This copy is an ARC.

I LOVED this book!! It's completely fantastic and not what I was expecting.
And I Darken is an alternate history considering what if Vlad the Impaler was a woman. It is lush writing with some of the best character development I have ever read. I was completely immersed in Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire and I cannot wait for book 2 in this series.

From Indigo.ca
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 bestselling 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.

I took this book to the Calgary Bookcrossing meeting at Cravings.
Happy Reading!

Picked this up at the Calgary October BookCrossing meetup.

With such a glowing review from Minerva101, how could I not jump to read this?

I was totally absorbed in the setting for this book. I haven't read anything set in this historical period before.

The relationship between the three main characters is great. I can't wait to see how things continue on in his series.

Taking to the January Calgary BookCrossing meetup.

Picked up this book at the Calgary BookCrossing January meet-up. Vlad the Impaler, but a girl? I'm super intrigued.

This was an amazing. I love the idea of taking a well known historical figure, but gender bending them. Though, I feel like the author didn't take too many liberties with history, in that, yes, there are some twists and turns that didn't happen, but events are still on track to their eventual outcome. And I loved that Lada wasn't some weak willed girl who just accepted her fate. She made opportunities for herself even if the situation wasn't in her favour. I'm so glad this didn't turn out be a trope-y YA vampire novel.

I know very little about this period of history, so it'll be fun to read the rest of the series. When is book two coming?

Passing on this book to the next reader at the Calgary BookCrossing February meet-up.

Forgot to journal earlier.

Taken to the October meeting because I could find where I'd put it post vacation! I brought this book with me to Europe to be my plane home book.

To the finder:
Calgary has an active group of BookCrossers that meet to swap books and discuss book crossing every second Saturday of the month at 11am at Cravings Market on Fairmount Drive SE. We always love to meet new crossers, so please join us any time you like!

Picked this up at the October meetup.

Well - this was a book I was able to download from the library. Made the trip to Edmonton go much faster. Have to say that at first I really disliked the main character, but then she grew and developed and there was all this political intrigue happening. You grew to understand and appreciate the person she was. Lots of complexity to it and you were always wanting to find out what happened next. I was often surprised at where the story was heading. Helps that I like historical settings and this one was on interesting time and location. Wondering what part is based on fact. May have to do a little research.

I am taking this back to the May meetup at Cravings.

Picked this one up at the Calgary May BookCrossing meetup. Looking forward to the read!

I read this book almost a month ago and strangely enough I don't remember how much I liked this, but BookyMcBooks just reminded me "oh you Really liked it" and I think I did. Booky had to explain to me that it was a gender bend -and after that "ohhh" moment I loved it. I loved most of the characters, and the historical period, and I really did like the ending as well. It felt like the perfect place to end the book.

Unfortunately I did myself a disservice and read the summaries for the next two books and I don't think I would enjoy the next books as much as I enjoyed this book, so I think that might be dampening my spirits a bit. (I think that if the next books come through the group, I'll wait on Booky's reaction before I take them on.)

Will be brought to Calgary Bookcrossing for the next reader.

Picked up at the monthly Book Crossing meeting at Cravings Market Restaurant

Not gonna lie, I was expecting some vampires. This expectation only died by the time I was three-quarters through the book, but who knows sounds like there are two more books to come. Either way, I loved this book! I loved Lada for obvious reasons, her kick-assness and refusal to do what was expected of her. And Radu, determined to prove that he can do things that even his fierce sister could not. Can't wait to read more of their adventures.

(I'm secretly still hoping for vampires)

Will release at the monthly Book Crossing meeting at Cravings Market Restaurant.

Picked up at get together

Really enjoyed this story and its characters!

Thanks for the interesting read!

This one is with me to read.