With this second book of the historical retelling and gender bender version of Vlad the Impaler, White proceed inside a dark path, for the joy of every bloodthirsty bookworms.
Premise: I liked this book but I will not be a part of the reviews that had given this book five full stars. I'm the one that will lower your expectation.
Read this as an ebook ARC, I was bumped and I started without holding me. Later I asked myself if that has been a fault. Did I read it to fast? I don't think so, since the book flew naturally page after page. My real problmes are Lada and Radu.

Now I Rise is a cruel book that doesn't hold bakc, even if White has been able to conceal a bit the most grugesome event without denying the horros of war, battle and blood.
I cannot mve any critique to the book's events. They're historical fact and everything collied perfectly even if they weren't.
My fragile point are the characters. I'm an emotional person and pieces by pieces all the bond that I constructed with the characters started to die.

Nazira, whom I liked a lot in And I Darken, started to get on my nerves with some of her affirmations and I hoped that my notable tendency to get affectionate towards secondary characters was going to strike again... but it didn't happen.

Radu has a moral downfall and Mehmed isn't better. I never liked neither cared about him since the first book, but this second one made me hated him and hated even more how Radu and the Sultan get tangled toghter into politics and war without managing to turn back.

Even if I felt Radu's moral struggle I cannot really feel sorry for you, no matter how much he can weep and wreck his own heart over his actions.
Rada always knew what was going to happen when he would made his final decision. I appreciate that he tried his best but still... I've issue.

Lada has been delusional to me. She comes like she the badass herself but the further I got inside the story, I started to ntice how Lad improved her skills really poorly. Yes, she fight and she obtain what she wants - even if realistically talking she should be dead by long time - but she kills, Only. Everything she tries to made, allegiances, pacts, swearing loyalty to someone... nothing lives enough for Lada to start payling politics game. She has her sparks of humanity but for most of the time she unable to feel complete simpathy - I don't pretend empathy for her - even for Wallachina women.
Also this made me reconsier a lot her image of feminist. Many other readers consider her so, but Lada is feminist only for herself- hating at the same time her body as a woman - and most of the time she unable to understand other women.

In the end, I cannot say that I didn't appreciate the book. It was a good read, that hold me the pages nearly without pauses, and even if I had a difficult relationship with the characters, I can presume that it's a good sign: I still care about them.
Now I Rise has an ening that left me presume how White still hasn't unlashed the dark side of her story, so if you love this series you should brace yourself.

Much better than the first one. Favorite character is actually a new one and that is Cyprian. I really like Radu a lot more when his around him then with Mehmed that's for sure. I just don't understand why Radu or Lada sees in that weak jerk, he makes me sick to my stomach. Radu I feel is finally getting the picture that its not going to happen between them two, and Lada is already for at least right now understand that she needs to let him go, it took for what he did for her to realize this.
I really hope that Radu lives in the end of this series and that if its not Cyprian that its someone fitting for him to end up with.
I am not sure yet if I like or don't like Lada, I still have a love hate relationship with her. What she did at the end of this book is making me think that it will turn to a hate relationship. I can understand why she did what she did in regards to something's but not other things.
Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

An amazing sequel that mantains the stronger points of the first book: flawed and complex characters and relationships that keep shifting, great political plot and a rich, intrincate world that appeals to every sense

Now I Rise by no means suffers from the so-called ‘weak-sequel-syndrome’. This second book of The Conqueror’s Saga starts out strong and stays that way until the very end. The focus is slightly different than in the first book, mostly because it has two completely different storylines this time and the story switches between those POVs. I personally liked this change and it didn’t distract from the main plot at all, especially since there is still an obvious connection between the two storylines both through the characters and the plot itself. I also liked the glbt elements in the series in general, although I do have to say the love triangle bits did started to bother me as well as some of the decisions of the characters. This is probably the only negative thing I could find about this series though! Because there is no doubt I’m truly enjoying this Vlad The Impaler based series so far. Another thing that stood out for me is that there is more action and more fighting in Now I Rise, although it is balanced with further excellent character development and detailed descriptions of the worldbuilding and historical references that will make it feel as if you were back in the 15th century yourself. Because there is no doubt that Kiersten White‘s writing style is wonderful and will have you under its spell… Well written, beautiful, rich, engaging and highly addictive: Now I Rise will have you in its claws and won’t let you go until you reach the last page, leaving you wanting for more. Thankfully the sequel doesn’t end with that big of a cliffhanger, making the wait for book three a little more tolerable… Although it’s still going to be a long one.

