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Now I Rise

(The Conqueror's Saga #2)

Kiersten White (Goodreads Author)

4.20 · Rating details · 16,348 ratings · 2,578 reviews

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 ...more

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Kindle Edition, 476 pages

Published June 27th 2017 by Delacorte Press

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Average rating 4.20 ·

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Apr 23, 2016 Emily May rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical, 2017, arc, coverly-love

"They are soldiers. They depend upon routine, and anything out of the ordinary will give them pause. And they are men. They hate to be insulted, but they love to hear others mocked. And they are fools, because they cannot imagine that a woman alone in the woods would be a threat."

That was AWESOME. I guess it's my "western" ignorance that keeps me thinking of this series as fantasy. It feels, to me at least, like fantasy. And yet, both And I Darken and Now I Rise are brutal, dark, fictional t ...more

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Nov 20, 2016 Elle (ellexamines) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone?? holy shit

Recommended to Elle by: Tori

Shelves: x-arcs, x-series, x-coverporn, z-2016read, y-2017releases, sff-high-fantasy, x-rereads, identity, z-2016favs, z-2017favs

this is the gay masterpiece I deserved in the year of our lord 2017 and it is still a masterpiece in 2019

And I Darken was a well-written and developed book, but I had mixed feelings on the romance and wanted a bit more in the character department. I did not expect either aspect to improve. I definitely did not expect White to fix BOTH of my issues with book one. It's not often a sequel can surpass my expectations so much, but this sequel is undeniably better than book one. Now I Rise both does a ...more

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Jun 26, 2018 Miranda Reads rated it really liked it

Do not lose that hunger. You will always have to fight... You will have to be more ruthless, more brutal, more everything.

Lada Dracul - Prince of Wallachia - is ready to rule her country...only that country refuses to be ruled by a Dracul or by a woman.

However, Lada has made her decision, and that is all that matters.

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

But she cannot rule alone - she has her loyal men, her childhood friend (Bo ...more

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Oct 25, 2016 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-all, own

Let us begin!!

**************THERE WILL BE SOME SPOILERS *************

Okay, so I freaking hate Mehmed! He was alright in the beginning of the first book when him and Lada, and Radu were just friends. And then he becomes Sultan and Lada encourages him and he's a prat! First off, I don't like that crap custom of having the harem. He's in love with Lada but popping out kids. My arse!

And Lada and Radu just keep loving him no matter what. The hell?

Anyhoo, Lada is off trying to get her throne of Wall ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Simona B rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2000, in-english, fantastic-lit-and-co

“The daughter of Wallachia wants her knife back.”

•Last year, I adored And I Darken. I think its publication was a true event; I don’t know of any other YA historical/fantasy series or standalones that can be said to get close to what And I Darken presented its readers with. Kiersten White had clearly meant her story to stand out as unique, and she succeeded gloriously. Just the fact that her heroine didn’t put love above anything else was impossibly refreshing; the two male protagonists were so ...more

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Dec 20, 2018 jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

if you had told me 10 years ago, when i was bored out of my mind in world history class, that i will voluntarily read a series about the ottoman empire and the siege of constantinople (not to mention i would also enjoy myself throughout), i would have said youre crazy. and yet, here i am. lol.

the pacing/layout of this series is so organised and straightforward - i love it! the first book is an intro to the characters and the ascension of mehmed, this one focuses on the siege of various kingdoms, ...more

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Jul 05, 2017 Candace rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hate-that-i-love-them, listened-to-audio-version, dangerous-hero-themed-books-read, forbidden-romance, childhood-loves, love-triangles, shocking-twists

When I finished the first book in 'The Conqueror's Saga', I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book. I absolutely loved Mehmed, Lada and Radu. I was completely taken in by their unique personalities and the love that they had for one another. Despite the fact that their interests were often conflicting, they managed to remain the closest of friends, and sometimes more.

However, I am sad to say that I didn't get the same pleasure from reading 'Now I Rise'. It was like this book came along a When I finished the first book in 'The Conqueror's Saga', I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book. I absolutely loved Mehmed, Lada and Radu. I was completely taken in by their unique personalities and the love that they had for one another. Despite the fact that their interests were often conflicting, they managed to remain the closest of friends, and sometimes more.

