother is meek and mild, and you can't wait for him to find his courage. Original.

slow starter

It took a while for the story to develop, but I ended up really enjoying the book.

Great narrator

though the story was written in third person I could follow the story easily. Great story

awesome and inspiring

great story. very relevant.I love the strength of the female characters and how you can feel their inner conflict and journey.

I wanted so much more

I really wanted a lot more of the Dracula history. I feel like it was so dragged out. While it was historical it could have been half as long.

the dragon survives

well this was a great listen it was exciting from the beginning to the end I love the strength of the female her Dragon heart kept me listening for her next adventures plan. as good as a romance but more thank you

Unexpectedly captivating

Generally out of my comfort zones with genre but it captured me in so well! The writing style is different from most others I’ve read right out of the gate but the main characters are so well developed and interesting I’m rooting for them even while thinking their flaws are going to cause me to DNF the book but i couldn’t put it down.

MFC is fierce and determined and almost villainous but also a scared girl trying to find her own way
MMC is soft and scared but well spoken and learns the value of being invisible.

Incredible book
Incredible performance

Narrator brings to life the authors characters.

I struggled at first with how long the story is. after awhile thought Fiona (Narrator) built up these amazing characters. I bought book 2 so I could read it faster than listen. absolutely adore the narrator and highly suggest this as well as the other books she reads.

enjoyable

great story! I ended it after listening to the red queen series and an ember in the ashes

A true epic with unexpected depth.

This book was so long, I feel like I have lived a full life time as it’s main character in the best way possible. This book is very well written, and for those listening to the audio book, the narrator is one of my favorites. The only tricky part of the story was how many named characters are introduced, often with similar sounding names. However, the author did an excellent job of contextualizing it so you know who was who. It was dense as far as political intrigue goes, and to be honest there was not enough combat in the book. I recommend this book for anyone who likes strong, complex, feminist woman.