OH MY STARS! I have to admit, I didn't really understand that the book was based on Vlad the Impaler (who was who Dracula was modeled after) until I started to do a book trailer on this book and did some research. I thought the story was so interesting, albeit not 100% accurate of the Ottoman Empire. But zang, if it wasn't really well done.
Lada is actually based on Vlad, but Kiersten White chose to make him a girl. There are definitely elements of today's society embedded in the plot, such as women's rights, LBGTQ, and religious freedom, but for the most part, I felt like I was back in the day with the good ole' Ottomans and their enemies.
Lada and her brother Radu are sent to the Ottoman empire as a way to enforce their father, Dragwyla, to make sure he will be an ally to the empire. He basically forgets about them, but Lada doesn't forget how much she loves her homeland Wallachia (pronounced Valahia with a little spit on the h sound) and hates the Ottomans. Well, except for the son of the sultan, Mehmed (pronounced Mackmed- I listened to to the book). So, it kind of goes about how Lada wrestles with her friendship with Mehmed, but plans to go back home.
I have to say, it was pretty darn interesting, and I was pretty much enthralled the entire book. I thought it was a great choice for the 2018 Virginia Readers' Choice list.