Books and Things: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Monday, June 26, 2017

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Series: The Conqueror's Saga #2
496 p.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: June 27,17
Source: From NetGalley and Publisher for review

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.

My thoughts:

I really loved the first book in the series so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed.

We are split in-between the siblings Radu and Lada in the telling of this adventure. Both still have feelings for Medmed but now have grown into adults and trying to figure out who they are while trying to achieve their goals. I have to say as much as I was captivated by Lada and her harsh and severe decisions I really enjoyed Radu's POV in this one. He questioned everything in the end and while he still chose a side expected, the experience changed him profoundly and I'm curious to know where he will go from here. I think he has the biggest epiphany coming and more choices on the horizon which I think will become increasingly difficult.

Now this does not mean that I missed the adventure Lada had nor her growth. She is slowly figuring out not just who she or who she wants to be but more importantly, what kind of leader she will eventually become. I also have a feeling this road will not be easy and I can see her last decisions will have severe consequences. What I took away from most of the story is that the siblings were stronger together than separately but they both wanted different things out of life. It was interesting to see them both come to that same conclusion.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a great historical fantasy and it isn't hard to get into for those that don't often read fantasy. I also recommend you read this one in order. Very few fantasy books should or can be read out of order.

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About Kiersten:

Kiersten White is the NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, the Mind Games series, Illusions of Fate, The Chaos of Stars, In the Shadows with artist Jim Di Bartolo, and the upcoming historical reimagining, And I Darken. She has one tall husband and three small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

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Giveaway Details:

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