Kiersten White (2016)
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11 min
Book Length
12 Minutes
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A ruthless Wallachian princess, abandoned to the Ottoman court, navigates a treacherous love triangle with her gentle brother and the Sultan's heir, all while plotting vengeance for her stolen birthright.
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The story begins in Wallachia, introducing Lada Dragwlya, a fierce young girl, and her younger brother, Radu, who is gentle. Their father, Vlad Dracul, the Prince of Wallachia, is a ruthless ruler who shows little affection for his children, especially Lada, who he sees as unfeminine. Lada, despite her young age, shows a natural brutality and a deep love for her homeland, often clashing with her father and the court's expectations. Radu, in contrast, struggles with their harsh environment and seeks comfort and approval, often from Lada. Their childhood involves violence, political instability, and their father's distant and often cruel treatment, preparing them for an uncertain future.
As part of a political treaty to ensure Wallachia's loyalty, Vlad Dracul sends Lada and Radu to the Ottoman court as hostages. This act is a deep betrayal for Lada, who sees it as abandonment and a personal insult. Radu, while terrified, is also somewhat interested in the new world. Upon arrival, they immediately face the vast cultural differences and dangers of their position. They are seen as foreign and expendable, constantly watched by the Sultan's court. Lada's defiance and aggression initially make her a target, while Radu's adaptability and quiet nature allow him to fit in more easily, though both struggle with their new reality.
Lada and Radu meet Mehmed, one of the Sultan's many sons, who is also an outsider in his own way—lonely and often overlooked. Mehmed is initially wary of Lada's ferocity but is drawn to her strength and honesty. Radu, finding a similar spirit, quickly forms a deep friendship with Mehmed, drawn to his kindness and shared vulnerability. Lada, despite her initial dislike for all things Ottoman, finds herself drawn to Mehmed's intelligence and ambition, seeing in him a shared desire for power and recognition. This forms a complex and volatile triangle of friendship, loyalty, and affection, setting the stage for future conflicts.
While Mehmed receives formal education, Lada, against all expectations, insists on training in combat and horsemanship, refusing to conform to the expected roles for women. She secretly practices with the Janissaries, improving her skills and earning grudging respect through determination and brutality. Radu, on the other hand, embraces the Ottoman court's culture, learning languages, customs, and finding comfort in the arts and intellectual pursuits. He slowly sheds his Wallachian identity, becoming more Ottoman in his sensibilities and finding a sense of belonging he never had in his homeland. Their different paths further highlight their contrasting personalities and future lives.
As Mehmed grows older, he begins to gain more favor with his father, Sultan Murad II, and shows signs of becoming a leader. This elevates the status of Lada and Radu, as they are seen as part of Mehmed's inner circle. However, their position remains uncertain, as the Ottoman court is full of political schemes and the constant threat of assassination for rivals to the throne. Lada's fierce loyalty to Mehmed intensifies, mixed with a growing romantic tension, while Radu's gentle nature and ability to navigate court politics make him an invaluable, if quiet, confidant. They know their survival depends on Mehmed's fate.
Lada's fierce protectiveness of Mehmed becomes a powerful, complicated love. She struggles with the conflicting emotions of loving the heir to the empire she despises, and her desire for Wallachia's freedom. Mehmed, in turn, is drawn to Lada's strength and unconventional spirit. Their relationship is passionate and volatile, marked by shared ambition and deep understanding, yet constantly threatened by their differing loyalties. Radu observes their developing intimacy with a quiet sadness, having developed his own unspoken affection for Mehmed, and feeling increasingly distant from Lada, who seems to forget her Wallachian roots in Mehmed's presence.
The Ottoman Empire faces external threats and internal power struggles, drawing Mehmed, Lada, and Radu into the conflict. Lada proves valuable in battle, showing her strategic mind and combat skills, earning her a reputation as a fierce warrior. Radu, though not a fighter, uses his intelligence and diplomatic skills to gather information and navigate the complex political situation. They witness the brutal realities of war and the ruthlessness needed to maintain power. These experiences further solidify their bond, but also expose the growing gap between Lada's desire for Wallachia and Radu's increasing integration into Ottoman life.
Sultan Murad II, tired of war and court politics, abdicates the throne, making Mehmed the new Sultan at a young age. This unexpected event thrusts Mehmed into immense responsibility and danger, as many powerful figures question his ability to rule. Lada and Radu are now even more central to Mehmed's court, but their roles become more defined and often conflicting. Lada is a military advisor and bodyguard, her brutality a necessary tool for Mehmed's survival. Radu is a diplomat and confidant, his gentle nature and intellect balancing Lada's aggression, helping Mehmed to navigate the treacherous political waters of his early reign.
