Scan barcode
ka8g's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
slsj_'s review against another edition
5.0
My dragon-prince Lada and loving charmer Radu will live forever in my heart. This is a series that makes you remember why you love books.
kmadnick90's review against another edition
5.0
Oof what a conclusion.
This may be one of the best series I've read and im not prepared to be emotional about it yet.
Ok im back to review but it was hard because this book feels like one of those break ups where you know it's time for it to be over so you aren't angry you're just kinda sad, because you had such nice times together murdering your enemies and displaying their bodies on stakes and giving birth to the sultans daughter but asking your gay brother and his lesbian wife to raise it instead.
*Talk about out of context spoilers.
God I will never get over missing Nicolae.
This may be one of the best series I've read and im not prepared to be emotional about it yet.
Ok im back to review but it was hard because this book feels like one of those break ups where you know it's time for it to be over so you aren't angry you're just kinda sad, because you had such nice times together murdering your enemies and displaying their bodies on stakes and giving birth to the sultans daughter but asking your gay brother and his lesbian wife to raise it instead.
*Talk about out of context spoilers.
God I will never get over missing Nicolae.
nicholemurphy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. This was my favorite of the entire series!
erawebuilt's review against another edition
5.0
bright we burn? more like bright my fucking heart burns from sheer pain and love for this trilogy. i picked up the first book thinking it would be either mediocre or delightfully cheesy young adult nonsense after my best friend started gawking at it due to the pretty cover. instead, i fell ridiculously in love with the sheer care and depth kiersten white dedicates to her two protagonists. lada and radu dracul have taken up permanent residence in my heart, and i'm so overjoyed they received a finale such absorbing characters deserved.
adele420's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maremi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fuzzyhead's review against another edition
4.0
Hovering between a 4 and a 5. Kiersten White is my hero. I was kinda hoping for a ~slightly~ different ending, which is what’s stopping me from giving it 5 stars. Still fabulous.
parpacifica's review against another edition
4.0
I’m going to say some controversial stuff and I don’t really care if other oppose it. It needs to be said. I noticed this series got a lot of mixed reviews. People either loved it or hated it.
I think I understand why.
I don’t usually do controversial reviews but here it goes:
The romanticization of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was considered the “saviour” of many countries through their invasions and expansions of land. A lot of readers are upset at this portrayal because there were forced conversions on part of the Ottoman Empire.
But, what I believe White was trying to portray was that forced religious conversions were such a norm back then. A country’s people were expected to blindly follow the religion of their Ruler.
Do y’all not recall when Christians were forced to hide, convert or faced prosecution?
All those Judo-Christian Crusades in the name of religion?
And then crazy Queen Mary aka Bloody Mary who made it a mission to kill all protestants and restore Catholicism?
Compared to the norms back then, the Ottomans were known for their religious tolerance. Obviously they weren’t all innocent either and had their share of forced religious conversions but the difference was that they could co-exist with other religions peacefully.
Also people don’t like that Lada was portrayed as a woman. Well let me just say this: yeah it’s gender-bending. It’s breaking history. Who the fuck cares? White wasn’t trying to rewrite history, and she SAID THAT in her Author’s Note. She just tried to reimagine it.
Next, if I read one more review about how Radu’s sexuality was just thrown in for some “wow” factor, I will rage. Radu was one of the most unique, empathetic, and troubled character I have ever read about. It’s not historically accurate and a result of our current “ LGBTQ obsession” you say?!?’ (On the side note, can you believe a reviewer freaking said that? )Well, I’m sorry history didn’t have him. It’s history’s loss.
Cause let me say that his sexuality was never used as a push-point for drama or only when convenient. He constantly struggled to deal with his desires, to accept them, and grow into a man who believed he deserved love.
This series was fucking amazing. I’m in awe. I am adding this to my all time favourites. It was how I hoped Game of Thrones would be.
The reason it has 4 stars is because I hate the ending. Reader’s bias, honestly.
I think I understand why.
I don’t usually do controversial reviews but here it goes:
The romanticization of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was considered the “saviour” of many countries through their invasions and expansions of land. A lot of readers are upset at this portrayal because there were forced conversions on part of the Ottoman Empire.
But, what I believe White was trying to portray was that forced religious conversions were such a norm back then. A country’s people were expected to blindly follow the religion of their Ruler.
