Now I Rise by Kiersten White is simply amazing. I was utterly blown away by And I Darken and Now I Rise was every bit as good - if not, better. THERE IS NO DREADED MIDDLE BOOK SYNDROME HERE! It's so freaking good. UHHH! I have a million boners for this. I'm utterly besotted for this series. 
 It's really quite clever how historical fact and fiction are blended together here. The story stays fairly accurate to historical fact while dramatizing the character development. Now I Rise is told from both Lada's perspective as she is on the quest to reclaim her throne in Wallachia and Radu's perspective while he's a double agent during the siege of Constantinople. What we get is a story that's certainly not for the weak. This is a story of moral ambiguity, power, and the lengths people are willing to go in order to achieve their desires. Often times, people will become their absolute worst selves in order to achieve power. Now I Rise does an amazing job of showing just how much choosing that path costs. This isn't necessarily a story where the heroes win. The only outcome anyone has is to do the best you can while walking through Hell and try to make it out alive. 
 Honestly, my mind is so blown right now that all I can do is think in gifs. 
 My poor RADU. He is in a state of flux and has to seriously reconsider his morals and who he is as a person. There is so much death in his soul now. He deserves happiness. 
 Basically Buffy and Khaleesi made a baby and it's LADA. I love her intensely! However, she seems at the razor's edge of cruelty for the sake of cruelty. 
 CYPRIAN is life! Radu you are stuck in the trap! Get out now and go with Cyprian! 
 MEHMED is a manipulative dick. He also happens to be brilliant but I think the dick part over shadows his brilliance at the moment for me. 
 Way to step up NAZIRA! She's such a ride or die kind of girl and I love her to pieces. 
 THAT ENDING = MIC DROP 
 Now I just have to wait almost an entire year to get more of the story. EFFING HELL!