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Heart of the Impaler
Ilona Csáki has no desire to marry the voivode's eldest son, but love and marriage are the least of her worries.
The royal family's enemies have already tried to put an arrow through her back—and if anyone discovers her blossoming feelings for her betrothed's cousin Andrei, and younger brother, Vlad, she may just wish they'd succeeded.
Beneath the shadow of impending war, the only battle that will be deadlier than the one for Ilona’s life will be the one for her heart.
In this dark, historical YA debut, two young men—one scarred and dutiful, the other wickedly magnetic—fall for the same young woman. But is it safe for her to love either of them back?
The royal family's enemies have already tried to put an arrow through her back—and if anyone discovers her blossoming feelings for her betrothed's cousin Andrei, and younger brother, Vlad, she may just wish they'd succeeded.
Beneath the shadow of impending war, the only battle that will be deadlier than the one for Ilona’s life will be the one for her heart.
In this dark, historical YA debut, two young men—one scarred and dutiful, the other wickedly magnetic—fall for the same young woman. But is it safe for her to love either of them back?
452 pages, Hardcover
First published December 7, 2021
12 people are currently reading
3206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 28, 2021
great premise. not so great execution. and i understand that this is a debut novel, so im trying to not judge so harshly, but theres so much about this that i would change.
im personally not a fan of love triangles, but i do know they can be effective if done right. and this love triangle was doomed from the beginning. the characters are pretty unlikable. vlad is just a whiny brat and ilona is boring as dirt. andrei is really the only character i didnt find completely lacking. but even then i dont know why any of them liked each other because so much of their crucial interactions happen OFF PAGE. which is a common occurrence for this story.
i was really looking forward to a story about vlad the impaler. but this isnt a story about him, its a story about him vying for a girls attention. and again, so much happens off page. i have no problem with this being a romance novel with a historic setting, rather than a historical fiction with a little side romance. totally fine. but either way, the reader needs to experience the key events that support the overall plot. you cant just allude to it and expect the reader to get on board with the story you are trying to sell.
i do think the setting is cool, and there is some evidence of strong research, but the poorly developed characters (i honestly think if vlad had been written differently, the entire story could have been turned around) and weak narrative make this hard to like. theres a lot of potential, but its just sadly missing the mark in the areas that matter.
thanks for the ARC, macmillan publishing.
↠ 2 stars
im personally not a fan of love triangles, but i do know they can be effective if done right. and this love triangle was doomed from the beginning. the characters are pretty unlikable. vlad is just a whiny brat and ilona is boring as dirt. andrei is really the only character i didnt find completely lacking. but even then i dont know why any of them liked each other because so much of their crucial interactions happen OFF PAGE. which is a common occurrence for this story.
i was really looking forward to a story about vlad the impaler. but this isnt a story about him, its a story about him vying for a girls attention. and again, so much happens off page. i have no problem with this being a romance novel with a historic setting, rather than a historical fiction with a little side romance. totally fine. but either way, the reader needs to experience the key events that support the overall plot. you cant just allude to it and expect the reader to get on board with the story you are trying to sell.
i do think the setting is cool, and there is some evidence of strong research, but the poorly developed characters (i honestly think if vlad had been written differently, the entire story could have been turned around) and weak narrative make this hard to like. theres a lot of potential, but its just sadly missing the mark in the areas that matter.
thanks for the ARC, macmillan publishing.
↠ 2 stars
January 15, 2023
Overall Rating : C
A good book if you're looking for a history lesson, but that's about it. There's some kind of "murder" mystery - if you can call it that - and some sort of love triangle, but it is very confusing and barely touched upon. The main character is some random girl that's not really all that different from any other girl in this book but somehow catches the attention of the two other main characters. I guess they really like her obsession with birds 😆
The only thing I really liked about it is the main antagonist, Vlad Dracul. He is just as viscous, cruel, narcissistic, and maniacal that I expected him to be. Some authors like to portray him as the morally grey, misunderstood character, and that's alright. But I really love it when my villains are VILLAINS .
So pick up for the history lesson, but stay for the baddy ;)
A good book if you're looking for a history lesson, but that's about it. There's some kind of "murder" mystery - if you can call it that - and some sort of love triangle, but it is very confusing and barely touched upon. The main character is some random girl that's not really all that different from any other girl in this book but somehow catches the attention of the two other main characters. I guess they really like her obsession with birds 😆
The only thing I really liked about it is the main antagonist, Vlad Dracul. He is just as viscous, cruel, narcissistic, and maniacal that I expected him to be. Some authors like to portray him as the morally grey, misunderstood character, and that's alright. But I really love it when my villains are VILLAINS .
So pick up for the history lesson, but stay for the baddy ;)
November 28, 2021
4/5 stars, that was a great retelling of vlad the impaler, but not as intense as some
Thank you Macmillan for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews for this book, but I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I can see how it would be boring for some people, as the plot didn't have a TON going on. But the main reason that I really enjoyed this was the nostalgic feeling I got reading about Wallachia and Transylvania again. I first read about this era in 'And I Darken' by Kiersten White, and fell in love as I had never read about it before. This felt the same, and I knew a lot of the vocabulary in advance so it was easy to understand what was going on. I feel like this is one of the main reasons people didn't enjoy it.
This story follows Illona when she becomes betrothed to the voivode's eldest son, but knows that love and marriage are the least of her worries. There has already been an assassination attempt against her and tensions are rising among the boyers, as a possible war looms on the horizon. If anyone finds out about her growing affection for the younger Dracul brother Vlad or his cousin Andrei, the battle for her heart will be deadlier than the war.
That is a very vague synopsis, to say the least, but really that is the entire plot. I can see how some people would get bored with this very quickly, and I think that's totally valid. It took me a while to get into it, but that often happens with e-books for me as well. I honestly didn't mind the love triangle, but I think that was because I know what to expect from Vlad. It wasn't my favorite love triangle ever done but I didn't hate it. I did enjoy the war aspects of this book as well, not much was seen as all of the main characters are a bit younger, but it was still interesting. It wasn't as bloody as other Vlad the Impaler retellings I have read, but it almost got there. There was lots of betrayal in this book as well, just what I was hoping for from it!
Like I said before I really loved being back in the environment of Wallachia and Transylvania. It is a really unique place with a really unique time period. That combined makes a really interesting story. It was helpful even for me who knew some of the terms that the author included a glossary at the back of the book. I think this time period is one of my favorites, despite me only reading a few books from it. I highly recommend this book for that reason!
Vlad was nothing short of fearless and relentlessly brutal in this novel, but that's honestly how he is supposed to be. I went into this story expecting this, and so I felt fine with his character. It was accurate to what I expected, but I can totally see how some people would hate this. He wasn't likeable in the slightest, and wasn't even unlikeable in a good sense. The reader is supposed to hate his character and I think the author did a good job of this.
