Everytime I think I can't be more shocked by Lada I am. She is probably the fiercest anti-heroine to ever grace the book world and I am so grateful to her because she is freaking amazing. Genderbent fantasy is my new favorite genre all thanks to this series. My only complaint is that I might kill someone while I'm dying over here waiting for the final book!!!!!

Thanks for Netgalley and Random House Publisher for providing me an arc for Now I Rise.

I am reading this book in a long time. I have seen many good reviews about this book saying that this book is a lot much better than the first one. For me, I am sad that this book just didn't really reach me enough into the category.

Now I Rise, as I can say, is an okay read. I am intrigue by the plot and how the story rolls between the characters. Radu character improve a lot in this book as we can see how a person Radu become in this book. Lada journey in this book was trying to get into Wallachia and getting her the throne she believed she deserved. I like Lada in the first book and I like her more in this book. The touch about Islam in this book is fascinating and I like reading it because it is rare a book telling about religion like this.

Nevertheless, I don't quite enjoying the pace of this book. The slow pace is almost killing me when I get finally attached until the half of the book. The other problem for me why I didn't give this more rating is just the writing didn't give me any feelings at all. I am reading it without any emotion. I am feeling complicated... I think I can't get through this book with the same feeling as everyone else.

While not as captivating as the first book in White's Conqueror's Saga, Now I Rise is still a solid sequel. Loosely based on actual events, i.e. the fall of Constantinople, this series is wonderfully refreshing in both its locale and subject matter. However, Lada, appears as a weaker character this time around, particularly because of her feelings for Mehmed, which cloud her judgment. She started to get some of the old fire back toward the middle of the novel, though. She's much more interesting traveling/fighting with her group of soldiers. I felt the same about Radu. He is tasked with infiltrating Constantinople and spying for Mehmed, but he spends an awful lot of time dealing with his romantic feelings. The best relationship in these books is between Lada and Radu, who unfortunately spend the entire novel separated. Despite these shortcomings the writing is fantastic. It's a slow read, but it eventually gets where it's going and the payoff is definitely worth the wait. Recommended for fans of darker, historical settings with just a hint of fantasy who are looking for something a little different.

Seeing as it's been so long since I received this title from you, it's probably unnecessary and, quite frankly, a little redundant to send this non-review in because I'm sure my absent review spoke enough for itself. It's always difficult for me to send in non-reviews because I feel like upon requesting a title, I'm making a bit of an agreement with the publisher that I'll read and provide a review at a later date.

I feel it obligatory to express that I had every intention of doing so, but I just couldn't finish this book. I tried reading it several times, but it never captured my attention. After numerous attempts and unsuccessful results, I finally realized that perhaps this book just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate you considering me for this title, and hope to have a better outcome for you in any future review endeavors should you grant me the opportunity.

This was an excellent installment in the Conquerer's Saga. Lada is unlike any character i have encountered before. She is the first character I think of when we have the discussion whether a character has to be likable in order to root for their success. Seeing as there is more book coming in the series, I think Lada will always be abrasive and rough to Radu's kind and gentle heart, but there is still time for things to change. There is so much happening at once and I'm looking forward to where it goes next.

i unfortunately had to give up on this one. i enjoyed the first one, though it was long and slow. i just couldn't get into this one unfortunately. thanks anyway netgalley.

Lada has turned her back on Mehmed and is heading to her beloved Wallachia to take the throne of her homeland. She and Bogdan and her men are determined to let nothing get in her way. Her brother Radu has been sent by Mehmed behind enemy lines to spy on Constantine. This second book in The Conqueror’s Saga continues to follow the history of the Ottomans and Vlad the Impaler. White has switched Vlad’s sex to the female Lada without losing the ruthlessness and strength of the historic figure. Lada won’t let her passions or her sympathies deter her from becoming the ruler of her country. Radu plays a less straightforward role. He will spy for Mehmed at the same time as he fights alongside Constantine’s men. His loyalties are split, but he will always choose to side with his beloved Mehmed.

