Lada has her band of men and her friend Bogdan, but she does not have her throne. Since she wasn’t able to take over the Wallachian throne, she is traveling the countryside and inflicting her own type of force on those she encounters. Radu is Lada’s brother and he has been sent to Constantinople as a spy. He can use Lada’s confidence and she can use Radu’s subtlety, yet both are on their own and questioning the paths placed before them. These siblings must figure out what they are willing to sacrifice to complete their destinies.

Now I Rise is the second book in The Conqueror’s Saga. Events pick up quickly without many pages being given to the backstory. The battles are fierce and the emotions run deep as these opposite characters traverse their barbaric world. White has used this historic time period and infused it with characters that many young adults will be able to relate to. A good read for those who have read the first book and enjoyed it.

what an amazing second book in the series and I enjoyed the different point of views. This book was bloody and full of war and trying to get back some land.

Now I Rise is the second book in The Conqueror’s Saga and if you haven’t started this series you should definitely consider picking them up. Don’t let the size/length of them scare you off either – yes they are lengthy but the story is so good. If you haven’t read book one yet, you might want to hold off on reading my review. While I won’t spoil Now I Rise, I can’t promise the same for book one.

Book two picks up shortly after And I Darken wraps up and Lada is still driven to get the Wallachian throne back no matter what. She and her men are attacking anyone they cross paths with so they can survive and she quickly realizes what she is doing isn’t getting her what she wants. What she really needs is her brother, Radu, and his ability to be more diplomatic and connect with others around him. Unfortunately for her, she left him behind with Mehmed and he isn’t in any position to join her…even if he wanted to.

As I mentioned, Radu is with Mehmed but things aren’t the same for them. Radu still loves and Mehmed and Mehmed still loves Lada and I couldn’t help feeling bad for Radu. He kept letting Mehmed take advantage of him and I just wanted Radu to stand up for himself. Unfortunately for Radu, his feelings put him in a position where he ends up in Constantinople as a spy and it is expected that he do whatever he needs to in order to help Mehmed take control of the city. The struggle he has with this is that Radu has built friendships with the very people he has to betray.

Mehmed is super manipulative of both Radu and Lada and I didn’t like a lot of the choices he made. He was so determined to get what he wanted that he didn’t care who he hurt along the way. I’m still not sure how I feel about him knowing everything about what he knew and what he asked of everyone.

As characters, I don’t think any of them changed very much from book one to book two. If anything Lada showed the most growth and I would attribute that to the fact that if she hadn’t changed the way she was attempting to get the throne back, she may not have had any success. By recognizing the need to partner with someone who had a bit more diplomacy she wasn’t stuck in the same place she was when she left her brother and Mehmed behind..

This book gives you two different stories that eventually intersect. With Lada on her own mission, her story is very separate from that of Radu’s/Mehmed’s and I think her story interested me more. The rotating chapters from Lada’s story to Radu’s story slowed everything way down and I found myself struggling not to skim over some parts. What helped move things along were the secondary characters that White developed. They not only added to the story, but also helped me connect more to the main characters and learn more about them.

Overall I enjoyed this book but wish the pace had been a bit faster. The details were necessary but it was a struggle to stay fully interested in some of the slower parts. If you are looking for a story about a strong female warrior, definitely check out the entire series and if you have already read And I Darken, you will want to read Now I Rise so you can see what happens amongst the characters and whether they achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

When I requested this book, I wasn't aware of the fact that it was the second book of a series. I still read the book though, and I truly did enjoy it. I can see the potential of the story and I love the storyline and the characters. I do, however, feel like I should have read the first part to get more acquainted with the world and the overall feel of the book. Still, I'll give it four stars since I liked it and want to read the first and the last book in the series too.

A thrilling sequel and exquisite finale. Everything I expected was thrown out the window--this is a book that will shock you endlessly and keep you hooked up until the very last page.

While there will be little to no spoilers from Now I Rise, there will from And I Darken. 

I received an e-arc from Delacorte Press and a review copy from Penguin Teen Australia of Now I Rise in exchange for an honest review.  This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. 

Last year, And I Darken was one of my favourite reads last year. So to say that I was excited to read Now I Rise would be an understatement. I love political and character driven historical novels and this series has worked just so well. 

Now I Rise starts not too long after And I Darken. Lada has gone off with her men trying to fight and win back her empire. While Radu decided to stay back with Mehmed, hoping that he will finally notice him. That doesn't last for long with Mehmed requires Radu's skills and sends him to Constantinople. On one side Lada is fighting her way through towns and villages, gaining force and a name. While Radu is slipping his way into the world on Constantinople and finding his way to the top.