Andrei was my favorite character in this novel, he was so sweet and caring. I think he was a nice foil character for Vlad, and that was what he was intended to be. It was very fun to see his mind work out a problem compared to Vlad, as it as often better thought out. I wish there was a bit more from his perspective, but I'm glad the second part of the book tried to rectify that. He found the bravery in himself at the end and I was very happy for him.
Illona has been described in various reviews as plain, but I thought she was just fine. She wasn't completely "not like other girls" trope, as she never shamed other girls for what they enjoyed. She was just interested in birds and sciences, and knew how to defend herself. As well, she was a good character to be in the middle of the love traingle. It actually made sense why she would feel that way, especially coming to a new country. I did enjoy her character and was content with her ending.
Overall this book was a really fun time for me because of the nostalgia for me, but I can see how it wouldn't be as fun for some people. However if you want a quick historical fiction with a unique time period I highly recommend this book. It was fun and I finished it pretty fast once I got into it.
[TW: death of a family member, blood, depiction of war, injuries, death, torture (mentioned), animal injury]
Thank you Macmillan for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews for this book, but I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I can see how it would be boring for some people, as the plot didn't have a TON going on. But the main reason that I really enjoyed this was the nostalgic feeling I got reading about Wallachia and Transylvania again. I first read about this era in 'And I Darken' by Kiersten White, and fell in love as I had never read about it before. This felt the same, and I knew a lot of the vocabulary in advance so it was easy to understand what was going on. I feel like this is one of the main reasons people didn't enjoy it.
This story follows Illona when she becomes betrothed to the voivode's eldest son, but knows that love and marriage are the least of her worries. There has already been an assassination attempt against her and tensions are rising among the boyers, as a possible war looms on the horizon. If anyone finds out about her growing affection for the younger Dracul brother Vlad or his cousin Andrei, the battle for her heart will be deadlier than the war.
That is a very vague synopsis, to say the least, but really that is the entire plot. I can see how some people would get bored with this very quickly, and I think that's totally valid. It took me a while to get into it, but that often happens with e-books for me as well. I honestly didn't mind the love triangle, but I think that was because I know what to expect from Vlad. It wasn't my favorite love triangle ever done but I didn't hate it. I did enjoy the war aspects of this book as well, not much was seen as all of the main characters are a bit younger, but it was still interesting. It wasn't as bloody as other Vlad the Impaler retellings I have read, but it almost got there. There was lots of betrayal in this book as well, just what I was hoping for from it!
Like I said before I really loved being back in the environment of Wallachia and Transylvania. It is a really unique place with a really unique time period. That combined makes a really interesting story. It was helpful even for me who knew some of the terms that the author included a glossary at the back of the book. I think this time period is one of my favorites, despite me only reading a few books from it. I highly recommend this book for that reason!
Vlad was nothing short of fearless and relentlessly brutal in this novel, but that's honestly how he is supposed to be. I went into this story expecting this, and so I felt fine with his character. It was accurate to what I expected, but I can totally see how some people would hate this. He wasn't likeable in the slightest, and wasn't even unlikeable in a good sense. The reader is supposed to hate his character and I think the author did a good job of this.
Andrei was my favorite character in this novel, he was so sweet and caring. I think he was a nice foil character for Vlad, and that was what he was intended to be. It was very fun to see his mind work out a problem compared to Vlad, as it as often better thought out. I wish there was a bit more from his perspective, but I'm glad the second part of the book tried to rectify that. He found the bravery in himself at the end and I was very happy for him.
Illona has been described in various reviews as plain, but I thought she was just fine. She wasn't completely "not like other girls" trope, as she never shamed other girls for what they enjoyed. She was just interested in birds and sciences, and knew how to defend herself. As well, she was a good character to be in the middle of the love traingle. It actually made sense why she would feel that way, especially coming to a new country. I did enjoy her character and was content with her ending.
Overall this book was a really fun time for me because of the nostalgia for me, but I can see how it wouldn't be as fun for some people. However if you want a quick historical fiction with a unique time period I highly recommend this book. It was fun and I finished it pretty fast once I got into it.
[TW: death of a family member, blood, depiction of war, injuries, death, torture (mentioned), animal injury]
September 11, 2023
Nice YA book about Vlad Dracula, The plot is as simple as it gets and therefore is easy to follow. The book made me want to read a sequel to this book so it succeeded in that regard. Classical love triangle, court politics and war with the background of the Transylvanian invasion by
January 8, 2022
DNF'd at 16%. Writing felt superficial and one dimensional and I could NOT stand these characters. The love triangle was set up from the first chapter, and only one of those characters was bearable. Illona was very much "not like other girls" and Vlad was just annoying.
I received an ARC of this title from NetGallley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this title from NetGallley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2021
The first thing I noticed about this book was a case of Special Snowflake Syndrome. Does the main character, Ilona, HAVE to be jaw-droppingly gorgeous without even knowing it (cough, cough, Bella, cough, cough Twillight)? And, on top of that, the author HAD to make her Not Like Other Girls.
I mean, seriously. Apparently, every single one of the other girls are completely shallow mean girls. And, of course, every single male has the hots for Ilona, which makes all the girls into jealous bitches. Can you get even more anti-feminist? This book is basically saying that girls are either gorgeous Special Snowflakes who catch male attention without even trying, or they are jealous, shallow bitches who don't matter.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being a physically attractive female. I'm just saying that other girls shouldn't be shamed if they aren't. One of the first scenes in this book is where a girl is portrayed as a shallow bitch and then shamed for not being able to catch the male attention that Ilona did. Should girls really be shown tearing each other down and fighting over scraps of male attention?
At a certain point, I just couldn't keep on reading this degrading portrayal of women.
I mean, seriously. Apparently, every single one of the other girls are completely shallow mean girls. And, of course, every single male has the hots for Ilona, which makes all the girls into jealous bitches. Can you get even more anti-feminist? This book is basically saying that girls are either gorgeous Special Snowflakes who catch male attention without even trying, or they are jealous, shallow bitches who don't matter.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being a physically attractive female. I'm just saying that other girls shouldn't be shamed if they aren't. One of the first scenes in this book is where a girl is portrayed as a shallow bitch and then shamed for not being able to catch the male attention that Ilona did. Should girls really be shown tearing each other down and fighting over scraps of male attention?
At a certain point, I just couldn't keep on reading this degrading portrayal of women.
August 18, 2024
…never let a man write romance again
December 27, 2021
1 star
I've done a lot of reviews lately where I have talked about how the marketing for some books just does not match up with what is inside the book. This is a unique case of that, considering that I honestly couldn't even tell you what this book was trying to be in the first place.
Honestly, I'm baffled. Is this supposed to be action-packed? Everything that could be considered "action" happens off-page and ends up being glossed over. Is this supposed to be an origin story for Vlad the Impaler? He begins and ends the book as an angry and vengeful monster. Nothing about him, or any of the other characters for that matter, really changes. Is this supposed to be an angsty romance? We are basically just told that our female protagonist is in love with certain characters and then the story moves on. In fact, almost the entire book falls under the umbrella of telling and not showing.