White brings the history of the Ottomans to life. The violence and cruelty of the time is horrifically riveting. Lada stays true to her mission and the loyalty of her men is a testament to her. Radu‘s allegiance is complicated and tricky. He works both for and against the men he’s spying on. His interior struggle demonstrates his tortured soul. The plot has depth and complexity, holding readers hostage to the action that races forward along with Lada and Radu. The ending leaves no doubt there’s more to their story and readers will be waiting anxiously for White’s next book.
4.5*

Delacorte Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Now I Rise. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Lada and Radu Dracul find themselves with differing loyalties, leaving Lada at an extreme disadvantage. As her brother is working to further Mehmed's control in Constantinople, Lada is exacting revenge against those who dare defy her. Will her desire for a prosperous Wallachia push Lada to lengths for which she may never recover? Will her defiance of the Ottoman ways contribute to her downfall? Will Radu and Mehmed be able to align with Lada once more?

Overall, Now I Rise was entirely too long for its somewhat simplistic plot. Plotting revenge and overthrowing empires are not new themes and the characters are lackluster at best. I was not a fan of the setting either, so I found myself struggling to maintain a level of interest in the story. In a genre full of stories with similar concepts, Now I Rise just does not stand out.

Holy crap. Can this series get any better? It's been such a long time since I read a 5-star book! Honestly, I think the last time I felt this strongly about a series was after reading the first 2 books in the ToG series. If you've read And I Darken and found yourself thinking, "Can this get any better?" The answer is yes, my friend. It definitely has.

This series has been coined with the popular phrase: "a teenage Game of Thrones set in the Ottoman Empire" and I couldn't agree more. It's brutal & dark, while still managing to remain utterly captivating. This book demands your attention with every single paragraph, making it very difficult to tear your eyes away from the page. So clear your schedules folks!

Our protagonists are Radu and Lada, presented in alternating POVs. In this book, Radu is spying in Constantinople for Mehmed whereas Lada is trying to reclaim the Wallachian throne and become Prince.

I didn't even think it was possible to love Lada even more than in the first book, but boy was I wrong. She is such a fiercely complex character, gaining her the title of 'antihero'. However, this does not stop her from demanding the reader's sympathy and attention. You can't help but root for her, despite all her cruelty. Even though she struggles with being a woman in a patriarchal and heavily male-dominated society, she sure as hell does not let that stop her. Lada plays by her own rules, and you see many characters throughout this book appreciate that about her.

Meanwhile, Radu is in Constantinople struggling with his intense feelings for Mehmed. As expected, being a spy is no easy task. Radu sees the goodness of the people in Constantinople and grapples with all the atrocities he must commit for their enemy and his friend. He is caught in between, until the lines blur and he cannot distinguish friend from foe. A new character from the last book is brought into the mix, making it even harder for Radu. I really admire Radu's character for how smart & collected he is, as opposed to Lada's brashness. In my opinion, Lada seems to see the world in black-or-white, whereas Radu is in the gray zone. His POV highlights all the morally ambiguous choices he has to make, further endearing him to the reader.

This book isn't all gloom and doom, though. Nazira's vivacity and charm are a welcome reprieve from all the darkness. She's probably the purest character in the whole series! The Jannisary characters also bring in a much needed dose of levity. Their funny banter was such a pleasure to read, and their dynamics were top-notch.

As always, the world is so richly fleshed out and the writing so richly expressive that putting this book down was a struggle. Writing a fictional book about history is definitely not easy, so kudos to Kiersten. The history surrounding the fall of Constantinople seems so fascinating; I'm definitely invested in reading more about it.

I can't vouch for the historical accuracy of this book, but if you're looking for a book with a hella dramatic plot and some hella self-destructive, badass characters, then you've come to the right place. I really don't think this review does this book justice, so all I have to say is -- just pick it up, you won't regret it.