However, I am sad to say that I didn't get the same pleasure from reading 'Now I Rise'. It was like this book came along and burst my bubble. Any seeds of resentment and anger that were planted in 'And I Darken' came to life in this book. My view of these characters has been irreparably changed...and not for the better.

One of the things that really stood out to me about the first book was the loyalty that this trio seemed to have for one another. Even as their political and religious alliances were in opposition, they always found a way to support one another and place their personal relationships first. Yes, for Mehmed and Lada there were a few betrayals, but I never felt like they were more than superficial, based upon the expectations of their positions. Perhaps I just wanted to believe that, especially where Mehmed was concerned, even though the writing was on the wall.

In contrast to the first book, 'Now I Rise' is full of betrayal and underhanded manipulations. Every one of them turns their back on the people that care for them, some to a greater degree than others. However, none of them were innocent of treachery in this book.

Mehmed, in particular, was a character that I grew to despise. He claims to love Lada, but sells her out at every turn. Honestly, I began to dislike him in the last book as he repeatedly chose to sleep with other women while professing his love for Lada. What a pig! I wanted to make excuses for his behavior then, but I've got my head on straight now. This book helped me come to the realization that he is nothing more than a calculating, self-centered, power-hungry asshat! I hope that Lada kills him.

Although I like Lada more than Mehmed, she is equally obsessed with power and consumed by her blind ambition to reign. I think I probably cut her a little more slack because she is a big time underdog. It is rare to encounter such a strong, badass female lead character, so I really want to like her. Unfortunately, I found her pretty unappealing for much of this book also. She may not have betrayed Mehmed and Radu in the huge way that they both betrayed her, but she did plenty of horrible things in order to assert her power over those she hoped to rule. The brutal tactics she employed didn't sit well with me either, regardless of the fact that I wanted her to achieve her end goal.

Sweet Radu also proved to be a big disappointment this time around. Turning his back on his sister, he willingly submits to Mehmed's every self-serving demand. It was pathetic. He befriends and then betrays close friends in order to further Mehmed's quest to conquer Constantinople. Even as he knows that what he is doing is wrong, he repeatedly chooses to sacrifice others that are innocent in the hopes that he will gain the affection of a man that he knows will never love him the way that he does. I wanted to pity him, but my anger toward his actions never let that emotion set in. In some ways he was every bit as bad as Mehmed, but his duplicity was hidden beneath a façade of presumed harmlessness.

After finishing this book, I feel hollowed out. There is a part of me that still wants to see how things will work out. I'd hate to miss it if Lada ends up killing Mehmed. However, a part of me is just disgusted with all of these characters that I once loved.

I'm not sure that I can bear to watch them destroy one another. It is clear that this isn't going to be a HEA type of story. The damage is done and I suspect that their insatiable hunger for power and unobtainable love will just end up destroying them all. It is fitting, but not necessarily something that I feel like watching play out. I guess I'll see how I'm feeling when the third book is released. For now, I'm going to lick my emotional wounds and give my disappointment plenty of time to sink in.

Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
...more

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Oct 10, 2017 C.G. Drews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, epic-fantasy, read-2017

This was so bloody and so brilliant. Like Lada has never had any chill, but she has LESS THAN NONE NOW because wow. This is fantastically dark and twisty and intriguing and also kind of depressing?? I admit I'm not giving it the full stars mostly because I felt...a bit slumped after the end. I shall explain. But just so you know: HOLY WOW I LOVE THIS SERIES A LOT.

+ The characters are totally what's absolutely caught my heart.
Like put in all the HEART EYES here for our Slytherin little children. ...more

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Apr 12, 2017 destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries] rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-physical, diverse-reads, review-copies, historical, young-adult, lgbtqiap

#1 And I Darken ★★★★★
#2 Now I Rise ★★★★★
#3 Bright We Burn ★★★☆☆

They had nothing better, nowhere else to go. They were loyal to her, and to the hope that perhaps she would find them a place in the world.

FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. Now I Rise is non-stop action, death, war, betrayal, and general bad-assery from Lada. She was built into this amazing, fierce little creature in the first book, but her leadership qualities as well as her dedication to Wallachia really shine in this one.