Mehmed's early reign is immediately challenged by a Janissary revolt, a powerful military faction unhappy with his youth and perceived weakness. This rebellion tests Mehmed's leadership, and Lada and Radu help him suppress it. Lada fights fiercely on the front lines, her loyalty to Mehmed unwavering, while Radu uses his intelligence to uncover plots and maintain order behind the scenes. The revolt is a brutal awakening for Mehmed, forcing him to make difficult and often ruthless decisions, further hardening him and solidifying his resolve to be a strong ruler. It shows the vital, yet different, contributions of Lada and Radu.
As Mehmed solidifies his power, the question of Wallachia appears. Lada's burning desire to reclaim her homeland and avenge her father's perceived abandonment intensifies, clashing with Radu's growing loyalty and affection for the Ottoman Empire and Mehmed. Radu sees the Ottomans as his true home and Mehmed as his closest friend, while Lada views them as her people's oppressors. This fundamental difference drives a wedge between the siblings, forcing them to choose sides in a conflict that directly involves Mehmed. Their paths, once connected, begin to diverge, setting the stage for future heartbreak and betrayal.
Mehmed, now a powerful Sultan, makes a strategic decision regarding Wallachia that deeply affects Lada. He offers her the chance to return to Wallachia, but not as an independent ruler. Instead, she would govern under Ottoman authority, effectively making her a puppet ruler. This offer, while seemingly a path to her homeland, is a bitter pill for Lada, as it means compromising her ideals of true freedom for Wallachia. It feels like a betrayal from Mehmed, who she believed understood her desire for absolute independence. The decision forces Lada to confront the harsh realities of power and her complicated feelings for Mehmed.
Despite the terms, Lada accepts Mehmed's offer, seeing it as her only immediate path back to Wallachia. However, she does so with a hardened heart and a renewed determination to not merely govern, but to truly free her homeland from Ottoman influence, even if it means defying Mehmed. Her departure marks a significant turning point, as she leaves behind Radu, who remains loyal to Mehmed and the Ottoman court. The bond between the siblings is strained, and Lada's journey back to Wallachia is fueled by a fierce desire for independence and a simmering resentment towards both her father and Mehmed, setting the stage for the next chapter of her brutal story.
The Protagonist
Lada begins as a wild, untamed child, hardened by her father's neglect and the violence of her homeland. Through her time in the Ottoman court, she hones her brutality, learns strategy, and grapples with her complex love for Mehmed, ultimately resolving to fight for Wallachian independence.
The Supporting
Radu transforms from a timid, homesick boy into a sophisticated and loyal Ottoman courtier, finding a sense of belonging and purpose, but at the cost of his Wallachian identity and his relationship with Lada.
The Supporting
Mehmed evolves from a lonely, overlooked prince into a powerful and strategic Sultan, learning to wield power and make difficult choices, forever bound to Lada and Radu.
The Supporting
Vlad Dracul remains largely static, a symbol of the brutal power Lada both rejects and, ironically, inherits. His actions initiate the siblings' journey and fuel Lada's core motivations.
The Supporting
Huma maintains her position as a powerful, protective maternal figure, influencing Mehmed and offering a glimpse into the internal workings of the harem.
The Supporting
Nazira remains a steadfast and loyal friend to Radu, offering emotional support and a sense of family in his new home.
The Supporting
Sultan Murad II represents the established power that Mehmed must eventually inherit and Lada must defy.
The Supporting
Cem serves as a witness to Lada's martial prowess and a minor supporting figure in her development as a warrior.
The novel explores how Lada and Radu deal with their Wallachian heritage versus their upbringing in the Ottoman court. Lada clings to her Wallachian identity, seeing herself as an outsider and a future liberator, while Radu slowly sheds his roots, finding a sense of belonging within the Ottoman Empire. This theme highlights the psychological impact of being a hostage, how environment shapes self-perception, and the struggle to define oneself when caught between two opposing cultures and loyalties.
“Radu had never truly belonged in Wallachia. He had always been too soft, too gentle. But in the Ottoman court, he was finally finding a place where he could bloom.”
