I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t find myself regularly in the historical fiction section. Maybe it’s because almost everything feels… lacking. As if they are meant for people who haven’t left their “Magic Treehouse” days. For this week's installation of reviews, I’m going to be obsessing over “And I Darken,” a historical fiction romance that I stumbled upon because I like pretty covers. “And I Darken” is the first part of the Conquerors Saga which I have tragically not finished yet. We all know the story of Vlad the Impaler, and if you don’t, well… he’s Vlad the Impaler. There’s not much else to know. He is one of the most gruesome historical figures. He is the phantom of history that led to the creation of our beloved Count Dracula. Vlad was the ruler of Wallachia but spent most of his formative years in the Ottoman Empire. His father had taken him and his brother, Radu, to a diplomatic meeting, only to be held hostage to influence their father’s actions in the war. From hence he had a grudge and was determined to watch the Ottoman Empire burn. In our story, we have a gender swap. Vlad is now Lada, a fierce young girl who can never get her fathers attention. The beauty of this story is that the gender swap did not temper out our character. No, if anything it made her even more wild. That same fire that was within the original Vlad is now trapped inside its female counterpart, wrapped with gender roles in politics. It is impressive to read White’s adherence to key points in history while simultaneously leaving enough room for her story to breathe and take on its own meanings. I think the key to her success is in the dialogue. Each character is so distinct in the way they approach conversations and different ideas that you could take their name out and still know who it is. Lada is assertive no matter the situation. Radu is quiet and even after gaining confidence, he is still reserved, in a way, pulling his punches. And, let’s talk about world building. It is amazing. The environment our character exists in is not the foreground. I can tell it was not an afterthought and may have been her first building block. Considering the environment is an influence on every action that takes place within this story, it needed to be perfect. This is one of my favorite era’s of history and I was definitely on the lookout for mistakes. Now, while I thought it brilliant that she didn't do the whole, “and the janissaries, a member of an elite force of military professionals, did…,” I could see that leaving others confused. Since this is historically accurate in many ways, especially in politics and positions, it is a bit easy to get lost. I suggest reading through the glossary in the back if you are not familiar so that you can enjoy the book without having to reread lines 5 times to understand the gist. I know I said romance, but it is entirely one sided. I’ve been crying out for a book where the female lead requires no man. Where the default storyline isn’t banking on a stupid decision to choose love. In this novel, Lada chooses what is best for Lada, no matter what emotion, or man, may be in her way. Now, I hope that her character development does not stray far from this path. I want good for her. I want Lada to realize that a hug isn’t someone trying to slice her throat. But I’m scared that if Katherine White makes even the smallest hole in Lada’s austere, aggressive defence, we’ll be sent down that slippery slope of depending on others and stupid love based decisions. Fingers crossed for the rest of the saga. Now, to wrap up, why haven’t I finished the saga yet? Because I didn't know there was more. The ending of the first book was so succinct. So satisfying, that I was okay with it simply ending. I just accepted it as fact. Yes, it leaves you wanting more, wondering what Lada’s next adventure will be, but it does not leave you with that sinking feeling that you’ve been cheated out of something amazing. Yes, I know. You can find this book for free in wordpress but PLEASE, just go buy it. It is absolutely worth the money. Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 4/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5
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When I saw that this was coming out, I preordered the signed copy and waited with baited breath. It was like a childhood dream coming true. Kiera Cass is back at it again??? The clouds opened. The heavens sang. My skin cleared. And then… I was kind of let down. The Selection series was one of the first books that made me think “I can be a writer.” I fell in love with America and her rags to riches tale with the boy who got away and secret love affairs. Little 6th grade me ate those cliches up like it was my last meal. But looking back, there were plenty better meals to choose from. I don’t think my view of The Betrothed and, subsequently, The Selection series is a case of “this was a bad book,” but a case of I grew up and I might not be the target audience anymore. But, let me back track for a second. Kiera Cass really is back and delivering what the girls needed. The cover photo alone took me back to my late night flashlight readings. And if you get the hardcover? My goodness, pulling that sleeve off to find that gorgeous gold script and binding is just *mwah.* To give a brief overview, Hollis, our female lead, has acquired a position in the court vying for the attention of King Jameson. Much like the original Selection, the king is given options of women and he chooses who will be his queen. They all try their hardest to make him smile and adore them as much as they adore him. Hollis achieves this effortlessly. Hollis from the get go was a simple character. Not much too her. She wasn’t exceptionally smart or strong willed. She feels like a floater character and if it wasn’t narrated from her point of view, I wouldn’t even believe she was the main character. Listen to this: “Do you know what I want, Hollis? I want to hire someone to walk behind us and ink down every single word you say. Every compliment, every story. You are endlessly entertaining, and I don’t want to forget a second of it.” What is that?! They just fall on ground for her and she isn't exceptional at all. Even she says so. “I was no soldier. I was no cartographer. I wasn’t book smart or exceedingly kind of