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.
Normally, I’m not a fan of historical fiction but these books have me asking for more. I couldn’t stop reading and or listening to this book.
There is a little time jump since we left everyone in the last book.
Everyone is split up and in different places with some of the same goals but yet different goals. Even though this book a big part of it had political and religious aspect it was soo much fun to read.
It is fast paced and full of action, betrayal and suspense, but it has a bit of everything else as well. There are a few twists that I really enjoyed.
Lada in this book is even stronger than before, but she also has plenty of vulnerable moments of course she only shows that to very few if anyone. I think what I enjoyed about Lada’s part the most was the friendship she had with her men. But also that she didn’t let anyone put her down and tell her she is less. There were a few moments I didn’t like about her but, but it was obvious she knew that too, just didn’t do anything about it.
Radu, he was not my favorite last book and still is not. While I liked him a lit more than last book he still was not my favorite. Often it annoyed ne that he came over as lovesick puppy which he really was anything he did was for love, it just depended on who. But on the happy note he did step up to the plate a bit more too and did some stuff and most of all protected the ones he cared about.
Nazira, I really enjoyed her a lot, she played a big role in this book when it came to Radu.
Mehmed. I had a real hate-love relationship with this guy this time around and to be honest even at the end I wasn’t sure if I could trust him.
Everyone in this book grew so much in one way or another. The end was sort of sad and I really just wanted more. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together and plays out.
Overall, this book is really hard for me to review but all I can say it that I really, really loved it and looking forward to reading the next. I will rate
5★ and will add it to my favorite shelve.
(I listen to the audio along site with the hardcover and I really enjoyed the audiobook a lot, it was very well narrated)
Buy Links
3
1