The initial idea for the book was good and I really wanted to like this, but I unfortunately found the execution to have been botched in almost every aspect of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
I've done a lot of reviews lately where I have talked about how the marketing for some books just does not match up with what is inside the book. This is a unique case of that, considering that I honestly couldn't even tell you what this book was trying to be in the first place.
Honestly, I'm baffled. Is this supposed to be action-packed? Everything that could be considered "action" happens off-page and ends up being glossed over. Is this supposed to be an origin story for Vlad the Impaler? He begins and ends the book as an angry and vengeful monster. Nothing about him, or any of the other characters for that matter, really changes. Is this supposed to be an angsty romance? We are basically just told that our female protagonist is in love with certain characters and then the story moves on. In fact, almost the entire book falls under the umbrella of telling and not showing.
The initial idea for the book was good and I really wanted to like this, but I unfortunately found the execution to have been botched in almost every aspect of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!
July 4, 2022
I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately I did not.
This story is about a love triangle, but it's hard to root for the romance if there's nothing attaching you to any of the characters. This book sounded like it was going to be an action-packed adventure, but a lot of the action happens off-page. It has a promising premise but the execution didn't do it for me unfortunately.
This story is about a love triangle, but it's hard to root for the romance if there's nothing attaching you to any of the characters. This book sounded like it was going to be an action-packed adventure, but a lot of the action happens off-page. It has a promising premise but the execution didn't do it for me unfortunately.
December 7, 2021
I'm a huge fan of stories with dark natures, so I was drawn to Heart of the Impaler from the start. I found the premise especially interesting as it was written without the guise of the usual vampiric themes (though I love those too) and I felt a pre-throne story of Vlad would be interesting.
There's a lot of potential here.. conceptually. Though it reads a bit more like an extended beginning of an idea than a complete one, despite the progress that is made. Rather, it feels like the bulk of the story could take place in about 30% of the pages written.. without all the fluff.
Normally, in a story like this.. which is basically dark, young adult/historical romance.. I enjoy the fluff too. And it's fine here. The book moves at a reasonable pace and spends time building relationships and backstories. It's just got a lot of growing to do.
As it's Delacroix's debut novel, like his story.. the author has a lot of room to evolve. I feel like he has a clear understanding of story structure, likely do to his language arts background.. but like most with 'teaching' as a day job.. it's left very little room for developing that craft. The result is a light, quick read with no real issues.. but also, no real passion for the story or the characters within.
Vlad and Andrei have some great backstory details that could make them swoonworthy candidates for Ilona's heart, but I find a lot of authors mistake 'young adult' for 'immature'.. and the two just aren't the same.
Worth the read for a rainy day.. or if you've got to wait somewhere and want something easy to keep up with even with interruptions. Definitely keep an eye on Delacroix though. Like I said, there's a lot of possibility here.. the ideas are great.
There's a lot of potential here.. conceptually. Though it reads a bit more like an extended beginning of an idea than a complete one, despite the progress that is made. Rather, it feels like the bulk of the story could take place in about 30% of the pages written.. without all the fluff.
Normally, in a story like this.. which is basically dark, young adult/historical romance.. I enjoy the fluff too. And it's fine here. The book moves at a reasonable pace and spends time building relationships and backstories. It's just got a lot of growing to do.
As it's Delacroix's debut novel, like his story.. the author has a lot of room to evolve. I feel like he has a clear understanding of story structure, likely do to his language arts background.. but like most with 'teaching' as a day job.. it's left very little room for developing that craft. The result is a light, quick read with no real issues.. but also, no real passion for the story or the characters within.
Vlad and Andrei have some great backstory details that could make them swoonworthy candidates for Ilona's heart, but I find a lot of authors mistake 'young adult' for 'immature'.. and the two just aren't the same.
Worth the read for a rainy day.. or if you've got to wait somewhere and want something easy to keep up with even with interruptions. Definitely keep an eye on Delacroix though. Like I said, there's a lot of possibility here.. the ideas are great.
September 29, 2021
Thank you to Teen Ink and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Alexander Delacroix transports the reader to a 1400s Wallachia full of betrayal, heartbreak, and intrigue with his debut YA Heart of the Impaler. When her family is forced to flee their home for Vlad Dracul’s court, 15-year-old Ilona is thrown into a world of shady politics and ever-changing alliances where trust is a luxury few can afford. After her father barters her hand in marriage for a promotion in rank, Ilona is left isolated and without allies at court - that is, until she meets the young, charismatic prince Vlad and his dutiful cousin Andrei. Even as her impending marriage to the cruel, self-centered crown prince looms over her, stolen meetings with Vlad brighten her days at the gloomy court. Little does she know of the growing tension between Vlad and Andrei as both cousins fall for her, or the cruelty and callousness Vlad’s growing obsession with Ilona will draw out of him.
If this sounds to you like a premise designed for petty, vapid characters, you are absolutely right. Ilona is relentlessly perfect at everything she attempts - languages, art, science, and weapons, to name a few - and is described over and over as jaw-droppingly gorgeous, often in comparison to other female characters. Vlad, who is meant to be a viable option in the love triangle, is so rude and egocentric from his first appearance on the page that it is exceedingly difficult to figure out what Ilona is supposed to see in him. Andrei is a cardboard cutout, and the crown prince Mircea is even worse. I was hoping to see some nuance in the relationship between Mircea and Vlad, which could have gone in some really interesting directions, but what the reader gets instead is a 2D villain whose only personality trait is cruelty.
The plot is no better. Mind-numbingly lacking in coherence or drive, Heart of the Impaler reads more like a series of random events happening to the main cast. Delacroix also makes several mystifying choices about what to leave off-screen, resulting in jarring transitions between chapters where armies arrive without warning on doorsteps and major supporting characters turn up dead. The combined effect was a story so dry and directionless my eyes kept wandering every few pages.
Perhaps the greatest disappointment, though, is how the book squanders such an interesting historical setting. Wallachia in the 1440s is rife with story potential, but the book is so poorly connected to historical events that a read-through of the Wikipedia page on Vlad Dracul III is far more engaging. There is so much political intrigue and real-life horror to tap into, but instead the book focuses on a melodramatic teen with anger issues and his love triangle with two fictional characters. The details that make a historical read so engaging are scattered at dismaying intervals, and three different languages are shoehorned in at every opportunity.
With shallow characters, a directionless plot, and a wasted setting, Heart of the Impaler is somewhat less than riveting. Unless they truly enjoy poorly written YA love triangles, readers are better off waiting for a historical YA that puts in the effort with its characters and rises to the occasion of its setting.
