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annashiv's review
5.0
I really loved this book. The writing was all around excellent except for a little excessive description of Alexie's eyes at the beginning. I thought the characters were well developed and that the relationships were very naturally formed. I loved every little twist and turn in the story and thought it was very well done. I really came to learn more about Russia, their revolution, and I thought there was a lot of good commentary on it as well about war and the complexities inside it. It was more than just a story and that's what made it really excellent. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great fun read that carries a little more weight than the usual fun read.
mbenzz's review
DNF at 58%
Well, this was a disappointment. I never took to Natasha, the main character, and I could see from a mile away where the plot was headed. I read some reviews containing mild spoilers and saw that I was correct in my predictions of how this would end.
The relationship between Natasha and Alexei never felt real. They're only seen together in the first chapter as a way to introduce and set the stage for the Constellation Egg. Natasha is a rather spoiled and arrogant twit who apparently has zero concern for her supposed 'friend' Emilia's well being as she blindly traipses all over Russia thinking she can just grab the egg from the people who stole it and deliver it to the Romanov's, making her a hero of Russia. I was not the least bit convinced that Natasha actually loved Alexei for Alexei and not because she would one day marry him and become the Tsarina of Russia. I was TOLD many times that she loved him, but I never actually FELT it was true. Natasha comes across as quite shallow.
Oh, and speaking of Emilia...how is she a Countess when her father and brother are alive? I assume her mother is dead, but that wouldn't make HER the Countess then. What if her father were to remarry? I'll admit that I know next to nothing about Russian nobility and how it works, but it seemed strange and was never explained (at least not in the 58% I read).
Anyway, the gist of this review is, I didn't like it and I wouldn't recommend it. I was expecting something more in the Historical Fiction realm and instead got something in the YA/teen angst and stupidity realm. Not what I was looking for.
Well, this was a disappointment. I never took to Natasha, the main character, and I could see from a mile away where the plot was headed. I read some reviews containing mild spoilers and saw that I was correct in my predictions of how this would end.
The relationship between Natasha and Alexei never felt real. They're only seen together in the first chapter as a way to introduce and set the stage for the Constellation Egg. Natasha is a rather spoiled and arrogant twit who apparently has zero concern for her supposed 'friend' Emilia's well being as she blindly traipses all over Russia thinking she can just grab the egg from the people who stole it and deliver it to the Romanov's, making her a hero of Russia. I was not the least bit convinced that Natasha actually loved Alexei for Alexei and not because she would one day marry him and become the Tsarina of Russia. I was TOLD many times that she loved him, but I never actually FELT it was true. Natasha comes across as quite shallow.
Oh, and speaking of Emilia...how is she a Countess when her father and brother are alive? I assume her mother is dead, but that wouldn't make HER the Countess then. What if her father were to remarry? I'll admit that I know next to nothing about Russian nobility and how it works, but it seemed strange and was never explained (at least not in the 58% I read).
Anyway, the gist of this review is, I didn't like it and I wouldn't recommend it. I was expecting something more in the Historical Fiction realm and instead got something in the YA/teen angst and stupidity realm. Not what I was looking for.
alicebme's review
2.0
Quick and easy read, but I think it's a little too Disney for my tastes. I suppose it could be sort of believable as how teens in the nobility in Russia felt at that point, but it just seemed silly through my viewing lense.
lielos99's review
5.0
Wow. Just...yeah. So good and historically accurate for the most part (what with there being a magical egg and all) but really enjoyed this story
milktoast's review
3.0
I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. Russia! Magic! Sad childhood love & forbidden love with The Enemy! Not to mention, I adore the author's other books!
And on many fronts, it does deliver. It's beautiful and breathtaking and takes you from the dizzying heights of royalty down to the stark reality of poverty, and then races you ahead in well paced adventure, only to slow down at the right places. It's a wonderfully paced book, except for the part I'm about to talk about later. I also loved her unique take on Rasputin.