Book one of this series I ended up DNFing to start but then I picked it back up and realized that without the starting backstory we get in it. The story just isn't as good. This book two is the same way. We get so much story packed into this almost 500-page book and I couldn't be happier. I loved this twist on history more than book one and man I really hope we get more from this author. This is by far my favorite series from her and it's another one that I don't want it to end. I love how strong Lada is and the story that White is giving us. And it's one that makes me want to read the true history of Vlad the Impaler. Not many books come along that make you want to dive into the real history but this is def. one. This one gives you everything you could ask for. Funny banter between the characters, some romance, and some epic adventure.

I have been waiting ages for this sequel to come out. Was both nervous and excited about reading it. But now that I have read it, all I feel is disappointed. Because I disliked this book so much, and it breaks my heart a bit. I'm giving it two stars. I have tons of reasons for this. Ahh. Feel so sad. I wanted to love this so much.

One thing I feared before reading this book, was that there would be a bad love triangle. Haha. There wasn't even romance in this book. And what little there was, well, it was bad. Maybe because I didn't care one bit. Shrugs. There is so much that I did not like about this book that I don't even know where I shall begin. Sigh.

So I shall start with the writing. I actually loved the writing in this book. Which, honestly, makes me more sad that I hated most of the plot. Ugh. But yes, the writing was really good. Had no issues with it at all. And oh, how I loved Lada. Well, loved her in the first part of the book, then my feelings changed a bit, as she changed too. But Lada is still my favorite of them all. I did not like Radu in book one, and in this one I liked him even less. Aw. Then there is Mehmed. I thought I loved him in book one, but I do not, not anymore. Though he is barely even there in this book, and he doesn't have a point of view, so I have no idea what to feel about him, truly. Curious to know if he will get a point of view in book three. But even if he does, I don't really think I'll like him, sadly.

One thing that I didn't enjoy in this book, was how time was passed. Every chapter mentions the time, and the book is told one chapter from Lada, then from Radu, and they each take place in different times of the month. It made me a bit dizzy, to be honest. And also because I am not fully sure when this book takes place. I think it's supposed to have been a year since Lada left Radu and Mehmed. But I'm unsure. Anyway. This book takes place all that time after And I Darken. It's told by Lada and Radu, which I liked.

But sadly didn't really love any of the characters this time. Lada is my favorite, yes, but she changes a lot in this book. She was always a bit brutal, but gentle too, yet in this one she isn't very gentle at all. And I did not like how many people she murdered and had her men murder. Especially at the end. It was a bit much, sigh. And while I didn't like her childhood friend, as he also almost never speaks in this book, I didn't like how she used him either. It wasn't fair to him, to be honest. And I expected better from her. Aw.

And then there was Radu. I would say that this is his book, as I felt like there were much more from his point of view and what he was doing. And I must admit that this is the biggest reason for why I didn't like this book. Because I couldn't stand Radu. Not at all. To me, he is all kinds of awful. He worships Mehmed. For no reason. He loves him more than anything, and it made no sense to me at all. He has a weird way of thinking too, that I just didn't like. Aw. Plus he does so much awful, so much betraying too. Not good.

What I did love was the people around Radu. His fake wife, Nazira. She was amazing to read about, and I wanted all the best for her. Though she also did some betraying that I didn't like. Sigh. Then there was this man, Cyprian. He has a crush on Radu. And he is beyond adorable and amazing and I wanted more of him so badly. But Radu is a jerk. And he is blind to everything but Mehmed. Bothered me so, so much. He could have had the most amazing relationship with Cyprian. Sigh. I wanted the best for that kind man.

The point of this book is war. And that is all there is. And gosh, it was boring. I felt like just about nothing happened in this book, and yet it is almost five hundred pages. Lada is focusing on taking back her home, and that is all she wants. She's too brutal about it. I loved some moments with her a whole lot, but those were few, and she wasn't in this book a lot. Sigh. She never see Radu in this. She meets with Mehmed one time, and I didn't like that time, because it was too rushed and it had so few details and talking. Ugh.

But the biggest war is happening with Radu. Mehmed has sent him as a spy into the city he is planning to go to war to take for himself. I hated Mehmed for this; especially once we learned the reasons for why he sent him away. Mehmed is not a nice person. At all. I hope he gets better in book three, as he wasn't in this one much, but I doubt it. But yeah. Radu is in a new city, with lots of new people. Also, nothing bad happens to him, which was boring. Nothing bad happens to Lada either, and again, boring. Which is sad.

