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Order of the Dragon: Book Two
Some oaths are written in blood. Some legacies are born in darkness.
The Order of the Dragon – Book Two unfolds as a knight of the Order of the Dragon, Vlad Dracul, a 15th-century Wallachian prince sworn to defend Christendom navigates a treacherous world of political intrigue, family betrayal, and the ever-present Ottoman threat. Torn between loyalty to his people and devotion to his children, Vlad's ambition to reclaim his birthright leads him down a bloody path, forcing him to make impossible choices and embrace his ruthless nature. But power often requires sacrifice. When the Turks demand his young sons as hostages, Vlad faces an agonizing choice that will echo through history.
As the crusader armies clash with Ottoman forces along the Danube, Vlad discovers that survival requires more than political cunning—it demands embracing the very darkness he once fought against. Vlad must choose between his honor and his throne, between saving his children and securing his dynasty. Every decision carves another scar upon his soul, and each victory demands a piece of his humanity. His choices will not only decide Wallachia's fate but forge the legend of the most feared name in history—and set his namesake son on a path to immortal infamy.
Discover the stunning conclusion of Vlad Dracul in Order of the Dragon – Book Two, the second in a series of novels and novellas about the real Dracula family, the House of Basarab.
The Order of the Dragon – Book Two unfolds as a knight of the Order of the Dragon, Vlad Dracul, a 15th-century Wallachian prince sworn to defend Christendom navigates a treacherous world of political intrigue, family betrayal, and the ever-present Ottoman threat. Torn between loyalty to his people and devotion to his children, Vlad's ambition to reclaim his birthright leads him down a bloody path, forcing him to make impossible choices and embrace his ruthless nature. But power often requires sacrifice. When the Turks demand his young sons as hostages, Vlad faces an agonizing choice that will echo through history.
As the crusader armies clash with Ottoman forces along the Danube, Vlad discovers that survival requires more than political cunning—it demands embracing the very darkness he once fought against. Vlad must choose between his honor and his throne, between saving his children and securing his dynasty. Every decision carves another scar upon his soul, and each victory demands a piece of his humanity. His choices will not only decide Wallachia's fate but forge the legend of the most feared name in history—and set his namesake son on a path to immortal infamy.
Discover the stunning conclusion of Vlad Dracul in Order of the Dragon – Book Two, the second in a series of novels and novellas about the real Dracula family, the House of Basarab.
711 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2025
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About the author
Lisa J. Yarde
21 books65 followersLisa J. Yarde writes fiction inspired by the Middle Ages in Europe. She is the author of a six-part series set in Moorish Spain, Sultana, Sultana’s Legacy, Sultana: Two Sisters, Sultana: The Bride Price, Sultana: The Pomegranate Tree, and Sultana: The White Mountains, where rivalries and ambitions threaten the fragile bonds between members of the last Muslim dynasty to rule in Europe. The first title in the series is available in multiple languages. She has also written The Order of the Dragon – Book One, and The Order of the Dragon - Book Two, novels in a series of stories about the family of the real Dracula.
Lisa has also published two historical novels set in medieval England and Normandy, On Falcon’s Wings, featuring a star-crossed romance between Norman and Saxon lovers before the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and The Burning Candle, based on the life of the first Countess of Leicester and Surrey, Isabel de Vermandois, progenitor of modern royal and non-noble families. Lisa’s short stories include The Legend Rises, in the HerStory anthology, which chronicles the Welsh princess Gwenllian of Gwynedd’s fight against twelfth-century English invaders, and The Heretic, in the anthology We All Fall Down, wherein the Hispano-Muslim doctor Ibn al-Khatib struggles to survive the Black Death.
Born in Barbados, Lisa lived abroad for 33 years until a recent permanent return to her island home. For more than a decade, she has been affiliated with the Historical Novel Society, presented at its 2015 Denver conference, and served as the co-chair of the Historical Novel Society – New York City chapter (2015-2017), social media manager (2017-2022), and program chair (2023-2025). An avid techie, she has presented to varied audiences on the topics of historical fiction, self-publishing, and website and social media management. She has moderated and contributed to Unusual Historicals, Great Historicals, and History & Women, and previously reviewed historical fiction for the History & Women blog, Washington Independent Review of Books, and through NetGalley. Her personal blog is The Bajan Scribbler.
Learn more about Lisa and her writing at the website www.lisajyarde.com.