Alexander Delacroix transports the reader to a 1400s Wallachia full of betrayal, heartbreak, and intrigue with his debut YA Heart of the Impaler. When her family is forced to flee their home for Vlad Dracul’s court, 15-year-old Ilona is thrown into a world of shady politics and ever-changing alliances where trust is a luxury few can afford. After her father barters her hand in marriage for a promotion in rank, Ilona is left isolated and without allies at court - that is, until she meets the young, charismatic prince Vlad and his dutiful cousin Andrei. Even as her impending marriage to the cruel, self-centered crown prince looms over her, stolen meetings with Vlad brighten her days at the gloomy court. Little does she know of the growing tension between Vlad and Andrei as both cousins fall for her, or the cruelty and callousness Vlad’s growing obsession with Ilona will draw out of him.
If this sounds to you like a premise designed for petty, vapid characters, you are absolutely right. Ilona is relentlessly perfect at everything she attempts - languages, art, science, and weapons, to name a few - and is described over and over as jaw-droppingly gorgeous, often in comparison to other female characters. Vlad, who is meant to be a viable option in the love triangle, is so rude and egocentric from his first appearance on the page that it is exceedingly difficult to figure out what Ilona is supposed to see in him. Andrei is a cardboard cutout, and the crown prince Mircea is even worse. I was hoping to see some nuance in the relationship between Mircea and Vlad, which could have gone in some really interesting directions, but what the reader gets instead is a 2D villain whose only personality trait is cruelty.
The plot is no better. Mind-numbingly lacking in coherence or drive, Heart of the Impaler reads more like a series of random events happening to the main cast. Delacroix also makes several mystifying choices about what to leave off-screen, resulting in jarring transitions between chapters where armies arrive without warning on doorsteps and major supporting characters turn up dead. The combined effect was a story so dry and directionless my eyes kept wandering every few pages.
Perhaps the greatest disappointment, though, is how the book squanders such an interesting historical setting. Wallachia in the 1440s is rife with story potential, but the book is so poorly connected to historical events that a read-through of the Wikipedia page on Vlad Dracul III is far more engaging. There is so much political intrigue and real-life horror to tap into, but instead the book focuses on a melodramatic teen with anger issues and his love triangle with two fictional characters. The details that make a historical read so engaging are scattered at dismaying intervals, and three different languages are shoehorned in at every opportunity.
With shallow characters, a directionless plot, and a wasted setting, Heart of the Impaler is somewhat less than riveting. Unless they truly enjoy poorly written YA love triangles, readers are better off waiting for a historical YA that puts in the effort with its characters and rises to the occasion of its setting.
December 30, 2022
**NO SPOILERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS REVIEW*
"Nothing I want ever gets away."
Hey guys , so I actually picked this up on a whim. The premise reminded me of And I darken, and I enjoyed that series so I thought I'd give this a shot. Me enjoying historical fiction is hit or miss, but I did enjoy this book.I just wish the pronunciation guide and family tree were in the front of the book, not the back. This was a debut novel, so I did not expect perfection, but it was fine as it was.The writing was detailed enough to transport me into the world. I tend not to like too heavy details because my mind can get bogged down on those. Plus, some already kind of know some of the players involved so not alot has to be explained to understand the historical environment. The way it was explained though was good, not too overwhelming and easy to understand. It was clear that this was a character driven book and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their minds and heats.
The female lead...she annoyed me just a little. She would think something, then immediately do the opposite without any other..decison making. I felt like alot of actions or feelings the characters were feeling were rushed, but that just could be because of the nature of the book. There was slight groundwork, a tad more than insta love or insta rebel, but a little more mental hoops I would of enjoyed. But that is just me, I apparently like just the right amount of inner turmoil. That beingsaid, I did like the female lead. She did not want to fit into the general customs and culture expected of womn back then. I mostly like how she wanted to defy and go against the norm. #feminism.
Andrei was intriguing. The calm of the storm. More cautious, calculating, wiser. He was the other side t Vlad and I found his pov refreshing. He struggled between loyalty to his family and to his heart. He wanted to be honorable and be the kind of man a woman deserved, be the kind of brother a family deserved. He was sweet and thoughtful and deserved better. #mykinganyday
Now, Vlad I was the most intrigued with. I loved seeing his motives and motivations come to fruition in the book. I dont know what that says about meeee, but...rip. I have always believed no one is born evil, and one must learn and discover the how and why behind their actions. It was interesting to see how in this book, the desire for attention, and love manipulated and guided most of Vlad's behavior. What is sad, is how he could be charming and delightful when he wanted, but when he did not get his way.....
Overall, I enjoyed the bits of mystery woven in this story, the sprinkle of romance and the twist of plots throughout the ink. It was a fast and enjoyable read.I just kind of also wished it was a bit more savage aha. Alright, I think I have prattled on long enough. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own, read the book.
"Nothing I want ever gets away."
Hey guys , so I actually picked this up on a whim. The premise reminded me of And I darken, and I enjoyed that series so I thought I'd give this a shot. Me enjoying historical fiction is hit or miss, but I did enjoy this book.I just wish the pronunciation guide and family tree were in the front of the book, not the back. This was a debut novel, so I did not expect perfection, but it was fine as it was.The writing was detailed enough to transport me into the world. I tend not to like too heavy details because my mind can get bogged down on those. Plus, some already kind of know some of the players involved so not alot has to be explained to understand the historical environment. The way it was explained though was good, not too overwhelming and easy to understand. It was clear that this was a character driven book and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their minds and heats.
The female lead...she annoyed me just a little. She would think something, then immediately do the opposite without any other..decison making. I felt like alot of actions or feelings the characters were feeling were rushed, but that just could be because of the nature of the book. There was slight groundwork, a tad more than insta love or insta rebel, but a little more mental hoops I would of enjoyed. But that is just me, I apparently like just the right amount of inner turmoil. That beingsaid, I did like the female lead. She did not want to fit into the general customs and culture expected of womn back then. I mostly like how she wanted to defy and go against the norm. #feminism.
Andrei was intriguing. The calm of the storm. More cautious, calculating, wiser. He was the other side t Vlad and I found his pov refreshing. He struggled between loyalty to his family and to his heart. He wanted to be honorable and be the kind of man a woman deserved, be the kind of brother a family deserved. He was sweet and thoughtful and deserved better. #mykinganyday
Now, Vlad I was the most intrigued with. I loved seeing his motives and motivations come to fruition in the book. I dont know what that says about meeee, but...rip. I have always believed no one is born evil, and one must learn and discover the how and why behind their actions. It was interesting to see how in this book, the desire for attention, and love manipulated and guided most of Vlad's behavior. What is sad, is how he could be charming and delightful when he wanted, but when he did not get his way.....
Overall, I enjoyed the bits of mystery woven in this story, the sprinkle of romance and the twist of plots throughout the ink. It was a fast and enjoyable read.I just kind of also wished it was a bit more savage aha. Alright, I think I have prattled on long enough. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own, read the book.
December 1, 2021
I was so excited to read Heart of the Impaler. It had a great deal of promise, but didn't quite live up to it for me.
