Kiersten White

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.

Now I rise

The highly anticipated, mind-blowing New York Times bestselling sequel to Kiersten White’s New York Times bestseller, AND I DARKEN—the series that reads like HBO’s Game of Thrones . . . if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. A SISTER FILLED WITH RAGE Lada Dracul has no allies. No crown. 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 cross her. She storms the countryside with her men, but brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed, the defiant Ottoman sultan, 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. HER BROTHER CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS Lada needs the support of her diplomatic younger brother, Radu. 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. And for the first time in his life, when Lada asks him for help, he refuses . . . leading his sister to make the darkest of choices. THE ULTIMATE POWER PLAY Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, Radu knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, would 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. Fans of Victoria Aveyard’s THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir’s A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT won’t want to miss this riveting and gorgeously written novel—the second in the And I Darken series. ★ "Gorgeous, rich, and rewarding."—Booklist, starred review ★ "Absolutely devastating in the best way."—Kirkus, starred review “A+, 5 knives.”—Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling co-author of the STARBOUND and ILLUMINAE FILES trilogies “Fierce, epic, and crazy fun.”—Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of THE HAZEL WOOD A Teen Choice Book Award nominee! Praise for And I Darken: “A dark jewel of a story, one that gleams with fierce, cunning characters—absolutely riveting.” —Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Passenger “A dark, gritty, and seriously badass epic that will have you dying for more . . . required reading for every feminist fantasy fan.” —BuzzFeed “Evocative . . . this book takes no prisoners.” —NPR

Now I Rise

2nd in the series - this book took a turn - I am very much looking forward to seeing where Lada, Radu and Mehmed end up in the final! 

Narah Quinn

Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost. The mind-blowing sequel to AND I DARKEN, described by Buzzfeed as ‘A dark, gritty, and seriously badass epic’ is a sweeping Ottoman-inspired historical adventure. Starring the inimitable anti-princess Lada, the dagger-wielding drama of her story is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard. Lada Dracul has no allies and no throne. After failing to seize the crown she believes is hers, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting her what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed, the sultan she might have been in love with, brings little comfort to her thorny heart. She left him before he could leave her. Lada needs her brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople as his reluctant spy. 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?

dija

tina

This is such a refreshing read because it’s so different from the usual YA book. Like its main character, Lada, this book doesn’t hold back from its ruthlessness. Now I Rise gets even darker than the first one as we dive deeper into the story. It’s got a rich history and very strong character developments (especially from Radu!). I love the political intrigue and found it to be really interesting especially since it is a part of history, but sometimes I find myself getting confused with what’s happening (maybe that’s just me not paying enough attention, idk). Both Lada and Radu’s storylines are well written, and I love that there was zero to none romance in this. There wasn’t really anything about the writing style that stood out to me. Personally, I just found it to be average, nonetheless I still really enjoyed the book and will definitely pick up the next one!

** spoiler alert **
           i loved it just as much as and i darken, if not more so.
so many thoughts and i have no decent way to write them out...
i just want to say that i HATE mehmed. i had a bad feeling about him from the beginning...
i LOVE lada and her ruthlessness! can’t wait to see how she rules wallachia. 
at last, my precious radu..... i love him so much and it’s so hard to read this because he is in so much pain basically the entire book and i HATE it! it’s getting ridiculous at this point.. how much gay suffering do i have to read before it gets good. he deserves happiness and i also adored cyprian???? their dynamic is wonderful. i’m tired of this pining and sadness radu has OVER MEHMED (patiently waiting for him to shrivel up and die) can he please just be happy for once .... thanks

Gisela Ayala 

I have no words for the masterpiece this book is to me. Kiersten White once again made justice in representing a turbulent time in history - the rise of the Ottomans. But more than that the rise of Lada Dracul, the baddest bitch to ever. (Just a reminder this a gender bent take on Vlad the Impaler). Her character sings to me and no matter the atrocities she commits I appreciate her for her honesty and her quest to regain her throne and create a more prosperous Wallachia. She is cunning and strong but is still utterly human and a human girl at that. Often times I read books about bad ass girls and I always wonder what happens when they get their period. This book unapologetically brings this up many times and it only served to make her more real. 

Radu on the other hand, poor guy. At first, he was kind of annoying with all his whining about the Sultan and the unrequited love, but as the story came to a close my heart ached for him and the MASSIVE changes he endured throughout the story. He realized something that many people don't, no matter who is doing the conquering, both sides lose their soul in a war. Nothing good comes out of it. 

Although history has already happened and we know the fates of the characters (inspired by the real people), I hope with all my heart that it works out.

Sara

So so so so so good. The siege of Constantinople was horrific and heartbreaking, but I loved every second of it. Lada’s story pulls me in and i’m so excited to see where it goes in the next book. 

