And I Darken (The Conqueror’s Saga #1) Review

This book series is quite literally the hero I needed this year. It isn’t even that the historical aspect is compelling, it is, it’s that Kiersten White has woven the storylines through the real events so well that you can’t help but want to learn more.

This is the fiercest female character I have ever experienced, and I’ve read the Throne of Glass series. This is one of the best portrayals of characters navigating being LGBT in a hostile environment that I have ever read. The characters are human, the historical setting demands that they bend to certain requirements, and you will find yourself holding your breath just wishing that maybe White will allow someone to succeed, even though you know that they can’t.

Now I Rise picks up where And I Darken left off. Lada has left with her group of Janissaries (soldiers) to retake the Wallachian throne. Radu (her brother) has chosen to remain at Mehmed’s side to help him prepare for the siege on Constantinople, which they are both preparing for in secret. When ambassadors from Constantinople arrive to speak with Mehmed, Mehmed decides to send Radu back with them as a spy to help break down the walls from within. As you read you will alternate between Lada’s journey and Radu’s struggles, but Mehmed’s movements will be less obvious than in the first book because we don’t get chapters from his point of view.

I don’t know how to tell you how much I love these books. This is the kind of book/series that I just want to tell you how much I love it while forgetting to tell you what they are about. They are portals through time, windows into the human condition, portraits of historical struggle – descriptions that would generally bore me to tears but I devoured these books as quickly as I might devour a first rate pizza or all you can eat tacos.

These books are all you can eat tacos. Please go get you some. You won’t regret it nearly as much as if you ate all you can eat tacos. Now I’m going to go get some tacos. 🙂 You should go read this series.