Review: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Book Two of the Conqueror's Saga

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 27, 2017

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

What I Liked:

I feel similarly to the way I felt about And I Darken, which is good and bad. I gave And I Darken 3.5 stars, and ended up rounding up to 4 stars. I'm rounding down this time because I don't necessarily feel more positively about Now I Rise compared to how I felt about And I Darken. While I like these books, I don't really love them, and there are some things about them that I personally didn't enjoy. Factor in my mood - I have been putting off this book for months. Overall though, it's a decent sequel and it has me looking forward to reading the third book in the series. 

As with And I Darken, this book is written in third-person alternating POVs, switching from Radu to Lada for each chapter. Lada has left Mehmed - and Radu - and is determined to get back Wallachia, even if she is on her own. She has a company of loyal men who follow her, but she needs more support. She refuses to go crawling back to Mehmed. Meanwhile, Radu still serves Mehmed with stars in his eyes. He still holds onto the hope that Mehmed will love him as deeply as Radu loves Mehmed. But Mehmed's ambition comes between Mehmed and everything/everyone. His desire for Constantinople is more important, and he sends Radu to Constantinople to spy. The Ottomans are stronger and more numerous, and Radu is sure that the city will fall. But after months in the city, does he want the city to fall? Is he still unflinchingly loyal to Mehmed? He always wanted to be the Dracul sibling that Mehmed chose, but Mehmed has his own agenda, and it doesn't seem to involve Radu. Lada, on the other hand, is only looking to regain Wallachia, and does not care to involve herself in Mehmed's war. But even Wallachia is not safe, and not just from Mehmed.

This book is quite long and dense and it feels like nothing is happening at times, but then it feels like everything is happening all at once. I much preferred Lada's plot, because it was more interesting and action-packed. Every chapter from Radu's POV was a little more boring and mopey. (I'll get to that in the next section.)

I liked Lada more in this book. I liked her in the previous book but I feel like I connected with her more in this sequel. She is no less ferocious and brutal, but I liked seeing small bits of vulnerability - her loneliness, her missing Radu, her sexual desires, her desperation for Wallachia. Somehow, Lada seems more human in this book, even if she is more murder-happy in the book. If that makes sense?

Radu seems more mature and battle-hardened in this book, and less of a whining crybaby. Don't get me wrong, he still mopes about how Mehmed doesn't love him - he mopes a lot - but it seems more internalized and he doesn't seem as much a crybaby to me. I still don't like him very much but I appreciated his character development. Radu makes a lot of decisions in this book, and not all support Mehmed. He has a lot to think about, in terms of his feelings for Mehmed, and how far he'll go to support Mehmed.

The overall plot of this book is focused on Mehmed's campaign for Constantinople. Even Lada is somewhat caught in the battle, indirectly. She is fighting for Wallachia, and without Mehmed's proposed help. Meanwhile, Radu is torn between helping defeat Constantinople (helping Mehmed) or helping defend Constantinople (something he feels is right). To me, Radu's plot drags, but Lada's is exciting. And sometimes terrifying - Lada does not joke around when it comes to her quest to regain Wallachia. 

It is very clear that the author has done her research for this series. She is sticking fairly close to the actual history of Vlad the Impaler and the Ottoman Empire, which is cool. Of course, some things are clearly fictional, but the author has recreated the story impressively.

In general, this sequel was pretty good. Maybe it's my mood but I just didn't love it. See some of my reasons in the next section!

What I Did Not Like:

Probably the biggest thing that took away from my enjoyment of the book was the fact that I was so bored at times. Sometimes I'd be totally caught up in the story. Other times I'd be incredibly bored and inclined to start skimming. Especially during the chapters of Radu's POV. His plot was must slower, more contemplative. 