PLOT ➳➳
After lea ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 may ❀ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 400-pgs, fantasy, aaaaaaaaaa, bye, historical, trilogy, i-am-trash, buddy-read, look-at-that-beauty, ded

IS THAT HOW ITS GOING TO END???? JUST LIKE THAT ????

Fricken hell, someone hold me, I've felt like my heart was in my throat for the last 5 chapters and now I'm going to continue the rest of my life like this
description

thanks for that keirsten white, i hope you're proud of yourself

4.5 stars (and im not promising any review go away and leave me to mourn my existence)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

attempt #2:

hoping this time ill be able to get into it

Buddy read with mah big sis, Jia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

oh my ...more

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May 16, 2017 ;3 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: likeable-main-character-s, audiobooks, favourites

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Dec 16, 2017 Whitney Atkinson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, lgbtqiap, read-in-2017, made-me-cry, favs-of-2017, favorites

4.5 stars

This series continues to amaze me just because of its depth and scope. For a while I thought this book was just boring politics, but then I realized that it continues to play with the themes of identity and religion/culture. But in this book, it also questions loyalty and morality and it’s just??? so good????? I don’t want this to sound like I’m shitting on other YA books but this is seriously so thought-provoking and mature (not in its content, really, just that it tackles so many them 4.5 stars

This series continues to amaze me just because of its depth and scope. For a while I thought this book was just boring politics, but then I realized that it continues to play with the themes of identity and religion/culture. But in this book, it also questions loyalty and morality and it’s just??? so good????? I don’t want this to sound like I’m shitting on other YA books but this is seriously so thought-provoking and mature (not in its content, really, just that it tackles so many themes and creates such depth of characters) that I can’t believe more people don’t talk about it. The way that it tackles feelings of belonging and religion and loyalty are so impactful and strangely relatable even though this takes place 600 years ago. it’s just absolutely fascinating.

The biggest thing I admire about these books is how much they read like character studies. Lada and Radu are genuinely two of the most interesting characters in YA right now, in my opinion. AND PPL ARE SLEEPING ON IT!!! I cannot emphasize how much I adore Lada as a character. She is ruthless and doesn’t care about others’ opinions of her and does what she think is best for her and is so self-motivated and self-confident, AND YET there’s still this vulnerable and human side to her that craves validation and it makes her so real. And this passion and feeling isn’t even driven by romantic feelings—it’s about duty and feminism and family and morality and IT’S JUST SO GOOD SHE’S SUCH AN INTRICATE AND WELL-CRAFTED CHARACTER. Nothing about her is glossed over. She has periods, she has casual sex, she kills people who betray her, she cries, she is generous. I’m so impressed at the quality of her character.
And likewise for Radu. I just……. he’s incredible. The complete opposite of Lada. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s outwardly passionate and intelligent and emotional, but there’s a darker, melancholy side to him and his coming to terms with religion and feeling in-between cultures and his sexuality and his feelings of estrangement from his family. I was genuinely crying by the end of this book when he was having to justify being in war and feeling torn between the two cultures and not being able to escape with blood on his hands. i just want to hug him and wrap him in blankets.
And the two of these characters together in one book? As brother and sister? Working together? I’m hooked on every page. Even though they are separated throughout this entire book, I couldn’t choose whose POV was my favorite and I never wished they were together just so that the plot would be more interesting. It carried its own weight magnificently. The machinations of their brains drive the story despite their being apart and in this book, the angst and the tension continues to build. It’s addicting.

One of my only complaints is that it’s so hard to keep characters, nations, and events straight in this book. I don’t know much about Ottoman or European history, and not much is given explanation-wise. I mean, obviously there’s tension between Muslims and Christians, but I feel like White should have used the opportunity to make this more comprehensible by adding information about the countries and basic history that we should know, because I seriously always forget who’s fighting who and why and who is avenging who and why they died and why does Mehmed want to capture Constantinople and was Constantinople a real place and are these descriptions historically accurate? It pulled me out of the story to be constantly questioning what was happening. Is Constantinople in Turkey? If so, why are they fighting with the Ottomans? Why are there so many Italians? Is it in Italy? Do I have to google 15th century European geography just to understand this book? (Yes.) ((Also, googling Constantinople spoils the war in this book soooo))

[side note: the entire problem stated above could probably be solved with a bigger/better map]

One more thing that I think would have made this book stronger would have been the addition of Mehmed’s POV. I know the book is centralized on the Wallachian siblings for a reason and it would have been 100+ pages longer with the added perspective, but everyone is split up and I think it works, but knowing what’s going on with the Ottomans would round out the story and help the readers reason with how they should feel about Mehmed, because he’s in a very grey area in this book. He’s the link between the two siblings, a romantic love interest, and the leader of a powerful empire, but for the majority of this book, i wasn’t sure if i was supposed to be rooting for him or not.

