First published 2017
Lada Dracul burns through the Wallachian countryside with her loyal companion Bogdan and a band of ruthless men. Her bid for the throne has failed, leaving her with nothing but rage and the blade at her side. She terrorizes villages and punishes enemies, but raw violence cannot win her a crown. Meanwhile, her brother Radu operates as a spy in Constantinople, where Mehmed has positioned him for the planned conquest of the city. Radu possesses the diplomatic cunning that Lada lacks, yet he yearns for her unshakable resolve. When Lada calls upon him for aid, Radu refuses her for the first time. He serves multiple masters now: his faith, the Ottoman Empire, and Mehmed himself. As Constantinople faces siege and Wallachia bleeds, both siblings must choose between competing loyalties. Their decisions will determine which empires survive and what remains of their bond as brother and sister.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, action, political-thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: Wallachia, Constantinople
Period: Medieval
471 pages · Hardcover · Delacorte Press
Content warnings: violence