I was so excited to read Heart of the Impaler. It had a great deal of promise, but didn't quite live up to it for me.
I did enjoy reading about the time period and location. I found the basic storyline to be a good one. Also, I'm a reader that enjoys a good love triangle. Unfortunately, to enjoy love triangles, you nees to feel invested in all three. characters. I had a difficult time feeling that way about these characters. In my opinion, the only one with any redeeming qualities was Andrei. But even he could be frustrating when he allowed himself to be Vlad's sidekick through most of the book and was often led into bad situations because of it. Sadly, I completely disliked Vlad. I found him to be selfish, entitled and arrogant. I'm sure this personality was intended because he was strongly written that way. It just didn't appeal to be in this scenario. Lastly, Ilona was difficult for me to connect with as well. I didn't dislike her character, but I didn't really feel much about her at all. She was just kind of "there" in my opinion.
Even though this book looked to be something special. It moved slowly for me and didn't keep me engaged. It was too easy o put this book down. It didn't feel as if a great deal of action took place. A large portion of this story ended up being events we we were being told about, instead of "experiencing." To truly connect to a storyline, you need to be pulled into a lot of the action so you can see how the characters are impacted by it. For me, this left a gap in my ability to enjoy the book.. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review this book and the opinions contained within are my own.
I was so excited to read Heart of the Impaler. It had a great deal of promise, but didn't quite live up to it for me.
I did enjoy reading about the time period and location. I found the basic storyline to be a good one. Also, I'm a reader that enjoys a good love triangle. Unfortunately, to enjoy love triangles, you nees to feel invested in all three. characters. I had a difficult time feeling that way about these characters. In my opinion, the only one with any redeeming qualities was Andrei. But even he could be frustrating when he allowed himself to be Vlad's sidekick through most of the book and was often led into bad situations because of it. Sadly, I completely disliked Vlad. I found him to be selfish, entitled and arrogant. I'm sure this personality was intended because he was strongly written that way. It just didn't appeal to be in this scenario. Lastly, Ilona was difficult for me to connect with as well. I didn't dislike her character, but I didn't really feel much about her at all. She was just kind of "there" in my opinion.
Even though this book looked to be something special. It moved slowly for me and didn't keep me engaged. It was too easy o put this book down. It didn't feel as if a great deal of action took place. A large portion of this story ended up being events we we were being told about, instead of "experiencing." To truly connect to a storyline, you need to be pulled into a lot of the action so you can see how the characters are impacted by it. For me, this left a gap in my ability to enjoy the book.. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review this book and the opinions contained within are my own.
June 4, 2022
I want to be kind because this is a debut novel and writers can only ever grow from their debut novel. To be fair, there were some things I liked about this novel.
For example, as a linguistics nerd, it's very fun to see the study into language roots and the use of that in this story. Also, the setting is right up my alley! I find Slavic settings interesting in general, but a book set during the height of the Ottoman Empire? Count me in! It was also a very quick read. I've been working from home this past week and so have had a bunch of extra time to read; this one took all of 24 hours to complete.
Beyond that, though... there really wasn't much I enjoyed.
The love triangle was cartoonish and doomed from the start. Ilona was not interesting as a character or a love interest. GIVING A GIRL A HOBBY THAT'S NOT TRADITIONALLY "FEMININE" FOR THE TIME DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE A FEMALE CHARACTER INTERESTING.
My biggest pet peeve, though, is character defining moments happening "off screen". The biggest offender, for instance? Vlad killing his brother.
For several chapters, we see the seeds of resentment planted and growing quickly, even though early in the story, Vlad is adamant that he could never kill one of his own family. Each chapter before this "event" ends with some variation of Vlad thinking "he's going to pay" or "I'm going to kill him". But when he actually does the deed, we only hear about it mentioned after the fact by a character. I'm sorry, but that is a HUGE character defining moment that we haven't even explored!
I felt so disassociated from all of these characters and the stories happening. Also, while I appreciate the pronunciation guide at the end, I would have loved to have some more of the names added to that list.
For example, as a linguistics nerd, it's very fun to see the study into language roots and the use of that in this story. Also, the setting is right up my alley! I find Slavic settings interesting in general, but a book set during the height of the Ottoman Empire? Count me in! It was also a very quick read. I've been working from home this past week and so have had a bunch of extra time to read; this one took all of 24 hours to complete.
Beyond that, though... there really wasn't much I enjoyed.
The love triangle was cartoonish and doomed from the start. Ilona was not interesting as a character or a love interest. GIVING A GIRL A HOBBY THAT'S NOT TRADITIONALLY "FEMININE" FOR THE TIME DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MAKE A FEMALE CHARACTER INTERESTING.
My biggest pet peeve, though, is character defining moments happening "off screen". The biggest offender, for instance? Vlad killing his brother.
For several chapters, we see the seeds of resentment planted and growing quickly, even though early in the story, Vlad is adamant that he could never kill one of his own family. Each chapter before this "event" ends with some variation of Vlad thinking "he's going to pay" or "I'm going to kill him". But when he actually does the deed, we only hear about it mentioned after the fact by a character. I'm sorry, but that is a HUGE character defining moment that we haven't even explored!
I felt so disassociated from all of these characters and the stories happening. Also, while I appreciate the pronunciation guide at the end, I would have loved to have some more of the names added to that list.
December 16, 2021
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for sending me an eARC of Heart of the Impaler to read and review on my platforms. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"That's the problem with kings and princes. Their promises are easily made, easily broken."
This is weirdly specific, but 3.5 stars. This is not a bad review from me - I just didn't enjoy this book so much to read it again (which is what I usually reserve for 4 stars and up), but also where I did enjoy it.
Here's the biggest problem with Heart of the Impaler: there is nearly NO plot. Based on the title alone, you would think this would be a retelling of Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula). When I read the synopsis and it said "for fans of Kiersten White's And I Darken" I was so excited for another Dracula retelling. However, the story has some VERY loose elements of this since Vlad is the main character, but he doesn't go off the deep end of insanity UNTIL the end.
You may be thinking, huh, then why is it titled "Heart of the Impaler"? This is because the whole story centers on the love triangle between Ilona (the female love interest), Vlad, and Andrei (Vlad's cousin, they are like brothers though). It tells the story of how Vlad became infamous for staking people due to an obsession with a girl, who loved his cousin instead of him.
While I was bummed that the story didn't focus more on a plot, the worldbuilding and history elements were AMAZING. In addition, I had FUN reading this book. I've been in a reading slump since March, and while I've still been reading books, every book I've read has been somewhat dull to me. This historical romance book has gotten me out of it finally (I think) because I enjoyed the romance. I will confirm this theory once I start reading "The Last She".