The only real problem I had with the book, and why it didn't work for me, was that it required you to buy into a relationship that I desperately wanted to (oh man it hits so many of my tropes), but couldn't. ...I think maybe the time frame forces it to happen in a manner that was rushed and confusing to me. It wasn't that I didn't believe it would happen. I did, but the writing didn't convince me, I guess. I wanted more on so many fronts, more between them, more with the commnity of mystics she had built up, just more. I think that's a good thing in some ways, to leave me feeling like I want more. In others, it's a detriment though.
And on many fronts, it does deliver. It's beautiful and breathtaking and takes you from the dizzying heights of royalty down to the stark reality of poverty, and then races you ahead in well paced adventure, only to slow down at the right places. It's a wonderfully paced book, except for the part I'm about to talk about later. I also loved her unique take on Rasputin.
The only real problem I had with the book, and why it didn't work for me, was that it required you to buy into a relationship that I desperately wanted to (oh man it hits so many of my tropes), but couldn't. ...I think maybe the time frame forces it to happen in a manner that was rushed and confusing to me. It wasn't that I didn't believe it would happen. I did, but the writing didn't convince me, I guess. I wanted more on so many fronts, more between them, more with the commnity of mystics she had built up, just more. I think that's a good thing in some ways, to leave me feeling like I want more. In others, it's a detriment though.
deedeethebumblebee's review
4.0
Okay, full review!
This was...good! It was a unique and interesting story with a great setting. I love historical fiction and I had never read anything quite like this.
Some things that I really liked were the characters; I loved Alexi in the beginning and I wish we could've seen more of him and Natalya's life. They were a lovely couple. I also loved that once Natalya found she loved Leo, she didn't completely forget Alexi. There was no love triangle shit (I literally can't stand that now. It's caused me to avoid books, no lie.), she knew she would always love him. That was SO refreshing compared to most YA. Leo was a good character, too. For a YA love interest, he wasn't too rude, too sweet, too bad-boy, too anything. He was a very well-rounded out character. I liked seeing Natalya grow throughout the book as she was whisked away from her normal life.
This book wasn't anything super special, but unique and interesting. I can't say it's an all time favorite, but it was well-written and captivating and enjoyable. I'd love to read something else from this author.
This was...good! It was a unique and interesting story with a great setting. I love historical fiction and I had never read anything quite like this.
Some things that I really liked were the characters; I loved Alexi in the beginning and I wish we could've seen more of him and Natalya's life. They were a lovely couple. I also loved that once Natalya found she loved Leo, she didn't completely forget Alexi. There was no love triangle shit (I literally can't stand that now. It's caused me to avoid books, no lie.), she knew she would always love him. That was SO refreshing compared to most YA. Leo was a good character, too. For a YA love interest, he wasn't too rude, too sweet, too bad-boy, too anything. He was a very well-rounded out character. I liked seeing Natalya grow throughout the book as she was whisked away from her normal life.
This book wasn't anything super special, but unique and interesting. I can't say it's an all time favorite, but it was well-written and captivating and enjoyable. I'd love to read something else from this author.
seeinghowitgoes's review
2.0
A retelling of the Romanov family from the eyes of a girl who loved them and the Russia they stood for. It's hard to relate to Natalya, that's probably intentional really. She's a girl who has only really known luxury in her life, she's the secret of of Alexei the heir to the Romanov family.
The revolution happens and we're suddenly following their tale of hope and survival, with a magical faberge egg thrown in for good measure. There's a lot of talk about love, more patriotism than you can throw a stick at, and strangely considering the historical context, a somewhat happy (if sappy) ending.
The revolution happens and we're suddenly following their tale of hope and survival, with a magical faberge egg thrown in for good measure. There's a lot of talk about love, more patriotism than you can throw a stick at, and strangely considering the historical context, a somewhat happy (if sappy) ending.