remarkable in any way that anyone had ever taken note of.” Nothing made me think, “this is the girl I want to win.” At least in the original, America had the poor girl factor. She had the rebel who asks the queen for permission to wear jeans, type of thing going for her. Albeit annoying, but relatable. She was an underdog thrown into sharks. Hollis on the other hand? She contributed nothing. Every other addition to after the original Selection had a likeable character. A woman who did what she needed to do. She was kind or smart. They were someone you could support. Hollis? Her entire existence revolves around whether or not a man wants her. To her credit she ends up making her own choice, but this wasn’t about independence and freedom of thought. I think that part is when I got a bit tired. Guess what the girl who has it all set does? Falls for a commoner. Even better? An immigrant commoner. Woohoo. So shocking. Despite the tiring plot, there are a few sudden twists that make me want to buy the next book, even against my better judgement. But, let us not confuse chaos for a good plot twist. The ONLY reason I want to read the next book is because the ending made no sense. Nothing about it was okay and my mind is still reeling. Admittedly I cried because it was just… sudden. I guess it set up for an interesting sequel of finding hidden secrets and what not. Even worse, I find it hard to write about this book since the plot is so basic. Even giving a broad overview is equivalent to telling you every major plot point because it follows a structure that I guarantee you’ve memorized. There are a few deviants especially in the ending of this first installation. It isn’t a happy ending so don’t be shocked. If I was a few years younger, I would probably sing its praise to the hills. I did spend a bit of time scrolling through the Good Read comments, wondering if someone shared my views or differed. It's always great fodder for a writer's block and I came across one statement. “This book is proof that Kiera Cass never left 2012.” And that is so true, but it was used in a negative way. Yes the world has moved on since 2012 but her age range has not. She has not grown with us, but stayed where she is appreciated and beloved and I don’t think that is a bad thing. We know that from the uproar we all created when we heard of these new books, she had a steal grip on our minds when we were younger. So, why should she pass up the chance to have a steal grip on that same age range forever? I think it’s quite smart. Other writers can deliver raunchy love scenes and then write a kids comic, and praise be for that versatility, but not all of our authors are like that. There is honor in sticking to your niche. Overall: 3/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Setting: 1/5 Writing: 2/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 TL;DR: In all, this is a very long series if you tie it to the originals. All of them are based on the same concept and I think after around 6 books deep, there’s only so much an author can do. Recycle, reuse, and eventually reduce. At least it's a pretty addition to my shelf.
"Okay let's be real. What is country? A whole bunch of people with strong accents singing about beer, tractors, and hot girls. There is nothing else there. No substance. Now pop music? That has a message that reaches the soul and each song is so unique, not a single one sounds similar."
How many times has someone looked me in the eye and said those exact words as if they were fact? A million too many. If we're going to dish out a blanket statement, here's one. If you have nothing positive to say about any country song ever, you have never actually listened to country. I *partially* grew up in Virginia, which while it is still "south," there's an imaginary line between the northern side of the state and just about everyone else, and Northern VA is NOT south. We have no accent and we have more money (the only two distinctions I could find). And when it comes to music? Country is shunned. Now imagine, a black family cruising down 66 screaming Hill Billy Bone out the window. A sight to see. I do have to admit, there is always the "right time, right place" view to take when delving into a love for a genre. If we weren't stuck in traffic from Tysons Corner (the worst traffic in the country) for hours and if Some Beach by Blake Shelton didn't influence us to move to Hawaii, maybe I would be a country hater too. But I was stuck in that traffic and we really did go chase "some beach" all the way to Oahu's coast. The concept of country alone holds much of the south together. It acts as a sign of unity for a community. For some, it is the highest form of patriotism. How many patriotic songs are country? Better question, can you name patriotic songs that aren't country? What I love about country is that it speaks to the soul. It's not just songs about material things. Sure he sings about his tractor, but that tractor was the same one generations rode and feels like home. Sure he likes the taste of that beer but it can also tell the story of someone scared to let go or look back. In the words of Hannah Dasher "no, [it] ain't for everybody, but [it] don't try to be" (you're gonna love me- Hannah Dasher). Country is less about smashing rhymes together and more about finding those three chords and talking to their audience about their day. It's songs to their mothers apologizing for ignoring their calls. Voice messages of a lost lover and a rekindled romance. It's a list of grievances against their dentist. Like my new favorite gem that described exactly why I like country, "we're all living one big country song" (one big country song- Locash) Even better, the problem of being a "studio voice" is pretty much nonexistent. In hip hop, rnb, pop, and rap, you'll find quite often that the artists can't actually sing. They have professionals go in and change their voices. Which is how we end up with artists who don't sound anywhere near as good in person as they do in the studio where their voices can be dressed up to perfection. In country, imperfection is what makes the genre. You don't worry about over auto-tuning if there's even auto tune at all. Their live concerts live up to the expectations and do their fans justice. Let me tell you, there is nothing worse than paying 200+ dollars to see