Things just got a whole lot harsher for Lada in Now I Rise. We know from the first book that things weren’t exactly looking up for her and things just seem to go from bad to worse. Though she doesn’t admit it both Mehmed and Radu broke her heart in book one – they didn’t choose her. And I think that this plays a lot into who she becomes in book two. We see her start becoming harsher, more brutal and more like Vlad the Impaler.

I really enjoyed seeing a female show brutality, it’s a rare thing in YA and that along makes me want to read more. But even though Lada is very hard to get along with at times. We start to see her change her ways. Lada starts to realise in the world that she lives in, to get back her empire – she needs allies. It’s the last thing that she wants to do, but with a little convincing from her men; she might just have to do.

Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge. Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.

Lada’s character arc throughout this series has already been so well done, but it hit new levels in Now I Rise. We start to see her take charge and unfortunately or even, fortunately, that means she is becoming more brutal.

I felt that reader got to know Radu a lot more in Now I Rise. He really took a stance in this novel – not physically per say. But his character stood out more and I loved it. While I didn’t agree with a lot of his discussion in And I Darken. I understood why he went that way. The reader is able to see Radu grow so much more in this one and really become someone.

In book one he was a snowflake, which had to be protected. And while he still might need to be protected, he starts becoming strong on his own – he doesn’t need Lada as much. He makes so pretty hard-hitting decisions in Now I Rise and holy it hurt.

Oh gosh, my heart broke for both Lada and Radu, and I am not sure that their siblings’ relationship can be fixed. We see in And I Darken that Radu doesn’t go with Lada and I think it hurts her more than she realises. And then he doesn’t go when she asks for help. I am intrigued to see where their relationship goes.

Mehmed, I don’t give a shit about him. He can go die. During book one, I was in the middle about him. I didn’t know where I stood. But, after everything that happens in Now I Rise, especially that one incident with Lada. No thank you. Goodbye.

The world will destroy her in the end. Too much spark leads to explosions. But your sister will destroy as much as she can before she goes out. She will go down in flames and blood.

I was so intrigued by the whole novel that I didn’t want it to stop. I was taken from the get go and wanted to know what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns. When I thought something was going to happen and it didn’t. That is what I love so much about this series. I have no idea what to expect.

There were just so many emotions reeling through me. Sometimes I was ready to battle, then I had tears streaming down my face. My heart was racing, my fingers were turning page after page.

Overall, I adored Now I Rise. While I know that some people are going to say that it was too long, or too boring. It just not for them. This series is all about character arcs and political agenda. It's not essentially about war - but what leads up to it. The decisions, the connections, and the allies. It's the strategy that comes before the battle. 

Now I Rise explores the notion family and who you can really trust. It's about forming allies and knowing that at any time, they can turn on it. It explores finding out who you, who you are not. Now I Rise is hard to read at times, it's brutal, it's fierce and it shows that women can be in charge and ruthless. It's something that you will pick up and won't want to put down.

You know when you want to like a series more than you do? That's my feelings on this. There is nothing wrong with the series. I just personally am meh about it.

Remember my review of And I Darken, and how I had given it only 4 stars despite liking the book so much? I was saving that fifth star for this one, because Now I Rise blew away any doubts I had in this series. I had never mentioned it in that review, but a part of my reasons for not wholly loving that book was that I wasn't sure if Lada rejecting her femininity in that one made the gender-bent retelling that effective. And of course, on Radu's side, I was disappointed that he was so blind about his feelings that he chose love over family. I needed convincing that there would be much more character development and this book delivered.

Now I Rise is of epic proportions, both in the size of the book and the amount of plot developments and character arcs in the book. While the story still continues in the alternate POV chapter style with Lada and Radu, we now see two different stories playing out. Lada is heading over to Wallachia's capital to claim the throne for herself, and declare herself Prince. In Edirne, Radu is Mehmed's silent right-hand man, who is still devotedly in love with him and his cause. Mehmed has set his eyes on Constantinople and much of Radu's story arc in this book concerns the fall of Constantinople in the hands of the Ottoman empire. (I do not consider this a spoiler, because historical fiction).