Do y’all not recall when Christians were forced to hide, convert or faced prosecution?
All those Judo-Christian Crusades in the name of religion?
And then crazy Queen Mary aka Bloody Mary who made it a mission to kill all protestants and restore Catholicism?
Compared to the norms back then, the Ottomans were known for their religious tolerance. Obviously they weren’t all innocent either and had their share of forced religious conversions but the difference was that they could co-exist with other religions peacefully.
Also people don’t like that Lada was portrayed as a woman. Well let me just say this: yeah it’s gender-bending. It’s breaking history. Who the fuck cares? White wasn’t trying to rewrite history, and she SAID THAT in her Author’s Note. She just tried to reimagine it.
Next, if I read one more review about how Radu’s sexuality was just thrown in for some “wow” factor, I will rage. Radu was one of the most unique, empathetic, and troubled character I have ever read about. It’s not historically accurate and a result of our current “ LGBTQ obsession” you say?!?’ (On the side note, can you believe a reviewer freaking said that? )Well, I’m sorry history didn’t have him. It’s history’s loss.
Cause let me say that his sexuality was never used as a push-point for drama or only when convenient. He constantly struggled to deal with his desires, to accept them, and grow into a man who believed he deserved love.
This series was fucking amazing. I’m in awe. I am adding this to my all time favourites. It was how I hoped Game of Thrones would be.
The reason it has 4 stars is because I hate the ending. Reader’s bias, honestly.
alyssaindira's review against another edition
4.0
*no plot spoilers were harmed in the making of this review*
"Eventually they will end you for daring to demand power"
Hey guys, yes, I know, it has been a while since I've posted a review. That is because my chances to read something of my choosing has declined significantly because of the new college semester and everything. But by some miracle, I was able to take a whole day and finish a series that has intrigued me ever since the first book came out. So, I finished Bright We Burn (The Conqueror's Saga #3) by Kiersten White. I was able to pick this up only a few months after reading the book before it, Now I Rise, so the events were still generally around in my mind. But even so, it was easy to slip into Lada's, Radu's and Mehmed's world once again. Everything has changed, yet nothing has. Lada is still after power and Wallachia and absolutely against wanting Mehmed to hold any power/claim/desire over her. Radu is still fighting for a place to belong and for someone to love him as much as he deserves to be loved. And Mehmed is only interested in wanting to keep his childhood friends at his side, by any means necessary. And through the course of the this novel, boy do the dynamics change drastically. Subtle at first, then BAM. Hellllloooo. Actually, I think I could describe this entire novel like that. Subtle and smooth political innerworking like alliances(real and fake), military strategy, deception, lies, ruses, all that. Then when they actually play ou tonthe battlefield or court, whewww. Man. One strike after another after another. Then counter strikes and opposition and just all that good stuff. Then of course, this book was full of death. Like seriously, so many people died I couldnt keep track. Some were noble deaths, in my opinion, some were justified (as in they got what they deserved), and some were for political advantage/disadvantage for either side. Usually it was a combination of these factors. And of course, out of all the characters I did NOT want to die, the one I DID want to die, didnt. So yeah....that sucked. In case you guys hadnt noticed, this book is dark and all that, like the other books. But hey, that's just a trait of the series. Deal with it. Aside from all the death, this book was abundant in betrayal. So...much...betrayal. Little betrayal over here and a little betrayal over there and just betrayal all around. Oy. Had my head spinning. In spite of all that. the characters really grew and matured in this book. And by that I mean they each realized what they wanted, and what others around them wanted. The two that got smacked with reality the most, were Meh and Radu. Meh realized the truth about the woman he pinned over only because he could not have her. Radu, oh sweet Radu, he was the bright and shining star in this book, I swear. He finally got a spine and finally, finally finally, it was a long time in the making, he finally realized that loving Meh from the shadows was not enough. Especially without getting anything from him in return. He finally decided to chase after what he always wanted, true love. *sighs happily* OH Radu. I feel like he is the only one who gained anything in this story. Everyone else lost. Though technically, Meh did gain his empire. That's about it. And Lada, her throne. That was literally it. But then again, they both chose power above everything and anything else. And Radu walked away from it. And he was the one who truly won in the end. Meh, well, I think he got what was coming to him. But actually towards the end of the novel there wasnt much of his insight or interaction. That's one of the things I wanted in this novel His reaction to several things that happened to Lada and Radu. Other than that, I do wish there had also been more interaction between Radu and Lada, and Meh. Just to watch the dynamics shift in their struggle for power and control between the three of them, whew, would have been something. But I suppose I shall take what I can get. As for the ending of this novel, gods....it was...bittersweet? It definitely concluded the series (least from the main POvs), but I just felt like there needed to be more. How it ended, it was just....ended. Like that. I feel like it didnt give enough to the legacy of Lada. It should not have ended like that. But it did. So....oh well. I am glad I decided to follow through with this series and the stories of the three main characters. I loved watching them learn and grow and it was just great. Alright, I think I prattled on long enough. As always, if you guys have any questions or comments, drop em below. Till next time. Bye.