These characters are complex and REAL. They are people who acknowledge their own shortcomings and faults, letting the lines blur between what they believe is right and wrong. This book perfectly reveals the complexities and nuances of trying to be a good person in a world that forces you to do horrible things for the sake of “the greater good”. It explores themes such as loyalty, sacrifice, love, grief, betrayal, corruption, and deception.

That being said, there is a perfect balance of plot and character in here. I loved every second of reading this the same way I did the first time I read it. Kiersten White, you have done it again.

jess

Oh boy, Kiersten White continues to write an absolutely brutal, horrific yet incredible tale about the Dracul siblings. I love this series. It's everything I yearn for. Unlike the last book, this took place in the span of less than six months, so time-wise, not a lot happens, but those six months change the characters so much it gives me chills. 

I love Lada so, so much. She's terrible and violent and nasty and does not apologize for it. It's terrifying. And yet she's allowed to be a woman and never rejects it, which I appreciate. And Radu's storyline changes him so much - (view spoiler)[seeing the brutal effects of the siege by both sides, Ottoman and Roman, has really jaded him. I wouldn't call Radu soft by any means, but compared to Lada, I worry about him; he will put mercy in front of his own life time and time again. (hide spoiler)] I think White does an incredible job of contrasting the two siblings and showing their connection. (view spoiler)[Even though they do not meet throughout the book, they constantly think of how much they need each other and what the other would do. Despite everything, they value each other. (hide spoiler)] I also enjoyed Radu and Nazira; their friendship is wonderful and they work so well together. Nazira herself is easily one of my favourite characters and possibly the most likable one in the series. It's not hard to like everyone for being badass/cunning/awesome, but Nazira is undoubtedly the most morally good character. In a series full of morally grey characters, you need someone like Nazira. 

I wasn't expecting the book to go the way it did, but I'm really glad it took that turn. (view spoiler)[I was excited for Radu's POV because of the siege of Constantinople, but we got to watch it from the inside, which really changes his perspective on everything and makes him a lot more cynical than he was at the beginning of the book. Character development, man. We got to meet Cyprian, and I was filled with dread the whole time because I, like Radu and Nazira, really did like him - I wanted him to die because I didn't want to see how brutal the fallout would be if Cyprian ever found out Radu was a spy. And I'm worried about Nazira now that she's left alone with Cyprian; I know Kiersten said that no lesbian couples would die in this saga, but goddammit, I don't know if I trust Cyprian. Radu is no saint, but he does the best he can in a world where he has to make difficult choices every single day. He has his moments of brutality where Lada has her moments of gentleness, and Radu's greatest sacrifice - going back for the heirs - contrasts incredibly well with Lada slaughtering the boyars and ordering their heirs killed despite Nicolae's protestations. Lada's storyline was so powerful. It felt slow, admittedly, but it was a slow march to power so that she simply walked in and took the throne of Wallachia from the Danestis. It was incredible to read about and nice to see Lada getting some of the respect that she rightly deserves (and killing those who don't give it to her). Lada gets a lot more brutal and angry in this book, and you can really start to see that her reputation is beginning to preceed her. However, I feel like her trials are only beginning and she's going to have to change her ways to keep the throne. (hide spoiler)]

The world feels so real; White clearly put an incredible amount of research into crafting such a wonderfully detailed historical landscape. Many of the nobles are taken straight from history books - Hunyadi, Giustiniani, Sueleiman, Matthias. White censors nothing in how brutal the world can really be, especially for women and queer people. It really feels like history coming to life in front of you and it's incredible. I can't wait to see what's next.

Savannah Winchell

3.73-4⭐️
- Lada was pretty dumb for way too long and she doesn’t learn from her recklessness
- I want to love Radu but like I don’t

I loved the LGBTQ representation and the way it dealt with important issues.Loved the way it was set on the ottoman empire 

Ece Onmuş

Alexa Jade

radu’s storyline and his constant inner turmoil about whose side he’s on was amazing and felt realistic even though it stressed me out. 

lada’s storyline was the weaker one in my opinion and didn’t really pick up until more than halfway through the book. 

this was a great read overall and i’m excited to see how the story ends.

anna elisabeth

Sheila

ANOTHER good sequel omg bless this book bless this story *kisses fingertips*

Olivia Camarena

Confesión: intenté leerlo dos veces, la segunda vez fue la vencida. Tengan paciencia, por favor, que se pone buenísimo. 

Mi cabeza explotó con los últimos 3 capítulos del libro y una vez terminado, sonó en mi cabeza la canción de los créditos del final de la sexta temporada de Game of Thrones. Ha sido un final abrumador, demasiado bueno para ser real y te deja picado, con una alta necesidad del siguiente libro.
 