Radu... I didn't really care for him, even if I didn't dislike him as much as I did in the first book. 99% of his thoughts involve Mehmed, and most of those thoughts are about his love for and devotion to Mehmed, and how he would do anything for him. He sort of knows that this isn't reciprocated, but he holds onto hope. He thinks there is a chance that Mehmed doesn't know that he (Radu) is in love with him (Mehmed) - poor boy. Radu is so lovesick and blind in this book. I wasn't a huge fan of all of this melodrama. While I understand why the author is writing in Radu's POV every other chapter, I don't love it and I think the story could stand well without it.

In general, I didn't really like the romance. It's still triangular in a sense. Lada cares deeply for Mehmed, and I believe it is returned. Radu is obsessed with Mehmed and loves him. Mehmed has a harem full of women, at least one wife, and children. I personally think Mehmed loves no one and uses everyone. I don't like Mehmed but I think that's the point. Still, I dislike how everything seems to revolve around Mehmed. He is such a snake.

White is sticking pretty close to the actual history of Vlad the Impaler and the Ottoman Empire and Constantinople. This is a great thing - but also, it makes me wary, because things don't end well for everyone, in the original history. That's all I'm going to say on that.

Like I said, the biggest thing was the occasional bouts of boredom - and the length of the book didn't help matters. The beginning of the book really dragged (in terms of both POVs, not just Radu's).

Would I Recommend It:

I do recommend this sequel, if you read And I Darken. It's a good sequel! Some of my complaints could be because of my current mood - I've been avoiding this book for a while though. Give this book a chance if you read book one, whether you liked book one or not. I will say though, if you haven't started the series, hold off until the final book is published (I think this is a trilogy?), and then check it out. I'm a little scared for the ending of this series! This series is perfect for fans of historical fiction and strong, kickbutt heroines. 

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. I am hoping that the next book will be the best of the series. I like the books but I don't love them. I can't wait to read book three though - and to see its cover!

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Waiting on Wednesday (#209): Now I Rise by Kiersten White

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Book Two of The Conquerors Saga series

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 27, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

Author Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

And I Darken was intense! I am very interested in seeing where this story goes. =)

Blog Tour: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Welcome to the blog tour for And I Darken by Kiersten White! This is the first book in a new series, a book that I liked. I hope you'll enjoy the post!

Top Five Hardest Things About Writing a Trilogy

By Kiersten White

And I Darken is the start of a new trilogy. With book two in the editing phase and book three in drafting (not to mention that my first three books were a trilogy), I know a thing or three about writing them! So, I give you the definitive list: 

TOP FIVE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT WRITING A TRILOGY:

1. Writing the first book

2. Writing the second book

3. Writing the third book

Wow, look at that! Writing a trilogy is so easy, there are only three top hardest things! Everyone should do it! In fact, everyone should write mine. I’ll be over there. Waiting. With my eyes closed.

Okay, okay. In all seriousness, here’s an actual top five hardest things.

1. Planning for book three when writing book one. Writing a single book is hard enough, without also having to weave in threads that won’t come into play until the second or third book! YA tends to be very tight plot-wise, so finding the right amount of building for future reveals without stealing from the tension in the first book is a tricky balancing act.

2. Similarly, it’s challenging to be doing promo for book one, editing book two, and plotting book three. It’s a lot of information to keep track of, and I constantly worry I’ll accidentally let a huge spoiler slip just because I’m talking about book one but living in book three. MY BRAIN. MY BRAIN.

3. Remembering how everyone’s names were spelled in the previous book. No, seriously, this is really hard for me.

4. Redoing research. When writing historical fiction, I do a TON of research. And, because of the schedule, sometimes it has been a year since I read those thousand or so pages on the siege of Constantinople, or that entire book on the life of the real Vlad Dracul. So I have go back and redo all the same research. It’s SUPER FUN!