The book explores different forms of power—brute force, political maneuvering, diplomacy, and the power of love or loyalty. Lada embodies raw, violent power, believing it is the only way to gain respect and freedom. Radu, conversely, shows the power of intelligence, adaptability, and influence. Mehmed represents the burden and responsibility of inherited power, forced to make difficult, often ruthless, decisions. The narrative constantly questions what kind of leader is most effective and the sacrifices needed to maintain control in a dangerous world.
“Power was a beast that devoured everything in its path, and Lada was learning to feed it, not be consumed by it.”
A central theme is the conflict between personal affections and societal or political obligations. Lada's love for Mehmed clashes with her duty to Wallachia. Radu's loyalty to Mehmed and the Ottoman Empire conflicts with his family bond with Lada and his Wallachian origins. Mehmed's personal feelings for Lada and Radu must be balanced against his duty as Sultan to his empire. This creates a difficult triangle where love is tested by ambition, and loyalty is constantly renegotiated in the face of political needs, often leading to heartbreak and betrayal.
“She loved him, a terrible, burning thing that made her want to tear down empires and build them back up just for him. But she loved Wallachia more.”
Lada's character directly challenges the gender norms of both Wallachian and Ottoman society. She rejects traditional femininity, embracing combat, strategy, and aggression. Her struggles highlight the limited roles available to women and the difficulty of forging an unconventional path. The book explores how Lada's 'unfeminine' qualities are both her greatest strength and a constant source of judgment and isolation. It questions the definition of strength and leadership, suggesting that traditional gendered attributes are not requirements for either.
“No one expected a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya liked it that way.”
From their earliest childhood, Lada and Radu experience violence and political ruthlessness. The novel shows the harsh realities of their world, where survival often demands cruelty, sacrifice, and a willingness to commit difficult acts. Both siblings, in their own ways, learn to adapt to this brutality – Lada by embracing it and becoming a warrior, Radu by learning to navigate it with diplomacy and observation. This theme emphasizes that innocence is a luxury few can afford, and that power often comes at a high moral cost.
“The world was a cruel place, and only the cruelest survived. Lada intended to survive.”
The forced relocation of Lada and Radu to the Ottoman court
The central plot device that sets the entire narrative in motion. Lada and Radu are sent as political hostages by their father to the Ottoman Empire to ensure Wallachia's loyalty. This device immediately establishes their precarious position, their status as outsiders, and the constant threat to their lives. It forces them to adapt to a foreign culture, shaping their identities and relationships, particularly with Mehmed. The hostage situation creates inherent conflict and tension, driving both their personal development and the overarching political drama, as their freedom and safety are always contingent on the whims of the Sultan.
The complex romantic and emotional entanglement of Lada, Radu, and Mehmed
This device refers to the intricate web of emotional and romantic attachments between Lada, Radu, and Mehmed. Lada and Mehmed share a passionate, volatile love, while Radu harbors a deep, unrequited affection for Mehmed and a complex bond with Lada. This 'toxic triangle' is not merely romantic; it is deeply intertwined with their loyalties, ambitions, and political allegiances. It creates intense emotional stakes, driving much of the character development and internal conflict, as their personal feelings constantly clash with their duties, eventually leading to profound betrayals and the unraveling of their initial bonds.
Lada and Radu's contrasting personalities highlighting each other's traits
Lada and Radu serve as classic foil characters to each other. Lada is brutal, defiant, and clings fiercely to her Wallachian identity, while Radu is gentle, adaptable, and embraces Ottoman culture. This contrast highlights their individual struggles and growth, emphasizing their differing responses to their shared traumatic experiences. Their opposing personalities and choices underscore the novel's themes of identity, belonging, and the nature of survival, demonstrating how two siblings from the same harsh background can develop in radically different directions, leading to their eventual estrangement.
Hints and clues about future events and character developments
The novel employs foreshadowing, particularly through Lada's early brutal acts and her unwavering determination, to hint at her future as a formidable and ruthless leader. Her childhood experiences of violence and her father's cruelty subtly suggest the path she will take. Similarly, Radu's gentle nature and adaptability, combined with his growing affection for Mehmed, hint at his eventual full integration into Ottoman life and his loyalty to the Sultan. These subtle clues build anticipation and add depth to the characters' arcs, indicating their inevitable, often tragic, destinies.
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Kiersten White is an American author known for her work in young adult fiction. Her notable books include "Paranormalcy," a story about a girl who can see paranormal creatures, and "And I Darken," a gender-swapped retelling of the life of Vlad the Impaler. Other works in her catalog include "Now I Rise" and "The Chaos of Stars."
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