Lisa has also published two historical novels set in medieval England and Normandy, On Falcon’s Wings, featuring a star-crossed romance between Norman and Saxon lovers before the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and The Burning Candle, based on the life of the first Countess of Leicester and Surrey, Isabel de Vermandois, progenitor of modern royal and non-noble families. Lisa’s short stories include The Legend Rises, in the HerStory anthology, which chronicles the Welsh princess Gwenllian of Gwynedd’s fight against twelfth-century English invaders, and The Heretic, in the anthology We All Fall Down, wherein the Hispano-Muslim doctor Ibn al-Khatib struggles to survive the Black Death.
Born in Barbados, Lisa lived abroad for 33 years until a recent permanent return to her island home. For more than a decade, she has been affiliated with the Historical Novel Society, presented at its 2015 Denver conference, and served as the co-chair of the Historical Novel Society – New York City chapter (2015-2017), social media manager (2017-2022), and program chair (2023-2025). An avid techie, she has presented to varied audiences on the topics of historical fiction, self-publishing, and website and social media management. She has moderated and contributed to Unusual Historicals, Great Historicals, and History & Women, and previously reviewed historical fiction for the History & Women blog, Washington Independent Review of Books, and through NetGalley. Her personal blog is The Bajan Scribbler.
Learn more about Lisa and her writing at the website www.lisajyarde.com.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 11, 2025
Historical biographies abound but only a few can be counted as formidable works of literature. One of my favorite biographies is Mark Twain’s Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc which is not only beautifully written but spiritually evocative, achieving a moving portrait of Joan of Arc that remains with the reader for long afterwards. While intended as the biography of a country rather than that of a historical figure, another novel I absolutely loved is James Michener’s Poland.
I can safely say that with its depictions of battlefields, its geographical landscape, and its rich tapestry, this Book Two of Order of the Dragon achieves the scope and level of historical detail offered in Michener’s Poland. Without exaggeration, Lisa J. Yarde’s outstanding historical novel completes the epic life story of Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, in a manner that has nothing to envy Twain’s portrait of Joan of Arc.
Should you read Book One to enjoy this second book? It is not a necessity, but why would you not? Both are fantastic, testaments to Yarde’s excellent prose and painstaking research, and will transport you to a time and place scarcely, if ever, trudged by other novelists.
Order of the Dragon: Book Two focuses on Vlad Dracul’s inner conflicts in the face of the Ottoman threat. The enemy is strong, admitting no concessions in its desire for the submission of invaded subjects. To protect his family, the Wallachian leader is earlier on enmeshed into a soul crushing denigration of his political values and alliances. The sense of doom hangs heavily, and I even began to feel depressed for Vlad in these earlier passages. They were striking in highlighting how, when faced with no choice but self-corruption, the soul falls prey to great torment. With remarkable patience and attention to emotional detail, Yarde weaves a quandary that will resurface and taunt Vlad Dracul to the end.
The novel’s pièce de resistance was how the author addressed the trickery and cruelty of the Ottomans in their forceful detainment of Vlad Dracul’s two sons, Radu and the younger Vlad. Set in today’s Turkey, these slow burn and vividly depicted scenes were exceptionally well written, leading to a tragic and dramatic climax. Here, suspense, intrigue, deceit, and nuanced dialogue worked together for a gripping, entertaining read. Fans of the popular Dracula figure who might have read about Vlad the Impaler spending part of his life as a prisoner of the Ottomans, would be glad to know that these passages bring to life little known historical events. Vlad Dracul’s ensuing torture was unexpected but brought us closer to understanding the father’s future fury, fear, and need for revenge.
The other facet of the novel I particularly enjoyed was the mystery around Vlad Dracul’s long lost sister, Arina and while I cannot reveal spoilers, I found the unexpected reunion between Vlad and a member of his family a most compelling read. Here, Yarde further explores the supernatural telepathic ability that we attribute to vampires. The author chooses to surface this skill as innate to the Dracul bloodline, lending a magic realism quality to the novel.
Of course, I was fascinated by the depiction of the younger Vlad - his upbringing, the vehemence he showed in his hatred of the Ottomans who had wronged his family, and his fearlessness in the face of bloodshed. I found it highly satisfying and psychologically accurate given this boy would after all grow up to avenge his father and murder Ottomans until his acts would forever change his name as we know it. I loved how the novel mentions that the young Vlad wept tears of blood as I had never read about this fact. It was a good touch, and I raced off to discover more about this recent historical finding concerning Vlad the Impaler.
