ICYMI: And I Darken by Kiersten White Is Your Next Favorite Read

And I Darken is the first book in Kiersten White’s reimagined history of the Ottoman Empire, which is sort of like a YA version of Game of Thrones.

If that doesn’t hook you, Vlad the Impaler is recast as a young woman named Lada. Intrigued yet? If you’re not quite convinced, here’s a list of everything we love about And I Darken, plus some things to look forward to in the second book Now I Rise, which comes out June 27, 2017!

What You’ll Love About And I Darken:

1. A Fierce Heroine

Lada has big dreams and refuses to let anyone keep her from reaching them. She’s violent and grouchy, and likes to be in control of herself (and everyone around her). This stubborn, strong woman has her unwavering sights set on possessing her homeland of Wallachia.

2. Diverse Characters

And I Darken’s characters come from a multitude of backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. The best part? The diversity you see in the book is taken straight from the pages of history.

3. Romance

This isn’t your typical love triangle. Be prepared to fall in love and have your heart ripped out more than once.

4. Family

Family is complicated, and siblings as different as Lada and Radu make for an interesting dynamic.

5. Assassins

It should come as no surprise that a book about Vlad the Impaler comes with a lot of violence.

What to Look Forward to in Now I Rise:

1. More Radu

If you didn’t get enough Radu in And I Darken, you definitely will in this one. Radu is more than just a pretty face. His brains, charm, and trustworthy demeanor make him the perfect man to work behind enemy lines.

2. More Lada

Our favorite princess is on the prowl again. But this time, she’s out for blood.

3. Sizzling romance

The heat really cranks up in this book. Be prepared!

4. Betrayal

With so many people vying for power, lies and betrayal are a given. Alliances are forged, twisted, strained, and broken. Loyalties and relationships are sacrificed at every turn.

5. Espionage

There are so many spies in this book that if you turn it upside down and shake it, one is likely to fall out. Secret messages and diabolical plots litter the pages and keep you guessing where loyalties lie.

Now I Rise

By Kiersten White

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, she storms the countryside with her men terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.