Lada's main story arc in this book is finding out how far she will go to get Wallachia - how many people (that are not of her homeland) she will readily betray to achieve the title of Prince. Her motivation, while can be seen as a thirst of power, is more patriotic in nature. She does not want to see her country suffer at the hands of others, and wants to fix it. But you know what they say about roads leading to hell. She makes an unlikely alliance with a man she thought she hated, and grows to respect him. She kills innocents in her path to clear the way to her goal. What I am saying is, she is a morally grey anti-hero, who in history has been immortalized as a villain. So yeah, her development and the way she interacts with the people closest to her are not exactly healthy. Still, she has her loyal Janissary force, and most of all, Bogdan who is in love with her (and she knows it) and would do anything for her. (*weeps for the parallel between Bogdan and Radu*) Furthermore, even though she rejects her femininity (mostly because it is a disadvantage to her),

Better to be a soldier than a woman. Better to be a prince than anything.

it is not like she wants to be a man either. She gets further infuriated when everyone who meets her only sees her as an object to marry to get power, a vision that they soon regret when she dispels it with the masterful use of her knife. All she wants is to be treated as equal as any man, and in that there lies the feminism of her cause. She is cruel, yes, (I mean, she just kills anyone who doesn't agree with her) but she is also kind to those who deserve it, and my goodness, she is wonderfully complex and I am a little scared knowing what is to happen to her story.

Radu, meanwhile, has a pretty significant story arc in this book. His belief in Mehmed's cause and his love are challenged when he is sent as a spy to Constantinople. Earlier seeing everything as a political machination which served the cause, as evidenced by this line

Assassinations, Radu corrected himself. Political, not personal. That made them assassinations, not murders.

he soon begin to learn that some prices are too much to bear. His stay in Constantinople, seeing the horrors and brutality of war and conquest with his own eyes, he starts to realize what the kingdom of men will do. He starts having doubts about his mission, on whose side he is really on and who deserves his loyalty and the city of Constantinople. He fights as much for Constantinople as he does against it, and ultimately he realizes how the people are the one who lose in war between kings. His faith in his religion is unwavering, but his love for Mehmed gets shaken by the things he goes through.

I cannot mention Radu's arc while also mentioning Nazira. She is the best wife friend Radu could have, and honestly have a more healthy relationship than most of the romantic ones in this book. Their continued love and support for each other is truly beautiful, and the best part of the book. She becomes a confidant and ally for him, and is the best partner a novice spy could hope for!

“Sweet Radu, you deserve the greatest love the world has ever seen. But I do not think Mehmed is capable of loving anyone the way you love him.”

Nazira is truly devious when needed (I love her so much!) and loving and caring. Even though she is a secondary character, she shines in this book. Her relationship with Fatima also provides the one shining hope in this book (White has promised the lesbians will have a happy ending in this series). Along with Radu, she also starts to have reservations about what all they are doing to undermine the city, she also recognizes that in a war between religions she knows who she wants to win.

The political landscape of The Conqueror's Saga is very much defined by the religious fervor and causes on both sides, and this book especially brings it out well. The expansion of the Ottoman empire by Mehmed is to consolidate the Muslim power and to dissuade any further Christian crusades on his people. But his particular drive is also fueled by the conviction that it is his destiny to do so. Meanwhile, Lada, who in the first half of the And I Darken, was more about how she had to keep Wallachia as one stronghold of Christanity, mostly abandons that narrative in favor of the more better cause of protection of her people from greedy nobles and external forces. Ultimately though, all three main characters (yes, Mehmed is a pretty major character) are morally ambiguous and when placed on opposite sides, it will be difficult for us readers to choose (please don't make us choose!)

On a technical aspect, the book is pretty lengthy, yes, but I wasn't bored for even a single page. Even with Lada's mostly constant arc of moving towards the throne, this novel was an engaging creature. It is written with skill, and I can't even begin to get into how much parallels the author draws between the characters or how she contrasts Lada's and Radu's arcs. There is still sass delivered at some points in the book, so humor is still an element in play. And underlying it, I love the fact that White went out of her way to insert marginalized characters into this story - like Fatima and Nazira, Cyprian, and also the outspoken engineer Urbana (the historical character was a man called Orban).

In all, a wonderfully crafted sequel that went beyond expectations and delivered an epic story that has me fearing and craving the third book.

“No one will be more brutal than me. No one will be more ruthless. And I will never stop fighting”

Happy release day to this light fluffy read that will warm your heart!


In case you couldn’t tell guys that is COMPLETE sarcasm. There is nothing light, fluffy, or heartwarming about this book yet it is still AMAZING. Now I Rise is the sequel to And I Darken and let me tell you this book 1. did not disappoint 2. did not drag at times like And I Darken did and 3. crushed my soul into a million pieces for two people and two people only, and those are my precious babies Lada and Radu. From the first page of this book to the very last it is filled with nothing but death, heartache, betrayal, ruthlessness, and of course Lada slaying my entire existence. I would love to know how many hours Kiersten White has poured into research for this book because it clearly shows with how in depth the story goes.