This is such a slow-burning but strong series. I highly, highly recommend it. It contains some of the most dynamic, fleshed-out characters I’ve ever read in YA, on the level of Cassie Clare & Maggie Stiefvater. Don’t let the slowness of the plot and thickness of the books deceive you. ...more

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Aug 02, 2018 sunny rated it did not like it

Shelves: i-dont-get-the-hype, sick-of-this-bitch, historical-romance, literal-garbage, romance, sexsexsex, young-adult, shawty-so-bad, unfinished-series, bf

reading this book felt like a tedious chore.

literally nothing happens in this book and 1.5 stars only for Cyprian, Radu, Nazira and Fatima. everything and everyone else can choke.

-------
I'm expecting this to be wayyyyy more better than AID and if it's not I'm going to fight this book and beat it UP.

Buddy read with a hard mango ...more

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Oct 27, 2018 Melanie rated it liked it

Recommended to Melanie by: Elle (ellexamines)

Shelves: young-adult, retellings, lgbtqiap, historical, romance, read-in-2018

“Hatred makes monsters of us all.”

Friends, I’ll be honest with you, I have been dreading writing this review. I don’t know what’s wrong with me or my reading tastes, but this series just isn’t the series for me. So many of my friends love this series more than anything and you should check out their reviews: Chaima (Muslim ownvoices), Elise, and Emily! But, sadly, I’m calling it quits and I’m not reading the third book. And if you want my honest opinion? Read The Traitor Baru Cormora ...more

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Nov 03, 2017 Tweebs♥️ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-killed-me-and-my-ghost, series-that-slayed-my-existence

{Types on Google}

how do I explain to my family and friends that this book is the love of my life?

Yeah, review still coming :p

******************************************
PRE-REVIEW

reasons why i should never be trusted

✓ this book arrived so quickly like i didn't even blink yet and it was here.....right in my hands
✓ when i opened the box though that's when i realized that life will never let you just.......be
✓ first of all, i ordered the wrong cover
✓ trust me for once my eyesight is not the problem ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 Jiana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

oh my God oh my God oh my GoD ohmygodohmygod OH MY GOD SOMEONE HOLD ME I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH

RTC!!!

Update 12/08/2017 : I finally have this beauty in my hands and so it's time to read it!!!

Actual buddy read (more like forced her) with my little sister Maymay.

••••

I'm impatiently waiting for my copy to arrive so I finally read this beauty. It's one of my 2017 anticipated reads so I really hope it's as good (or even better!) as And I Darken.

Buddy reading with my love

and... um, her too... yea ...more

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Apr 23, 2017 Nastassja rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: fans of And I Darken

Shelves: 3rd-pov, swoon-worthy-hero, dark, anti-hero, emotional, loved-when-was-younger, excellent-writing, gives-me-goosebumps, mind-blowing-cliffhanger, historical-fiction

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

And true to its word this book is more brutal, more ruthless, and stakes were never this high before. Reading And I Darken was not an easy experience for me, but Now I Rise doubles it in intensity and heartbreak. When you have to chose between people you love and right and wrong, things get very messy. There’s no white or black, everything’s gray and painful.

Once again Kiersten White i ...more

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May 25, 2016 destini rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fierce-leads

"i don't like lada"

"she's too violent"

"what happened to her compassion"

"she's chang–"

this book was bomb and lada s l a y e d my entire existence.