5. Expectations. I still remember the horror I felt when I started getting reader reactions to Paranormalcy. Everyone loved Tasey, her bedazzled Taser. Suddenly I was plagued with insecurity. Did I use Tasey enough in Supernaturally? Was there time to go back and add more Tasey action? MY READERS LOVED TASEY, AND I HAD ALREADY BLOWN IT. I know what to expect this time around, but I do wonder: Who will everyone ship? Which characters will be their favorites? What unexpected aspect will they adore so much I’ll kick myself for not exploiting it more in books two and three?

But, in the end, that’s also the most amazing thing about writing trilogies. Because knowing as And I Darken goes out there and finds its readers that I still have so much in store for them is one of the giddiest, most wonderful aspects of writing. I get to live with these characters for years, and share their whole journey with you. And that is the number one best part of writing trilogies.

Thank you for joining me here at The Eater of Books!, Kiersten!

About the Book:

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Book One of The Conquerors Saga

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 28, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

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**Please note: The Eater of Books! has no rights/copyright/permissions in terms of the gifs used in this post. If there is any issue with such, please contact Kiersten White or Penguin Random House.

Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Book One of The Conquerors Saga

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

What I Liked:

I admit, as excited as I was to read this book, I was also pretty apprehensive. The book is pretty long (the ARC is huge!), and the synopsis definitely makes it sound like there is a love triangle going on. Well, I started the book and found that I could not put it down! It started off a tiny bit slowly, but I love how things picked up. I'll definitely be looking out for the sequel!

Lada is the daughter of Vlad Dragwlya, a fierce, wild, almost crazed young girl who is bloodthirsty and refuses to be tamed. Radu is her brother, younger by a year, gentler, and much more of a softhearted crybaby. Both are forgotten by their parents. Both are deposited to the Ottomans when they are 13 and 12, by their father. But the Ottomans aren't all enemies, as they were taught to believe. Radu finds a friend in Mehmed, a son of the sultan and third heir, and while Lada trusts no one, she comes to be a friend of Mehmed's as well. Years pass, and Lada and Radu grow comfortable in the Ottoman empire. But when Mehmed becomes the heir to the empire, everything changes. There is only war and bloodshed and sacrifices and heartbreak.

About a third (or maybe two-fifths) of this book is spent while Lada and Radu are young. The story starts when Lada is born, and then Radu. And then they are five and four, and their mother leaves them. And then they are eleven and ten, and Radu is just as weak and Lada just as ferocious as ever, And then they are thirteen and twelve, and the story really starts here. When the pair is forced to flee to the Ottomans, and they are left there by the father, their lives change. About five years pass, and the rest of the story goes from there.

Lada is scary! From the beginning of the story, she scared me. She is not afraid to wield a knife or punch a nobleman or sink her teeth into someone (use any weapons necessary, right?). Lada almost seems feral. And as she grows older, her temper and her ferocity do not diminish. But when she is around eighteen (the second half of the story), she becomes more contained in her anger and ferocity, not wild and crazed. It's more of a controlled chaos. So I think I liked Lada a lot more as the story went on - she seems less scary, though she definitely did not lose any intensity. She seemed more human, as the story progressed.

This book is written in third person, alternating between Lada and Radu. Radu is her brother, one year younger, a crybaby and a weak son. Everyone would pick on him and beat him up when he was little, and Lada saved his sorry butt more than once. As he grew up, he still cried way too much, but he also started using his soft nature to win people over. Just as Lada was using harsher, deadlier methods of inspiring fear, Radu began using his kindness to slip into the lives of others. Radu didn't impress me at all, initially, but I think I like him.

Mehmed is one of the sultan's son, and an heir of the Ottoman empire. When his brothers are killed, Mehmed becomes the sole heir, and the politics get hairy. Mehmed is around the same age as Lada, maybe a little older. Mehmed isn't power-hungry like so many rulers of the time, though I could see him becoming so in the future. I think I liked Mehmed, as much as you can like a son of a sultan, who has a harem and the potential to have a million wives and concubines...

The setting is so cool! It's clear to me that White did her research and did it well. She obviously knows her history, as she rewrites it well, but with her own twists. I wonder just how closely she'll stick to the actual history of Mehmed II and Vlad the Impaler (who is Lada, in this case). Anyway, I thought the historical time and place were very detailed!

