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Now I Rise by Kiersten White (from a Two Thumbs Up reviewer)

Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 5:13pm

$24.99

After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada Dracul is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants, and thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort. What Lada needs is her younger brother, Radu, but Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned a place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, Radu knows if Lada dies, he could never forgive himself. But if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

Now I Rise by Kiersten White is the sequel to Now I Darken, so let me start off by formally saying that I did enjoy this book a lot more than the first. The author made up for the areas the first book were lacking in this text, and stepping back into this world felt right. The history of the lands were mixed into the story telling process and filled-in the information I needed to enjoy this book. With the history and story better unfolding, I felt like there was more meaning to this book and the characters' actions. The characters were who they were in the first book, but evolved into better people in this one. The development needed for each character was accomplished, making them easier to connect with.

Along with the thickening plot, we are also introduced to astounding new side characters. My new favourite has to be Cyprian. This character is so awesome and made the story even more awesome. I also really enjoyed Nicolae, another awesome character I connected.

Overall, if you had second thoughts after reading the first book, my suggestion would be to pick this one up with a clear mind. Questions are answered and the world unfolds to even greater stakes. I would highly recommend Now I Rise because it really is my favourite of the two. I would rate this book a 4.5/5 stars.

- Sabrina, a Two Thumbs Up reviewer

Now I Rise will be available June 27.

Categories: Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Two Thumbs Up

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Now I Rise

- Kiersten White

Hardcover $24.99
Reader Reward Price: $22.49

The highly anticipated, mind-blowing New York Times bestselling sequel to Kiersten White's New York Times bestseller, AND I DARKEN--the series that reads like HBO's Game of Thrones . . . if it were set in the Ottoman Empire. 
 
A SISTER FILLED WITH RAGE
Lada Dracul has no allies. No crown. 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 cross her. She storms the countryside with her men, but brute force isn't getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed, the defiant Ottoman sultan, 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.

HER BROTHER CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS
Lada needs the support of her diplomatic younger brother, Radu. 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. And for the first time in his life, when Lada asks him for help, he refuses . . . leading his sister to make the darkest of choices.

THE ULTIMATE POWER PLAY
Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, Radu knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself--but if he fails in Constantinople, would 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. 

Fans of Victoria Aveyard's THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir's A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT won't want to miss this riveting and gorgeously written novel--the second in the And I Darken series.


"Gorgeous, rich, and rewarding."--Booklist, starred review

? "Absolutely devastating in the best way."--Kirkus, starred review

"A+, 5 knives."--Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling co-author of the STARBOUND and ILLUMINAE FILES trilogies
 
"Fierce, epic, and crazy fun."--Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of THE HAZEL WOOD

A Teen Choice Book Award nominee!


Praise for And I Darken:
 
"A dark jewel of a story, one that gleams with fierce, cunning characters--absolutely riveting." --Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Passenger
 
"A dark, gritty, and seriously badass epic that will have you dying for more . . . required reading for every feminist fantasy fan." --BuzzFeed
 
"Evocative . . . this book takes no prisoners." --NPR