She was a dragon. She was a prince. She was the only hope Wallachia had of ever prospering.
And she would do whatever it took to get there.

she is truly a fearsome thing to behold. so often in novels we get characters that will say they would do anything to accomplish their goals but stop just shy or the author events some miraculous loophole that gi ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2017, young-adult

The best YA historical fiction series in quite some time. This is one of those series that is so good, you don't want to risk giving any spoilers because it's just that good. The concept alone should be enough to sell the series: An alternate history with Vlad the Impaler as a girl. And if you haven't heard of Vlad the Impaler - he had a reputation for cruelty throughout Europe and took pleasure in torturing and killing his enemies with his most preferred method being impalement. He was also the The best YA historical fiction series in quite some time. This is one of those series that is so good, you don't want to risk giving any spoilers because it's just that good. The concept alone should be enough to sell the series: An alternate history with Vlad the Impaler as a girl. And if you haven't heard of Vlad the Impaler - he had a reputation for cruelty throughout Europe and took pleasure in torturing and killing his enemies with his most preferred method being impalement. He was also the inspiration for Dracula. Sold yet?

The first book follows Lada starting from her birth. Radu is born a year later. And we follow them as they are sent to be raised in the Ottoman courts. They meet Mehmed and all become huge parts of each other's lives. This one is all about Lada trying to retake Wallachia and the fall of Constantinople. It is a clear retelling of actual events and is so fascinating.

This book is every bit as brutal and dark as the first book. The setting is outstanding, vivid, and so easy to visualize. It is beautifully written. I began to really appreciate Nazira's connection with Radu. It's a very sweet dynamic and shows how much they truly care about each other. It's hard to not feel sympathy and anger both over the unrequited romance situation. Lada has become even more badass - is that even possible? Apparently because she's cold-blooded and vicious. To be honest, I was loving every second of it.

The romance gets a bit on the annoying side at times, but it's far less present in this book than the first. I think it's there to spark emotions in the characters to really make them go there when it comes to being angry or hurt and doing drastic actions.

There is more character development here, especially for Radu. Politics and religion play a large part in the events. I enjoyed the different opinions on the taking of Constantinople regarding religion. It is discussed in a non-offensive way and is rather enlightening.

I do miss the characters being together. There was something so special in the first book regarding Lada and Radu's sibling relationship. Don't get me wrong..it is still there. But more in the way that Lada recognizes the skills Radu has that she could really use. She realizes she is stronger with her brother by her side. But that won't do her any good with Radu being sent to Constantinople as Mehmed's inside guy.

I really enjoyed where the story went. It remained on the unpredictable side keeping me guessing. The ending picked up the pace a great deal leaving me reeling for book three. It's clear we'll be in for one hell of a ride!

If you haven't started the series yet, do yourself a favor and go get And I Darken now. And if you just haven't read the sequel, what are you waiting on?? ...more

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Dec 05, 2016 Bibi rated it it was amazing

Second time reading (in preparation for Bright We Burn) and it's even better this time, especially that final showdown between Lada and the Danesti Boyar nobility. So deliciously devious.
Lada is a complete badass and most definitely my all time fave heroine and if you like strategic political warfare, this series will blow your mind.

...more

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Jul 14, 2016 Natalie Monroe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: he-s-so-bad-but-he-does-it-so-well, bubbling-under-5-stars, love-wins, my-inner-feminist-cries-with-joy

4.5 stars

"I think if you had been a boy, perhaps you would have been satisfied with what the world offered you. This is how we are alike. We saw everything that was not ours, and we hungered. 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."

You know what I love about this series? You have no idea how it's going to end. This is, o ...more

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Feb 01, 2021 Lucy Tonks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 21-books-to-read-in-2021

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

I'm scared for the last book in this series.

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one, but sadly I was in a but of a reading slump while reading it so it took me a while to finish it.

This series is basically a historical retelling the life of Vlad the Impaler, only in this book he was born a girl called Lada. We also follow Lada's younger brother, Radu, who is ...more

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Aug 01, 2018 may ➹ rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommended to may ➹ by: Elle (ellexamines)

Shelves: read-2018, library, pov-female, boring, diverse, rep-lgbtqiap-mlm, buddy-reads, disappointing, historical-fiction, young-adult

DNF @ 57%

how does one say........oops

I care about this book about as much as I care about myself, which is not much at all

1.5 stars and a short review to come making fun of this book because that’s the only good feeling I’ll ever have towards this series

// buddy read with batman

...more

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Mar 18, 2018 ✨ jamieson ✨ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2018-reads, gay-mc, historical-fiction, fave-couple, retelling, series, young-adult

