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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Really interesting, based on a true historical story of Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna. Such a brutal time and so much turmoil in the monarchy as one Tsar died and the throne was owned by the next heir.
The book was a little drawn out and long but otherwise written well and generally had my attention. I found myself researching a number of the characters in the story simultaneously. I do wish the book was better about explaining what year or time it was in. Everything blended together and it was hard to figure out how much time had passed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book was a little drawn out and long but otherwise written well and generally had my attention. I found myself researching a number of the characters in the story simultaneously. I do wish the book was better about explaining what year or time it was in. Everything blended together and it was hard to figure out how much time had passed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first historical fiction is the year, amazing and beautifully written. Loved.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ellen Alpsten for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.
This is the sequel to Tsarina by Alpsten, the story of Tsarina’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth, that turned out to be the Empress of Russia for 20 years. Being a Russian and history lover, I could not pass this one. I did enjoy the first book, so I assume that the second would be fine as well.
It is fine, plot-wise it was interesting and intriguing at parts (though I know the history quite well, I enjoyed a few twists by Alpsten). I found it a bit too long and at parts too detailed, though it was still quite compelling novel to read.
I understand that Tsarina’s Daughter is a fiction based on true events, however, I found that the character of Elizabeth was not historically accurate. Alpsten made Elizabeth not only strong willed female character (which she undoubtedly was in real life as no weak person can held power in Russia for that long), but also compassionate towards her people, towards Russians. Let me be clear on that - Elizabeth, Yelizaveta Petrovna was a true daughter of Peter The Great and Katerine the First. She was cruel, vail and mean. She did not care one bit of her people and left Russian Empire bankrupt with a palace full of dresses and costumes as she was a fan of balls and masquerades. She didn’t hesitate to kill in order to gain power and make the rest of elite afraid of her. She was a disaster for Russian Empire.
On the other hand, Alpsten was completely right on how power-hungry people were not afraid of blood baths they created in order to obtain power. How cruelly imaginative they were toward everyone, including elderly and children. Alpsten created the atmosphere of Russia in the middle of 1770s so clearly and vividly, it is astonishing.
I am wondering if the next part would be about Katherine the Great and I am looking forward to it.
This is the sequel to Tsarina by Alpsten, the story of Tsarina’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth, that turned out to be the Empress of Russia for 20 years. Being a Russian and history lover, I could not pass this one. I did enjoy the first book, so I assume that the second would be fine as well.
It is fine, plot-wise it was interesting and intriguing at parts (though I know the history quite well, I enjoyed a few twists by Alpsten). I found it a bit too long and at parts too detailed, though it was still quite compelling novel to read.
I understand that Tsarina’s Daughter is a fiction based on true events, however, I found that the character of Elizabeth was not historically accurate. Alpsten made Elizabeth not only strong willed female character (which she undoubtedly was in real life as no weak person can held power in Russia for that long), but also compassionate towards her people, towards Russians. Let me be clear on that - Elizabeth, Yelizaveta Petrovna was a true daughter of Peter The Great and Katerine the First. She was cruel, vail and mean. She did not care one bit of her people and left Russian Empire bankrupt with a palace full of dresses and costumes as she was a fan of balls and masquerades. She didn’t hesitate to kill in order to gain power and make the rest of elite afraid of her. She was a disaster for Russian Empire.
On the other hand, Alpsten was completely right on how power-hungry people were not afraid of blood baths they created in order to obtain power. How cruelly imaginative they were toward everyone, including elderly and children. Alpsten created the atmosphere of Russia in the middle of 1770s so clearly and vividly, it is astonishing.
I am wondering if the next part would be about Katherine the Great and I am looking forward to it.
This book is a beautiful blend of triumph, tragedy, and everything that comes in between. It has the perfect combination of history, folklore, superstition and creativity to make it a dreamlike world you can fall into. The visual story telling is some of the best I've ever read and I can't help but just take a deep breath as I read some of the descriptive paragraphs, the winter palace, summer palace, Moscow, St. Petersburg they all come alive on the page and are really another character in this stunning novel.
Elizabeth will go through every emotion you can fathom in this book, despair, love, grief, revenge, you see someone that seemingly had it all, a Romanov Princess, a Tsarina, at one point and a woman who has her heart broken in deepest of ways at another but through it all you see her as a woman, a sister, daughter, friend, someone that seems so complete as a character.
All of the characters are well written, complex, insightful, and of course bring life to a story so many people find fascinating. Who hasn't heard or read of the Romanovs and the things they did both good and bad, who hasn't wondered what it would be like to live that life? However if this story showed me anything it's be careful what you wish for, because sometimes, being on top really only means you're the one in the most danger from the most people, even the ones you least expect it from.
Our story starts with a gut wrenching decision and in the pages that follow will show how every small decision, every scheme, every betrayal led to that one decision, and how it ends, well, I for one wasn't ready for that ending but it was perfection.