But bad things happens to everyone else. Which is why I changed my rating from three stars to two stars. The last part of the book is the end of the war, one side just won. And the soldiers now get three days of stealing and ruining and raping women and children. And reading about this, well, it wasn't okay for me. I didn't want to know these things. It was a bit much, a bit too brutal, a bit too sad. Especially considering it was all Radu's fault. Made it even more bitter. I just. I don't want these bad feelings while reading books.

I'm not going to say too much more about this book. Just that I was really disappointed. Aw. I had hoped it would be much better. But it wasn't. It was boring and too brutal at times; not in a good way. I disliked Radu so, so much. He was beyond stupid and just awful at times. I am also not a God person, so all the different religion things were not for me at all, and there was a lot of that. Sigh. One character I wanted to know more about was Hunyadi, but he wasn't there much at all. Sadly, just one more thing to disappoint.

Sadly, I do think that a lot of people will love this book, lol. Sorry. It just wasn't for me. Not at all. But I'm glad that I read it, though, and I will be reading the third book, because there are things that I am curious about. But I'm not dying to read it. Sigh. I'm so sad that this book was so bad for me. But nothing to be done about that. As I mentioned, I liked some parts of this book. Lada was awesome at first. But the story was just war and boring. I felt like this book could have been so much more. So, yeah, I'm disappointed.

"It will work," Radu said. It had to. It would prove, once and for all, that he was the better Dracul sibling. The most valuable. The most deserving of love. And it would prove to himself that he had made the right choice in staying.


This book hurt me in ways I never imagined I'd hurt. And I Darken was brutal and unforgiving, and whilst the atmosphere is not lost in Now I Rise, this sequel is almost bittersweet in comparison.

We spend a lot of time in Radu's head, since he and Lada split ways. Radu, desperate for Mehmed's love and approval, is ready to do absolutely anything, including becoming a spy in Constantinople. The goal: befriend the politicians running the city, and exploit the weakest points.

Radu is merciless in his work -- from sabotaging food stocks, to dismantling the hard work behind repairing the weakest points of the wall, and even befriending Cyprian, the emperor's nephew, in order to find out what, exactly, Constantine's plans are, Radu sees only the end goal.

Bowing his head, Cyprian smiled, his eyes crinkling until they nearly disappeared. Radu thought Mehmed's smile the best in the world, but he could not deny something about Cyprian's transformed his whole face in a way that made Radu feel some hope for the first time in days.


However, Radu doesn't count on being so openly accepted in Constantinople as a traitor to Mehmed, and he certainly doesn't count on making friends. Even Nazira, his wife, finds Constantinople rich with trusting people -- an aspect that would certainly be the city's downfall eventually. Although Radu begins to second-guess everything he had stood for, his heart lies true: he would continue to do anything for Mehmed, even if it meant his death.

"... I want you to find that same love, and I never want you to hate yourself for any love that is in you." She [Nazira] pulled him close and he let her, wondering it was possible for him to ever have the clarity and purity of love that she had.
Knowing that with Mehmed, it was not possible.
But how could he let go of the man written onto his very soul?


Treachery is afoot. Radu is unprepared to face the challenges Constantinople poses -- and the rumours that have followed him all the way from home. Rumours that could ruin him, and that have dubbed him "Radu the Handsome."

It's no secret that when it comes to Radu, I have a huge, smushy spot in my heart that melts and bleeds every time he is on page. Lada, it seems, is very much the same. After forming an unlikely alliance with Hunyadi (the same man that had taken Lada and Radu to the Ottoman Empire in And I Darken), Lada is intent on becoming Prince of Wallachia, even it means killing anyone who stands in her way. I was pleased to see that, although Lada is growing up, her intentions remain the same. Unlike most YA novels, Lada does not let herself be distracted by the promise of romance and although her love of Mehmed could make or equally destroy the Empire, she is happy to kill him if it means securing Wallachia.

And when it comes to her beloved brother...

"Where is my brother, Mehmed?"
He looked at the ceiling of the tent. "Constantinople."


Lada's fury at the mortal danger her brother is in spurs her to make a quick decision: become the Prince, and destroy Mehmed.

