Audiobook Review: Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

Title: Bright We Burn Series: The Conquerors Saga #3  Written by: Kiersten White Published: July 10, 2018 by Delacorte (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it?  Lada's rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won't rest until everyone knows that her country's borders are inviolable. 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. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.  But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister's indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before--including her relationships--can Lada truly build the country she wants.   Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.

I immediately knew that this series was going to be right up my alley when I first learned about it. First of all, it’s about Vlad Tepes and every book I have read about Dracula, real or imagined, I have loved. But this is also a gender-swapped historical fiction with a badass female protagonist which, sign me up. And this last book in the series truly was amazing.

In three books I have become very attached to these characters and it’s become very easy to root for them. First there is Lada, the gender-swapped Vlad the Impaler. She was really everything I wanted her to be, especially in this book. She was absolutely brutal and did whatever it took to take back and keep her crown. But the best part about that is it wasn’t unfounded. I liked that there was a big picture to it. Lada was fighting in the name of progress and equality. For that I really loved her. And then there is Radu, her brother. Radu could not be any more different from Lada. He is sweet, good-natured, and thoughtful when it comes to his actions. The best part about Radu in this book is that you really get to see him shine when it comes to politics and it was exciting to see, especially as someone who loves books with political intrigue.

But what I think I liked most about these characters is the exploration of good and evil. This book is full of people who are doing bad things for the right reasons but their reasons are contradictory to one another which adds another great layer. Usually you don’t have two such different characters who are at odds like this. But when it happens, it is always on books that I love and this book was no exception. Throughout the series Kiersten really explores the idea of the sacrifices people are willing to make to achieve their goals and some of the impacts of war on not only the people but their rulers. Plus it was subtle. It didn’t hit you over the head with a message and I liked that.

The other very cool thing about this book is the historical setting. Most books set in the Middle Ages are very focused on a Western European setting. I liked that his had an Eastern European and Middle Eastern setting. It was cool to see the conflict of Christianity and Islam from both perspectives. Plus, again it was subtle. It wasn’t a story about religion and The Crusades, that was just a small part of it. No, this was a story of the Draculesti family, which I thoroughly enjoyed. You can tell that Kiersten did her research. She made some changes, you kind of have to when you’re gender-swapping, but it added to the story. It made me want to learn more about The read Vlad the Impaler and Radu cel Frumos which honestly is the mark of good historical fiction in my opinion.

All in all I really loved this book. It has fantastic characters, a thrilling plot, and a great historical setting. The whole series was amazing and I think it is one of those rare series where it gets better over time. This book is without a doubt my favorite and the one I wanted from the start.\

I give Bright We Burn by Kirsten White 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you like historical fiction or are looking for a book with a badass female ruler to root for definitely check this one out. Side note: if you like audiobooks, these ones are narrated by Fiona Hardingham and they are really amazing. I liked the last two so much better than the first and I think it's because I got the audio.

Have you read Bright We Burn? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Title: Now I Rise Series: And I Darken #2 Written by: Kiersten White Published: June 27, 2017 by Delacorte (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: She has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada Dracul 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.

I had wanted to read this book last year when it first came out but I didn't get around to it for some reason. I had liked And I Darken and was intrigued to see where to series would be going so when I saw that the audiobook was available to borrow from the library I thought this would be the perfect Pride Month read.

And I really liked this book. One of the things that I didn't love about And I Darken was the plot development. But the plot in this book was seriously on point. There was a ton of action and adventure, which you know I love, and it really built to a thrilling and exciting conclusion that had me excited and engaged. But what I think I liked most about it is that even though there were two characters with two distinct storylines, they felt connected. There was a lot of symmetry to the stories which I really appreciated. It felt like a cohesive story in that way. Plus I really like that it didn't drag things out longer than it needed to be. There was a clear ending in this book and I am still super excited to read what happens next.

