This is one of my favorite series of all time, for sure.

RTC

My impressions have been tainted by the rushed and mediocre ending. This book was a great addition after the events in the 2nd book with the focus mainly on Lada and her own psychological turmoils, but I keep thinking that the ending felt like an ill-fitting puzzle piece that was pushed in a place it didn't belong.

As said, this is the time when Lada shines. Back in Wallachia and on the throne, she fights for what she believes is right for her country. Her ways are controversial at worst and her state deteriorates the more people she loses, yet she always has clarity and a very specific goal each time. Mix in Radu and Mehmed who try to stop her, you have once again a triangle of power... or at least it seems that way at first, but Mehmed honestly doesn't feel at all necessary in this book that much, other than feeding Lada's motivation. It's interesting as Mehmed has been a constant in both the siblings' lives and he still is, but not as the most important part anymore. I would say this is more about the 2 siblings finally come to terms with each other.

Albet the story being interesting and having very 2 polarizing, yet equally understandable sides, this book had some... conveniences of sorts. Not that many to ruin the fun, but enough to doubt their decisions as their characters would have thought things through much better. And those conveniences led to some dramatic twists and it was obvious why they existed, which is kind of sad. Then of course, there was the ending. I am not sure how to put my finger on it, but all through the intensity of everything, everything just fell aways like a castle of cards. I appreciate the sentiment, but it all felt like a story went wrong.

Character-wise, I still like Radu most of all, but I think this book didn't explore their psych as much as the 2nd book. But it was nice to see how their lives led them to this time of their lives and they got what they pretty much paid for. Again, some conveniences here and there, but at least those were wishful thinking on our part and was more of a balm than a nagging sensation at the back of your head.

I really liked this trilogy and it's a fun way to pass the time. I wish the writing of the 3rd book was a bit better, it felt like everything went into the 2nd book and this fell short, but still, you can't hate them!

The epilogue felt particularly satisfying.

Radu never did develop any redeeming qualities for me.

Such a perfect book that blends in the grey area of Lada’s character and her goals for Walachia. Even though I knew how this book would end I still read it in a matter of hours.

Radu is overrated as eff and it’s the reason why I took half a star off from my original rating.

I am shook.

Ms. White, your brain is twisted, and I love it.


I need to go find a trashy romance now, because my heart has been thrown underneath a bus, stomped on, and crucified.

4.25 stars

This book hurt me. Seeing the characters I love continue to make poor decisions because it's just in there nature hurt, but Radu my sweet angel Radu was really the star of this book.

I'm happy with this ending, i couldn't see it going any other way.

The Conqueror's Saga by Kiersten White is a gut wrenching, gritty, raw series, without equal and miles above anything masquerading as historical fiction in the teen/YA genre. It is extraordinary and powerful and I sit here, still reeling, days after I'd devoured this, the last book.

I find myself fiercely missing sweet Radu and his loving kindness, and Lada's ferocious and compelling grip on every mind that contemplates her. I'm not faking; I seriously wept. By the end of the book I didn't think I could feel more things. I still ache. This review is like the garbled nonsense of what happens to a heart when the source of every good, bad and in between thing it has been provoked into feeling has suddenly upped and gone.

This series is uncompromising and unparalleled, and I struggle to find more words to say any more than what I already have. It is probably subconscious despair, because I cannot begin to imagine what I can read in the wake of these books.

The Conqueror's Saga is a must read for anyone who wants to give fluff a hearty time-out in order to indulge in the bloody power struggles of some pretty potent, messy and violent, unfailingly poignant character arcs.

WOW!!!!!!

i practically HATED lada after the 2nd book but this book completely changed my mind. i love her. i want to protect her. also, radu and his boo omggggg

Wow. This has been a roller coaster of emotions; I feel like my heart has been ripped out of chest and repeatedly stomped on - something Kiersten White seems to specialize in. It’s been a while since I’ve read such a consistently solid series - from the beginning up till the very end. It has never failed to disappoint, and this conclusion is no different. If you haven’t picked up this brilliant trilogy, then what are you waiting for? The Conquerer’s Saga is sure to take you on a brutal, bloody journey filled with lots and lots of gore, bloodshed, and backstabbing.

