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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Okay. I really liked the sections set during the Russian Civil War, but the 1991 setting was confusing: lots of fakeouts, a sister’s ghost that served little function, and an attraction to the bodyguard that was not very believable. The family relations were so twisty, and maybe that’s the point, but I didn’t find it very satisfying. At the same time, I didn’t find it predictable! (Maybe I was just wishing this was the third installment of Janet Finch’s Marina M stories.)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I started this dual timeline, historical fiction novel set in Russia, I expected to love it. It reads a bit like a folktale at the beginning, which intrigued me. Each timeline focuses on a female main character, one the wife of an aristocrat during the Russian Revolution and the other a writer’s assistant in the 90s seeking answers about her family’s past. While I found the historical references in the book interesting, much of the story felt underdeveloped to me.
The storyline that takes place in the past was more engaging for me. The characters felt a bit more developed in that timeline. However, there were big gaps in time that were jarring to me. They created holes in the plot and the relationship development that led to confusion. I was also confused by the doll motif. I did not feel that their significance was fully developed.
Overall, I found the book easy to read and entertaining, but I wish there had been more development of the character relationships and the historical context.
The storyline that takes place in the past was more engaging for me. The characters felt a bit more developed in that timeline. However, there were big gaps in time that were jarring to me. They created holes in the plot and the relationship development that led to confusion. I was also confused by the doll motif. I did not feel that their significance was fully developed.
Overall, I found the book easy to read and entertaining, but I wish there had been more development of the character relationships and the historical context.
This is an interesting one to rate. Possibly 3.5?
I was surprised by how quickly this one went given the length. It was also a nice break to read historical fiction and to learn a little more about Russia through the span of about 65 years. Most of my Russian history knowledge comes from high school classes and Anastasia.
I also enjoyed the perspective changes throughout and how the book was broken into multiple parts.
It was a bit ambitious and left me a little lost. I felt as though some details were missing and there were too many convenient events. I also got confused with the characters with the nicknames used alongside the given names. I forsure can’t really explain how two characters got looped into this journey.
There was mystery, murder, ghosts, protests, romance, affairs, secret notes, missing children, fairytales, and porcelain dolls.
With Rosie’s mother’s recent death in 1991, she saw no better time than to return to Russia to solve the mystery of who killed her father and sister more than a decade ago.
While there, she conducts research interviews for a famous author, helping to connect the present with the past.
The story flashes to 1917 (and continues for several decades) with chapters alternating between Tonya and Valentin as they lost and found love and themselves.
I was surprised by how quickly this one went given the length. It was also a nice break to read historical fiction and to learn a little more about Russia through the span of about 65 years. Most of my Russian history knowledge comes from high school classes and Anastasia.
I also enjoyed the perspective changes throughout and how the book was broken into multiple parts.
It was a bit ambitious and left me a little lost. I felt as though some details were missing and there were too many convenient events. I also got confused with the characters with the nicknames used alongside the given names. I forsure can’t really explain how two characters got looped into this journey.
There was mystery, murder, ghosts, protests, romance, affairs, secret notes, missing children, fairytales, and porcelain dolls.
With Rosie’s mother’s recent death in 1991, she saw no better time than to return to Russia to solve the mystery of who killed her father and sister more than a decade ago.
While there, she conducts research interviews for a famous author, helping to connect the present with the past.
The story flashes to 1917 (and continues for several decades) with chapters alternating between Tonya and Valentin as they lost and found love and themselves.
I liked the linking of 20th century Russian history and classic fairytales into the plot, but the context and narrative sometimes became a bit confusing to me. I enjoyed the main characters of Rosie and Tonya, but I won’t say that the story completely clicked for me.
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This debut novel spans three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the final days of the Soviet Union, with an enduring love story at its core.
It starts with a young girl living happily in Moscow with her sister, father, and eccentric mother, who collects porcelain dolls and tells fairy tales. One summer night changes everything, leaving only the girl and her mother.
A decade later, Rosie, studying at Oxford with an English name and a loving fiancé, seeks to understand and bury her past. When her mother dies, Rosie returns to Russia with her mother’s folklore and a single key. She uncovers a devastating family history from the 1917 Revolution through the siege of Leningrad and Stalin’s purges.
Central to the story is Tonya, a young noblewoman whose love for an idealistic man sparks a sweeping saga. In 1991 London, Rosie works as an assistant to a famous Russian author. Her mother leaves her a key hidden in a porcelain doll, leading Rosie to a map in a drawer in their old Moscow home. This map takes her to a house in Tula Province, linking her quest to Tonya’s 1917 story. Tonya’s journey, beginning with her marriage to a wealthy factory owner and a forbidden pregnancy by a Bolshevik revolutionary, intertwines with Rosie’s search for her family's truth.
The novel switches between Rosie’s 1991 journey and Tonya’s 1917 struggles. While the historical richness and emotional depth shine, the multiple storylines and time periods can be confusing, causing the strong opening to lose momentum. Despite its challenges, I learned a lot. 3 stars.
** I voluntarily reviewed a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.
It starts with a young girl living happily in Moscow with her sister, father, and eccentric mother, who collects porcelain dolls and tells fairy tales. One summer night changes everything, leaving only the girl and her mother.
A decade later, Rosie, studying at Oxford with an English name and a loving fiancé, seeks to understand and bury her past. When her mother dies, Rosie returns to Russia with her mother’s folklore and a single key. She uncovers a devastating family history from the 1917 Revolution through the siege of Leningrad and Stalin’s purges.
Central to the story is Tonya, a young noblewoman whose love for an idealistic man sparks a sweeping saga. In 1991 London, Rosie works as an assistant to a famous Russian author. Her mother leaves her a key hidden in a porcelain doll, leading Rosie to a map in a drawer in their old Moscow home. This map takes her to a house in Tula Province, linking her quest to Tonya’s 1917 story. Tonya’s journey, beginning with her marriage to a wealthy factory owner and a forbidden pregnancy by a Bolshevik revolutionary, intertwines with Rosie’s search for her family's truth.
The novel switches between Rosie’s 1991 journey and Tonya’s 1917 struggles. While the historical richness and emotional depth shine, the multiple storylines and time periods can be confusing, causing the strong opening to lose momentum. Despite its challenges, I learned a lot. 3 stars.
** I voluntarily reviewed a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.
I enjoy historical fiction based on context, facts, and political insights but this was light on history. It’s set over three different time periods, the “modern” time is 1991 where Raisa a young woman who fled from Russia with her mother in the 1970’s to England, decides to go back on a research project when her mother dies to discover her past.
The other timeline is during the Russian revolution where a young Bolshevik falls in love with a woman from the aristocracy and the second past timeline is during Stalin’s reign and the suffering Russians experienced during WW2 when the Germans invaded. There wasn't enough history for me and too romance heavy.
The ending was so disappointing and convoluted with identities being swapped, and people who were supposed to be dead were ALWAYS turning up alive! The title of the book and the meaning behind the dolls was so disappointing and unnecessary. The reveal didn’t even match the character or their motivations! I would avoid this one.
The other timeline is during the Russian revolution where a young Bolshevik falls in love with a woman from the aristocracy and the second past timeline is during Stalin’s reign and the suffering Russians experienced during WW2 when the Germans invaded. There wasn't enough history for me and too romance heavy.
The ending was so disappointing and convoluted with identities being swapped, and people who were supposed to be dead were ALWAYS turning up alive! The title of the book and the meaning behind the dolls was so disappointing and unnecessary. The reveal didn’t even match the character or their motivations! I would avoid this one.