YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwyla likes it that way.

Ever since she and her brother were abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman sultan’s courts, Lada has known that ruthlessness is the key to survival. For the lineage that makes her and her brother special also makes them targets.

Lada hones her skills as a warrior as she nurtures plans to wreak revenge on the empire that holds her captive. Then she and Radu meet the sultan’s son, Mehmed, and everything changes. Now Mehmed unwittingly stands between Lada and Radu as they transform from siblings to rivals, and the ties of love and loyalty that bind them together are stretched to breaking point.

The first of an epic new trilogy starring the ultimate anti-princess who does not have a gentle heart. Lada knows how to wield a sword, and she'll stop at nothing to keep herself and her brother alive.

I couldn't decide whether to put this in historical fiction or fantasy -- it doesn't fit in well in either. It's a re-imagined historical story that takes place in real parts of the world. It doesn't involve magic, but it creates its own "fantasy" historical events...

Netgalley Description: This vividly rendered novel reads 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.

So... happy reading!

If anyone wants to join us, you can request an ARC from Netgalley:
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I'm around 10%, and so far this is falling flat for me

Tati wrote: "I'm around 10%, and so far this is falling flat for me"

Oh, nooooooo! I was just about to start. But you are not motivating me... I'm finishing another buddy read and the book is excellent. Maybe I'll finish Salt to the Sea first... :D

Finish that one first, that book was amazing!

Tati wrote: "Finish that one first, that book was amazing!"

Thanks for the tip! I didn't plan the buddy read for Salt to the Sea, but I saw that they were reading it and I took a look. I was immediately hooked. I'm about half way through. I'll jump into to this one right after.

Hi guys!
I'm starting right now :)

Vippi wrote: "Hi guys!
I'm starting right now :)"

Welcome, Vippi!

Chapter 1-4 (5%)

Interesting start...

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[Mmmm... it sounds interesting although quite different than I thought it would be.
Am I the only one who is a bit annoyed by Radu's softness? (hide spoiler)]

No, you're not. I can't stand him. (view spoiler)[ he's too whiny, too unsure of himself and the way he clings to his nurse borders on unhealthy. (hide spoiler)]

@Tati: I'm relieved :)
Totally agree with you!

Are you enjoying the book? I must say that I'm struggling with it, and have no problems putting it down for days

Tati wrote: "Are you enjoying the book? I must say that I'm struggling with it, and have no problems putting it down for days"

That gives me a chance to finish my other buddy reads and catch up...

Yeah, I'm a bit tangled in them too

Vippi wrote: "Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[
Vippi wrote: "Am I the only one who is a bit annoyed by Radu's softness?"

Tati wrote: "No, you're not. I can't stand him. he's too whiny, too unsure of himself and the way he clings to his nurse borders on unhealthy."

I'm sure Radu's father would quite agree with you both. I think that's the interesting part -- the traditional gender roles are reversed. If Radu and Lada's personalities were reversed, no one would be surprised... although I'm sure we all would complain about Lada's wimpiness...

But considering both children were neglected by their mother, their mother was abused by their father, and their father was a negligent, absent, abusive ass... Radu's sensitivity is as understandable as Lada's aggressiveness. Both are reactions to a traumatic childhood.

(hide spoiler)]

Actually, (view spoiler)[ I don't think Radu even got to meet his mother. I think he was a toddler when she left.

My issue here is not even their personalities. I don't mind a ruthless heroine and a softer hero. What is bothering me is that the whole thing feels too shallow. There is no clear plot yet, and the characters are too flat for me. I have read all her previous works, and this one is, by far, the worst, for me.

(hide spoiler)]

Tati wrote: "Actually, [spoilers removed]"

Got it. I'm not far enough along to decide yet, but so far I understand what you are saying. I know "how" the characters are, but I don't yet know "who" the characters are.

I haven't read anything by Kiersten White before, so I have no basis of comparison. I'll try to get to this ASAP. Meanwhile, you can continue to take your time, if you like... ;)

Oh, I will LOL Haven't touched this in two days

Chapter 7 (11%)
(view spoiler)[
I get Lada's frustration. She feels powerless. She feels powerless as a girl. Any 13-year-old girl would feel powerless in that period -- all you have is to wait till you get married off. No hope for a career, no hope for self-realization. But it is even harder for a girl with ambitions of leadership. Lada is ambitious, and she wants to be a leader. Her frustration at her powerlessness feels even more acute. And now she cannot even prevent her best friend from becoming a pawn in her own game of obtaining even a teensy tiny bit of power in her own home.