Es mejor que la primera entrega. Los personajes siguen creciendo, toman decisiones buenas y malas, poco a poco se van dando cuenta del precio de sus deseos e incluso llegan al punto de cuestionarse si vale la pena. Además, conocemos el background de Constantinopla, una ciudad que en lo personal siempre me ha intrigado. Allí conocemos personajes entrañables que te mueven el tapete, al igual que al sujeto que le toca estar en contacto con ellos. 

(view spoiler)[El futuro de la ciudad, su caída, no debería ser sorpresa para nadie porque The Conqueror's Saga está ubicada en un contexto histórico específico y si buscas fechas y hechos te puedes hacer una idea de lo que ocurrirá. Eso es algo que agradezco mucho, dentro de un punto de la historia se crearon personajes que interactúan pero no distorsionan el contexto histórico, a lo que voy, no hay victorias donde no hubo.  (hide spoiler)]

Por lo último que leemos, nos podemos hacer la idea de qué nos espera... ¿y la verdad? Me pone los nervios de punta.

Tatiana Alvarez 

I was extremely excited to jump back into Lada, Radu, and Mehmed’s world. In the last book, we left off on broken relationships. Ladu, wanting you continue for the throne of Wallachia, left both her brother and the Sultan, the only two people she loved. To both Radu’s and Ladu’s shock, Radu did not join his sister on her quest for the throne. He wanted to stay with Mehmed, the man he loved but knew would never love him back. 

Also, awkward, Mehmed loves Ladu.

This book is told through varying perspectives of both siblings. I’ll start with Ladu because she is such an intense character. There were times when I hated her and other times I couldn’t help but to root for her. As she a good person? Not really. Is she bad? Also not really. I think that’s why I love her character so much. She’s ruthless and cruel, but on those who have wronged her or her janissaries. She truly believed as if she is doing the right thing, no matter how much blood she spills. The man she killed weren’t good men, but does that really excuse her actions.

Then there is my little cinnamon roll who was put through too much! Sent away to spy for Mehmed in Constantinople, Radu leaves with his “wife” Nazira and they attempt to assimilate into this new life, thought they are living a lie. Both Radu and Nazira left their true loves behind and are forced to risk everything in hopes that Mehmed will conquer the one place he set his heart on. What they don’t expect though, is to start caring about the people of Constantinople. 

Radu is used for his love of the sultan. He was forced to make decisions Ladu would have made and bare the weight of those decisions alone. Without Mehmed. Without Ladu. Because of that, it only made me hate Mehmed a little more. 

Mehmed knew the love Radu had for him but yet continued to use that love to his advantage, despite the harm it put him in. Not to mention that him and Ladu are completely toxic and wrong for one another.

There were a few slow parts, which made it hard to read at times, but there was also some really good parts. The last 100 pages were fantastic. This book is dark and bloody. Not for the faint of heart!

Ambreen Hasan

It was not merely sickness of the body that plagued sieges, but sickness of the soul that turned men into monsters.

This second book was a world of emotions. From the beginning, you are immediately sucked right back into where things ended in  And I Darken . With Lada, you are rooting for her. You want her to win. You want her to take back everything that was taken from her as a child. With Radu, you want to console him as a deals more and more with his feelings for Mehmed (view spoiler)[and Cyprian (hide spoiler)], while also dealing with the fatalities and ugliness of war from (view spoiler)[enemy lines (hide spoiler)]. 

White's writing is stunning and captivating. I ended each chapter wanting to know more (those damn cliffhangers at the end of each chapter). 

Can't wait for the third (and final) book this summer. 

P.S. Can we get a Nazira and Fatima spin-off? I would love to learn how they met and Fatima's story.

Alaia

I love this series. I love Lada. I love Radu. I love Cyprian. I love Nazira. Mehmed can suck an egg.

Lada Dracul seeks her younger brother Radu's help in securing the Wallachian throne, but their father, Sultan Mehmed, has sent him to sabotage Constantinople.

Jennifer Merchant

Olivera Mitić

I can't decide if it's a 3 or a 4 star book, ugh. It sits right in the middle, but slapping 3.5 on it and making it a day doesn't really do it justice. 

In a way, I felt like nothing really happened in this book, but it didn't bother me too much. I did like the ending and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all goes down in book number 3.

Alexis 

This series is killing me! I absolutely love it. Lada is so badass! she knows what she wants and does what she needs to get there. she watches for her men like a true leader! and then we have Radu, who i think is slowly learning that he's being used as a pawn ( which is how I see it). I really enjoy on the fact that even though they don't normally show it, the two siblings do thing and worry about one another. im seriously think this is going to go on my favorites series list with how its going so far. I'm super excited to see what kiersten has in store for the next book!

Melissa Eder

oh my god that was intense..that ending...Lada you cruel bitch 😅

Manon van Heumen

Another great one! I really loved the way the story developed. It felt very natural to me; it was not told at a fast pace or a slow one. You gradually learned more about the characters, and others were introduced, and once you got to know them a little better, you fell in love with them. 5 solid stars.

Now I rise

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