I've been so excited about this book and I absolutely loved it! I was worried it would suffer from middle book syndrome, and that it would feel like it was a bridge between the first book and the third book. This wasn't the case at all, and it really added to the series because it felt like it added to the story. It does set some things up for the next book, of course, but overall, it stood on its own pretty well. 
 I loved Lada in this book. She is very resilient, and determined to get Wallachia back and make it into the country she believes it should be. Lada is so determined to find her own allies, and there is something cold and unlikeable about her. But I can't help but love her as a character. She is bloodthirsty and cruel and sympathetic and determined, and it's hard not to love her. I hate that the boyars see her as someone who's easy to manipulate because of her gender, and yet it's not that surprising. Lada works so hard to show that she is deserving of her title, and I hate that she had to fight so hard for it. I think she appreciates it a lot more because of it, and certainly more than Radu would have. 
 Her brother Radu is also interesting. He does have a political savvy that Lada does not, and it would have been interesting to see how things would have gone for Lada in Wallachia if she had her brother by her side. There is something about Radu that is more soft, but perhaps that's because in comparison to Lada, almost anyone would seem soft and delicate. Together, they would make an interesting but formidable team, but that is not this story. 
 As for Mehmed...if there's one character I hate with a fiery, burning passion, it is Mehmed. I didn't have strong feelings either way in And I Darken, but he was okay in that book. In this one, however? He used both Radu and Lada. He, in this book, seemed to be fully aware of Radu's feelings for him, or at least aware enough to get Radu to do anything he said because there was no way Radu was going to say no. And he definitely took advantage of Lada's desire to do anything to take Wallachia for herself, using her to make sure things went a certain way. 
 I think that is the main difference between Lada and Radu- Lada was completely disgusted by the fact that Mehmed used her, and became more determined to get what she wanted, while Radu didn't seem to care that Mehmed capitalized on Radu's feelings for him. You see two very different sides of Mehmed, and as much as I didn't care for Mehmed, I do appreciate that he isn't clear-cut. 
 I attended a book signing for Now I Rise, and something White mentioned was trying to find a middle ground. I thought she went above and beyond that, and she really did show how things aren't black and white, and that there is always a grey area. 
 I also especially liked that she took great care with how she portrayed both Christianity and Islam, and even though we don't see prayers or anything like that, religion is still very present and something that is important to many of the characters. 
 And that ending! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the last three or so chapters. I'm really rooting for Lada, and I'm completely on her side, because as far as I'm considered, Mehmed and Radu are somehow less deserving. 
 My Rating: 5 stars. I loved this book, and the characters really felt like living, breathing people. I didn't think it was possible for this series to get better, but it did, and I can't wait to read the next book.