My other issue with this book was with the characters. Everyone, save Andrei, was SUPER boring and archetypal. For example, Ilona alone fit into several tropes, including "I'm-not-like-other-girls", "good-at-everything-she-tries", and the "I'm-prettier-than-everyone-but-don't-know-it". However, she had some redeeming qualities like being determined, independent, and headstrong (NOT smart though. She was very naive). I also found her unique in the fact that she loved studying birds. I've never read a book where the female MC did this. I HATED Vlad for the most part. For the brief time that he was sweet to Ilona, I liked him. But the rest of the time, I hated his egotistical, entitled butt. I did notice that Delacroix (whether purposely or not) made Andrei and Vlad character foils. What I mean by this is that they are opposites: Andrei is quiet and a follower, while Vlad is boastful and a leader. Andrei is cautious and strategic, while Vlad is impulsive.
I did like the fact that there were three different POVs. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish at first who was narrating because there weren't any headers for when it switched, but it was easy to figure out who once I got further into the sections.
Overall, Heart of the Impaler is the new release you should reach for if you want a book with a love triangle and a dash of history.
"That's the problem with kings and princes. Their promises are easily made, easily broken."
This is weirdly specific, but 3.5 stars. This is not a bad review from me - I just didn't enjoy this book so much to read it again (which is what I usually reserve for 4 stars and up), but also where I did enjoy it.
Here's the biggest problem with Heart of the Impaler: there is nearly NO plot. Based on the title alone, you would think this would be a retelling of Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula). When I read the synopsis and it said "for fans of Kiersten White's And I Darken" I was so excited for another Dracula retelling. However, the story has some VERY loose elements of this since Vlad is the main character, but he doesn't go off the deep end of insanity UNTIL the end.
You may be thinking, huh, then why is it titled "Heart of the Impaler"? This is because the whole story centers on the love triangle between Ilona (the female love interest), Vlad, and Andrei (Vlad's cousin, they are like brothers though). It tells the story of how Vlad became infamous for staking people due to an obsession with a girl, who loved his cousin instead of him.
While I was bummed that the story didn't focus more on a plot, the worldbuilding and history elements were AMAZING. In addition, I had FUN reading this book. I've been in a reading slump since March, and while I've still been reading books, every book I've read has been somewhat dull to me. This historical romance book has gotten me out of it finally (I think) because I enjoyed the romance. I will confirm this theory once I start reading "The Last She".
My other issue with this book was with the characters. Everyone, save Andrei, was SUPER boring and archetypal. For example, Ilona alone fit into several tropes, including "I'm-not-like-other-girls", "good-at-everything-she-tries", and the "I'm-prettier-than-everyone-but-don't-know-it". However, she had some redeeming qualities like being determined, independent, and headstrong (NOT smart though. She was very naive). I also found her unique in the fact that she loved studying birds. I've never read a book where the female MC did this. I HATED Vlad for the most part. For the brief time that he was sweet to Ilona, I liked him. But the rest of the time, I hated his egotistical, entitled butt. I did notice that Delacroix (whether purposely or not) made Andrei and Vlad character foils. What I mean by this is that they are opposites: Andrei is quiet and a follower, while Vlad is boastful and a leader. Andrei is cautious and strategic, while Vlad is impulsive.
I did like the fact that there were three different POVs. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish at first who was narrating because there weren't any headers for when it switched, but it was easy to figure out who once I got further into the sections.
Overall, Heart of the Impaler is the new release you should reach for if you want a book with a love triangle and a dash of history.
December 6, 2021
Ilona Csáki's father has been invited to the voivode residence after a long absence. Ilona has no idea that the voivode's invitation comes with a heavy consequence for Ilona. In a political play, Dracul II, aligns Ilona's father to him through her betrothal to his eldest son, Mircea. Ilona is shocked at the news and Mircea is distant, seeing her as simply a pawn. However, Mircea's younger brother, Vlad and his cousin Andrei both give Ilona attention. As Wallachia enters the war, Ilona's life is endangered. Mircea and Vlad head to the warfront and Andrei attempts to protect Ilona. While at war, Vlad's true colors show and Ilona realizes the danger Vlad presents.
Heart of the Impaler is a young adult romance set during Vlad II Dracul's Ottoman crusade. This story is not historically accurate, but does show the political upheaval of the region during the mid 15th century. I was probably most interested in the portrayal of how Vlad II maintained his power and ran his household. The point of view switches between Ilona, Vlad and Andrei as they discover what love means. Ilona's character is sensible and caring. Andrei is loyal and brave, Vlad's character is power hungry and relentless. Vlad becomes more and more unhinged as he becomes closer to power and his violent temperament comes through. The writing did make some time jumps that glossed over important events and made me think I missed something. The ending does leave more to be discovered for Andrei, Vlad and Ilona as they are left in a suspenseful state.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Heart of the Impaler is a young adult romance set during Vlad II Dracul's Ottoman crusade. This story is not historically accurate, but does show the political upheaval of the region during the mid 15th century. I was probably most interested in the portrayal of how Vlad II maintained his power and ran his household. The point of view switches between Ilona, Vlad and Andrei as they discover what love means. Ilona's character is sensible and caring. Andrei is loyal and brave, Vlad's character is power hungry and relentless. Vlad becomes more and more unhinged as he becomes closer to power and his violent temperament comes through. The writing did make some time jumps that glossed over important events and made me think I missed something. The ending does leave more to be discovered for Andrei, Vlad and Ilona as they are left in a suspenseful state.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 20, 2021
Initial Thoughts
I was really intrigued when I saw this was a YA story about Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is such an interesting historical figure with a complicated history and I was eager to see how the author was going to handle that.
Some Things I Liked
I enjoyed the historical elements. I liked the use of other languages, authentic places and real family names. It felt well researched.
Andrei. He was the only character worth anything.
Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
Vlad. He was no vampire. He wasn’t a book boyfriend. He was a brat and he annoyed me to no end.
Ilona. It’s a bad sign when I don’t like two out of three central characters. Ilona was terribly boring and I felt like she didn’t really do anything to merit the attention of both Vlad and Andrei.
The plot and pacing. Several (what I’m assuming are pivotal) moments are only glossed over or alluded to which leaves the reader with huge gaps of time. I couldn’t understand why Vlad and Andrei both liked Ilona but it’s implied that they spend time together outside the scenes we read. Too much of the plot took place off the page and therefore the actual story was quite dull.
Series Value
I can’t see much series value here. The story isn’t set up for too much more that isn’t exactly as history played out. Furthermore, I didn’t like any of the characters enough to want to know more.
Final Thoughts
This is really a 2.5 star review for me. I struggled with this book and I think similar minded readers will feel the same issues. I will round up for a debut but I don’t feel compelled to read more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was really intrigued when I saw this was a YA story about Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is such an interesting historical figure with a complicated history and I was eager to see how the author was going to handle that.
Some Things I Liked
I enjoyed the historical elements. I liked the use of other languages, authentic places and real family names. It felt well researched.
Andrei. He was the only character worth anything.
Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
Vlad. He was no vampire. He wasn’t a book boyfriend. He was a brat and he annoyed me to no end.