Lada, in Now I Rise, is like no other female character we have ever met before (or probably ever will because let’s be realistic it is going to take A LOT for another author to ever top her character). I thought Lada was ruthless in book one but LOL NOPE, not even close. She will slaughter anyone who stands in her way of getting the Wallachian throne. Literally anyone. She faces so much sexism throughout this book but the way the author handles it is top notch and really makes you want to fight right beside Lada for her throne. Some of my very favorite quotes that show Lada rising above the sexism and not letting a man define her power include:

“She knew now that nothing she could do would ever be enough. Unless she could grow a penis, which did not seem likely. Nor particularly desirable.”

“Anger and humiliation wash through her. All this time Hyundai had been viewing her as merely a womb. How could she make the world see her as she saw herself?”

It was the same choice she had faced before, the only choice ever given to her; take what little power you can through a man.”

“You are no king, and I am no wife. I am a leader and a ruler and I want your support.”

“Do not lose that hunger. You will always have to fight for everything. Even when you already have it, you will have to keep fighting to maintain it. You will have to be more ruthless, more brutal, more everything.”

And one of personal favorites that shows how Radu views women is:

“”You are here so that everyone sees you are my special project. I want the whole city gossiping about how foolish I am, hiring a woman to make the largest canon in the word to try and impress the sultan. I intent to subject us both to ridicule.” Her scowl deepened. “Why would you do that?” “So that no one pays any attention until we succeed.””

*QUEUE BEYONCE MUSIC* Who run the world?! GIRLS!

Radu, in this book broke my heart but infuriated me at the same time. I hated how he chose a love interest over family. His undying loyalty to the one person who will never love him back or have any type of public relationship with him used him in ways a person shouldn’t be used. I think Radu playing both sides of the field (battle field that is) was integral to the story and to his growth as a character. I hope that in book 3 he gets the happy ending that he deserves with anyone but Mehmed. I’m sure it’s pretty apparent from all the updates I posted while reading this that I can’t stand Mehmed. Honestly, I’m not even going to write about him because this could easily turn into a 10,000 word review on why I hate Mehmed. So let’s just leave it at, I hope book 3 comes around and obliterates everything he’s ever loved (besides Lada) and that he dies.

There are a handful of other characters that we learn more about throughout the story but not many new ones. Which definitely helped because sometimes names could get a little bit confusing for me. We get to see more characters who didn’t have that big of a part in And I Darken in this book and learn about their backstories which was totally cool. I’m dying for some more of Nazira come book 3, just sayin’.

This book originally came across as intimidating when I first started, so I would definitely recommend brushing up on book one before jumping into this. Also USE THE GLOSSARY IN THE BACK! I didn’t realize it was there until the end and it would have been so helpful had I known it was there, stupid me. There seems to be less politics this time around, don’t get me wrong it’s still there and still SUPER good, but there is a lot more killing going on then anything else. No complaints here. The dual POV makes the book that much easier to devour because Lada and Radu get in some deep shit in this book, switching back and forth between them makes you fly thought it just to make sure everyone is okay.

This book doesn’t end on a giant cliffhanger which I loved but it sets us up for book 3 which I am very afraid and excited for. I ONLY HOPE IT ENDS BADLY FOR MEHMED, NOT MY LITTLE BABIES.

All in all, this is my favorite historical fiction saga I’ve ever read. It has politics, love death, war, and some humor in all the right places. You can’t help put love Lada for the dragon she has become throughout the two books, and I CANNOT wait to see what happens in the next installment. I have a feeling A LOT more heart break and suffering has to happen before Lada and Radu will have a somewhat happy ending.

In this sequel to And I Darken, Lada and her brother Radu have parted ways, she with her small band of warriors to try to claim the throne of Wallachia, which she is a rightful heir to, and he to stay with Mehmed, the young sultan of the Ottomans. Lada misses Mehmed and their fiery, strong relationship but has many mixed emotions about him. Radu is in love with Mehmed himself, so he stays with him partly out of love and partly because he has little desire to return to his homeland. But Mehmed has distanced himself from Radu, and shortly into this book, Mehmed sends Radu to the city of Constantinople to work as a spy for him. Mehmed’s great dream is to conquer that great city, though neither Radu nor Lada care for his ambition or understand it.