But returning to the father, whose life is the focus of this book, I will say one last thing. Vlad Dracul was more endearing in this Book Two than in Book One. Perhaps it was because he encountered so many tribulations and pain toward his later life. He was also flawed – often arrogant, proud and at times brash – but it made him delightfully human and unforgettable. He was believable as a strong, dutiful, and protective father who would do anything for his family. I appreciated how, despite initially dismissing his new younger wife, he eventually warmed to and respected her, especially upon learning of her past abuse. There were several small touches throughout the story that contributed to his likeable character.
For what is Vlad Dracul in the end, but the embodiment of every human whose family, peace and honor become thwarted by an oppressing force demanding absolute submission. Perhaps this man, in his time, faced an enemy we all one day may come to face. It is something to ponder and learn from.
I can safely say that with its depictions of battlefields, its geographical landscape, and its rich tapestry, this Book Two of Order of the Dragon achieves the scope and level of historical detail offered in Michener’s Poland. Without exaggeration, Lisa J. Yarde’s outstanding historical novel completes the epic life story of Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, in a manner that has nothing to envy Twain’s portrait of Joan of Arc.
Should you read Book One to enjoy this second book? It is not a necessity, but why would you not? Both are fantastic, testaments to Yarde’s excellent prose and painstaking research, and will transport you to a time and place scarcely, if ever, trudged by other novelists.
Order of the Dragon: Book Two focuses on Vlad Dracul’s inner conflicts in the face of the Ottoman threat. The enemy is strong, admitting no concessions in its desire for the submission of invaded subjects. To protect his family, the Wallachian leader is earlier on enmeshed into a soul crushing denigration of his political values and alliances. The sense of doom hangs heavily, and I even began to feel depressed for Vlad in these earlier passages. They were striking in highlighting how, when faced with no choice but self-corruption, the soul falls prey to great torment. With remarkable patience and attention to emotional detail, Yarde weaves a quandary that will resurface and taunt Vlad Dracul to the end.
The novel’s pièce de resistance was how the author addressed the trickery and cruelty of the Ottomans in their forceful detainment of Vlad Dracul’s two sons, Radu and the younger Vlad. Set in today’s Turkey, these slow burn and vividly depicted scenes were exceptionally well written, leading to a tragic and dramatic climax. Here, suspense, intrigue, deceit, and nuanced dialogue worked together for a gripping, entertaining read. Fans of the popular Dracula figure who might have read about Vlad the Impaler spending part of his life as a prisoner of the Ottomans, would be glad to know that these passages bring to life little known historical events. Vlad Dracul’s ensuing torture was unexpected but brought us closer to understanding the father’s future fury, fear, and need for revenge.
The other facet of the novel I particularly enjoyed was the mystery around Vlad Dracul’s long lost sister, Arina and while I cannot reveal spoilers, I found the unexpected reunion between Vlad and a member of his family a most compelling read. Here, Yarde further explores the supernatural telepathic ability that we attribute to vampires. The author chooses to surface this skill as innate to the Dracul bloodline, lending a magic realism quality to the novel.
Of course, I was fascinated by the depiction of the younger Vlad - his upbringing, the vehemence he showed in his hatred of the Ottomans who had wronged his family, and his fearlessness in the face of bloodshed. I found it highly satisfying and psychologically accurate given this boy would after all grow up to avenge his father and murder Ottomans until his acts would forever change his name as we know it. I loved how the novel mentions that the young Vlad wept tears of blood as I had never read about this fact. It was a good touch, and I raced off to discover more about this recent historical finding concerning Vlad the Impaler.
But returning to the father, whose life is the focus of this book, I will say one last thing. Vlad Dracul was more endearing in this Book Two than in Book One. Perhaps it was because he encountered so many tribulations and pain toward his later life. He was also flawed – often arrogant, proud and at times brash – but it made him delightfully human and unforgettable. He was believable as a strong, dutiful, and protective father who would do anything for his family. I appreciated how, despite initially dismissing his new younger wife, he eventually warmed to and respected her, especially upon learning of her past abuse. There were several small touches throughout the story that contributed to his likeable character.
For what is Vlad Dracul in the end, but the embodiment of every human whose family, peace and honor become thwarted by an oppressing force demanding absolute submission. Perhaps this man, in his time, faced an enemy we all one day may come to face. It is something to ponder and learn from.
Displaying 1 of 1 review