The romance... okay, the triangle is kind of true. And you can probably tell who the people involved are. It's a triangle but it's not - we have Mehmed who is in love with Lada, and Lada who cares about Mehmed. But Lada is holding back because Mehmed is the son of a sultan - and therefore, Mehmed has a harem. Concubines. The potential for a bazillion wives, concubines, and children with different women. This doesn't sit well with Lada, and so she holds back. I believe Mehmed loves her (he says as much, but I also believe it in general), and I believe that Lada cares deeply for him. I love their romantic scenes together, though the scenes never go far (good for Lada!).

The other "side" to the love triangle is Radu's feelings for Mehmed. Mehmed loves Radu like a friend and brother (that I can tell), but Radu is totally in love with Mehmed. Which is awkward when Lada finds out - she gets jealous and angry. I wonder if Mehmed knows that Radu has feelings for him - probably? But Mehmed clearly only loves Lada, which is why I don't *really* think we're dealing with a love triangle here.

Of course, we could be, later in the series. My personal opinion is that Mehmed doesn't deserve Lada, and Lada should find a nice monogamous man who will satisfy her. 

In any case, the ending got pretty intense, and there was a ton of action in the second half of the book in general. I am kind of in shock at how the book ended - it wasn't too cliffhanger-y, but I'm nervous. I'm hoping that Lada is smart enough to do certain, um, things! I really want the next book ASAP.

What I Did Not Like:

Obviously, the mere mention of a love triangle is going to be a whole star at the least, knocked off. And we clearly have love triangle potential here - what if Mehmed decides he's in love with Radu? I'm 99% sure that won't happen (for several reasons), but you never know these days. But then, I also don't really care to see Lada end up with Mehmed (you'll see why, when you read the book). I actually am really hoping that White introduces a different love interest for Lada. As sizzling as the romantic scenes are between Lada and Mehmed... he's just not good enough for her. But then, I don't think Radu is either (and I'm 99% sure Mehmed is not only NOT gay, but he's totally in love with Lada). Ahhh, love triangles. Even this kind of love triangle makes me mad.

Would I Recommend It:

Hold off, if you're a love-triangle-hater (like myself - so I probably should have held off). I think the story is REALLY cool and enjoyable, and the setting and retelling are really well written. It's probably a book/series worth reading in general, but maybe when all of the books are published. This pesky non-linear romance is holding the story back, in my opinion.

Rating:

3.5 stars. I'm rounding up to 4 stars, but my true rating is 3.5 stars. I liked the book a lot, but I wish I felt more certain and less conflicted about the romance. I don't even really think this love interest is a good one, for Lada! But besides the romance, I think the book was good. Definitely worth pursuing the sequel!

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Waiting on Wednesday (#160): And I Darken by Kiersten White

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Book One of The Conquerors Saga

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: June 28, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

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. 

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I ADORED Kiersten White's last two published novels, The Chaos of Stars and Illusions of Fate. Set during the time of the Ottoman Empire, Vlad the Impaler? YES, PLEASE.

Review: Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn't—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

What I Liked:

Two words: historical fantasy. My two favorite genres put together, making my favorite subgenre! Actually, my favorite subgenre is medieval fantasy, but that's a subgenre of historical fantasy. Ha! Anyway. I had seriously high hopes for this book, and they totally panned out for me! I was disappointed by this book, which is always a plus. And I really, really enjoyed it, which was an even bigger plus!

Jessamin goes to school on Albion, which is a totally different place from her island home of Melei. For one, she has black skin, whereas the people of Albion are pale white. She is shunned, ignored, picked on, tormented, etc. at school. Her estranged father, a professor at the illustrious school, refuses to acknowledge her presence. Life isn't too hot in Albion, but Jessamin is determined to be perfect and a flawless student, so she can be a teacher on Melei.