(hide spoiler)]

Tati wrote: "Oh, I will LOL Haven't touched this in two days"
Good! ;)

Chapter 9 (14%)
I am officially interested.
(view spoiler)[
I like how Radu befriended the Janissaries and learned from them how to treat the horses (and how to treat people). I like how he cheered up his nurse, Bogdan's mother, by telling her that her son was better off with the Janissaries -- which, by the way, I believe to be true. The Janissaries were highly respected in the Ottoman Empire, and Bogdan would have had a very precarious position under Lada's father's control.

I am also interested in Lada. I don't like her, but I appreciate her situation and the necessity she feels to remain strong and protect herself. I like that she is learning to strategize and that she has ambitions of leadership. And now she see's in Radu a possible ally -- and that will make for an interesting alliance. I hope that this alliance is able to develop (and that they don't betray each other) -- because this alliance could be good for both of them.

(hide spoiler)]

10% (view spoiler)[ I thought I was going to hate Lada because she was so mean to her younger brother, but it turns out she has a heart after all. I mean I get that he's a wimp, but I didn't want Lada to become a flat character with only ruthlessness in her. I have a feeling that Radu is going to be useful in some way though. Interesting start, although a bit weird. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

15% (view spoiler)[ This is so not what I expected from this book! As a result, I'm not even sure if I like it or not. It's like I don't feel anything about it. Lada is such a complex character, it feels like she's a code that has to be cracked. (hide spoiler)]

@TJ: (view spoiler)[In the synopsis, it says that they will turn against each other though.. I would also have preferred if they kept their alliance. (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[ This is so boring :( (hide spoiler)]

43% (view spoiler)[ Oh, finally! Things are just starting to become interesting! I was close to putting this aside because the narratives can just be a bit too much, but now things are finally looking up! I can only hope that this continues. (hide spoiler)]

Final thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I'm glad to say that after the first 50%, the book became more interesting. However, it is totally not what I expected it to be. In the end Lada became Wallachia's prince, or is about to become one, but I think that I was expecting that to be the plot instead of the ending. I'm not yet sure how to feel about this. Maybe I'll rate it 2.5 stars. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1-8 (view spoiler)[ A bit of a slow start in my opinion, takes me a while to get used to more obscure names anyway but not much action yet either. So far we've established that girls are considered worthless, at least as far as their fathers opinion but of course Lada is the strong sibling and Radu is weak which seems a bit predictable since their father threw the temper tantrum over having a daughter. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9-15 (view spoiler)[ I'm all for stories about empowering oppressed women but this really needs to add something else to the story and soon. Hoping the friendship with Mehmed goes somewhere as it seems we're stuck on the have an attitude with everyone because she's female thing. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-29 (view spoiler)[ I'm still quite bored with the story. I would have liked more going on by now that even when you think it's going to get really interesting it kind of fizzles out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 30-32 (view spoiler)[ Lada/Mehmed really negates all the she's a strong character getting involved with him. And Radu.... well not that was obvious. (hide spoiler)]

76% (view spoiler)[ *yawn* Are we supposed to be excited when she makes out with the guy that's basically the equivalent of a modern day player? (hide spoiler)]

Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "15% [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "This is so not what I expected from this book! As a result, I'm not even sure if I like it or not. It's like I don't feel anything about it. Lada is such a complex character, it feels like she's a code that has to be cracked.

Well put! She certainly is a code to be cracked.
(hide spoiler)]

Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "@TJ: [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "@TJ: [In the synopsis, it says that they will turn against each other though.. I would also have preferred if they kept their alliance."

I never read the synapses in case there are spoilers in them, such as here. Now I know why... ;)

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (20%)
I am very interested now.
(view spoiler)[
I really like Radu. He makes friends wherever he goes. He's a gentle soul with a good heart. And now I hope he's find friends (and allies) in Kumal and Nazira.

I like how Radu is fascinated by Islam and the call to prayer. I've been to Erdirne -- it's close to my favorite city in the world: Istanbul. I've never experience anything quite like Turkish hospitality, so I'm glad that Radu is finding friends there.

