Vlad III, the 15th century ruler of what is now southern Romania, had a terrifying nickname–the Impaler. It originated with the grisly way he dealt with his enemies: He demanded that their not-yet-dead bodies be impaled on stakes. Vlad’s reputation for brutality only grew and later became entwined with the legend of the vampire Dracula. This in-depth account presents the true story of Vlad the Impaler and his fight against the Ottoman Empire, a struggle that makes the villain a hero to some. An appealing design and features such as sidebars and fact boxes make this biography an especially high-interest read for young historians.