You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
4.5 - something about the ending wasn't perfectly satisfying but I devoured this book and couldn't get it out of my mind at night. Murder mystery in one timeline, historical romance in the other. Both equally un-put-down-able.
The Last Russian Doll is a dual-timeline novel set mostly in Russia. In 1991, Rosie (Raisa) is engaged to be married and taking care of her mother in London. When her mother dies suddenly, she leaves Rosie a key and a mystery. Rosie applies for a job in Russia, hoping to take that key and answer a lifetime’s worth of questions. In 1915, Antonina (Tonya) is trapped in a loveless marriage as the Bolshevik revolution is beginning.
This is a gorgeous saga, filled with mystery and Russian fairytales. The history of 20th-century Russia is told through the eyes of two women. The story encompasses many devastating events: the 1917 Revolution, the Russian Civil War, Stalin’s purges, and the siege of Leningrad during WWII. Rosie arrives back in Russia as the Soviet Union is nearing its end, determined to make sense of her past. The weaving together of the stories of Rosie and Tonya is a perfect tapestry of tragedy, romance, and survival. Fairytales and porcelain dolls add another intriguing layer. This magical but tragic blend of history and fiction transports us straight to Russia during many turbulent periods in its past. It is an absolutely mesmerizing read.
Fans of Russian history and folklore, and anyone who just wants to read an amazing novel, should pick this one up immediately.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
This is a gorgeous saga, filled with mystery and Russian fairytales. The history of 20th-century Russia is told through the eyes of two women. The story encompasses many devastating events: the 1917 Revolution, the Russian Civil War, Stalin’s purges, and the siege of Leningrad during WWII. Rosie arrives back in Russia as the Soviet Union is nearing its end, determined to make sense of her past. The weaving together of the stories of Rosie and Tonya is a perfect tapestry of tragedy, romance, and survival. Fairytales and porcelain dolls add another intriguing layer. This magical but tragic blend of history and fiction transports us straight to Russia during many turbulent periods in its past. It is an absolutely mesmerizing read.
Fans of Russian history and folklore, and anyone who just wants to read an amazing novel, should pick this one up immediately.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Disappointing. I love Russian history and thought this would be an excellent read. But it was pretty light on in terms of history. I am not sure the fairytales really worked for me. It was an ok story but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for Russian history.
Probably 4.5 stars. So much of Russian history has tragic storylines, but I thoroughly enjoyed the spin the author put on this one.
This just might be one of the best books I read this year. I loved the span of this novel from the early years of the Russian Revolution through the fall of the Soviet Union. The story captivated me after I got through some of the first few chapters. My only critique is that certain portions of the plot I felt had some holes in it and was still confusing when explained. Overall though this was excellent.
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A perfect recipe of history, emotion, family, and trauma. I enjoyed the way the author intertwined three generations of perspectives.
Quick and Dirty
-intergenerational saga
-female-focused fiction
-multiple POVs and changing timelines
-mystery, secrets, and lies
Musings
While I enjoy a good Russian novel as much as anyone, this one was a challenge at times. It's a great read, suspenseful, and highly intricate. At its heart, the book is a mystery novel. But there is also a love story at the core of the novel that reminded me of Anna Karenina and Dr. Zhivago, both of which the author references in her author's notes. I enjoyed being swept away in the story of this complex family living in an even more complex time in Russian history. That being said, it felt like A LOT! There were lots of characters, timeline/POV changes, name changes, political changes, etc. I know that's the point, but it felt like I needed to be taking notes at times. I don't feel like this book is well-suited for audio readers, and I feel like it's probably a better physical/e-reader experience. It's not a book you can put on and do things like cook/clean/etc; I found myself needing to dedicate my full attention to keeping track of what was going on every time I listened, which was not the case when I transitioned to the physical book. I also wanted more of the Pre-Revolution period. To me, it felt kinda rushed in the beginning, which may make it hard for some readers to truly appreciate how significant the change was for Tonya. Anyone interested in family drama/sagas and/or Russian history will probably really love this novel. Overall, it's a good book for the right reader!
-intergenerational saga
-female-focused fiction
-multiple POVs and changing timelines
-mystery, secrets, and lies
Musings
While I enjoy a good Russian novel as much as anyone, this one was a challenge at times. It's a great read, suspenseful, and highly intricate. At its heart, the book is a mystery novel. But there is also a love story at the core of the novel that reminded me of Anna Karenina and Dr. Zhivago, both of which the author references in her author's notes. I enjoyed being swept away in the story of this complex family living in an even more complex time in Russian history. That being said, it felt like A LOT! There were lots of characters, timeline/POV changes, name changes, political changes, etc. I know that's the point, but it felt like I needed to be taking notes at times. I don't feel like this book is well-suited for audio readers, and I feel like it's probably a better physical/e-reader experience. It's not a book you can put on and do things like cook/clean/etc; I found myself needing to dedicate my full attention to keeping track of what was going on every time I listened, which was not the case when I transitioned to the physical book. I also wanted more of the Pre-Revolution period. To me, it felt kinda rushed in the beginning, which may make it hard for some readers to truly appreciate how significant the change was for Tonya. Anyone interested in family drama/sagas and/or Russian history will probably really love this novel. Overall, it's a good book for the right reader!
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I have never read a historical fiction that had a romance element on top of a mystery to solve. This book had everything I wanted and more.
I really wanted to love this one, and there were definitely times when I did, but I needed more background!! This book expects you to have a pretty thorough knowledge of Russian history. I was able to follow at first, but I found by the end I was lacking the sociopolitical climate and that was such an anchoring point of the plot that I felt untethered.
I was back and forth between 3 and 4 stars so I’m giving it 3.5 and rounding up.