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!

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 epic and gripping and action-packed sequel in this already amazing series that reimagines the history of Vlad the Impaler in a most original way. Filled to the brim with bloody battles, political maneuvering, difficult choices, devastating losses, and crushing betrayal, it is an enthralling and intense and unputdownable read.

It is not a story for the faint of heart. It blurs the lines between good and evil, right and wrong, heroes and villains. It confronts head-on a number of tough subjects - religion, equality, sexual orientation, assault. It shows that sometimes the only way to a better future is through violence, manipulation, sacrifice. But it also shows what choosing this path costs.

Lada did not regret her choice to leave Mehmed in order to attempt to take back her Wallachia. Being a part of the sultan’s harem was not an option. Constantinople was not her dream. She had to pursue her own goals, even if it meant doing so without him by her side and without her brother Radu, whose skills would have been an asset in her quest to become prince.

However much she missed them both, she would not be distracted from what she desired most. And even without Radu’s gift for diplomacy, she was determined to reclaim her land, by whatever violent means necessary.

With Lada out of the way, Radu hoped that Mehmed would finally see how he felt and would return his affections. But his use as a spy meant first distancing himself from his sultan and then leaving for Constantinople.

The danger would be great, but his loyalty to and love for Mehmed made it worth the risk. Though with every day that passed, he was less certain of the righteousness, effectiveness, and goodness of his own actions. He was less clear about his relationship with Mehmed. He was less confident about who his enemies really were.

Kiersten White did a masterful job with this second book in the series. It does not suffer from middle book syndrome in the least. It is even more riveting than its predecessor, even more thought-provoking, even more exciting.

Alternating between Lada and Radu’s points of view allows for even more action, suspense, tension. It emphasizes the differences between Lada’s ruthless and almost remorseless approach to achieving her objectives and Radu’s more balanced but conflicted approach toward reaching his.

There is no shortage of bloodshed, pride, or greed. There is no room for weakness. There are no simple solutions. There is heartbreak, defeat, devotion, faith, and undying love. All of which make NOW I RISE a significant and extraordinary and incredibly memorable must-read.

[Received my 6-star off-the-menu rating on the blog]

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.