I also really like the characters in this book. Both Lada and Radu are more of adults now so they are more secure in themselves and what they want which was really nice to see, but they both also have these great vulnerabilities. Kiersten White does a great job in creating characters that walk a fine line in being strong and resilient while also being vulnerable. It makes them really likable and complex. This is a good read for Pride Month because in this book we really see Radu struggle with his sexuality and his love for Mehmed who he's pretty sure doesn't love him back. Anyone who has ever felt unrequited love has to feel for Radu and the not always great decisions he makes here. I will say, I was particularly happy with Lada's characterizations in this book. When comparing her to Vlad the Impaler I thought she could be a lot more brutal and vicious in the first book, but her she was definitely more tough. I am psyched to see where her story goes because I have a feeling we are going to see a super badass Lada in the final book.

The other thing that impressed me with White's writing is the historical aspect. You can tell that she did her research into these historical figures. Obviously, this is a work of fiction as she changed the gender of one of the main characters, but so many of the other elements of the story are there. It made me completely fascinated with the real figures of Vlad Tepes, Sultan Mehmed, and Radu cel Frumos. Throughout the book I was googling them to find out what actually happened now I really want to learn more. She also really let the city of Constantinople (present day Istanbul) come to life. I've read a few books that took place there and it always seems like an amazing a vibrant place, especially during this historical time period.

This was a really fantastic historical read with great characters and a thrilling plot. And I am really glad that I listened to the audiobook. Fiona Hardingham did a great job with it and brought the characters to life. I think when I read the next book I think I will listen to the audio.

I give Now I Rise by Kierten White 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book. If you liked the first book in the series I recommend the continuation and for those who haven't read it, it's a great dark historical fiction series.

Have you read Now I Rise? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: And I Darken by Kiersten White

Title: And I Darken Series: Conquerors Saga #1 Written by: Kiersten White Published: June 28, 2016 by Delacorte Press (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.  And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.  Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.  But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

I was so excited to read this book when I first heard about it. A story about a female Vlad the Impaler at the Ottoman court. That sounds right up my alley. And it was, it definitely was. I really enjoyed this dark historical fiction full of political intrigue and subtle coming of age vibes.

As far as the plot goes, it may seem a little disjointed. The first half is about the childhood of Lada (the female Vlad) and her brother Radu. First we see them in their native Wallachia with their father the prince, then we see them in the Ottoman Empire as a prisoner of the sultan. This part was a little slow for me. It was kind of a fish out of water story but I kept waiting for it to start picking up. But pick up it did. It took me about a week to read the first half of the book and two days to read the second half. Once the political intrigue and action started kicking in, I couldn't put it down. I really loved seeing Lada and even Radu plotting and planning how to outsmart those who were against Sultan Mehmed who they supported. There were even some surprises along the way in terms of friends and enemies. In the end it did build to a great conclusion but it had a slow start and the pacing was kind of problematic.

But what I did really like was the characterizations. Kiersten White did a great job of developing our main characters and surrounding them with interesting and complex characters. Lada is described as being a vicious princess. What I liked about her is that despite the fact that she wants to be like the men, she can't eschew feminine things and that being a woman could actual be a benefit. Radu has his own struggle being who he is and it was nice seeing these two come into their own throughout the book. The best part though is that neither of them are perfect. They make mistakes, they do the wrong thing, they lash out, and they keep secrets. They are realistic and hard to like sometimes but that's what makes them great characters.

I also really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect. Vlad the Impaler is such a fascinating figure in Medieval and Sultan Mehmed is as well. They are two people that you don't often read about and it was great learning more about them throughout this book. But it was also really great learning about the life and culture during the time period. You can tell that the author did her research and it helped immerse you into the world but it wasn't overwhelming. I've heard the Game of Thrones comparison and I think what it made me realize is that GoT is based on real history and maybe this place and period was one of those influences. But I do have to say that I was hoping for a little bit more brutality from Lada, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of Vlad the Impaler brutality so hopefully future books have a little more.

On the whole, I thought this was a great historical fiction read. It's a bit slow in the beginning but it introduces you to characters that have great development and sets the stage for great political intrigue.

I give And I Darken by Kiersten White 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. What I have seen from reviews is that this is a really hit or miss kind of book. If you are into historical fiction and books with a slower plot that builds to a thrilling conclusion then check this out. I've seen the Game of Thrones comparison and I definitely get it. There's lots of political intrigue and complex female characters.

Have you read And I Darken? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!