In White's captivating series opener, And I Darken, she introduces her reader to a dark alternate historical fiction set in the Ottoman Empire where espionage, passion, and conquest rule the story (although some people say it's a historical fantasy, there are no magical elements in the story) and Vlad the Impaler is a girl. Many readers pointed out that the pacing of And I Darken was too slow and there was not enough bloody action scenes as you would expect considering the fact of Vlad the Impaler's notoriety. Now I Rise addresses this criticism and rises above the dreaded middle book syndrome.
The story's narrative is split into two different story lines as we witness the Dracul siblings' first taste of power and its consequence. Despite Sultan Mehmed's initial support and loyalty, Lada has made little progress in achieving her goal of securing the Wallachian throne. Feeling her acute lack of people and diplomacy skills like her brother Radu, she contacts her brother for his guidance but when she doesn't get a response that she likes she forges ahead and makes her own, violent decisions as well as taking sides in tough betrayals. Though I'm deathly afraid of Lada, there is a part of me that admires her assertiveness and for taking what she wants without feeling apologetic especially in a time where women were considered mere property and baby making factories.
Unlike Lada who lets her anger guide her, Radu uses his heart. Even though he knows his love for Mehmed will go unrequited, Radu continues to put Mehmed's needs before his own to demonstrate his love and loyalty. Mehmed sends Radu away to Constantinople as a double agent right before launching a brutal siege. As the fall of Constantinople nears Radu's loyalty and opinions become conflicted as he begins to admire the people comes in contact with at the doomed city. The siege’s brutality and atrocities from both sides shake Radu at his core and will most likely alter him forever. I am curious as to how the events in this novel with shape his future.
Now I Rise shows the best, worst, and nuanced side of human nature. The complex politics and drive for power allow great and good people to commit terrible acts. The book is bursting with diversity in its multi-ethnic cast, strong LGBTQ representation, and wide range of religious diversity. Though the different plot lines don't converge, they are both compelling, devastating, exciting, and grabbed my attention right away. I easily flew this sequel in a couple of days because I needed to know what happened next. Lada, Radu, and Mehmed will change the world though their souls may not survive. This is a bloody, terrific sequel and I can't wait for the series finale.

I. Love. This. Series.

That is all.

Okay, okay … seriously, I do have mad love for it. Now I Rise continues the story of Lada and Radu. They’re separated now, forging their own paths.

I just love everything about this book, including all great characters there are to love and hate, the action, the plotting & scheming, the twist on historical events/people, and on and on. Like the first book, Now I Rise is on the longer side, but it’s a pretty quick read. I couldn’t put it down!

I love Lada so much. She’s fierce and vicious, doing what ever it takes to get what she wants. What she wants is her home back, to obtain the throne and become the prince. Yes, I said “prince”. She has to fight, scheme, back-stab, and align with former enemies to get there. Constantly having to prove herself. Then there’s Radu, who decides to make a huge move that puts him in a lot of danger, but it’s something he feels he needs to do.

It’s interesting watching Lada and Radu separated. They were never close, but they always had each other to rely on and balance each other out. Radu’s strengths made up for Lada’s weaknesses, and vice versa. Lada definitely went through some shit, but I feel Radu had the most growth. I’m dying to see what’s coming, because that ending … *evil laugh*.

Bring on the next book!

Book two of the Conqueror’s Saga was just as intense if not more than book one. At the end of And I Darken, Lada was on the way to Wallachia to claim the throne. That didn’t work out quite how she intended and with no help from Mehmed she is forced to fight for every inch of ground. That is of course not going to stop her. She is Lada Dracul and will be the Prince of Wallachia. It really doesn’t matter who stands in her way or who she has to kill to get it. Her men are her best assets and will follow her to hell and back. She makes an unexpected ally in Huyundai, her one time enemy now trusted friend. She barely hears from Mehmed or Radu and is basically on her own to claim her throne.