Everything changes when Jessamin learns about the world of the nobility - in which the nobility all have magical abilities (which is what makes them the nobility). The Minister of Defense, Downpike, has a vendetta against Lord Finley Ackley (Finn), and Finn has a thing for Jessamin. She is caught in the middle, and she will find out just how much her country, her love, and her being means to her.

I absolutely LOVE the world-building of this book. Not just the setting, but the atmosphere of this novel. The setting is so well-written - I can practically see the streets, parks, houses, etc. But it's the atmosphere that took me by surprise. Jessamin feels totally out of sorts in Albion, since she is a "dirty islander rat" to the people of Albion. The other people from Melei treat her like a sister or daughter. Her cousin takes her in since the dorms at the school are too expensive, and he gives her a job at the hotel at which he works. The prejudice and stereotypes are cruel and harsh, but they go both ways. White does an excellent job of portraying the animosity between the two places.

I really like Jessamin. She is a commoner (not royalty), an outsider (from Melei), and she has no idea about the magical world that lies in Albion. Jessamin is curious and feisty, almost waspish, but I love it. She presses and presses until she finds out what she wants, or gets what she wants, but it's not in a selfish way. She has a prickly but likable personality. I certainly enjoyed her interactions with other characters in this book!

Also, how cool is it that Jessamin is a person of color?! She's described as having black skin, I believe. This is actually brought up a few times, as the prejudices also have to do with skin (not just power or location or money). I'm happy to see this diversity, especially in a historical fiction novel! Sort of historical fiction, anyway. It's more fantasy than historical fiction.

I LOVE Finn. Jessamin has nothing on Finn. Finn is devilish and charming, like, ACTUALLY charming. He is a rich, powerful lord - literally powerful, both in influence and in power. His parents were extremely powerful as well, but were murdered, leaving him with a ton of money and titles and property and power. Finn is sweet and roguish and not so forthcoming, yet he bares his soul over and over. Jessamin doesn't accept him at first, for most of the book, and hurts him over and over. I don't blame her as much as I might have, since it makes sense (Finn is a stranger to her, bringing her into a dangerous world), and it fits her personality. However. I would have given him a break ;)

That being said, I liked the romance a lot! I wanted to see more between Finn and Jessamin though. It's totally Jessamin's fault - she wouldn't take a chance on Finn. I don't blame her... but I do... but I don't. I would have trusted him, if only because he is a powerful lord, magically powerful... and handsome. I said "handsome" third, okay?

The plot is very interesting! I wanted to know how Finn would defeat Downpike. I wanted to know if the Hallin magic existed, and where to find it. I wanted to know MORE. I had a bad feeling about certain characters, and that foreshadowing was well-placed. I definitely didn't see the ending coming though - this is fabulously written, by White. What a way to weave a surprising climax and resolution!

I'm very pleased with this book! I'm glad it's a standalone novel, because everything wraps up well. The ending almost killed me (you are warned), but it worked out well in the end. I had questions at the end, but I kind of threw them out of the window because ehhh, things ended well and I'm not going to question certain things too much.

What I Did Not Like:

As I mentioned before - I wanted more from the romance. It's there, and I liked it, but more romance really would have made sense, with the tone of the story. I can't explain it, but it feels like there should have been a powerful, sweeping romance to match up with a powerful, sweeping tale of magic and lords and power. Magic struggle, power struggle, romance struggle, you know? Also, knowing the nature of the charming and lovely Finn... yeah, we needed more. The romance is always THERE... but not quite, physically.

Would I Recommend It:

Um, YEAH! Historical fiction + fantasy elements  = total win! I wanted a little more from the romance, but I'm slowly figuring out that it's just not White's style, it seems. I suppose that's okay.

Rating:

4 stars. Definitely My favorite Kiersten White book yet! I haven't read all of her so-far-published books (nor do I plan to do so), but I will continue to check out her upcoming releases. The Conquerors Saga is definitely high on my list of book priorities!