"You betray my brother with your feigned ignorance of his feelings. You betrayed me. But I will never betray Wallachia." She lifted the knife, pointing it at him. "If you set foot on Wallachian soil again -- my soil -- I will kill you."


Kiersten White penned an explosive sequel, full of treachery, murder and love. I actually found myself caring about characters I didn't want to care about: Nazira and the sweetness and purity of her soul; Urbana, the Hungarian cannon designer; Cyprian, who believes the best of Radu and only wants his happiness in return. I found myself flipping the pages faster than I could read, wondering if Radu would betray Mehmed or Constantinople. If Lada would kill the boyars holding her throne, or relinquish Wallachia in order to save her brother. If Constantinople would fall, or stand strong.

But this is a historical retelling, and we all know how it ends. The Fourth Crusade was my favourite in history class, because it truly is as bloody, diabolically schemed and frenzied as Now I Rise depicts. I fell in love all over again, and now my heart lays in tatters.

Is it too much to ask for a happy ending?

Didn't love it as much as the first book. Definitely felt like a middle book with not a lot taking place except for battles and all the main characters were separated. Lada and Radu only communicate through letters, never once are they together. Lada and Mehmed spend a short bit of time together (that did not disappoint) but still the majority fighting their own battles to further their own countries. I enjoyed following Lada's character the most. The scene at 98% was the top of her badassery. I don't get Radu. Why he can't clearly see by not that Mehmed has zero interest in him is beyond me. And still he's his beck and call boy. I like Mehmed a bit less in this book. I think he will become the enemy in the next installment.

This was a stunning installment! I love the book even more than the first one, because I already know the characters and it's not as confusing.
It is still a bit slow but I have to say I was really invested in the story. The plot becomes more twisted and the characters grow much more. Especially Radu, who has become one of my favourites. Lada's still as fierce as before, but her character development was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The ending, even though didn't have a cliffhanger, made me want to immediately pick up the next book. I'm so excited to see how everything ends.

I didn't realize this was a sequel book, so it didn't work for me.

White has managed to not only put a remarkable and utterly believable twist on history in her character Lada (think Vlad the Impaler here) but has also managed to make her completely lovable in all her wickedness and harsh ways. Someone that isn't necessarily endearing but instead captivating. Fascinating simply because you never know what she will do next to prove herself and show the world the fierce, smart, and strong woman that she is in a world run completely by men.

She is a no hold, balls to the wall kind of girl and it is hard not to fall in love with that ferocity that she shows the world and the determination that she has to take what is rightfully hers. With each new step in her journey, each new chapter in her story, I fall more and more in love with White's ability to twist this story into something new and unique. Something bloody and battle worn but also something beautiful and hopeful and with a heroine that is every bit as determined as she is feared by those around her.


What I love most about this series though is that White isn't afraid to tell it how it is, darkness and all. She gets her hands dirty and things aren't pretty. This is not a book of romance or of fun. It is a brutal trying time filled with a whole lot of death and blood, murder and deceit. There is very little happiness and no sunshine or rainbows. What it is instead is imaginative, captivating, and undeniably addicting, this story is truly something you don't want to miss out on.

An amazing sequel to an impressive historical novel. Lada and Radu burst back onto the scene to navigate the courts of Constantinople and the complicated relationship between the boyars and their role in placing a Prince on the Wallachian throne. Now I Rise continues the story that began in And I Darken, taking the characters down new paths that spit them out changed--but that's not necessarily always better. Highly, highly recommend this series for fans of historical fiction, as this one is written so well that it's so easy to visualize everything as it happens.

My full review is found at [a cup of tea and an armful of books] at the link below.

REVIEW: If you enjoyed And I Darken, you won't want to miss Now I Rise. I LOVED this book just as much as I loved the first one! Lada and Radu are so well-drawn as characters, I feel like I know them both. Lada's fierce viciousness contrasts with Radu's heartbreaking quest for peace, and I adore both of them.

This book is not meant for those with a weak stomach. Lada Dracul will ultimately become Vlad the Impaler, and yes, there is plenty of impaling happening in Now I Rise. There is also lots of war violence, as well as rape, concubines, slavery, and plenty of murder. The 1400s were violent times.

Can I just gush about Radu for a minute? I've read reviews where readers complain that Radu is whiny or full of angst. Radu is certainly more sensitive than Lada, but I absolutely adore him. If this book ever becomes a movie, I don't think I will go to see it. I have this certain picture of Radu in my mind that I don't want ruined. He is awesome, as is his clever wife Nazira.

