janne1999's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
librarianmillie's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely do not think this series is for everyone, but I know little to nothing about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. Although an alternative and fake history, it is fascinating to learn about that part of the world.
kevinweitzel44's review against another edition
5.0
Not one complaint. From start to finish, this book was brutal and beautiful. I cannot wait for the conclusion.
bookishbruha's review against another edition
4.0
Confesión: intenté leerlo dos veces, la segunda vez fue la vencida. Tengan paciencia, por favor, que se pone buenísimo.
Mi cabeza explotó con los últimos 3 capítulos del libro y una vez terminado, sonó en mi cabeza la canción de los créditos del final de la sexta temporada de Game of Thrones. Ha sido un final abrumador, demasiado bueno para ser real y te deja picado, con una alta necesidad del siguiente libro.
Es mejor que la primera entrega. Los personajes siguen creciendo, toman decisiones buenas y malas, poco a poco se van dando cuenta del precio de sus deseos e incluso llegan al punto de cuestionarse si vale la pena. Además, conocemos el background de Constantinopla, una ciudad que en lo personal siempre me ha intrigado. Allí conocemos personajes entrañables que te mueven el tapete, al igual que al sujeto que le toca estar en contacto con ellos.
Por lo último que leemos, nos podemos hacer la idea de qué nos espera... ¿y la verdad? Me pone los nervios de punta.
Mi cabeza explotó con los últimos 3 capítulos del libro y una vez terminado, sonó en mi cabeza la canción de los créditos del final de la sexta temporada de Game of Thrones. Ha sido un final abrumador, demasiado bueno para ser real y te deja picado, con una alta necesidad del siguiente libro.
Es mejor que la primera entrega. Los personajes siguen creciendo, toman decisiones buenas y malas, poco a poco se van dando cuenta del precio de sus deseos e incluso llegan al punto de cuestionarse si vale la pena. Además, conocemos el background de Constantinopla, una ciudad que en lo personal siempre me ha intrigado. Allí conocemos personajes entrañables que te mueven el tapete, al igual que al sujeto que le toca estar en contacto con ellos.
Spoiler
El futuro de la ciudad, su caída, no debería ser sorpresa para nadie porque The Conqueror's Saga está ubicada en un contexto histórico específico y si buscas fechas y hechos te puedes hacer una idea de lo que ocurrirá. Eso es algo que agradezco mucho, dentro de un punto de la historia se crearon personajes que interactúan pero no distorsionan el contexto histórico, a lo que voy, no hay victorias donde no hubo.Por lo último que leemos, nos podemos hacer la idea de qué nos espera... ¿y la verdad? Me pone los nervios de punta.
rosieriveter's review against another edition
5.0
I felt this was even better than the first! So complex and interesting characters. I can sympathize with them but I still dont know what their choices will be.
jcarvajal23's review
3.0
3.5 rating
This was a highly anticipated sequel that fell a little flat for me. I loved the first and couldn’t wait for the second. I’m still invested in the story, but it lacked the fire from the first.
This was a highly anticipated sequel that fell a little flat for me. I loved the first and couldn’t wait for the second. I’m still invested in the story, but it lacked the fire from the first.
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I liked this, but I'm not sure if I liked it more or less than the first one. Because in the first one, I enjoyed both Radu's and Lada's POVs, even though I was more interested in Radu's overall. But in this book, all I cared about was Radu's chapters. It just didn't feel like much was happening most of the time in Lada's part, and I don't care about battles or fighting (and yeah, that was part of Radu's chapters too, but his perspective was always more scheming and calculating and political, which is always going to be more interesting to me), and I just wanted to get back to Radu (and Cyprian). And in the first book, there were sections I was less into, but here I was super into all of Radu's chapters and bored by Lada's. I mean, I still liked this a lot, don't get me wrong! I think I just don't care about Mehmed/Lada or Lada as a character that much. I get why Lada is the way she is, but at the same time, she seems less nuanced to me than Radu, I guess.
But anyways, enough of the negatives. Like I said, the Radu stuff was all great. I loved seeing him become disillusioned towards Mehmed and his guilt over not being sure who he was really helping or betraying half the time, and his love for Nazira and protection of her (and I love her as well so much). And Cyprian!!! He was so sweet and so into Radu, and Everything about the two of them was so great and now I'm dying for the 3rd book just for them (plus Nazira).
But anyways, enough of the negatives. Like I said, the Radu stuff was all great. I loved seeing him become disillusioned towards Mehmed and his guilt over not being sure who he was really helping or betraying half the time, and his love for Nazira and protection of her (and I love her as well so much). And Cyprian!!! He was so sweet and so into Radu, and
Spoiler
he went back just to see Radu again, even though they didn't exchange words in the first book! But he noticed him and just wanted to see him again!!!amynoncsi's review against another edition
3.0
I was ever so excited for the release of Now I Rise as I absolutely adored And I Darken (which is the first book in the series). Therefore, I feel like I may had higher expectations to book two then I should have. Well sometimes second books just don’t turn out as good as the first or the third ones, but I am excited to see what book three has got for us.
