A review by amysbrittain
Now I Rise by Kiersten White

4.0

I love this series! Lada, the main protagonist, is tough as nails but faulted, and we see her forge her identity more fully through every ruthless or merciful move she makes, buoyed by the loyalty of her dedicated followers. In book one, Radu was clever but vulnerable and tragically besotted with unrequited feelings for Mehmed. In this book, he takes a circuitous route to realize more completely his worldview and true sense of self.

White doesn’t make self-discovery too easy for her characters, but when they earn it, it’s even sweeter for the reader to witness. The Ottoman setting here was vibrant and layered, and White lays out the messy politics and religious fervor on both sides wonderfully.