Radu is still pining over Mehmed, who is now sultan and well into plans to take Constantinople. Radu is part of that plan, but not at Mehmed’s side like he wants to be. Then Mehmed sends him to Constantinople to be his spy on the inside. Radu takes his precious wife Nazira with him and the two work on destabilizing the city from the inside. Radu’s conscious gets the better of him while in the city though. They are staying with Cyprian, a nephew of Constantine, who becomes a dear friend. Radu learns to love and respect Constantinople and has his delusions of Mehmed dashed repeatedly. Still he pines away and can’t see the possibilities of love in others.

This is the story of two siblings grown apart but still perusing their dreams. Lada becomes more and more vicious as the world works against her. Radu becomes more compassion and sees the destruction of tunnel vision rulers. Of course, it seems they are being set up for conflict in the final book in this trilogy. I love the fact that Kiersten White has taken an actual historical time period and made it into her own story. Making Vlad the Impaler female is a work of genius. And Lada fits that character perfectly. I am not sure how I feel about the actual historical ending to this saga, but I am rooting for Lada!

The much awaited sequal to the epic triology with an ultimate dark princess. It is as addictive as the first with an array of fascinating characters that enriches the plot; a continuation, meticulously detailed and absolutly riverting!

The story recreates an era in the Ottoman empire with a vivid and colorful imagination while retaining some precise periodical details. It further explores complexities in relationships. Lada, Radu and Mehmed, now in their prime, are all driven by their individual desires and duties. As they choose to go on seperate paths, they long for each others support, though they never receive it.
Lada, who lacks feminine wiles of any sort tries to seal her place in man`s territory by being a better villain than all of them, her need to be powerful, secure and respected is stronger than her love for Mehmed; the ruler of Turkish empire; though Lada`s vulnerability that lies beneath her fierce confidence is apparent to the reader.
She steps out of the Ottomans' land with few loyal men to lead towards Wallachia, her land, to secure the throne but faces many unexpected obstacles on her way. Wars erupt, betrayals happen, but Lada proceeds with knives on her wrists and the sword on her belt, with no allies to back her. Her burning passion for Mehmed and her deep sisterly love for Radu together creates the ultimate woman in Lada that the readers without doubt will admire and applaud for!

Meanwhile Radu, gentle and beautiful is torn between his love for Mehmed and loyalty to Lada though he proceeds to support Mehmed, in his desperation to be with him. Then Radu, being the expert in court politics is sent to Constantinople as a spy, where his humanity interrogates his allegiance to Mehmed and disturbs him deeply. His compassionate nature provides an imperative balance to this brutal and action-packed tale.

The dramatic presentation of the siege and court politics would leave readers on the edge. The parallel journeys of the siblings with their choices,failures and successes eventually weaves a rich work of fiction.

I made a point in my review of this novel’s predecessor, And I Darken, of noting that it was a rather long novel, but that, if you stuck with it, you would be rewarded. This novel follows that same process: it’s a long, slow-moving book that, should you stick with it, will reward you on several levels.

Mainly in that Lada is one of the best, bloodiest, most wrathful heroines to grace us in ages and I am absolutely here for it. Perhaps it makes me a terrible person, but I love the fact we have a “fight first, (maybe) talk second” heroine who is the very definition of a momentum. Once she starts, she’s more than just a little difficult to stop, so you’d best just get out of her way. While her singleminded fury would be terrifying in reality — and, trust me, it’s still a little terrifying in fiction — it’s also admirable beyond belief.

But there’s weight to it. Nothing ever feels easy for Lada, and even though I’m not trying to take back a kingdom, I can empathize with Lada’s quest because of how such bloodshed and violence affect her. Even when it doesn’t affect her. But I’m not complaining, because this is a girl who is more than a little acclimatized to traumatic violence. She’s been on the delivering and receiving ends of it so often that it’s just a part of her life and who she is.

This girl goes almost literally through hell and back and, by sheer force of will — and a great company of men who follow her — becomes Prince of Wallachia. That’s right: Prince. You go, girl. You take that title and you put it right in Radu and Mehmed’s faces.