Lada has not been able to gain the throne with peaceful, diplomatic means, so she terrorizes the countryside to get people’s attention. She does realize soon, however, that she could use Radu’s help. Radu, at the same time, in his unwanted position as spy in Constantinople, realizes he could use his sister’s particular talents. Neither, however, goes to the aid of the other, and they must try to think like the other.

Lada becomes more and more ruthless, and Radu is torn between the new friends he makes in the city of Constantinople (including one who could become more than just a friend) and his utter devotion to Mehmed. As Mehmed goes to any lengths to obtain his ambition, Radu is dismayed by his actions, and as he learns more about the rumors that swirl about the sultan’s personal life, he wonders if Mehmed is toying with him.

Now I Rise follows the diverging paths of the siblings, alternating between their viewpoints and experiences in two different places. But Mehmed and his actions loom large over both of them through the whole book. As a full-scale war draws ever nearer in Constantinople, both Lada and Radu are affected. What are they each willing to sacrifice of their ambitions, of their beliefs, of their loyalties to each other and to Mehmed? And will victory be hollow?

This book is a strong follow-up to And I Rise. I still wonder how the story will conclude, and how much Lada will become a truly depraved and horrific person, like Vlad the Impaler, whom she is patterned after. I’m ever curious to see how this all plays out.

Rated: High. There is not much in the way of language. There is one sex scene that is fairly brief but somewhat detailed and pretty intense. What really gives this book a higher rating is the constant violence. The body count is high and there is just so much that happens throughout the book by varied means. It’s pretty detailed and qualifies for a high rating for the young adult audience it is written for. I might give it just a moderate if it were adult fiction.

In Now I Rise, Kiersten White continues the saga of Lada Dracul, her brother Radu, and Mehmed - the man they both love.

This was simply wonderful storytelling. Lush and vivid, White puts the reader square in the middle of battles, intrigue, lust and betrayal. Expect to get your heart broken more than once.

And as for Lada, she goes full on warrior queen in this one. Lada has come into her own and proves herself to be a force to be reckoned with. Vlad Dracul? Forget about him. His daughter is the true terror! (And a wonderful terror she is!)

I can't wait for the next book. Lada is my bitey, chompy heroine!

*ARC Provided by Net Galley

Once again I am blown away by the creative take on this historical tale told in an alternating world where Count Dracula is a girl instead of a man. So much in this story makes you think. Just how hard it was for a woman back in that time to be taken serious in any way, especially as a leader. The fact that she soon figures out how the only way she may be able to get any power like what she wants may be to marry? Wow. Such a major development for her as she tries so hard to go after what should rightfully be hers as the oldest child in her family. There is also all the family drama with her brother Radu, and her love for Mehmed, who still only sees her as not truly being able to have the power she strives for, even as he seems to encourage her to try for it.

The difference in the fighting between the Christians and the Muslims is also such a thought-provoking aspect, and in the times that we live in, still so very relevant. That both sides call the other sides infidels. That each feel they are in the right. To get the opinion of the Muslims, how they feel about their prayers, and how they feel about the other religion, it's just something that I like to see shown in a YA book, especially the way this author does it. All I can say is that I am glad there is more to this story, and am going to be very impatient as I wait for next year and the final book.

Have you started this series that gives an alternate history reimagining Vlad the Impaler as a female? You know..Vlad the Impaler, the actual inspiration for Dracula. The ruler of Wallachia who was known for being cruel and brutal. He took pleasure in torturing and killing his enemies with his most preferred method being impalement. If you love dark, brutal stories, do not hesitate to pick up this series. If you enjoy darker retellings of history that spin the tale on it’s wheels, make sure to pick up And I Darken immediately. If you love exciting, cruel, compelling tales, be sure to check out this series.
The first book is so excellent and starts with the characters’ childhoods, right from the very beginning. We witness Lada’s birth all the way up to where we’re at now in the second book with the fall of Constantinople. Where the first book set up a lot of the world for the series, this one doesn’t have quite as much of that. This isn’t by any means a bad thing; it just shows that White did her job in the first book. In this sequel, we know the world already and can get straight to all the brutal action!
This story is also about Lada’s reclaiming of Wallachia. There are a lot of historical gems, while not being entirely historically accurate. The author uses her creative license in the best way. The book had me looking up the true history and was floored by how excellent White’s turned out. The series is wholly entertaining.
Once again the book alternates POV between Lada and Radu. I am really enjoying both the characters, never getting bothered when perspective switches excepts for my need to continue the story. There are new characters, and a hell of a lot of action, politics, and violence. Not to mention - the excellent writing.
If you haven’t picked this series up, do yourself a favor and do so. I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t become a TV show or movie sometime soon. It truly is that excellent. Highly recommended!