"Eventually they will end you for daring to demand power"
Hey guys, yes, I know, it has been a while since I've posted a review. That is because my chances to read something of my choosing has declined significantly because of the new college semester and everything. But by some miracle, I was able to take a whole day and finish a series that has intrigued me ever since the first book came out. So, I finished Bright We Burn (The Conqueror's Saga #3) by Kiersten White. I was able to pick this up only a few months after reading the book before it, Now I Rise, so the events were still generally around in my mind. But even so, it was easy to slip into Lada's, Radu's and Mehmed's world once again. Everything has changed, yet nothing has. Lada is still after power and Wallachia and absolutely against wanting Mehmed to hold any power/claim/desire over her. Radu is still fighting for a place to belong and for someone to love him as much as he deserves to be loved. And Mehmed is only interested in wanting to keep his childhood friends at his side, by any means necessary. And through the course of the this novel, boy do the dynamics change drastically. Subtle at first, then BAM. Hellllloooo. Actually, I think I could describe this entire novel like that. Subtle and smooth political innerworking like alliances(real and fake), military strategy, deception, lies, ruses, all that. Then when they actually play ou tonthe battlefield or court, whewww. Man. One strike after another after another. Then counter strikes and opposition and just all that good stuff. Then of course, this book was full of death. Like seriously, so many people died I couldnt keep track. Some were noble deaths, in my opinion, some were justified (as in they got what they deserved), and some were for political advantage/disadvantage for either side. Usually it was a combination of these factors. And of course, out of all the characters I did NOT want to die, the one I DID want to die, didnt. So yeah....that sucked. In case you guys hadnt noticed, this book is dark and all that, like the other books. But hey, that's just a trait of the series. Deal with it. Aside from all the death, this book was abundant in betrayal. So...much...betrayal. Little betrayal over here and a little betrayal over there and just betrayal all around. Oy. Had my head spinning. In spite of all that. the characters really grew and matured in this book. And by that I mean they each realized what they wanted, and what others around them wanted. The two that got smacked with reality the most, were Meh and Radu. Meh realized the truth about the woman he pinned over only because he could not have her. Radu, oh sweet Radu, he was the bright and shining star in this book, I swear. He finally got a spine and finally, finally finally, it was a long time in the making, he finally realized that loving Meh from the shadows was not enough. Especially without getting anything from him in return. He finally decided to chase after what he always wanted, true love. *sighs happily* OH Radu. I feel like he is the only one who gained anything in this story. Everyone else lost. Though technically, Meh did gain his empire. That's about it. And Lada, her throne. That was literally it. But then again, they both chose power above everything and anything else. And Radu walked away from it. And he was the one who truly won in the end. Meh, well, I think he got what was coming to him. But actually towards the end of the novel there wasnt much of his insight or interaction. That's one of the things I wanted in this novel His reaction to several things that happened to Lada and Radu. Other than that, I do wish there had also been more interaction between Radu and Lada, and Meh. Just to watch the dynamics shift in their struggle for power and control between the three of them, whew, would have been something. But I suppose I shall take what I can get. As for the ending of this novel, gods....it was...bittersweet? It definitely concluded the series (least from the main POvs), but I just felt like there needed to be more. How it ended, it was just....ended. Like that. I feel like it didnt give enough to the legacy of Lada. It should not have ended like that. But it did. So....oh well. I am glad I decided to follow through with this series and the stories of the three main characters. I loved watching them learn and grow and it was just great. Alright, I think I prattled on long enough. As always, if you guys have any questions or comments, drop em below. Till next time. Bye.