Ilona. It’s a bad sign when I don’t like two out of three central characters. Ilona was terribly boring and I felt like she didn’t really do anything to merit the attention of both Vlad and Andrei.
The plot and pacing. Several (what I’m assuming are pivotal) moments are only glossed over or alluded to which leaves the reader with huge gaps of time. I couldn’t understand why Vlad and Andrei both liked Ilona but it’s implied that they spend time together outside the scenes we read. Too much of the plot took place off the page and therefore the actual story was quite dull.
Series Value
I can’t see much series value here. The story isn’t set up for too much more that isn’t exactly as history played out. Furthermore, I didn’t like any of the characters enough to want to know more.
Final Thoughts
This is really a 2.5 star review for me. I struggled with this book and I think similar minded readers will feel the same issues. I will round up for a debut but I don’t feel compelled to read more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 30, 2021
2 Stars
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I'm just going to say... if you want to do a romance with a very dark figure from history, you need to actually embrace the darkness. Here, that didn't happen. Now, I'm not fully here for a Vlad-the-Impaler-love-triangle-romance, but I WANTED to be here for one. I did. And there were some things that needed to happen for this to work. Either 1) Vlad needed to be sadistic, truly an irrevocably or 2) there needed to be vampires. Alas, this featured neither of those things, and as every other character (and sometimes Vlad himself) was nothing more than a cardboard cutout of a character archetype... Yeah, not for me. Sorry.
There were some positives--some directions I wish this book had gone instead--and that will be explored in my full book review, available December 31, 2021 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I'm just going to say... if you want to do a romance with a very dark figure from history, you need to actually embrace the darkness. Here, that didn't happen. Now, I'm not fully here for a Vlad-the-Impaler-love-triangle-romance, but I WANTED to be here for one. I did. And there were some things that needed to happen for this to work. Either 1) Vlad needed to be sadistic, truly an irrevocably or 2) there needed to be vampires. Alas, this featured neither of those things, and as every other character (and sometimes Vlad himself) was nothing more than a cardboard cutout of a character archetype... Yeah, not for me. Sorry.
There were some positives--some directions I wish this book had gone instead--and that will be explored in my full book review, available December 31, 2021 at Gateway Reviews.
January 2, 2022
When I first saw the title for this book I got excited because I thought I was getting another Vlad the Impaler vampire book. It was a Vlad the Impaler book, but it was so disappointing to see there was absolutely no hint of vampirism anywhere in this book.
This book was more of a young adult telling of the royal court back during the time of Vald the Impaler. Most of this book is told from the perspective of Ilona, the daughter of an influential boyar. Her father is husband hunting for her when she is betrothed to Vlad's eldest brother. Vlad is completely infatuated with her.
This was probably the most average book I have read on every level. I didn't dislike it enough to stop reading it, but I didn't like it enough to rush through it. It took me forever to get through it and once I did, I neither loved nor hated this book.
This book was more of a young adult telling of the royal court back during the time of Vald the Impaler. Most of this book is told from the perspective of Ilona, the daughter of an influential boyar. Her father is husband hunting for her when she is betrothed to Vlad's eldest brother. Vlad is completely infatuated with her.
This was probably the most average book I have read on every level. I didn't dislike it enough to stop reading it, but I didn't like it enough to rush through it. It took me forever to get through it and once I did, I neither loved nor hated this book.
January 11, 2022
I actually enjoyed this book. Were there things that could be worked on? Yes. Did that make it a book that’s less than worthy of being published? No.
Though the timeline was off, and Ilona and Andrei’s characters were fictional, I still found this to be an action packed and compelling read.
Having written a film treatment about Vlad, myself, I still think the author managed to capture his fits of rage as well as making it as authentic to the times as he could. I don’t understand all of the bad reviews.
If you don’t mind history being rewritten a little bit, I say give this one a go. After all, there are creative liberties to be taken when it comes to putting your own spin on something.
Though the timeline was off, and Ilona and Andrei’s characters were fictional, I still found this to be an action packed and compelling read.
Having written a film treatment about Vlad, myself, I still think the author managed to capture his fits of rage as well as making it as authentic to the times as he could. I don’t understand all of the bad reviews.
If you don’t mind history being rewritten a little bit, I say give this one a go. After all, there are creative liberties to be taken when it comes to putting your own spin on something.
February 16, 2022
Based on my feelings alone, I would just give it 3 stars. I just liked this one. I didn't get a lot of feels in this. But there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. It was written well, it had a good plot, the characters were well rounded. I was happy about the ending but I think I expected it to be a fantasy and it was a historical fiction. Which is completely fine! I just wasn't blown away. HOWEVER I would actually highly recommend this to high schoolers! I think it's a really good introduction to the history of Dracula. I found myself doing some quick reading on the history!
December 24, 2021
I was so excited to read Heart of the Impaler. It had a great deal of promise, but didn't quite live up to it for me. While there is so much richness in this plot and so much to make it epic, the author skipped right over some of the most grabbing, major scenes and just filled the readers in through conversations in the 'after'. I'm bummed because I really wanted to love it.
January 10, 2022
3.5 stars
October 18, 2022
Fun read ❤️
June 21, 2021
Heart of the Impaler is an intriguing historical romance about Vlad Dracul as a young man. The blend of historical fact and fiction is really well done. The book is about Vlad, his fictional cousin Andrei, and Ilona (also fictional) the girl they both fall for. Im usually not the biggest fan of love triangles but this one wasn't bad as you could tell from the beginning who would win Ilona's heart. The characters where likable and believable. The romance was absolutely sweet even if some would say predictable. I really liked the evolution of Vlad"s character throughout the book from the downtrodden "spare heir" to the blood soaked, calculating prince he is at the end.
The ending leaves the story open for another book. Im not sure if another one is planned but I would definitely check it out if it is. Overall it was an entertain and quick read that I wold recommend to anyone that enjoys historical romance and has an interest in Vlad Dracul.
The ending leaves the story open for another book. Im not sure if another one is planned but I would definitely check it out if it is. Overall it was an entertain and quick read that I wold recommend to anyone that enjoys historical romance and has an interest in Vlad Dracul.
July 22, 2021
I have a soft spot in my heart for historical fiction based on real people. Imagine the audacity it must take to look at a real person and write a completely fictional story about their life. An alternate universe, if you will. Heart of the Impaler is almost 100% made up, including the characters of Andrei and Ilona. Not that that’s inherently a bad thing, just worth mentioning.
The book itself was good. It was well-written and I enjoyed reading it. but it did a few unforgivable things.
1. A lot of the action happens off page, like Vlad killing Mircea. This is a pivotal moment in the book and in Vlad’s character development. Arguably it’s the most significant scene in the book, and it’s not actually shown. We see all the build up: Mircea bullying Vlad, etc. but not the most important part. (This is actually why the book got 3 stars instead of 4. It’s unforgivable.)
