And I Darken is a retelling of Vlad the Impaler gender swapped so Vlad is a woman. I was surprised by how much information is actually fact not all info is but I was assuming most of it was a work of fiction by the author I liked the whole idea, story, and character roles. 
 There are a lot of political struggles, warring for the crown, religion vs state, state lines, sultans and princesses, Kings, and a slave army to keep this plot up and the action moving along but the beginning dragged for me, I felt like this story could have been 200 pages shorter and been just as good if not better. 
 It starts off with Ladaslav Lada as a child, we see her grow up in fast forward and become the warrior before her time. Lada doesn't want to be a lady, she doesn't want to shut up and sew. Lada wants to learn, to be respected, and to fight. Unfortunately in her time there's not to much opportunity for this. Lada and her brother Radu end up in the hands of The Sultan to satisfy the empire and keep peace in her Fathers country. 
 Growing up in an empire that speaks another language, enemies all around, and having to protect her Brother Radu, Lada is lonely, angry, and dreams of her own country. When Lada finally hits puberty she tries to hide it as long as possible. 
 When she's finally found out she lashes out at a maid and does some serious damage, still resulting in an arranged marriage to a gruesome little man, until a boy hears her snark and death threats. Calling off the wedding and keeping her and Radu for himself. 
 In steps Mehmed the son of the Sultan. This is where my problems started. I didn't like Mehmed. I thought he was an annoying preachy boy and he centered in the middle of a love triangle Octagon. The Sultans have Harems and many wives so call it what you like, there are plenty of contenders for his attention. 
 The thing that bothered me was Lada got what she wanted; An education, to be 'basically' free, the Sultan had forgotten about her BUT still she stayed in this country that ripped her from her home, pleading lame excuses that was just a cover for her want to stay by Mehmed. 
 She grows older, becomes a warrior training with the slave army. For all her feral rage, dirty fighting, and threats she has multiple opportunities and doesn't run all because of a boy. 
 This disappointed me, I loved she was so independent and before her time but to throw that away for someone that has a harem at his service? To what? Share a few make out sessions with him while he goes off and has sex with multiple woman? To have the opportunity to leave and then abandon it for him? 
 I was thinking where did my strong female protagonist go? Why are we left with this silly, jealous girl? 
 The ending made the book for me and I will read the next book, hopefully Lada will return to killing and gaining her land back and not be too much of a lovesick puppy. 
 3/5 stars