After finishing the book I did have a bit of looking around on Goodreads and it seems that I am the only person so far who is not satisfied with the turn-out of this book.
“Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge.
Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.”
As we know, or not quiet yet if you have not read the book, the series is about a retelling of the historical character: Vlad Tepes. This case Vlad is Ladislav aka Lada a girl who is trying to secure Wallachia her home and her mother to herself. As she is based on Vlad she is bloodthirsty, is willing to do anything no matter by what mean, she has to reach her goal. I like how real the book is in a way that it shows all the struggles and pain she has to go through to achieve her destiny.
And I Darken was dark, brutal, it was everything I wanted, however, I found Now I Rise lacking in these qualities. I wanted Lada to be more brutal more like the real Vlad Tepes, but unfortunately I only got to see that Lada in the last few chapters of the book.
“Wallachia needs you, and you deserve Wallachia. Let your loyalty be only where your heart is. Everything else can fall by the road and be trodden underfoot as we pass to our home. My fierce little girl. You can do anything.”
The character development was interesting, some characters I liked more then the others. One of my least favorite character is Mehmed. In book one he was alright when they were friend and children and trying to survive, however, even in book one I had disliked him a bit for certain things he have done. In Now I Rise I dislike him even more for the way he is playing the Draculesti siblings….
Radu. Oh sweet little naive Radu. As much as I liked him in book one I thought he was pretty pathetic in this one. I really could not read his chapters fast enough. I just found that I am not interested in his character all that much. Which is a shame as he had potential in book one.
On the other hand I really enjoyed reading Lada’s side of the story and knowing more about her plans and her men; Bogdan and Petru and all the others. I really enjoyed reading about the, about their relationships, their personality and the way they were. It made them human and made them realistic. Someone you can root for, feel empathy for and connect with.
And let’s not forget all the new characters we meet, I found it quite interesting.
(On a side note: If you decide to use Hungarian or any other nationalities’ name in your book, please do make sure you use the proper/correct spelling of the name from that country – This bugged me quite a bit).
“You love with all your heart, Radu, and deserve someone who can answer that with all of theirs.”
Altogether, Now I Rise was interesting and I have enjoyed it, however, I have not enjoyed it more then book one or other books I have rated higher, therefore for me Now I Rise is only 3.5* maybe a really thin 4 but only if I think too much about it.
I am still looking for book 3 in the series and would definitely read it.
After finishing the book I did have a bit of looking around on Goodreads and it seems that I am the only person so far who is not satisfied with the turn-out of this book.
“Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge.
Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.”
As we know, or not quiet yet if you have not read the book, the series is about a retelling of the historical character: Vlad Tepes. This case Vlad is Ladislav aka Lada a girl who is trying to secure Wallachia her home and her mother to herself. As she is based on Vlad she is bloodthirsty, is willing to do anything no matter by what mean, she has to reach her goal. I like how real the book is in a way that it shows all the struggles and pain she has to go through to achieve her destiny.
And I Darken was dark, brutal, it was everything I wanted, however, I found Now I Rise lacking in these qualities. I wanted Lada to be more brutal more like the real Vlad Tepes, but unfortunately I only got to see that Lada in the last few chapters of the book.
“Wallachia needs you, and you deserve Wallachia. Let your loyalty be only where your heart is. Everything else can fall by the road and be trodden underfoot as we pass to our home. My fierce little girl. You can do anything.”
The character development was interesting, some characters I liked more then the others. One of my least favorite character is Mehmed. In book one he was alright when they were friend and children and trying to survive, however, even in book one I had disliked him a bit for certain things he have done. In Now I Rise I dislike him even more for the way he is playing the Draculesti siblings….
Radu. Oh sweet little naive Radu. As much as I liked him in book one I thought he was pretty pathetic in this one. I really could not read his chapters fast enough. I just found that I am not interested in his character all that much. Which is a shame as he had potential in book one.
On the other hand I really enjoyed reading Lada’s side of the story and knowing more about her plans and her men; Bogdan and Petru and all the others. I really enjoyed reading about the, about their relationships, their personality and the way they were. It made them human and made them realistic. Someone you can root for, feel empathy for and connect with.
And let’s not forget all the new characters we meet, I found it quite interesting.
(On a side note: If you decide to use Hungarian or any other nationalities’ name in your book, please do make sure you use the proper/correct spelling of the name from that country – This bugged me quite a bit).
“You love with all your heart, Radu, and deserve someone who can answer that with all of theirs.”
Altogether, Now I Rise was interesting and I have enjoyed it, however, I have not enjoyed it more then book one or other books I have rated higher, therefore for me Now I Rise is only 3.5* maybe a really thin 4 but only if I think too much about it.
I am still looking for book 3 in the series and would definitely read it.