5 stars!

“No one will be more brutal than me.
No one will be more ruthless.
And I will never stop fighting.”

After reading And I Darken, I was terrified and excited to read Now I Rise because I wanted the second one to be equally as good or even better and if it wasn't, I'd be devastated. But, again, White surprised me with how well this story is researched, written and how deep and complex these characters are.

To someone not familiar with the history behind this series, the books almost seem like fantasy world almost like Game of Thrones but for someone like me who is very familiar with the details, this was just delightful to read even though I knew the little spoilery history bits that could haven ruined it but it make reading this all the more excellent. I knew what was coming and reading everyone's actions I kept going, oh no, oh not don't do that, or cheering them on. Some part of history have been stretched or altered just a tiny bit so the fictional part of it could fit into the historical genre but overall, this is very accurate once again.

“It is easier to destroy than to build.”

Now I Rise picks up right where And I Darken ended. Lada is on her mission to get Wallachia back and Radu is at Mehmed's side helping him while hiding his feelings.

The book is almost split into two POVs, Lada and Radu's that barely meet. The two of them are following different paths and yet this book highlighted their sibling bond more than I expected which was great. Throughout the story they both keep the other one in their thoughts like a coping mechanism. He needed her fierceness, Radu curled his upper lip, channeling Lada, “I was not aware you had been made emperor of Constantinople.” and she needed his diplomatic skills, She needed her brother. He had a way with people like the Boyars that she never could. I loved those little moment when they'd literally think, what would he/she do? such a nice touch!

Lada has a lot of moments where she is beyond taking anyone's sexist crap and those moments drove her character further and she proved in action what she's been saying for so long.

“God is not here tonight, it is only you and me and my knife.
Who wanted me dead?”

Lada is Lada. Badass. Fierce. Vengeful. Bloodthirsty. And she doesn't put up with anyone telling her what to do or when to speak because she's the wrong gender.

“I do not take orders from women.”
“My men do not have a similar problem.” Lada lifted a hand. The man fell, a crossbow bolt sticking out from his chest.

What I loved reading about from Radu' POV was his relationship with Nazira, how they understood one another and how they covered for one another, truly beautiful to see these two people who aren't allowed to be with those they love, trying to do the best for each other. And later, his relationship with Cyprian, can we have that, please? I just want Radu to find happiness already, is that too much to ask?

And Now I Rise was funnier than I expected too, in the midst of blood, war and power plays, I found myself laughing too much!

"She is so beautiful," Petru whispered, peering through the hedge they hid behind. "You look nothing like her."
Nicolae cringed. "And that, Petru, is why your line will die with you."

If you enjoyed And I Darken, you will love this. Well written characters, accurate historical facts, light on the romance but with romantic scenes that are worth it and so hard to put it down even for a second, the story is fast paced with so many things happening, I wanted to read it as slow as possible to savor it but that was not possible.

“Wallachia needs you, and you deserve Wallachia. Let your loyalty be only where your heart is. Everything else can fall by the road and be trodden underfoot as we pass to our home. My fierce little girl. You can do anything.”

Now I Rise is the continuation of an epic tale of power and family, of faith, of sacrifice and determination.

Lada is continuing forward with her mission. her dream. It's time to take back Wallachia, to become its prince. But it's not that simple. She needs men, more than those currently loyal to her. And she needs the nobles of Wallachia and Hungary to stop seeing her as a useless girl with only one purpose. Determined, stubborn, ruthless, bloodthirsty, Lada will stop at nothing. But when battle turns to negotiations, Lada is as subtle as a punch to the nose. What she needs is Radu's way with words. But she can't have him. Radu is too busy hiding. Hiding in his marriage, hiding his feelings for Mehmed, hiding the conflict in his heart. The regret he feels for not following Lada. But he can't escape Mehmed, can't escape what he feels for him. And when Mehmed asks for his help? Radu is willing to do anything. But pose as a spy? Leave him for Constantinople? He's not sure if he can do this, not sure if his heart can be pulled in so many directions. Not sure if he's willing to make the sacrifices it could take.

It's hard to describe this book. The story is continuing from where the first book left off. Lada is still hungry, hungry for power and respect. Hungry for the throne. And Radu is still conflicted, not sure where to turn when caught up in Mehmed, Lada, his feelings, his faith, and the battle he sees coming. If you enjoyed the epic journeys and the conflicted, battered hearts of the first, you will relish this second book while cursing the wait for the third.

