mitsumizushima's review against another edition
4.0
3.5☆ Voy a decir que este libro me atrapó y me perdió por partes iguales. Muchas veces me sentí frustrada por Lada y por Radu, sin embargo, me gustó como se fueron dando las cosas al final. Ya quiero saber como acaba esta trilogía
lucybreit's review against another edition
5.0
There is not a single character in this book that I don’t want to shake violently or shout at or give the most loving, comforting hug (or all three). Genuinely some of the best and most interesting character work I’ve ever read
emilygrujic's review against another edition
5.0
I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK ALL THE STARS IN THE SKY!!!!
LADA DRACUL IS EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER WANTED IN A CHARACTER.
IF I COULD IMAGINE A STORY PERFECTLY TAILORED TO MY WANTS AND INTERESTS, THIS SERIES WOULD BE THAT, AND I AM STILL SHOCKED THAT SUCH A BOOK EXISTS!
I honestly cannot put into words how much I love this series. SO DAMN GOOD!
LADA DRACUL IS EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER WANTED IN A CHARACTER.
IF I COULD IMAGINE A STORY PERFECTLY TAILORED TO MY WANTS AND INTERESTS, THIS SERIES WOULD BE THAT, AND I AM STILL SHOCKED THAT SUCH A BOOK EXISTS!
I honestly cannot put into words how much I love this series. SO DAMN GOOD!
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A solid follow-up to the first book. Perhaps I liked this a bit more even, because the characters and settings were already established. I was listening to the audio edition, and I'd find myself doing things (cleaning, yardwork) just so I could listen more. The story is very involved and completely captivating. Here, some of the characters were separated, so there were alternating storylines, which can be a little frustrating. This series makes me want to learn more of the history of the Ottoman empire. Looking forward to book 3.
gab8123's review against another edition
5.0
"She was not a lady. She was a dragon, and this whole country would know it before the end."
"He longed to be free of it all, to live among men seeing everyone as his brother, to view no one as his enemy."
(I mean, if those two excerpts don't describe perfectly what this whole story is about, I don't know what could.)
To be honest, I'm so in awe of how good this series is. And even though it took me months to finally read this sequel, the wait was all worth it because it really was that good. I was actually internally screaming the whole time, so that's a sign it was a great story to me.
I just love how you can mix history with fiction and get such an entertaining tale about something everyone learns in high school but ignores because it's "boring", when it reality it's fascinating if your think about it. *find me looking up more facts about the conquest of the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire for the rest of the year*
10/10 would recommend.
"He longed to be free of it all, to live among men seeing everyone as his brother, to view no one as his enemy."
(I mean, if those two excerpts don't describe perfectly what this whole story is about, I don't know what could.)
To be honest, I'm so in awe of how good this series is. And even though it took me months to finally read this sequel, the wait was all worth it because it really was that good. I was actually internally screaming the whole time, so that's a sign it was a great story to me.
I just love how you can mix history with fiction and get such an entertaining tale about something everyone learns in high school but ignores because it's "boring", when it reality it's fascinating if your think about it. *find me looking up more facts about the conquest of the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire for the rest of the year*
10/10 would recommend.
cursedherondale's review against another edition
5.0
This book ruined me. I feel so tethered to each character that their stupid decisions wanted me to claw my eyes out. I feel so invested with the complicated lives they lead as well as the complicated relationships they build and ruin. The politics have never been dirtier, the schemes have never been this dangerous, the stakes have never been this high. The balance is tipping and the three lead characters are on opposite sides tearing the world apart; an Empire against a Country. Can I just rip my heart out?
Character growth at its finest. I am so proud of Radu for being the man that he is now, to finally open his eyes and see the world as not being black and white. Mehmed who meant good but I could never make peace with myself of what to make of him, because he is such a difficult person to weigh. His ideals and visions will not always be the ideals and visions of others. I have a very complicated love and hate relationship with him. Then there's Lada. God's wounds, she just set the bar high for badass heroines. I love her so much that I want to shake her sometimes for being so cruel, yet brave even when the odds are against her. I love her ascent to the throne of how she earned it, and the fear that I will always have for her because of her decisions that would mark her as Lada the Impaler. And despite her cruelty, she has my respect for sacrificing too much for her country. For being the villain Wallachia needs, for the kind of ruler it requires to prosper. To rise.
Do I have to talk about the amazing supporting characters? Ugh, I love them too! Nariza is so wonderful and her heart is so big I just want to pull her from the pages and hug her. Cyprian, oh dear, how I silently root for him and Radu, how I mentally curse Radu of not being able to see how worth it Cyprian is! Nikolae, I love him and his loyalty. period. Bogdan, uuuuugh how I wish he could heal Lada. Stefan is a peculiar character that managed to charm me on the long run. Daciana whom Lada needs but doesn't know it. Hunyadi who brings pins and needles to my heart. Constantine & Giustiniani who are noble men that fought for what they believe in.
This book has made me so emotionally, morally, politically and religiously deranged. Who keeps on justifying the characters' decisions, psychoanalyzing everything as if it would somehow make everything better. When it truth, it doesn't. Not by a long shot.
Character growth at its finest. I am so proud of Radu for being the man that he is now, to finally open his eyes and see the world as not being black and white. Mehmed who meant good but I could never make peace with myself of what to make of him, because he is such a difficult person to weigh. His ideals and visions will not always be the ideals and visions of others. I have a very complicated love and hate relationship with him. Then there's Lada. God's wounds, she just set the bar high for badass heroines. I love her so much that I want to shake her sometimes for being so cruel, yet brave even when the odds are against her. I love her ascent to the throne of how she earned it, and the fear that I will always have for her because of her decisions that would mark her as Lada the Impaler. And despite her cruelty, she has my respect for sacrificing too much for her country. For being the villain Wallachia needs, for the kind of ruler it requires to prosper. To rise.
Do I have to talk about the amazing supporting characters? Ugh, I love them too! Nariza is so wonderful and her heart is so big I just want to pull her from the pages and hug her. Cyprian, oh dear, how I silently root for him and Radu, how I mentally curse Radu of not being able to see how worth it Cyprian is! Nikolae, I love him and his loyalty. period. Bogdan, uuuuugh how I wish he could heal Lada. Stefan is a peculiar character that managed to charm me on the long run. Daciana whom Lada needs but doesn't know it. Hunyadi who brings pins and needles to my heart. Constantine & Giustiniani who are noble men that fought for what they believe in.
This book has made me so emotionally, morally, politically and religiously deranged. Who keeps on justifying the characters' decisions, psychoanalyzing everything as if it would somehow make everything better. When it truth, it doesn't. Not by a long shot.
foreverhers's review against another edition
3.0
That ending was quite frankly, spectacular. I cannot wait to see what book 3 has in store!