“War made monsters of them all.”

This book kicks off right where [b:Now I Rise|40669906|Now I Rise (The Conqueror's Saga #2)|Kiersten White|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1530288861s/40669906.jpg|42367441] left off - with our two main characters, Lada and Radu, still at odds with each other. Watching these two siblings navigate the world of politics and weather the hardships thrown at them just reminds me of how far they’ve come since the beginning of this series. Their character arcs are truly phenomenal. Radu and Lada have mostly always been polar opposites, but in this book, they are directly pitted against each other on opposite sides of a war. Their differences have never been more glaringly obvious than in this book.

“Lada shaped herself in spite of her environment. Radu shaped himself because of it.”

Speaking of character development, Radu’s is hands down one of the best character arcs out there. In this web of politics and bloodshed, Radu has always struggled doing what’s right. He’s always floundered in this morally gray area - stuck between Mehmed and Lada, between his love and his loyalties, between the man he serves and the man he loves. However, after years of being beaten down by his environment, he finally stands up and says enough. Finally, Radu willingly chooses to be the good guy. He refuses to become a monster. He chooses his family. He chooses Cyprian and Nazira and Fatima. He chooses love. I found this to be one of the most beautiful aspects of this book, and if there’s ever a character more deserving of happiness in this entire series - it’s Radu.

On the other hand, there’s Lada. Whenever I read Lada’s POV, I felt like I wanted to go to war and bathe in the blood of my enemies.

“What sustains you?”
“The blood of my enemies,” she said.

She is such a complex, multifaceted character - a breath of fresh air amidst a sea of watered-down antiheroines. Lada commits a myriad of villainous acts throughout this book, but - somehow - you still can’t help but root for her. Her ruthlessness reaches new heights in this book as she goes on murderous rampages - it was like watching an incoming train wreck! Her singleminded devotion to Wallachia and her urge to kill anyone in its way should have made her unlikable.

“No one could break her heart if all it contained was her country.”

However, as a reader, we are given insight into her increasing feelings of loneliness and vulnerability as she slowly loses all that she holds dear. Watching her mourn all that she’s lost and breakdown sobbing in her brother’s arms was heartbreaking. Still, she never stopped fighting, couldn’t stop fighting, up until the very end. Lada chose Wallachia over and over, even as that choice costs her dearly. Her choice is directly contrasted with Radu choosing love and family. Even though its what she chose, it’s heart-rending to think about what she could have had. Just thinking about it brings a sharp pang to my chest.

Of course, let’s not forget to talk about the purest characters in this book: Cyprian, Nazira, and Fatima. They were just so innately good and pure and soft with each other. Amidst such war and terror, they found each other and formed a family. They may not have been related by blood, but they protected and cared for each other like they were. I’ll forever be emotional about my family of smol beans.

This book offers much in the way of diversity, as well as female empowerment. I love how this book takes society’s expectations women and flips these expectations on their head by introducing characters like Lada (a female version of Vlad the Impaler), Mara, and Daciana.

“She was a dragon.
She was a prince.
She was a woman.
It was the last that scared them most of all.”

So in conclusion, this has been a wild ride from start to finish - literally. At the beginning of this book, I was so afraid of how Kiersten would choose to conclude this series, but I think the ending she chose was absolutely perfect. It struck the perfect balance between tragic, bittersweet, and happy. Kudos to Kiersten White for crafting such a masterfully written trilogy filled with complex characters, epic battles, and a richly built world. I love this series so much, and I’ll forever hold these characters dear to my heart. This review will never come close to doing these wonderful books justice, so all I can say is this: this series will hurt you and emotionally scar you, but it’ll be one of the best things that has ever happened to you.

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