Update 
 So I have finally gathered my taughts and realized that Radu is the only reason I gave it a 4.25* rating. (I changed it from 3.75*) Radu is sweet and taughtful and is in such great pain. He has to sacrifice so much for everyone and he can never truly be himself in the open. He is loving and beautiful and I hope he is a little happier in the next book. I love him sooo much! My feels for him... 
 So good old Lada... 
 I could not connect at all with Lada. She was OK like at the beginning and then I was just bored and annoyed with her altogether. I think the author tried to make her too much of a bad ass. She should take some tips from Celeana Sordathian. Lada's chapters in the second half of the book fell flat for me. And why can't she accept that she is a woman????? Is that so bad??? Most of the time I was like 
 And why do they have to obsess over Mehmed or whatever? Like they mention him every few lines and it drove me nuts. The romance with Lada and Mehmmed was flat and dull. No chemistry there. Boring as shit. Lada was not a bad ass as I wanted her to be but mainly a barbaric idiot who would drop everything for a guy she claims she is in love with. Personally it felt like inata love/ lust. Enjoyed the first half immensely but somewhere like 70% in it went downhill. I also did not connect with Mehemmed. He is such a shell of a character. Don't know how to rate the book because I enjoyed some parts and then I was bored for some and I am just giving it 3.5* for now. Don't get me wrong the first half was good and I have high hopes for the rest of the series though. Oh and Radu needs some romance and love in the next installment seriously! 
 Edit 
 Everyone is so mean to Radu 
 The tutor lifted his arm, fingers heavy with thick rings, and backhanded Radu sharply across his face. Radu's head snapped to the side and he fell out of his chair with a cry of shock and pain.. ;-(