I AM BEYOND SHOOK THAT ENDING OH MY GODDD

Why is every event in this literally So Incredibly Shocking when it's historical fiction and I literally already wikipedia-spoiled myself

Anyway Radu is my son and I would literally die for him I love him so much AND OH MY GOD THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. How is it so good Radu's growth is !!!!! god he needs to learn to love himself I'm so emo please son you're doing amazing sweetie (view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 04, 2018 April rated it it was amazing

Lada don't need no man.🙅🏻‍♀️ ...more

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Jul 18, 2017 Dannii Elle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastic-fabrications, historical-highness

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Kiersten White, and the publisher, Delacorte Press, for this opportunity.

This is the second instalment in the much-loved And I Darken series. The book is set primarily in the dual perspectives of Lada and Radu, daughter and son of the renowned Vlad Dragwyla, prince of Wallachia, during the nineteenth century. They spent their childhood used as political bargaining chips and lived as wards to the sultan of b I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Kiersten White, and the publisher, Delacorte Press, for this opportunity.

This is the second instalment in the much-loved And I Darken series. The book is set primarily in the dual perspectives of Lada and Radu, daughter and son of the renowned Vlad Dragwyla, prince of Wallachia, during the nineteenth century. They spent their childhood used as political bargaining chips and lived as wards to the sultan of bordering lands. Now Lada wants what is rightfully hers. Wallachia.

I adored this book due to Lada's character. She was feisty and fiercesome, stubborn and spirited, troubled and troublesome. She gave a new insight to the historical female, which has so often painted all of its females as wilting roses and distressed damsels. She is the antithesis of this expected role. Much to the horror of many of the males that surround her.

I adored how White allowed Lada to become every bit as bloodthirsty and brutal as her father. I also appreciated how she allowed her brother, Radu, to become every bit as delicate as his sister was expected to be. Both were determination to betray what was expected from their genders and to overcome every obstacle in their opposing rise in strength and notoriety. These stereotypical gender roles were turned on their hand and what resulted were two endearing and authentic individuals, set in a well-written and well-structured satire, exploring dense themes and overcoming many gender and genre defining stereotypes. The additional exploration of Radu's sexuality and the implications it would have in his time and in his position also accounted to make this thoroughly intriguing, enlightening, and thought-provoking reading

My only point of discord with this book was the confusion over places and people, which came from the density of plot and the time between my reading of the two books. This was quickly forgotten however, as I was re-absorbed into this world and all the blood-soaked action and political intrigue entailed. ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Silvia marked it as 0-own-tbr · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fantasy, arc, fantasy, ya, netgalley-to-review, sent-for-review, historical-fiction

Edit:
Hi, it is I, currently in a reading slump, who just received the ARC of this book, which one DEFINITELY shouldn't try to read while in a reading slump :)) Also guess who loved book 1 but doesn't remember a single thing about it :))) thank god for recaps online.

THAT COVER. Can I just tape it on the inside of my eyelids? *want want want* ...more

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Apr 13, 2017 alana ♡ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed-arcs, historical-fiction, from-publisher

"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!

Rating: 4.5/5

I received an ARC of this and I can finally post my review now that it's release day :)

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 ...more

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Oct 11, 2016 Nina (Every Word A Doorway) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2017-faves

"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. Any weakness will undo everything you have accomplished. They will see any crack as evidence that they were right that a woman cannot do what you do."

If you're looking for a Young Adult novel that combines a Vlad the Impaler reimagining with a rich historical setting and a gloriou

"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. Any weakness will undo everything you have accomplished. They will see any crack as evidence that they were right that a woman cannot do what you do."

If you're looking for a Young Adult novel that combines a Vlad the Impaler reimagining with a rich historical setting and a glorious feminist storyline, then The Conqueror's Saga is your address. This series excites with multi-layered characters and fascinating character dynamics, intriguing political/war schemes and engaging personal endeavours. And I Darken was a slow build-up but I was really intrigued, especially by the sibling leads. The book's ending gave me a hint that I was going to like where Kiersten White was headed with this story, and I was right.

Though Now I Rise is split into Lada's and Radu's separate storylines, it does not feel like a filler book. Compared to And I Darken, the sequel is grittier and bloodier. The stakes are raised, as each sibling yearns and fights to be something their harsh world will not permit them to be.

