This book first caught my attention with the idea of a female 'Vlad the Impaler'. From the moment that phrase was used to describe the main character, I was hooked. It is set in Eastern Europe during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, and is one of the most original YA books I have picked up this year. This book is teeming with complexities, darkness, and authentic characters. 
 The characters in this book were phenomenally crafted. The dynamic between Lada and Radu was unreal - and White did a beautiful job of bringing together the relationship and sibling rivalry seamlessly. When their father sells their freedom to their enemies in the Ottoman court, Lada and Radu must watch their every move to ensure that they survive. Little did they realize that they would become entangled with Mehmed, the sultan's son. 
 The dynamics between Lada, Radu, and Mehmed, both individually and as a trio were impeccable as well. I can definitely see some love triangle(s?) in the future for several characters, but the way the relationships were set up in this book were done in a way that didn't bother me in the slightest. 
 I wasn't really a fan of Mehmed, but I adored Lada and Radu. Lada is brutal, violent, and psychotic from the moment she is born. Since she is a woman, she is automatically viewed as less, dismissed by her own father. She fights desperately against this notion that, as a woman, she is somehow less. She dislikes women, but is also conflicted on her own femininity, and it takes time for her to realize that it can be a just as powerful as brute force. Radu is the beautiful, soft, kind child. He is cunning and smart, but lacks the brute force of his sister, which leads Lada to desire to not only protect him but also strangle him (sibling love, right?). The character development for the two siblings is what stands out the most, as they fight to continue dreaming and hoping, while still being 'prisoners' of the Ottoman Empire. 
 There were parts of this book that I didn't see coming, and I am so pleased that this book did not go down the same, repetitive path that so many other anticipated YA books have. I had such a hard time putting this book down, and finished it within a day of picking it up. Well written, fast-paced, and utterly consuming. 4.5 stars overall.