Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it?
Lada's rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won't rest until everyone knows that her country's borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed's peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.
But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister's indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before--including her relationships--can Lada truly build the country she wants.
Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.
The Review
I'm more than a little devastated that I've finished The Conqueror's Saga. This has been such a wild ride, and I'm going to miss these characters. As always, I have to say how refreshing the people who live between these pages are. None of them are what you expect and everything you want. Everyone who exists in this reimagined version of reality is a mixture of good and evil, moral and immoral, godly and hellish. Lada isn't a nice person. She is not a hero, she's just the only person who can set her country and its people free. I love her dearly despite how completely insane and cruel she can be. But she also knows how to be merciful. She doesn't like killing, but she likes the benefits that come from it. Radu is also just perfection. I quite liked his struggle in this final book even more than I had in the last. His guilt is heavy upon his shoulders but he isn't fighting what he is meant to be or the decisions that come from that. He kind of got harder in Bright We Burn, not needing Lada or Mehmed or anyone else to set him free or hold him up. He finally recognized that he is strong in a different way and that isn't a bad thing. I hated to see the siblings struggle with each other though, especially after Lada's circle became smaller and smaller. But as is typical of her, even the saddest moments made made me giggle through tears. I have to wonder what it is about this bloodthirsty girl that is so relate-able to me? I suppose we all have our own wildness though.
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I could say a million things about the writing but they would only be me gushing so I'll keep it simple. White's world is as vivid as ever, I always get lost in the pages and lose complete track of time and place. I am never jarred away due to holes or lack or even overabundance of detail. She knows the perfect balance between the reader's imagination and what needs to exist. This is the goriest book of the three and I lived for it. (ha!)
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This book is a five star rating for me. It ended the only way that would have felt natural and I appreciated the closure. Read these books, I can almost promise you'll love them.