I also understand Lada. She can't show that she loves Radu, because the power holders will use that against her (and him). I get it. I just wish she would explain it to Radu. But I guess she's got her own problems -- getting her period and not having any women around to give her advice.
(hide spoiler)]

Carrie wrote: "Chapters 1-8 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
Carrie wrote: "A bit of a slow start in my opinion, takes me a while to get used to more obscure names anyway but not much action yet either. So far we've established that girls are considered worthless, at least as far as their fathers opinion but of course Lada is the strong sibling and Radu is weak which seems a bit predictable since their father threw the temper tantrum over having a daughter."

Lada's father's opinion about girls seems to change toward the better, at least his appreciation of Lada does.

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 (22%)
I am intrigued. Three teenaged girls, (view spoiler)[Halima, Mara, and Lada, all in a similar predicament, but all three with very different personalities and visions of their purpose in life.

Halima is just happy to have the honor of being a wife to the sultan. Mara is resigned to a political marriage to do her part to save her country, and Lada wants to lead her country.

(hide spoiler)]

Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"
Carrie wrote: "Chapters 9-15 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
Kim at Divergent Gryffindor wrote: "This is so boring :("

I don't find it boring at all. In fact I'm finding it more and more interesting, especially with Lada's new relationship with Mehmed.

Carrie wrote: "I'm all for stories about empowering oppressed women but this really needs to add something else to the story and soon. Hoping the friendship with Mehmed goes somewhere as it seems we're stuck on the have an attitude with everyone because she's female thing.

Agreed.

(hide spoiler)]

26%
(view spoiler)[
I'm fascinated by Lada's personality. I can not identify with her because she is not at all like me, except for her strength, perseverance, and pride.. ;), but I can appreciate her personality nonetheless.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15 (27%)
(view spoiler)[
I'm quite entertained by Mehmed and Lada's "friendship." I certainly hope they are able to keep it up (and Lada doesn't do anything to sabotage it, but I guess it's in Lada's nature to sabotage things). Maybe Mehmed's fascination with Lada will provide enough glue to hold the friendship together.

I really feel for Mehmed.

Of course it is hard being a woman, especially a poor woman, during these times, but also any woman, even the daughter of a national leader, like Lada. But it is also hard to be a son of a sultan, like Mehmed.

When I was touring Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, we went into the Harem. The tour guide told a story of one newly anointed sultan, who went into the harem and had all his brothers and half-brothers killed (even babies), so that he would have no challenge to his authority. I thought of this story when Mehmed said that all his father's energy and resources were going to fight off his brothers' challenges to his authority. So being the third son of the sultan is a dangerous place to be.
(hide spoiler)]

Wow, this book was totally different to how I thought it would be, but utterly amazing!

The writing was also far more beautiful than I had anticipated. I had assumed this a straight up typical YA but it incorporated elements from so many genres into one seamless and brilliantly executed novel.

It dealt with so many hard-hitting topics with a grace, knowledge and tenderness that really endeared me to the writer.

I also (view spoiler)[fell in love with Lada's character. She was such a badass female heroine and totally not a product of her cultural, historical and societal background (hide spoiler)]

Dannii wrote: "Wow, this book was totally different to how I thought it would be, but utterly amazing!"

I totally agree, Dannii!

Chapter 28 (48%)
(view spoiler)[
I suspected that Radu was gay long before this chapter -- not because of his gentle nature (that is obviously a stereotype), but because of his connection to (and attraction to) Mehmed. I also suspected that Lazar may also be gay, but only recently.

This section (and the entire book) is so well written -- how Radu tries to suppress (and deny) feelings he regards as "not normal" -- this is a great depiction of a boy discovering/denying his sexual preference and being conflicted about it. This is hard enough today, let alone in a macho culture in the 15th century.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29 (52%)
This book is full of political intrigue!
(view spoiler)[
I really like the new dynamic between Lada and Huma. Huma now wants Lada to marry Mehmed. I did not expect that. Huma seems to be very sick, probably dying. But that she thinks Lada would be good for Mehmed is unexpected.

I also like Radu's new role of getting into Halil Pasha's inner circle in order to spy on him and protect Mehmed. Nice.

I really really like the Mehmed-Lada relationship. I wish, wish, wish that they could get together and rule together. And I wish, wish, wish that Radu could remain their ally. All three. I know that this is likely just hopeful thinking, considering the title of the book...
(hide spoiler)]

Carrie wrote: "Chapters 16-29 [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Carrie wrote: "I'm still quite bored with the story. I would have liked more going on by now that even when you think it's going to get really interesting it kind of fizzles out. "

I am feeling just the opposite -- there is a whole lot going on, in my opinion. See my comments 48 & 49.
(hide spoiler)]