I received an arc from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Things I liked about Now I Rise:

- It is more action-packed than the first book, even though it is still very slow paced. A lot of the plot still revolves around politics, though.

- We got to know some minor characters from the first book better, like Hunyadi and Cyprian. I was immediately drawn to their storylines. I wished to see more of Oana, though. We were introduced to some amazing new characters as well, like Daciana and Guistiniani. I will let you discover these ones yourself.

- We see less of Mehmed!

- Kiersten White amped up the violence and the cruelty factor. If you thought the first book contained a lot of horrors, you better prepare yourself for the second one.

- The book alternates between a Lada chapter and a Radu chapter. At first, I was only interested in Lada's story, I thought Radu's part was quite boring, not much happened and his side was all politics. About 60 % into the book, things changed. I found myself enjoying Radu's chapters the most as they too became more action-packed.

- Radu slowly began to think more for himself instead of just blindly following Mehmed.


Things I didn't like:

- First of all, all these books in the trilogy are too long, in my opinion. They could and probably should have been a lot shorter.

- Mehmed has become even more insufferable, he and I will never get along.

- I would like to know more about all the secondary characters. I want to know more about Nicolai, Bogdan, Cyprian, etc. I feel they could have been more developed.

- Most of my dislikes from the first book haven't really changed in the sequel. The first book nicely set up the events in Now I Rise, but I'm not sure what is going to happen in the third book. I feel this could have been a duology.

- I would like to see more interaction between Lada and Radu.


I gave this book 3,5 stars because I liked it better than the first one. So if you enjoyed And I Darken, you should definitely check out Now I Rise!

Now I Rise is the second installment in author Kiersten White's The Conqueror's Saga. The story is once again set to the backdrop of the era of the Ottoman Empire circa 1453 under Sultan Mehmed II aka Mehmed The Conqueror. One of my main complaints about And I Darken was the religious aspects of the story and the characters who were forced into converting against their will. Thankfully, White doesn't get bogged down with the religion this time around, but instead focuses on the character development of Lada and Radu. The story alternates chapters between Radu and Lada who has left on her own conquest.

“He had imagined Constantinople, had wanted it for Mehmed. It had been simple and straightforward. But now he knew the true cost of things, the murky horrors of the distance between wanting something and getting it.”

Now that Lada has left him behind, Radu has Mehmed all to himself and because of it, he actually shows amazing character growth. Radu loves unconditionally, which puts him in some very awkward positions. His desire and love for Mehmed really does break the emotional bank. His marriage to Nazira is a sham, but she's still his rock. Even more so after he is later sent to Constantinople to spy on the city and she travels alongside him. Radu has had to deal with Mehmed obsession with Constantinople for years. He hasn't exactly muted that obsession, but helped it along by attempting to be part of building the Sultan's navy. He gets a first hand look at the city, and really, I think a better understanding of the people.

Radu's time in Constantinople really pulls not only on his faith, but what's right and what's wrong. There are times when Radu struggles, and this is why I really loved his development. Radu meets with several interesting characters in this book, most especially Constantine XI who's death would mark the end of the Byzantine Empire. The other happens to be a woman named Urbana of Transylvania who claims she can build a canyon the likes of which has never been seen before. Radu most interesting relationship is with Cyprian. Cyprian becomes his stalwart and friend not knowing that Radu is betraying him and the cities residents.

“Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge. Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.”

I am pretty sure you know by know that this series is a reimaging of Vlad the Impaler in a gender swap way that makes Vlad, Lada. Lada and her troops are having a hard time getting to Lada's ultimate goal of retaking her home and becoming Prince of Wallachia. She's betrayed, ignored, laughed at, and look down upon. She may only have a little under three dozen Janissary soldiers left, but they are pretty loyal, especially Nicolae, and Bogdan. Lada may have to make a deal with the deal himself to get what she desperately wants, and she is nothing like Radu who has skills in areas she doesn't. Lada is a character who believes in carrying a big stick, and going full throttle.

Lada's desire of reclaiming Wallachia comes at the same time that Mehmed has stepped up his plans of conquering Constantinople. Lada, I think, has come to an interesting place in her life. Unlike Mehmed, Lada's sex gets in the way of her own conquest. She has to deal with ruling families who want to keep what they have, and take away what Lada has worked hard to gather. I adored this story because it is so intense, so dark, brutal, and historically close to the actual facts of what happened during this time period. I do hope that White goes full throttle in the next book. There is plenty to come if she intends to follow in Vlad the Impaler's path.