your favorite artist, just to realize they can't even sing their own songs. Country is also incredibly versatile. It can easily slip into any other genre without losing its roots. Examples like early Taylor Swift. That was country which fluidly shifted into pop, all without losing her storytelling. Good country is much like an amazing rnb/hip hop concept album, but condensed into 4 minutes. And because of its versatility, there is a song for any emotion, any situation and mood. I know that for some it's the accents, and I understand. "I Got The Boy" by Jana Kramer is one of my favorite songs. That doesn't mean I don't wince when the song begins with her harsh pronunciations and funky slides. I also feel for every word she says. Some Blake Shelton songs I simply don't listen to because his voice annoys me so much. And if we go beyond the storytelling, which we shouldn't have to, but for arguments sake. If we look closer to the surface, y'all really can't tell me that these instrumentals don't make you wanna dance. Not even of your own volition. It just seeps into your pores and brings out something from within. Can you tell I've listened to nothing but country while writing this? I'm also a proud supporter of Country's cousins, the blues and folk music. I know this may be confusing, but it's... the ✨vibe✨ I listen to indie folk quite often and find that interchangeably, those same songs are in my country playlist simply because they make me feel a certain way. I guess the emotion would be at peace, just relaxing and comfortable. All in all, country should not be looked over because of heavy accents, but embraced because music is not just about vocals but about storytelling, and no other genre does it better. Orson Scott Card is beloved within the Sci-Fi community. Like many other authors though, he is only famous for one thing. Ender's Game. Ender's Game is one of my most beloved dystopian novels, and considering that's about all I read, that's something.
This novel is not anything new either. Enders' Game was published 36 years ago. It had its moment in the spotlight with a movie adaptation in 2013 (an entirely different beast to unpack), and has since had its anniversary copies re-published, hyping up the geeks around the world. And while it received all that hype from those of us who have nothing better to do, it is still an underrated masterpiece in a genre taken over by light shows in space with no substance plot points. Considering the era it was published in, the former is what I would expect. An intricate light show about freedom fighters bordering on fantasy, but this is as pure of a sci-fi as you can get. Ender is a 6 year-old prodigy (what's a dystopia w/o a prodigy) against an alien race that is attacking Earth, leaving us to ride out his growing pains at his side. I've never read a novel with a character starting this young and gradually ageing. It wasn't just a short preview of his childhood, but Card walks us through it. I'm sure you'll agree that there is nothing more beautiful than true character development, not the patch-work monsters they hand to us as freebies. "And you get a stagnant character! and you get a stagnant character! And you? Oooh I've got one special. You get a character who is steadily one way throughout the entire novel but in a sudden twist of fate, their entire archetype switches because if it didn't, there would be some serious plot holes. OH wait! There still are!" The most compelling part of this novel is the choice of children. He could have just as easily, maybe more so, written the story starting from a late teen to young adult, but instead he chose a child, just barely out of Toddling, as his main character. I remember bringing this up once and I got a few weird stares, but think. We all remember what the death of our favorite young character in Hunger games did to us, and what age were they? 11? Imagine if ALL of the characters in Hunger Games were 11. It makes the horrors so much worse. These children are sent to a training arena, separated into groups, and conditioned in naivety. They play "games," testing intellectual and strategic strengths. However, I'm not here to give you a summary. The moral dilemma of Ender's Game brings the reader to a standstill. The unspoken questions' introspective nature seeps its way into the mind. Throughout the book, many die, and it's hard to tell where it begins and where it ends, a line Ender isn't given a choice to draw. So the question is, does naivety justify murder? A pretty blanket question without much needed consideration. Through Card's individual psychological development of each character, we're led to a new question. What qualifies as innocence? My favorite formulation of this question came from a brief review before the movie was released. Bob Thompson asks, "Is the morality of an act solely based on the intentions of the person acting? " These questions are fairly simple, to be quite honest, but the story takes you to an unexpected cross road. A realization that the previous half of the book was only one side of the story. What if those aliens murdering thousands are just as innocent as the children being readied for war. The navigation of these dilemmas by kids makes them so much harder to understand. So much harder to just give a blanket answer to. In this case "there are good people on both sides" won't bring up such an uproar. While the story connects to our lives now in many ways, remember, this story was a cold war era novel. Understanding the allusion to the Russian vs American war could give you a broader view on hidden key concepts. So, brush up on your history kids. Overall, I think that Ender's Game should be a required addition to your literary gems. Hopefully you'll understand why it left my head reeling days after I read it, much like a Machiavellian filter over my morality. tldr; you are sleeping if you haven't read Ender's Game yet and I need you to wake the heck up. source: Thomson, B., 2021. Conflicted Morality In Ender’s Game. [online] Acton Institute PowerBlog. Available at: <https://blog.acton.org/archives/57337-conflicted-morality-in-enders-game.html> [Accessed 10 October 2021]. |
AuthorHi! It's Leila. Your average suburban girl with too much time on her hands. I hope you enjoy! Archives
April 2022
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