2. After killing Mircea, Vlad becomes the Crown Prince and Leads the voivode’s armies, and yet we don’t see a single battle with him in command. It’s just skipped over. The book started to become really boring because every time something exciting was about to happen, the scene would change or the chapter would end.
3. This isn’t quite unforgivable, but I felt like the mystery was underdeveloped. There could have been more of Vlad and Andrei trying to investigate the wooden key or talking to more maids. “V.C.” actually was introduced early. The mystery felt like a weird side plot that seemed important at the beginning, got thrown to the wayside in the middle, and then came back when Andrei found the list of who supported whom politically. Ultimately it only became important because Andrei and Ilona were able to find allies against the voivode.
Heart of the Impaler was a good read, but honestly, somebody needs to grab the author by the shoulders and tell him that he needs to actually write the action in his book instead of just describing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2021
A perfect pick for AND I DARKEN fans!
A glimpse into the dark and twisted young life of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). Historically accurate and sweetly haunting, the story is also told by Ilona (engaged to Vlad’s older brother) and Andrei (Vlad’s cousin). Both Vlad and Andrei fancy Ilona, but she is a pawn in Wallachian politics and her father’s machinations. She is never given a choice, until she chooses her own path. Andrei will have to choose between the man he loves like a brother and the woman who has his heart. Vlad must decide how far he is willing to go to get what he wants.
Sweet romance simmers throughout the book. Historical, cultural, and political details are woven seamlessly in the tapestry of the story.
A glimpse into the dark and twisted young life of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). Historically accurate and sweetly haunting, the story is also told by Ilona (engaged to Vlad’s older brother) and Andrei (Vlad’s cousin). Both Vlad and Andrei fancy Ilona, but she is a pawn in Wallachian politics and her father’s machinations. She is never given a choice, until she chooses her own path. Andrei will have to choose between the man he loves like a brother and the woman who has his heart. Vlad must decide how far he is willing to go to get what he wants.
Sweet romance simmers throughout the book. Historical, cultural, and political details are woven seamlessly in the tapestry of the story.
April 22, 2021
Could not get into this book.
I didn't like any of the characters.
Nothing had me hooked.
Too bad.
I didn't like any of the characters.
Nothing had me hooked.
Too bad.
January 6, 2022
Actual rating: 1.5 stars.
DNF at Chapter 11 (35%).
I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did on this one, and honestly, it was mostly because I am interested in the region and the history, and I kept hoping it would get better.
On a line-by-line level, there's nothing overtly horrible. The storytelling and character development especially, however, leave a lot to be desired. I'm someone who reads voraciously enough that I read a lot of fanfiction and FictionPress (pre-Wattpad) and self-published books back in the day, in addition to reading across the whole gamut of traditionally published fiction, so I have a fairly high tolerance for less polished writing, and sometimes you find some gems in there that are really fun and gratifying, if nothing else.
This one... I'm sort of surprised it was picked to be published from Swoon Reads. Other Swoon Reads books have been more of what I've described, and especially with a professional editor, have turned out to be entertaining and enjoyable in their own right. I'm also a pretty big fan of cliché, predictable romances and definitely enjoy them from time to time.
Here, well--one, I remember I made a comment to my brother after watching Pitch Perfect that I knew even before the credits that the writer was a woman, because the romance really got to me with subtle details I didn't know would matter so much to me. He found this an interesting comment, and I totally forgot about this until I read this book, because to me, this was very obviously a romance written by a man. I'm not saying only women can write good romance, or that all romances written by men are bad. But I am saying that you can usually tell, and I could really, REALLY tell here.
The romance felt unnatural to the point of cringiness, and in part it was because I don't think the author had any idea how to write the descent of an otherwise handsome and likable boy into a violent, crazed killer. There's far too much "foreshadowing" (too blunt to be called foreshadowing, really) from far too early on, so there's no time for the reader to actually like Vlad as a character. You can tell you're supposed to, and apparently he's handsome and apparently he has his moments, but the violence is too ingrained from the beginning and the contrast with Andrei (who is boring but obviously a better person) does not help with that.
It felt so awkward to read about Ilona unexpectedly feeling things about Vlad's handsomeness right after she sees an example of his cruelty toward birds, seeing how much she was shaken by that. And the budding attraction toward Andrei is also described extremely clumsily. All in all, I felt like I was supposed to root for something or other because Vlad is considered handsome and Andrei is clearly not insane like Vlad. In the hands of a more skilled author, this could have been a subtle and interesting and even a compelling journey, but here, everything fell flat.
I would actually love to see a good YA treatment of Vlad the Impaler's story, and think that could potentially be fascinating, but a good premise alone was not enough to sustain my interest here.
DNF at Chapter 11 (35%).
I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did on this one, and honestly, it was mostly because I am interested in the region and the history, and I kept hoping it would get better.
On a line-by-line level, there's nothing overtly horrible. The storytelling and character development especially, however, leave a lot to be desired. I'm someone who reads voraciously enough that I read a lot of fanfiction and FictionPress (pre-Wattpad) and self-published books back in the day, in addition to reading across the whole gamut of traditionally published fiction, so I have a fairly high tolerance for less polished writing, and sometimes you find some gems in there that are really fun and gratifying, if nothing else.
This one... I'm sort of surprised it was picked to be published from Swoon Reads. Other Swoon Reads books have been more of what I've described, and especially with a professional editor, have turned out to be entertaining and enjoyable in their own right. I'm also a pretty big fan of cliché, predictable romances and definitely enjoy them from time to time.
Here, well--one, I remember I made a comment to my brother after watching Pitch Perfect that I knew even before the credits that the writer was a woman, because the romance really got to me with subtle details I didn't know would matter so much to me. He found this an interesting comment, and I totally forgot about this until I read this book, because to me, this was very obviously a romance written by a man. I'm not saying only women can write good romance, or that all romances written by men are bad. But I am saying that you can usually tell, and I could really, REALLY tell here.
The romance felt unnatural to the point of cringiness, and in part it was because I don't think the author had any idea how to write the descent of an otherwise handsome and likable boy into a violent, crazed killer. There's far too much "foreshadowing" (too blunt to be called foreshadowing, really) from far too early on, so there's no time for the reader to actually like Vlad as a character. You can tell you're supposed to, and apparently he's handsome and apparently he has his moments, but the violence is too ingrained from the beginning and the contrast with Andrei (who is boring but obviously a better person) does not help with that.
It felt so awkward to read about Ilona unexpectedly feeling things about Vlad's handsomeness right after she sees an example of his cruelty toward birds, seeing how much she was shaken by that. And the budding attraction toward Andrei is also described extremely clumsily. All in all, I felt like I was supposed to root for something or other because Vlad is considered handsome and Andrei is clearly not insane like Vlad. In the hands of a more skilled author, this could have been a subtle and interesting and even a compelling journey, but here, everything fell flat.
I would actually love to see a good YA treatment of Vlad the Impaler's story, and think that could potentially be fascinating, but a good premise alone was not enough to sustain my interest here.
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