I do have a complaint about the front covers. And I Darken has two front covers: one with a purple flower and one with Lada with war paint on her face. Now I Rise also has two covers: one with an arrow and one with a fierce-looking Lada. The Lada covers are by far my favorite, but it seems those are not available in hardcover. I want those covers for my library, but if I want a durable hardcover, I have to go with the flower and arrow covers. Lada is hardly a flower, and the arrow is just boring compared to the face-painted, hooded Lada. Booooo!

THEMES: Vlad the Impaler, Romania, Ottoman Empire, 15th Century, war, feminism

THE BOTTOM LINE: Now I Rise is thoroughly-researched and features well-drawn characters, particularly in Lada and Radu. A must read for fans of And I Darken.

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: Oh, we will totally be getting this. Historical fiction, especially 500+ page historical fiction, can be a tough sell in my library, but And I Darken has gotten some checkout. I do promote it, particularly with my stronger readers. I can think of three specific girls who have raved about it and will no doubt read the sequel.

I am honestly speechless. For everyone I recommended the first book to, I can't wait to get this one in their hands. For those who have not yet had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lada, Radu, and Mehmed, I am thrilled to put these books in their hands. Seriously, this series is off and running and it is something wholly new and interesting. You can't help but turn the pages and it deals with a time in history that is utterly fascinating. Kiersten White, it may have taken me a second reading to fully appreciate the wonder that is "And I Darken," but I can honestly say now I'm hooked! Such a great series and I can't wait to see what happens next! I also can't wait to get this into the hands of everyone I know!

I loved the sibling relationship! Even though Lada and Radu do not meet they still have thoughts and worries about each other and I loved that they cared! I absolutely love the time period that this story takes place in and learning about it and picturing it in my head. Even though Lada is still hardcore she is still weak at all time and I love how real that makes her. I really enjoy the diversity in these novels as well I love Radu with all of my heart, he is by far my favorite character like he was in And I Darken! I still don't know how I feel about the romance aspect but Kiersten's writing is again GORGEOUS.

Last year I found the first book in the series, And I Darken, to be extremely intriguing. I loved the idea of Vlad the Impaler being reimagined as a woman. The story was unique, dark and oh so violent. I enjoyed And I Darken but had issues with its pacing and some of the characters. However, the ending, well it did its job and left me wanting more. I didn't think twice when this book was posted on NetGalley. I requested it right away.

Usually, the sequel isn't as good as the first book. I don't know if that's true for everyone, but it is at least for me. But Now I Rise definitely broke this trend and floored me! It built on all of the amazing things featured in its predecessor...it was just AMAZING! Seriously, if you had any doubts about the first book you need to read this one! It's perfectly dark, brutal and historically believable. Ahhh...I loved it!

While the main characters in the first book were well rounded and developed, the side characters felt like plot devices. They would show up for a few pages, cause some trouble and disappear. Here that is totally not the case! In fact, the side characters really got to shine and they new ones are perfect! You just never know what they will do and it kept even the slower parts moving along.

Talking about characters, I actually grew to love Radu. I know, I know. In the first book I found him whiney and slightly irritating but here he's just so precious! He actually stands up and fights for the people he loves. His character development was so well done. I groaned and most definitely grumbled with some of the decisions he made but not everyone is perfect. *shrugs* Lada wasn't as in your face as she was in the first book. Here she's already a blood thirsty soldier. She's cruel, dark and somehow sympathetic. I don't know...she's not a "nice" or "good" character at all. She wouldn't think twice about slicing your throat but I just want her to succeed so badly. Does that even make any sense?

Basically, Now I Rise is one of those rare sequels that are better than their predecessor. If you were on the fence with And I Darken you need to give this book a try. It takes all of the best parts of the first book and further creates an intriguing world of war, politics and betrayal. I can't believe that I'll have to wait another year for the third book!

I was really eager to get my hands on this sequel. I really liked And I Darken and absolutely needed to know what happened next. I was not disappointed. This book told a different story, but one I loved altogether. It just adds a whole other layer to this complex world that White has created. It was vicious and brutal and exactly what I expected from a Vlad the Impaler retelling. I cannot wait to read the next book. I will absolutely be continuing this series!