The “love triangle” is more of an irritant than it was in the first book, and that is because, again, Mehmed — our triangle’s centre — is the weakest character. He’s not particularly interesting, and I am left utterly baffled as to what it is about him that so heavily infatuates Radu. I mean, yes, I’m willing to go with the idea of “different strokes for different folks” as it pertains to the people to whom we are attracted…but I just don’t get it. Mehmed is nothing more than a prat and deserves to go die alone without his harem.

The only bonus of the Radu/Mehmed portions is Radu’s wife, Nazira. This ball of sass is a regular spitfire and a great addition. I’m just sort of hoping she manages to rip Radu away from Mehmed, drag him to Lada and say, “Hi. We’re here to join your bloody campaign.”

Granted, whether or not Lada would listen…yeah, that’s up for debate.

I really can only just say how impressed I am with this series thus far. I went into it braced for something gimmicky that made me want to pull my hair out, and have been, instead, blessed with a dark, viscerally violent historical-fiction series that details the rise of a conqueror and other rulers in way that’s hypnotic. It requires patience and a good attention-span, but it earns its page-length in a way that many longer YA novels don’t.

I am torn on how to rate this book. The writing was excellent, the characters complex, but it's just.so.gritty. I've come to realize that gritty YA is just not my bag.

In this book, Lada is just absolutely brutal. She and Mehmed are so similar--sacrificing everything to get the one thing they want. We get little glimpses of her sense of humor and love for her men, but mostly she just kills a lot of people.

Radu, oh Radu. He has the potential to be such a good person under the influence of Nazira, but he can't let Mehmed go, and it ruins him.

Mehmed is not really fleshed out in this book. He is pretty one-dimensional in his hyper-focus on conquering Constantinople.

The ending is wide open for another installment.

If you are a history buff, and you like complex characters and a lot of blood, you'll love this book. Ms. White has done a great job.

I loved this book. It is one you just can't stop reading. The writing is spot on and the characters have flaws, but you can't get away from the book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Once again another great book in the Conqueror's saga series. Lada is perfectly mean and delightful to read as ever. Her exploits and adventures are what keep the book interesting. Radu however, I thought was rather dull. He fights, he whines about Mehmed, he whines some more, he fights, and whines again. I really hope he has some character development in the next book because Lada is definitely (and deservedly) stealing the show.

The curious thing about Now I Rise, with it being a reimagining of Vlad the Impaler's life were Vlad a female, is how you react to the violence used in the name of justice and social change. Even though Lada is just as angry and vengeful and violent as Vlad was, you understand her reasons for her anger and for her use of violence to enact her revenge. You cheer every brutal step she takes on her path towards obtaining her throne. You empathize with her misery at not being a man and giggle at her discomfort on those rare occasions she must wear a dress. She is like so many of us who grew up female in a male's world and find ourselves spending all of our energy proving that we are every bit as capable to lead, if not more so. Lada makes impaling seem perfectly normal because she is only doing what she learned about effective leadership from the Ottomans. And yet, she is nothing more than the female representative of what some people call one of the most brutal leaders in European history. One could have a field day dissecting the difference gender makes in how one understands and accepts certain behaviors by just studying Lada versus Vlad.

Ms. White also plays around with Radu's history, making him a much more sympathetic character than perhaps he is depicted in history. In this novel, we see Radu struggle not only with his feelings for Mehmed but also to accept his general attraction to men rather than women. All this occurs while he is trying remain loyal to Mehmed II and not get caught as a spy, even though he develops sympathies for the very people he is going to betray. His divided loyalties, between his sister and his friend, between the Turks and the Greeks, endear him to the reader as he attempts to be true to himself and to those he holds dear.

