Now I Rise, Kiersten White, Penguin Random House, ISBN: 9780552573757
NOW I Rise seems to move at a break-neck pace as the Draculesti siblings each head off on their world-changing missions.
Lada has returned with her men to Wallachia and is determined to be seen as anything than just a woman. She wants to be a prince.
Her actions are vicious and deadly but are seen as a necessity to carve a path to the throne. The enemies in her homeland are different from the ones she has faced previously. These are armed with smiles and false promises, attempting to use her “inferiority” as a woman to serve their own power-hungry desires.
Lada’s strong character is an absolute polar opposite to that of her brother. Where she is not afraid to say how she feels or go after what she wants, through sheer force, her brother Radu, is made of a much softer cloth.
His absolute devotion to Mehmed borders on radical and is quite disconcerting. This slows down his character progression quite dramatically.
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In this novel he is sent off to act as a spy in Constantinople as Mehmed gathers his forces to take control of the holy city.
Radu is gay but is utterly afraid to admit his feelings to Mehmed for fear of retribution. He simply cannot lose Mehmed, his dearest friend and heart’s desire.
A possible love interest from book one resurfaces and all I could think was “Oh my God, kiss and live your happily ever after already Radu!”
I am quite glad that White has placed Mehmed in the backseat in Now I Rise. His character is quite dull when compared to the brother and sister duo and has allowed the stars of the saga to really shine on their own.
The ending of book two will have you reeling for more. Simply put, I cannot wait for book three!
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