Alpsten has created pure magic with this one, it's visual story telling at it's absolute finest, for me the best books are the ones I can get totally absorbed in, to the point that I can feel what's being written about, I could imagine the taste of the food, the feel of the water in the grotto, the feel of a falcons feathers, everything was described in such detail that it truly made the book come alive, and for me that is what reading is all about.
Elizabeth will go through every emotion you can fathom in this book, despair, love, grief, revenge, you see someone that seemingly had it all, a Romanov Princess, a Tsarina, at one point and a woman who has her heart broken in deepest of ways at another but through it all you see her as a woman, a sister, daughter, friend, someone that seems so complete as a character.
All of the characters are well written, complex, insightful, and of course bring life to a story so many people find fascinating. Who hasn't heard or read of the Romanovs and the things they did both good and bad, who hasn't wondered what it would be like to live that life? However if this story showed me anything it's be careful what you wish for, because sometimes, being on top really only means you're the one in the most danger from the most people, even the ones you least expect it from.
Our story starts with a gut wrenching decision and in the pages that follow will show how every small decision, every scheme, every betrayal led to that one decision, and how it ends, well, I for one wasn't ready for that ending but it was perfection.
Alpsten has created pure magic with this one, it's visual story telling at it's absolute finest, for me the best books are the ones I can get totally absorbed in, to the point that I can feel what's being written about, I could imagine the taste of the food, the feel of the water in the grotto, the feel of a falcons feathers, everything was described in such detail that it truly made the book come alive, and for me that is what reading is all about.
4.5 stars.
I got an eARC on Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. And given I loved Ellen Alpsten's debut, Tsarina, I had no doubt I'd also love the sequel, this time centering on Elizabeth, Catherine I's daughter, who also eventually became Tsarina. I'll admit the first 30-40% of this story was a little slow for me, but we go full speed in the intrigues surrounding Peter II than Anna Ivanovna's courts, with Elizabeth being in constant danger for her life and freedom. Alpsten's knowledge of Russian history and culture shines through, as always, and she even adds in some supernatural elements in this that thankfully aren't too out of place, serving as foreshadowing for the story and which ends up being rewarding for the reader when the prophecies come to pass.
Another small downside is that I noticed a few typos here and there, but given the copy I was provided was an uncorrected version, I don't doubt they won't be there there anymore when we get the published version.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and I can't wait for the 3rd and final book in the series - fingers crossed it'll be about Catherine the Great!
I got an eARC on Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. And given I loved Ellen Alpsten's debut, Tsarina, I had no doubt I'd also love the sequel, this time centering on Elizabeth, Catherine I's daughter, who also eventually became Tsarina. I'll admit the first 30-40% of this story was a little slow for me, but we go full speed in the intrigues surrounding Peter II than Anna Ivanovna's courts, with Elizabeth being in constant danger for her life and freedom. Alpsten's knowledge of Russian history and culture shines through, as always, and she even adds in some supernatural elements in this that thankfully aren't too out of place, serving as foreshadowing for the story and which ends up being rewarding for the reader when the prophecies come to pass.
Another small downside is that I noticed a few typos here and there, but given the copy I was provided was an uncorrected version, I don't doubt they won't be there there anymore when we get the published version.
All in all, I really enjoyed this and I can't wait for the 3rd and final book in the series - fingers crossed it'll be about Catherine the Great!
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Goodreads for sending me an Advance Copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Overall, this was a well-written novel. It told a tale that was historically accurate, with some liberties taken and dramatic flair added for the sake of the story. It is most definitely not a light and fluffy feel-good novel. It is brutal, dark and gory at times. However, such were the times and situations this story represents in Russian history. I love the historical fiction genre and am especially interested in the history and mystery surrounding the Romanov dynasty, so I rated the book a little higher than I probably would have otherwise. I was really hoping to be able to give this book 5 stars, but I couldn’t for a couple of reasons. The first being that the book in several scenes is just a bit too brutal/explicit/ gory for my personal taste. The second being that in some places the story just seemed to drag a bit and was harder to get through. **Warning- if you are triggered by violence and abuse, this is probably not the book for you.**
Overall, this was a well-written novel. It told a tale that was historically accurate, with some liberties taken and dramatic flair added for the sake of the story. It is most definitely not a light and fluffy feel-good novel. It is brutal, dark and gory at times. However, such were the times and situations this story represents in Russian history. I love the historical fiction genre and am especially interested in the history and mystery surrounding the Romanov dynasty, so I rated the book a little higher than I probably would have otherwise. I was really hoping to be able to give this book 5 stars, but I couldn’t for a couple of reasons. The first being that the book in several scenes is just a bit too brutal/explicit/ gory for my personal taste. The second being that in some places the story just seemed to drag a bit and was harder to get through. **Warning- if you are triggered by violence and abuse, this is probably not the book for you.**