Kiersten White's spectacular series that spins the tale of Vlad the Impaler with the twist of a strong female protagonist is a MUST READ. Kids who love historical fiction, but also might enjoy suspenseful action adventure, should read this. This is a great recommendation for kids looking to expand their reading horizons from fantasy action adventure and try a new genre.

I received and ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
I absolutely loved the first book in the series, it was something phenomenal and the amazing note it ended on just fired me up even more for this installment. Let me start with the fact that I find cover really beautiful and expressive.
Unfortunately I’m a bit disappointed with the story as a whole. The writing style is still quite good even if not as powerful and outstanding as it was with the first story. With And I darken the writing created an atmosphere that was strange yet perfectly mirrored the depth and the darkness of the storyline, this particular trait I missed from Now I rise. Yes, the writing cleared up a bit which mean it’s easier to read but not as enjoyable, at least for me.
Before I get to the plot and the characters there is one more thing I need to mention. The chapters alternate between Radu and Lada point of views but their timeline doesn’t go parallel so it’s a bit confusing and quite hard to follow. It took me a while to figure out the how and when.

As for the plot, it’s really different from what I expected. Maybe I had high expectations but the way the first book ended with both of the Draculesti siblings ready to take the world I was waiting for more dynamic, action packed and strong story line. I didn’t get it as I hoped but it still has plenty of action and surprises just from different directions. After reading a couple of chapters I started to see the advantages the author created by going this way with her story and even started to like it. However the last quarter of the story took a turn I really didn’t like but mainly because of the characters transformation.
Another thing was the historical references and I know that this is a fiction so probably the author took a lot of liberties while creating the background of her story and there is a lot of accurate fact but some things just struck me in the wrong way. Mainly the way she described Matthias character. Since I’m Hungarian I know a lot about the topic and it bothered me a bit how callous and manipulative she describes him when in Hungarian history he described as one of the biggest and most fair king. I understand that probably her Matthias was the one that served her story the best but it still was strange for me. And this is only going to bother those who are from Hungary.
And finally we arrived to the characters that caused me most of the headaches during reading. Part of my problem was probably the fact that there is a lot of Radu in this book and I really don’t like him. To be fair I tried to give him some leeway because he has some truth about him but I couldn’t like him more like this either. He was quite conflicted about his feelings even in the first book and these just get a finer edge in this story. He is not just conflicted about his emotions toward Mehmed anymore, but bitter about his position and with every new experience he gains during the story makes him even more and more aware of things going on around him he didn’t paid attention previously. He is so blinded by his feelings for Mehmed that he doesn’t see his true self. Yes, Radu is cunning and clever but he only uses his talents when he wants to appeal to the sultan. His infatuation and daydreaming is annoying as hell. He thinks like a stupid little girl with a first crush. What annoyed me the most was whenever he found a semblance of peace or belonging something happened that reminded him of Mehmed and every progress he made went down the toilet. It took him a whole book to see the obvious and realize that his beloved sultan just uses and manipulates him and yet he still stayed hoping once he will see him as more than a friend.
I was a bit disappointed in Lada too and it affected me is a bad way because I started out as a hard core team Lada. Well I sad to say that I lost this during the story. She struck out strong and determined at the end of the first book but in the beginning of Now I rise she already lost her wind, footing. Since she has not one political or diplomatic bone in her body she couldn’t find a lot of allies during her year of petitioning. She lots not only her path but her motivation too. She needs to learn a lot before she can be a good ruler and she started to but before she could get some practice in she lost her patient and returned to her old ways. Which are aggression, brutality and ruthlessness? She also gets a couple of bitter realizations regarding Mehmed and her position which leads to a more aggressive front. I didn’t like how she resorted to unnecessary ruthlessness and acted, punished in more cruel ways than it was needed. I didn’t like what she became and her power hungry and impatient self started to take her personality over.
So yeah I’m not only disappointed in the way the plot progressed but with the character development too. Yes there are a lot of enjoyable scenes in the story but not nearly enough to balance out the missing parts. Also I don’t see any kind of happy ending coming but after seeing what Lada became they deserve what they get. Sorry but that’s my opinion. I’m going to read the next book out of curiosity but I’m not going to wait for it with that much excitement.

Brilliant! The characters are complex, and the storyline pushes you on and makes you crave more. Lana and Radu are flawed, selfish and stubborn, but in their failures theres amazing strenght. They fight for what and who they love, and take on the world doing it. A book that will leave a lasting impression and light a burning for more