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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
There's just too much going on in this book. It covers too many years and tries to do too much. And also, I have to say, that I never liked Alexander. And he gets far worse in this book. Why can't we have a romance with a male main character that isn't controlling and abusive? It makes me sad that many women want an Alexander. I'm not minimizing what he went through (as anyone would have serious emotional trauma after that) but come on, that doesn't justify the way he acts.
Anyway, I did enjoy this trilogy. I didn't like everything about it, but it was a good story. This is the weakest of the three books though, I think.
Anyway, I did enjoy this trilogy. I didn't like everything about it, but it was a good story. This is the weakest of the three books though, I think.
The Bronze Horseman was very, very good. This book wasn't.
I shouldn't have picked this book. I should just let this story end with book two.
I love Tatiana and Alexander. I love how tiny Tatiana have such a great mental strength to endure what she had been through. Alexander is brave and sometimes too Chuck Norris-y, but if you have to fight so many enemy just to stay alive, you might need abilities like his too. I love how their love survived through hunger-stricken Leningrad, through wild and cruel Eastern front battlefield, through death and betrayal of so many person close to them.
But...that's it. I should just stopped with book two, but alas! Curiosity kills the cat. Instead of a seat-gripping and satisfying conclusion of the story, I got :
1. Tatiana and Alexander as a sex-crazed freak. Actually almost all of the adults in this story are sex-crazed freaks. Sure, nothing is wrong with sexually active married couple, but is it necessary for the reader to know every occasion they made love? Err...too much information, thanks
2. Paulina Simmons seems to be afraid that the post-traumatic stress of her characters made them less attractive, so she kindly reminds us. Thus the galore of details of Tatiana's breast and Alexander muscles. Our dear characters turn from petite beauty and brave soldier into a pair of Pamela Anderson and Hulk Hogan.
3. Alexander become more sexist and Chuck Norris-y than ever. Even in the age of fifty, with heavily bleeding legs, he carried an injured soldier for who knows how far. Comparing to him, other soldiers are like fragile china who breaks only by a gentle blow of the wind.
4. Disturbing deaths of some characters which should make other people traumatized for life...but not our special snowflakes characters, no.
5. Some punctuation missing for several pages, no reason at all.
6. Flashbacks of Tatiana's childhood in Luga. Although it's nice to read again about Tatiana's family and neighbors (whose fates we know so well, it's a bit ironic that in this part of the story they are running around and flirting, etc. Oh, so little did they know!) and some Russian aspects other than blinchikis and beef stroganoffs, I don't understand how this enrich the story. Just a painfully long filler for me.
7. Unnecessary long and trying hard to be cute ending
Sure, some parts are touching and written well...but the rest? I will gladly pretend that there is never a book three...
I love Tatiana and Alexander. I love how tiny Tatiana have such a great mental strength to endure what she had been through. Alexander is brave and sometimes too Chuck Norris-y, but if you have to fight so many enemy just to stay alive, you might need abilities like his too. I love how their love survived through hunger-stricken Leningrad, through wild and cruel Eastern front battlefield, through death and betrayal of so many person close to them.
But...that's it. I should just stopped with book two, but alas! Curiosity kills the cat. Instead of a seat-gripping and satisfying conclusion of the story, I got :
1. Tatiana and Alexander as a sex-crazed freak. Actually almost all of the adults in this story are sex-crazed freaks. Sure, nothing is wrong with sexually active married couple, but is it necessary for the reader to know every occasion they made love? Err...too much information, thanks
2. Paulina Simmons seems to be afraid that the post-traumatic stress of her characters made them less attractive, so she kindly reminds us. Thus the galore of details of Tatiana's breast and Alexander muscles. Our dear characters turn from petite beauty and brave soldier into a pair of Pamela Anderson and Hulk Hogan.
3. Alexander become more sexist and Chuck Norris-y than ever. Even in the age of fifty, with heavily bleeding legs, he carried an injured soldier for who knows how far. Comparing to him, other soldiers are like fragile china who breaks only by a gentle blow of the wind.
4. Disturbing deaths of some characters which should make other people traumatized for life...but not our special snowflakes characters, no.
5. Some punctuation missing for several pages, no reason at all.
6. Flashbacks of Tatiana's childhood in Luga. Although it's nice to read again about Tatiana's family and neighbors (whose fates we know so well, it's a bit ironic that in this part of the story they are running around and flirting, etc. Oh, so little did they know!) and some Russian aspects other than blinchikis and beef stroganoffs, I don't understand how this enrich the story. Just a painfully long filler for me.
7. Unnecessary long and trying hard to be cute ending
Sure, some parts are touching and written well...but the rest? I will gladly pretend that there is never a book three...