Now I Rise is a fascinating look back at the Ottoman empire during the fifteenth century and the tumultuous power struggle against its Christian neighbors. Ms. White breathes life back into the time period with her evocative descriptions, while her nuanced understanding and unique approach to this famous trio fleshes them out as more than historical characters on a page. Their way of life might be completely foreign and ancient to modern readers, but they still resonate with modern readers due to their struggles for happiness and success, things that are timeless. Ms. White's prose draws you in to history through their wins and setbacks and makes you forget you are reading about something that happened almost 600 years ago.

In Now I Rise, the fact that the Dracul siblings are apart allows them to flourish as individuals and creates another set of divided loyalties among readers. Even readers who may not be familiar with the Vlad II/Mehmed II relationship will understand by the end of the novel that something big is coming to stress the trio's relationships. Those who know what exactly that is can only sit anxiously and wait for Ms. White to write the third book so we can find out how she resolves this historical showdown. Will she stay true to history or will she remain as faithful to history as she has to date? I, for one, cannot wait to find out!

I received an advanced copy from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

(4.5 stars)

I was very excited to read this sequel because I loved the first book, And I Darken. That one was actually a surprise in the mail last year, so I worked my butt off to get in touch with the correct person in order to get a copy of Now I Rise. Needless to say, when it was in my mailbox and I had a good look at the cover in my hands, I was very excited.

So, I had to refresh my memory on the plot of the first book. I mean, it has been a year since I read it. However, I got a good feel and it started coming back to me.

We start off with Radu (still) pining after Mehmed. Lada is gone and the separation is definitely taking a toll on him. The stress of his feelings, the lack of Lada, and Mehmed’s secrets come to a head when Mehmed wants Radu to go to Constantinople to act as a spy. With Lada, she is still on track to take back Wallachia.
I want to talk about Radu. He is not the same character and I think it’s a good thing, but I do feel sorry for him. He is so hung up on his feelings for Mehmed and I just found it sad to watch. I thought it was a good thing for him to go to Constantinople because he would get some space and learn to be on his own. He does take his “wife”, Nazira, with him. However, there is definitely a change in his life when he must play the role of a spy in front of Cyprian, who he grows close to while away from Mehmed. It’s very interesting to watch their relationship. Nothing too much happens, but there is definitely something there. There’s moments that make you think Radu can actually have the love he wants so bad that he’ll never get from Mehmed. Radu also faces challenges while in this new territory. He faces a lot of battle (literally) and it’s something he isn’t really used to. I feel like he grows a lot in this novel and, even in the end, I am very proud of him. He isn’t the same Radu from the first book.
So...Mehmed. I’m not really a fan of his anymore. I mean, in my opinion, he isn’t the good guy anymore that we might have thought he was in the first book. From what I perceived while reading this sequel, he is very manipulative and his completely blinded by taking Constantinople. He has changed into this villain and it’s very dark. This is why I think he isn’t deserving of Radu or even Lada. I’m curious to find out what happens to him later in the third novel and I wonder if he’ll get some sort of redemption. However, I don’t know if I want him to get that redemption.
Now we have Lada, who is simply amazing. Can I just say that she doesn’t want to be the princess of Wallachia? She wants to be the PRINCE! How awesome is that?! Most of her chapters in the novel involve her on the road with her men doing what she does best: killing. You know, normally this wouldn’t be approved of for other female characters or any character for that matter. However, for Lada, it kind of fits her personality. She doesn’t take any shit from anybody. She wants what she wants and damned if she doesn’t get it. She does have some mental struggles, especially with Mehmed (yeah...) and what it means to really be a woman. Yet, she never strays from what she has to do in order to make sure she is taken seriously as a ruler. Her ending chapter really gives readers a promise that she won’t disappoint in the third novel. You’ll still be rooting for her to the end. At least, I know I will.
The details of this novel are really spectacular, focusing on both physical battles and mental battles. I think Kiersten did a really great job capturing that and getting us more into the minds of these characters. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what more battles are on the way for these characters.
Why a 4.5? It’s nothing really big. Some things went kind of fast and kind of slow, but the book was still hard to put down. You won't be disappointed in this sequel.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

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!