And I Darken: The Conqueror's Saga #1 Kiersten White First Edition Hardcover

And I Darken by Kiersten White is the first book in The Conqueror's Saga, a historical fantasy trilogy that reimagines the story of Vlad the Impaler with a female protagonist, Lada Dragwlya. The novel follows Lada and her brother Radu, who are sent as political hostages to the Ottoman court, where they grow up alongside Mehmed, the future Sultan, forming a complex and often toxic love triangle as Lada plots revenge and Radu finds a new home. It's known for its dark, brutal, and unapologetically feminist take on power, survival, and identity, exploring themes of loyalty, vengeance, and what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal world. Key aspects of the novel: Protagonist: Lada Dragwlya, a ruthless and fierce anti-princess who is a gender-bent version of Vlad the Impaler. Setting: 15th-century Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Plot: Lada and her brother Radu are abandoned by their father and raised as hostages in the Ottoman court, where they become entangled with Mehmed, the Sultan's son. Themes: Survival, power, vengeance, identity, and a toxic love triangle between Lada, Radu, and Mehmed. Genre: Dark, historical, and feminist young adult fiction, with mature and violent content. Series: It is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Now I Rise and Bright We Burn (though the latter is not mentioned in the snippets).