I love that this series positively portrays both a gay romance and Islam. Tensions between Lada, Radu and Mehmed reach an all-time high, with their affections for one another never far behind their animosity. True to the character of this series, this final installment is action-packed and gory. And I love that, even though she is incredibly strong, she also has moments of weakness and self-doubt that remind us of her underlying humanity. Even when she is at her worst (which is 95% of the time). She is obviously a very screwed up, disturbed person, and it was impossible for me to not feel sympathy for her. While I doubt I would have had the same sympathies for the real, male Vlad, I think the author captured Lada's frustrations with the limitations of being a woman really well.
“The empire is coming for us, and I intend to win.” White pushes the limits on how much sympathy we can have for a character who is borderline villain, but I personally adored Lada to the end. Lada is, unsurprisingly, on a murderous rampage, making many powerful enemies and a few important allies as she goes along. In this book, we pick up right where we left off in Now I Rise. I say almost because Kiersten White is publishing literally everything I have always wanted next year. In other words, this series is almost everything I've always wanted. There's Vlad the Impaler reimagined as a woman. There's alt-history that's - let's face it - a lot more alt than history. There's battles and backstabbing and unrequited love. I mean, why wouldn't I? There's a murderous antiheroine who's definitely more anti than heroine. Provoke the greatest empire on the face of the earth.” He paused. Only by destroying everything that came before-including her relationships-can Lada truly build the country she wants.Ĭlaim the throne. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister's indomitable will. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. They must go to war against the girl prince.īut Mehmed knows that he loves her. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper.
Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed's peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. But Lada won't rest until everyone knows that her country's borders are inviolable. Lada's rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital.
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