Now I Rise

Gr 10 Up—In this sequel to And I Darken, White continues to weave a dramatic tapestry of espionage, passion, and conquest. Lada returns to her homeland after her long exile among the Ottomans, but without allies she struggles to become the vaivode, or prince, of Wallachia. The young sultan Mehmed seeks to establish his legacy and looks to conquer Constantinople and make it his capital. Lada's brother, Radu, is dispatched on a secret mission to the besieged city and, as he fights alongside those whom he will ultimately betray, becomes immersed in the horrors of war. The author crafts a compelling story that also asks important questions about the lengths to which people can and should go to achieve their destinies and defend their god. The pace of this volume is perfect for its setting, and the language is evocative, making the hefty tome eminently readable. The subject matter has become even more mature as this lush and ominous retelling of the Vlad Dracul legend continues, but teens will be entranced.