Reviews

Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander

sarah_bettina's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dulcey's review against another edition

Sept 08

asphaltjunkie's review against another edition

1.0

Easily one of the worst books I've ever read, Alexander's take on Rasputin is drawn nearly exclusively from the 500 pages of testimony given by those closest to him to the Thirteenth Section in the months after his murder. The author's near abandonment of the revolution, despite it being a major player in the lives of all characters involved is a disappointment, not to mention that none of his characters show themselves in any sort of multi-dimentional way. The "shock" at the end is embarassingly contrived and the narrative overly simple. Overall, the book is miserably plebian, its pages better served as a table leveler or fire kindling. For a book worth reading, read its source material in Edvard Radzinsky's 'The Rasputin Files.'

cmars83's review against another edition

3.0

My biggest annoyance with this book is that the cover displays what is very obviously a photo, not of Maria Rasputin, but rather the Tsar's second daughter, Tatiana Nikolaevna. It may be totally superficial, but it bugged me nonetheless.

This book was enjoyable enough and really hooked me towards the end. I don't know enough about the Rasputin family to gauge how much is true and how much was fictionalized, but it definitely makes me want to know more. If you are looking at this book as an in-depth portrayal of Maria's life and her relationship with her father, this book doesn't go into that too much, but is rather an entertaining work of fiction that outlines the last days of Rasputin through the eyes of his daughter as she is coming of age. Not riveting, but definitely enjoyable.

writer09's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

zezee's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

grangermalfoys's review against another edition

2.0

This book was difficult to get through, it was very different from what I expected. I spent up until the last 10 pages abhorring Rasputin, and the entire novel detesting his daughter who was incredibly indecisive, going from one side to another. But as the novel came to a close and the reader observes Rasputin's death, you cant help but feel pity. overall an ok book, I don't see myself reading it again but as someone who is fascinted by history, and in particular Russian history, it's an interesting read.

katherine_edwards1106's review against another edition

3.0

Simple but sweet read.

berad89's review against another edition

2.0

Rasputin's Daughter is the story of Rasputin's eldest daughter Maria as she struggles with the realization of who and what her father truly is. You see a little girl turn into a woman in the week before the horribly executed assassination of her father, which she witnesses.

This book is no where near as good as The Kitchen Boy or The Romanov Bride. The characters are hard to believe and their actions don't really make sense. If you are interested in this time period, however, it is an okay read for it's historical value.

Read it or don't, not really missing much, but nor is it terrible.

kriska_82's review against another edition

5.0

Another great book, with a different look at Rasputin. Very sad how his daughter is manipulated, but again an interesting read about someone we're all fascinated with.