Kiersten White’s Now I Rise is a stunning sequel to And I Darken

NOW I RISE, by Kiersten White, Delacorte Press, June 27, 2017, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult)

It was this time last year that I fell in love with a new series by Kiersten White. And I Darken about Lada Dracul and her brother, Radu, took my breath away. Its followup, Now I Rise, is just as engrossing, if not more so.

In And I Darken readers are introduced to the Dracul siblings who have been abandoned in the Ottoman courts as a way to secure their father, Vlad’s, position as leader of Wallachia. Lada and Radu become pawns in an international game of intrigue, with the threat of death always hovering over their heads.

Lada and Radu move up in the ranks, befriending the sultan’s son Mehmed. Mehmed loves the siblings — Radu as a brother and Lada as something more — and wishes nothing more than they remain by his side forever. But Lada has always seen her time with the Ottomans as temporary. Her heart lies in Wallachia, and all she can think of is regaining the throne. Radu, on the other hand, can’t imagine life away from Mehmed, and the siblings part ways.

Now I Rise picks up where And I Darken left off. Lada has returned to Europe to claim her title, but she has no allies. She has no throne. Failure is not something Lada is willing to accept so she does what she does best — punish anyone who gets in her way. News of her spreads as she leaves a bloody path across the countryside, and it becomes clear that what Lada really needs is Radu’s diplomacy. But Radu made his choice. He chose Mehmed.

Choosing Mehmed has its consequences, though. Mehmed has his eye on Constantinople, and he thinks that Radu might be the one to help him get it. Radu is sent to the city as a spy. Trapped in a city under siege, Radu finds himself wishing for Lada’s strength and questioning everything he thought he knew. Lada, too, finds herself wondering how much she’s willing to sacrifice and for whom. And at the center of everything is Mehmed, pulling the strings and bending things to his will.

As with And I Darken, Now I Rise, tells Radu and Lada’s stories in alternating chapters. Though the siblings appear to be complete opposites, as the book develops, similarities arise. Lada continues to be cold and calculating, but there is also a softness that rears its ugly head every once and a while. Radu remains soft and sensitive, though there’s also a sharpness that develops during his time in Constantinople.

Again, neither character is one you’d want to cheer for, at least at first glance. Lada is still unlikeable, and yet, even if you don’t agree with her methods, you want her to succeed. Radu, who felt very milquetoast in the first book, is much more interesting.

The reason these infinitely flawed characters work is because of Kiersten’s writing. Her pacing is spot on and her prose is sharp. From the moment I picked up Now I Rise until the moment I finished, I was completely engaged.

I’ve been a fan of Kiersten’s since first reading her Paranormalcy series. She’s written a number of standalone novels as well. But it’s with the Dracul series that she sets herself apart. Here she has proved herself a chameleon, able to truly craft characters so compelling, you have to know their stories.

Sensitivity note: Both of the books in the Dracul series are quite dark. Elements of violence and sexual elements and innuendo are tastefully laced throughout. I recommend these books for older/mature YA readers, 9th grade and up.

"Why must I always be a man's servant?...If anything, I should be partners with the devil, not his servant." 

And with that one sentence I was reminded why I love Lada so much.
She is a beyond amazing character, her drive, her fighter attitude and just the will to keep going until she gets what she wants and thinks she deserves. She is not a stand on the sidelines and wait for it to happen type she's making it happen.

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, no doubt even in my review for the previous book And I Darken, but I kind of have a soft spot for badass ruthless characters that know what they want and do whatever it takes to get it.

There are other characters in this book, they're there doing what they're doing. Mainly making me wonder how long until I get to go back to the Lada chapters.
Really, I did enjoy Radu's journey also, his conflict between what he feels is right and what he believes. He's probably the only character that has grown with his experiences.

I love this twist on history; it's books like this that leave we wanting to know more about the facts it's based on. For me they're gateways because when I discover an unknown topic I don't stop until I've gotten everything I can from it.

It was exciting to get back into the lives of Lada and Radu. Once again, their lives are turned upside down and sent to the far reaches of the world (their small version of the world that is).
White’s characters start where the left off in And I Darken and charge forward into their new lives. Lada is as brave and stubborn as ever, growing more and more into a fearless leader, while Radu’s love for Mehmed pushes his loyalty to the limits and into the belly of the beast. Both characters have great voices that propel the action and themselves into greater beings. The landscape is well laid out, easy for the reader to navigate along. White’s wording is as powerful as ever and takes in the history that generates this story. With the final chapters, readers, including me, will read faster and faster and then wait, quite impatiently, for the next installment.