Don't let the size of this tome put you off - you should find yourself flying through the pages. If you've gotten this far and read The Bronze Horseman and The Bridge to Holy Cross then you'll be dying to finish the series and reach a resolution for Tatiana and Alexander. You won't be disappointed.
I don't want to give anything away but this was definitely written at the same calibre as the first novel. It was just as gut-wrenching and just as powerful. Finishing these three books, gave me such a feeling of satisfaction. This story, of two people in incredible times, THIS is what reading is all about.
This is the kind of book you dream about at night. These are the kind of characters who infiltrate your thoughts all day. This is the kind of story that stays with you for your lifetime. I may never have lived in Lenningrad during WWII; I may go to my grave having never seen Russia but I have experienced it with a ferocity that only an imagination can conjure. I have lived someone else's lifetime within my own...and what an incredible lifetime it was.
These are novels I will revisit again one day. I cannot praise them highly enough. I wish I could read them for the first time again!
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I don't want to give anything away but this was definitely written at the same calibre as the first novel. It was just as gut-wrenching and just as powerful. Finishing these three books, gave me such a feeling of satisfaction. This story, of two people in incredible times, THIS is what reading is all about.
This is the kind of book you dream about at night. These are the kind of characters who infiltrate your thoughts all day. This is the kind of story that stays with you for your lifetime. I may never have lived in Lenningrad during WWII; I may go to my grave having never seen Russia but I have experienced it with a ferocity that only an imagination can conjure. I have lived someone else's lifetime within my own...and what an incredible lifetime it was.
These are novels I will revisit again one day. I cannot praise them highly enough. I wish I could read them for the first time again!
Watch more LIVE bestselling author interviews and win free books!
In this fun interview series, bestselling novelists reveal the secrets behind their beloved stories…all whilst playing a round of Pictionary with a live audience…YOU!
Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
Not as great as the previous two books in the series, but still a good read. This is a LONG book. Sometimes it can feel like it's dragging on a bit, because the war is over and there's not a lot of exciting events happening. But I appreciated getting a glimpse of Tatiana and Alexander's life, struggles and all.
I devoured the first two books in this trilogy, but this book it took me a total of about 40 days to read it when the first two books took me 10 days or less. That in of itself is telling. There were parts of this novel I greatly enjoyed, the flashbacks to Tatiana's childhood, the episode in Vietnam was fast paced and suspenseful, and the description of Ukraine during prior to World War II and some historical elements were very fascinating to me. However, I just couldn't get into Tatiana and Alexander post war. Yes, they had realistic struggles, but his violence and possessiveness towards her I absolutely could not have tolerated AT ALL. Never ever is it acceptable. I also disliked how all their kids seem to be super accomplished individuals. Within one family, this is highly unlikely. It just seemed a touch unrealistic to me.
I am glad I have closure to this story as a whole, but the last few chapters with their kids and grandkids at thanksgiving were drawn out and unnecessary. I would have cut out large swaths of this book in general. Overall, I highly recommend the first two books and only advise reading the third if you want closure on their love story, but be forewarned that it doesn't pack the punch the first two stories did in my opinion. I was disappointed to say the least and I am relieved to see this trilogy end.
I am glad I have closure to this story as a whole, but the last few chapters with their kids and grandkids at thanksgiving were drawn out and unnecessary. I would have cut out large swaths of this book in general. Overall, I highly recommend the first two books and only advise reading the third if you want closure on their love story, but be forewarned that it doesn't pack the punch the first two stories did in my opinion. I was disappointed to say the least and I am relieved to see this trilogy end.
I did it!!!!
2013 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2023 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay so I finished reading this in one day and let me tell you… it was so emotionally exhausting. This is a heavy book because the constant turmoil Alexander and Tatiana are in. It’s not wedded bliss, it’s constant stress and fights and it got repetitive.
2013 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2023 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay so I finished reading this in one day and let me tell you… it was so emotionally exhausting. This is a heavy book because the constant turmoil Alexander and Tatiana are in. It’s not wedded bliss, it’s constant stress and fights and it got repetitive.
I love reading relationships evolve through ups and downs but oh god it was so heartbreaking. I feel like if it didn't end as it did I might have just choked to death crying. I was on a 2 year Outlander series obsession then I found this, read all three in 7 days (barely sleeping) and I'm still raw with emotion.
I re-read all the books I buy, but this story (thinking of all three books) go through such dark places I don't know if I could read it again for a long time. I love their love, I felt betrayed when they betrayed each other, I felt scared when they were scared. they definitely hit high on my favorite lit couples list.
I re-read all the books I buy, but this story (thinking of all three books) go through such dark places I don't know if I could read it again for a long time. I love their love, I felt betrayed when they betrayed each other, I felt scared when they were scared. they definitely hit high on my favorite lit couples list.