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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Didn't love it, didn't hate it...felt really unnecessarily long.
2.5. I might be in the minority that enjoyed the first 400 pages of this book before it completely dropped off and became too elaborate and messy and rushed. I think I would’ve enjoyed the book more if it was purely fantasy, rather than an attempt at rewriting Romanov/Russian history (and I say attempt because it was so wildly historically inaccurate that it completely distracted me and took me out of the story).
Whatever else is taken from you, never lose hope. Even if you see how dark the world can be, choose to believe it could be better.
It hurts because we love him. That's the balance of life, hard as it is to accept. A heart open to joy is a heart vulnerable to sorrow. There's no family without loss, no love without pain.
I loved the book although there were some parts that i didn't like that much. The spice took me off guard i didn't know it was gonna be in the book. Fell in love with the characters especially demian! I saw some people cry reading the book so i was looking forward to it but unfortunately there wasn't anything worth crying over so i was a little bit disappointed lol
It hurts because we love him. That's the balance of life, hard as it is to accept. A heart open to joy is a heart vulnerable to sorrow. There's no family without loss, no love without pain.
I loved the book although there were some parts that i didn't like that much. The spice took me off guard i didn't know it was gonna be in the book. Fell in love with the characters especially demian! I saw some people cry reading the book so i was looking forward to it but unfortunately there wasn't anything worth crying over so i was a little bit disappointed lol
3.5 stars. Not at all what I expected from a Sophie Lark book because I definitely thought this was going to be more romance than fantasy but it was the opposite. What bugged me was that the ending felt rushed, so much of the book was spent building up the history and family drama but it didn't really feel like the plot started until half way through and then it wasn't until the 80% mark that the characters set out to fulfill the plot. It made the ending feel too easy despite the loss.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
i want to preface this by saying i don't really read fantasy anymore. the last one i read was f***th w*ng, and i did not care for it all too much.
the book starts off quite slow after a solid hook of a prologue. anastasia is long and drags on in parts (particularly during anastasia's earlier years and rusya's later geopolitical troubles). i get that it's really more for the reader as world building, but the first-person pov brought me out of it.
speaking of being brought out of the story... spoiler time.what the hell was that sudden time jump back? that was quite honestly so jarring for me that i first believed it was anastasia either being in limbo à la harry potter book 7 or in a deep comatose-ridden dream after being blasted by damien's bombs. i got back on board (a little unwillingly) because i know sophie lark prefaced this book saying she wanted anastasia to have a happy ending (and y'know, it's literal fiction), but goddamn, that curveball came out of fucking nowhere! i'm happy for anastasia that she has most of her family back, but was there no other way for her to get a happy ending without the time jump?
sophie lark does not pull back on killing off beloved characters, i will say. but... is it sick of me to wish the deaths were fleshed out a little more? a little more gruesome? for the weight of the story?
i'd rate the spice of this book to be the mellow, super softcore, romantic written version of a movie scene where they sensually block out the actual action with sheer sheets so they can keep a certain rating. it's a mild spice, and anastasia and damien are simply just not enemies past their cultural backgrounds, so don't look for this to be a good enemies-to-lovers.
the book starts off quite slow after a solid hook of a prologue. anastasia is long and drags on in parts (particularly during anastasia's earlier years and rusya's later geopolitical troubles). i get that it's really more for the reader as world building, but the first-person pov brought me out of it.
speaking of being brought out of the story... spoiler time.
sophie lark does not pull back on killing off beloved characters, i will say. but... is it sick of me to wish the deaths were fleshed out a little more? a little more gruesome? for the weight of the story?
i'd rate the spice of this book to be the mellow, super softcore, romantic written version of a movie scene where they sensually block out the actual action with sheer sheets so they can keep a certain rating. it's a mild spice, and anastasia and damien are simply just not enemies past their cultural backgrounds, so don't look for this to be a good enemies-to-lovers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
Rape mention is very brief during the mine scenes: Anastasia describes female screaming after a couple of guards drag a woman off somewhere and how she's afraid of suffering the same fate/pain of what happened to the woman
wow. I think I found one of my top favorite reads of this year.
i’ve seen all the reviews about how the history isn’t completely factual. I pushed that aside to enjoy the story, and wow. i’m speechless. such a beautiful love story about my favorite princess.
i’ve seen all the reviews about how the history isn’t completely factual. I pushed that aside to enjoy the story, and wow. i’m speechless. such a beautiful love story about my favorite princess.
This story takes place throughout Anastasia life, from early childhood to young adult. She discovers her magic and learns and grows with it. Just as Anastasia did in real life as well as the animation, she faces tragedy but this time around she has an opportunity to go back in time to make it right.
This is a love story between Anya, Damien and Russia.
This is a more darker fantasy retelling. Sophie didn’t hold back on all blood and death.
It took me a minute for the book to really grab hold. I felt like once you got past Anastasia’s childhood and into her teenage years, the story really took off.
simply.shannon
This is a love story between Anya, Damien and Russia.
This is a more darker fantasy retelling. Sophie didn’t hold back on all blood and death.
It took me a minute for the book to really grab hold. I felt like once you got past Anastasia’s childhood and into her teenage years, the story really took off.
simply.shannon
challenging
slow-paced
It was slow… not enjoyable to me. Cool idea for a story but the execution wasn’t it for me.
Whatever you think you're expecting from this book it will continually surprise you!!!
Anastasia and Damiens' love (if thats even a great enough word to encompass their connection) had me swooning, smiling, and weeping while holding my kindle tight to my chest. Sophie has a unique way of displaying relationships in her writing, leaving you at the end of the book wishing a happy ending for (almost - see p.s. below) everyone you've met throughout the story. The imagery and subtle nods to the fox movie brought back memories I have of watching Anastasia as a child.
The illustrations in this is some of Line's (Sophie's artist) BEST work. Just as 7 yr old Stephanie would have died for Anastasias yellow dress in the movie Line(the artist) made me wish for new dresses at 28. I guess I'm getting into cosplay now?
The emotions I had when reading this topped how I felt reading my previously favorite fantasy novels. This may have taken my new #1 spot. I would give this book 10 stars if I could.
p.s. This is a Liza Taneeva hate account iykyk...
***I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book and all my opinions are my own***
Anastasia and Damiens' love (if thats even a great enough word to encompass their connection) had me swooning, smiling, and weeping while holding my kindle tight to my chest. Sophie has a unique way of displaying relationships in her writing, leaving you at the end of the book wishing a happy ending for (almost - see p.s. below) everyone you've met throughout the story. The imagery and subtle nods to the fox movie brought back memories I have of watching Anastasia as a child.
The illustrations in this is some of Line's (Sophie's artist) BEST work. Just as 7 yr old Stephanie would have died for Anastasias yellow dress in the movie Line(the artist) made me wish for new dresses at 28. I guess I'm getting into cosplay now?
The emotions I had when reading this topped how I felt reading my previously favorite fantasy novels. This may have taken my new #1 spot. I would give this book 10 stars if I could.
p.s. This is a Liza Taneeva hate account iykyk...
***I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book and all my opinions are my own***