Bright We Burn

May 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-Lada Dracul is ruling as the prince of Wallachia. Lada's brother Radu has returned to Edirne, but the sultan Mehmed summons him back to Constantinople when Lada balks at Ottoman control. When Lada attacks the sultan's troops and kills his emissaries, Radu and his brother-in-law Kumal are sent to Wallachia to kidnap Lada and force her under Mehmed's authority. A full-scale invasion of Wallachia by the Ottoman army ensues. As Mehmed, Radu, and their soldiers advance through the wilderness, they discover crops burned, water sources poisoned, and peasants working as human weapons. Lada resolves to kill the sultan, but she is betrayed and the plot fails. The Ottoman forces retreat, but Mehmed leaves Radu to support the new prince of Wallachia. Lada flees to her mountain fortress. Radu, Mehmed, and Lada rush toward a final test of loyalties that will change the course of their lives and the face of Eastern Europe. White has crafted a conclusion to this epic story that is exciting, complex, and faithful to the feelings that drive human beings in love and conflict. The details in this historical epic are copious, but White keeps a steady, exciting pace. Though this is the final work in a trilogy, the characters continue to develop and deepen. The ending is satisfying, plausible, and not without hope. VERDICT Highly recommended for all high school collections.-Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
In 1454, conflict between the once-inseparable Lada, Radu, and Mehmed comes to its inevitable bloody fruition.Prince Lada Dracul consolidates her power to stand against the Ottoman Empire's demand that Wallachia return to being a vassal state. She does this both by stirring up trouble in other states and by her usual brutal violence--so brutal that Sultan Mehmed, busy rebuilding newly-conquered Constantinople, must respond. Meanwhile, Radu struggles with his part in Constantinople's fall and his guilt over Nazira and Cyprian, who vanished after sailing away. To bring Lada to heel, Mehmed sends Radu to capture her so they can negotiate; Lada also plans to kidnap Radu, viewing him as fundamentally hers. Neither gets what they want. The subsequent invasion features force that is massive on Mehmed's part and depraved on Lada's. Mehmed may have the money and numbers (compared to Lada's shaky alliances), but Lada is clever, terrifying, and has cultivated a near-worship among the peasants whose lots she's improved--even as she turns her country into a giant deathtrap. Politics, battle strategy, and betrayals thrill, while the toxic dynamic keeps the focus on the intrinsically linked trio. Most characters are Central or Eastern European or Turkish; Islam has a positive portrayal, as do same-sex relationships.An intense, engrossing read that never loses sight of its passionate characters' humanity, especially when they're at their worst. (map, dramatis personae, glossary, author's note) (Historical fiction. 15-adult)

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April 15, 2018
Grades 9-12 This rich historical novel concludes the trilogy that started with And I Darken (2016) and Now I Rise (2017), focusing on bloodthirsty Lada Dracul the Impaler, her obsession with ending Mehmed's control over her, and her thorough vengeance against any foe, perceived or real. Lada and Mehmed continue their strange dance of love and aggression, enacted through their political rather than personal lives. As the narrative unfolds, Lada's small, fierce country of Wallachia rages against the powerful Ottoman Empire, and her thoughtful brother, Radu, is caught again between the two people he loves most?eliciting the questions, when is it important to fight or to compromise, and how much personal sacrifice is enough? White balances tender moments with vicious acts of war, and Radu's sensitivity is a worthy foil for the violent excesses that are Lada's defining character trait. Although the powerful heterosexual couple (Lada and Mehmed) can't seem to figure it out, there are not one but two same-sex couples that provide lovely, welcome examples of devotion and family. A worthy end to a powerful saga. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The first two novels in this trilogy have been best-sellers. Expect nothing less from its much-anticipated concluding volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)