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Review: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: September 10, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

What I Liked:

Okay, I'll admit, I had a hard time starting this one. I read about half a percent on my Kindle, and couldn't get past it. Not because it was distasteful or boring, but because I heard things about this book. I heard that the heroine was whiny. I personally HATE whiny. So I put off this book as long as possibly because while I knew I would have to read this book eventually, I didn't want to deal with the whiny.

Well, people. I have no problem admitting that I was stupid to listen to those people, and stupid for waiting so long to read this book, and stupid for thinking that a whiny heroine would make me hate this book. Because honestly, Isadora was a bit whiny at times. But I really enjoyed this entire book. I am obsessed with Egyptian mythology, so I am glad that I stuck with this book.

Isadora is getting away from her Egyptian god and goddess family - for good, she hopes. Her mother, Isis, is having another baby. But then, Isis has a baby every twenty years. But Isadora is only sixteen. Why four years early? Isadora thinks her father, Osiris, doesn't know she exists, and her mother only cares about the new baby. Isadora also found out that she isn't a goddess, and that she won't be around forever.

So, yes, Isadora is unhappy about all of that. She does whine and complain about all that. She hates her older brother Horus and his despicable wife Hathor. She doesn't like her creepy half-brother Anubis. Her aunt Nephthys seems to care about her, and Thoth, the god of wisdom, but who knows. I understand why Isadora felt invisible. No one really loved her like she wanted them to love her.

So, her mother sends her to San Diego, on the pretense of having bad dreams about Isadora's safety. Isadora lives with her brother Sirus and his wife Deena, who is very close to giving birth to her own child. Isadora is happy  in San Diego, and she eventually grows to love the museum volunteering gig her mother forced her to do.

She meets Tyler, a girl about her age, who helps at the museum. Tyler is an amazing character! I love vivaciousness. Isadora also meets Orion - or "Ry" - who Isadora immediately attempts to dislike. Isadora doesn't want to love anyone, but she slowly falls in love with Ry. 

I love Ry! Not just as a love interest, but as a character with an important role in this book. As soon as Isadora goes into his house, I KNEW what was up with him and his parents. You'll read it, and you'll see. It's obvious, and very cool. Ry is cool. He's sweet and caring and understanding. He's not a "bad boy", or whatever. I really like him.

The climax of this book has to do with an old legend. Read the top part of each chapter. READ IT. It's important. The eARC doesn't really make the top part of the chapter and the actual chapter very different. But the hardcover and paperback copies might have that top part in italics. Read it - it helps you understand the climax. I had a feeling that several key characters were behind the big conflict - but one of them, I did not expect. Bravo on White's part, for building the suspense!

Character development - that is huge. One of the reasons why I took so long to read this book was because I heard people say that Isadora was whiny. I agree, she was. But this changes as the story goes on. Isadora is a very different girl by the end of the book - for the better.

No love triangle - it's just Ry and Isadora, and the progression of their relationship is beautiful to read. I was wondering how the end would work out, for the two of them, but I really like it. The end is a great end!

What I Did Not Like:

I did mention that I understood Isadora's whining - but to an extent. I totally understand both sides of the conflict. I get why Isadora was mad at her parents - especially her mother. But I could why Isis did things that she did. Sirus, Isadora's brother, explained things to Isadora that made sense. Isadora sees things the way an irrational teenager sees them. So, in that sense, I didn't like Isadora. Sometimes, her whining was unbearable. Other times, it takes one teenager to know one.

The climax was over pretty quickly. I mean, once Isadora figures out who and what and where, the falling action happens quickly. And then the end. Just something I noticed.

Would I Recommend It:

I would! I absolutely LOVE Egyptian mythology, and it was clear to me that White did her research. This book is definitely my favorite, of White's books that I have read!

Rating:

4 stars. The lesson for me: if I want to read something, no matter what I hear, read it and decide for myself!

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