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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Anastasia was one of my favorite movies growing up. The real story of the Romanovs is just as disturbing and intriguing.
I loved that this was a fantasy retelling. I liked that Anastasia had power, and that she was able to change her fate. Sophie Lark also did a great job of building this world and the characters. I didn’t know much of Russian history, but Lark made it easy to comprehend the different political and cultural factions versus the royal family. I appreciated how much time was taken to sketch these characters, their personalities, motivations, and relationships with each other. It made it all the more horrible when certain plot lines echoed the film version.
I do wish we had had more time in seeing Anastasia and Damien interacting while growing up, but each time that we did see them together was magnetic. They didn’t try to deny their feelings, but they also didn’t shy away from trying to change each other’s minds on ideas of government, family, and society. They grew together in the best way possible, and not at the expense of their beliefs.
Honestly, I want to give 5 stars alone to Artemis.
Beautiful prose, thoughtful world-building, consuming romance - all of my favorite qualities in a book.
Absolutely loved this.
I loved that this was a fantasy retelling. I liked that Anastasia had power, and that she was able to change her fate. Sophie Lark also did a great job of building this world and the characters. I didn’t know much of Russian history, but Lark made it easy to comprehend the different political and cultural factions versus the royal family. I appreciated how much time was taken to sketch these characters, their personalities, motivations, and relationships with each other. It made it all the more horrible when certain plot lines echoed the film version.
I do wish we had had more time in seeing Anastasia and Damien interacting while growing up, but each time that we did see them together was magnetic. They didn’t try to deny their feelings, but they also didn’t shy away from trying to change each other’s minds on ideas of government, family, and society. They grew together in the best way possible, and not at the expense of their beliefs.
Honestly, I want to give 5 stars alone to Artemis.
Beautiful prose, thoughtful world-building, consuming romance - all of my favorite qualities in a book.
Absolutely loved this.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
This book was a weird mix of a lot of ideas executed somewhat well, but I also wanted to DNF it about halfway through the book. By the time I got to the end and happy ending, I was just kind of over it and didn’t feel joy with the main character, I was just glad it was over. In fact, the happy surprise didn’t even feel happy to me. It just felt like “okay? After feeling all of this pain with the main character, what am I supposed to do with this…”
It was still good enough and a fun concept that I would recommended it to the right audience, but I would not recommend to most people.
It was still good enough and a fun concept that I would recommended it to the right audience, but I would not recommend to most people.
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ok wow. I didn’t read the synopsis before starting and all I had in my mind was the animation so I didn’t really know what to expect going in.
First, this book was LONG and felt long because it’s not action packed. It starts off with Anastasia as a child and basically follows her day to day life up to when she’s an adult. BUT all of that is necessary to make the last 30% as impactful as it was. I don’t think I would’ve felt as many emotions as I did in the end if I didn’t live with her through the beginning.
This is a bold retelling and I’ll think back on it often. It’s perfect for winter when you’re in the mood for something slower paced and melancholy.
First, this book was LONG and felt long because it’s not action packed. It starts off with Anastasia as a child and basically follows her day to day life up to when she’s an adult. BUT all of that is necessary to make the last 30% as impactful as it was. I don’t think I would’ve felt as many emotions as I did in the end if I didn’t live with her through the beginning.
This is a bold retelling and I’ll think back on it often. It’s perfect for winter when you’re in the mood for something slower paced and melancholy.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
There was so much to this story. Politics, family dynamics, more politics, royal expectations, love, loss, war, hope, and more love. My thoughts are everywhere after finishing it. So many people hoping and fighting for the same outcome. Land, freedom, power, love, and peace... and it all comes down to who's willing to bleed and sacrifice the most. I loved the adventure Sophie took us on and the ending was perfect.
I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters. I appreciate how the author started the book when Anastasia was a child, it really showed her growth throughout the story. My only negative is that I thought the book was too long and could have been cut quite a bit.
Spoiler:
I also kind of felt like the ending was a bit cheesy with almost everyone actually living. I think it would have been more impactful for her to lose her family and find a new found family but then I guess she would have lost Damian as well.
Very happy none of the pets died
Spoiler:
Very happy none of the pets died
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a good reimagining of Anastasia. I enjoyed that Anya got a bit of a happy tale that seemed more realistic than other imaginings.
One complaint it was slow read with so much written into it. There were things that could have been left out that made the book drag a bit.
I enjoyed the magic in this retelling. Also the aspect of fate/destiny.
One complaint it was slow read with so much written into it. There were things that could have been left out that made the book drag a bit.
I enjoyed the magic in this retelling. Also the aspect of fate/destiny.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
I absolutely love this book.
BORING, boring, boring boring………..
Horse girls beware your worst nightmare is in this book..
650 fucking pages for maybe 3 spicy scenes and the very last fucking one to be described way too much to riding a horse with the MMC SAYING “do you think you horse can give you a better ride than me”
Horse girls beware your worst nightmare is in this book..
650 fucking pages for maybe 3 spicy scenes and the very last fucking one to be described way too much to riding a horse with the MMC SAYING “do you think you horse can give you a better ride than me”