Let's cut straight to the point: This series will not appeal to everyone, mainly because the pacing is slower than the average YA book's. Kiersten White takes her sweet time with plot advancement in favour of character development. But listen, few authors create characters as beautifully flawed as Kiersten White does, and you just have to appreciate these little cinnamons buns. But I digress. For readers who despise books with story threads that barely meet – and subplots involving quests and journeys, for that matter –, Now I Rise is going to be a disappointment. I, for one, thought that the separate storylines stood well enough on their own, carried by two engaging leads. Even without Lada and Radu physically interacting, their mental presence in each other's lives creates a fascinating sibling dynamic. Having reached an impasse in And I Darken, the (half) siblings go separate ways in Now I Rise, each going after their hearts' desire – a throne and a sultan.

One of this trilogy's appeals is definitely its gender swap which made a feminist take on Vlad the Impaler possible. Men are handed down thrones whereas Lada has to fight for hers. What speaks to me about Lada's storyline is that she prioritises her homeland and her birthright over romance. This is such a breath of fresh air compared to all the lovestruck heroines we get, especially in Young Adult novels. Kiersten White pitches a sultan raised with old-fashioned (aka sexist) beliefs against feminist Lada, and thus skillfully sets up two opposite mindsets to clash. Now I Rise delivers further evidence as to why this is a Vlad the Impaler reimagining. Though Lada has always been a character with more edges than a knife, her failures only sharpen her determination and ingenuity, her bitterness and brutality in the sequel. It hardly needs mentioning that witty banter is a standard element of Lada's group of loyal followers. The only issue I experienced with Now I Rise was that some stops of Lada's quest seemed redundant to the overall plot. In a book with a slow pacing, every step a character takes needs to be crucial to the outcome, or it will start to feel dragging.

While Lada is off slaughtering her way through Eastern Europe, Radu is sent to Constantinople as a spy for Mehmed. Historically, Now I Rise is set before and during the fall of Constantinople under the Ottoman Empire. Radu's storyline made me realise two things: 1) With her wits and unwavering loyalty, Nazira is the second best female character on this cast, and 2) I need him to be happy with a certain handsome lad from Cyprus and drop his infatuation with Mehmed. The precious, brittle character that is Radu has a lot to stomach in this sequel. He endures the fear of being found out (on a double account!), the horrors of siege and war, and the weight of having his loyalties torn. Where character development is concerned, Radu makes more progress than Lada, in my opinion. I'm eagerly waiting to find out what crucial role Radu is going to play in this trilogy's final instalment, and I can only pray that Kiersten White shares my ultimate goal: Radu's happiness.

This author's skills for crafting fleshed out characters, rich settings, and exquisite prose certainly speak for themselves. But what she truly seems to have a knack for is cliffhangers. Similar to the first book, Now I Rise ends with a well-aimed punch that'll have you flailing. Though things have already grown tense between Lada, Radu, and Mehmed, shit is sure to hit the fan in the final instalment.

Now I Rise promises conquests, schemes, tough decisions, heartbreak, and some impaling, and it delivers on all of those. This book is definitely among my favourite reads of 2017. If you're worried the lack of interaction between Lada and Radu or the 'quest plot' are going to impact your reading experience negatively, I can assure you that each subplot adds enough spice to the soup, and Lada's bickering, plotting, and impaling creates sufficient action for any journey.

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.

...more

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Jul 07, 2017 Alexandra Emilia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

My Review for "And I Darken" : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I totally agree with Sara's point of view and she did a remarkable job writing this review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"History is a cyclic poem written by Time upon the memories of Man." - Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ... “ - George Santayana

“Those who do not know history's mistakes are doomed to repeat them. “ - Edmund Burke

Dear Kiersten White,

The f ...more

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About Kiersten White

Kiersten White

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Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for teens and young readers, including And I Darken, Now I Rise, Bright We Burn, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, and Slayer. She lives with her family near the ocean in San Diego, where she perpetually lurks in the shadows. Visit Kiersten online at KierstenWhite.com and follow @KierstenWhite on Twitter.

Other books in the series

The Conqueror's Saga (3 books)

Books by Kiersten White

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

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Quotes from Now I Rise

“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.” — 87 likes

“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.” — 58 likes

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