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rpleats's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book. The stories of Rasputin's daughter and the fate of the last Romanovs are ripe for fictionalization, and Harrison's novel starts off strong. The descriptions of Tsarskoe Selo and St. Petersburg had me revisiting the places myself, and Masha's storytelling and the alternating chapters had me hooked. But then things sort of stalled -- the later half of the novel felt a bit confused, and the ending seemed too abrupt.
andileah306's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it, the writing was good and it was a nice spin on the final days of the Romanovs. A little disheartening when you know how many of the characters will die, but overall worth reading.
karenmichele's review against another edition
3.0
Since watching the TV series Peaky Blinders (1920s Birmingham, England), I have become fascinated with the years between the World Wars and what happened worldwide but particularly in England and Russia. I’ve heard the basic history of the Romanovs, but the story is still surrounded by enough mystery to give fiction writers a lot of latitude in the stories they tell. [b:Enchantments|12389460|Enchantments|Kathryn Harrison|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1317334084s/12389460.jpg|16896002] took some characters of the story, Rasputin’s daughter and Alyosha, the young Romanov son with hemophilia and built the novel around them. I enjoyed the sections when Masha reminisced about her father and those that focused on the health of Alyosha, but the overall story was disconnected at some points. I never became emotionally empathetic to the characters. The writing was solid, but I’m going to be seeking out some other historical fiction about the Romanovs and their times to compare.
lizlalettrice's review against another edition
3.0
I don't even want to talk about the fact that I just spent way longer than necessary writing a review for this book only for it not to load....................
kat_lh's review against another edition
3.0
You have to understand this is just very loosely based on history and once understanding that, it's a fun little read. I especially loved the depiction of the Tsarina's depression as an actual cloud following her - her own visible weather system was just such a fun addition to the book. On that alone, I loved the book.
Until the ending and it just totally jumped the shark for me. I could fall in love with an actual cloud of depression but I could not forgive a lion tamer.
Until the ending and it just totally jumped the shark for me. I could fall in love with an actual cloud of depression but I could not forgive a lion tamer.
jenmklug's review against another edition
2.0
I love the idea of this book, but surprisingly, a book about the circus-performing daughter of Rasputin and the end of the Romanovs somehow managed to be pretty boring.
antiauk's review against another edition
3.0
Note: Advance Reader Copy provided by Netgalley.
Enchantments is the story of Rasputin's oldest daughter Masha and how she copes after his death. Although there are vignettes and flashback including Rasputin, and Masha's relationship with him, ultimately it is about her ability to cope with having had a father who was perceived as a madman and great healer both. Masha's own perceptions of her father are included and at times she admits uncomfortable truths about her father's lack of hygiene and sexual proclivities (the latter in far greater detail than you would expect of any daughter). Yet at the same time she includes this information to proclaim that she is her father's daughter, even as she struggles with the fear of having her father's heightened sexual appetites.
Much of the story is told in elaborated stories as they were told to the tsarevich as entertainment. Because of this it is hard determine the facts from the fantasy, but one can easily imagine that the point was to capture the feelings had about having Rasputin for a father and the tsarevich for a friend, only to have one murdered and the other exiled at a time when she was attempting to find her place in the world.
Enchantments is well written and most readers will enjoy Masha as a character and a story teller. Some may be disappointed that there isn't more about Rasputin, especially as an active character, but most will forgive this condition for Masha's charming stories and personality. There is a healthy dose of sexuality, which some may find graphic but was acceptable, if somewhat surprising, to the reviewer.
Enchantments is the story of Rasputin's oldest daughter Masha and how she copes after his death. Although there are vignettes and flashback including Rasputin, and Masha's relationship with him, ultimately it is about her ability to cope with having had a father who was perceived as a madman and great healer both. Masha's own perceptions of her father are included and at times she admits uncomfortable truths about her father's lack of hygiene and sexual proclivities (the latter in far greater detail than you would expect of any daughter). Yet at the same time she includes this information to proclaim that she is her father's daughter, even as she struggles with the fear of having her father's heightened sexual appetites.
Much of the story is told in elaborated stories as they were told to the tsarevich as entertainment. Because of this it is hard determine the facts from the fantasy, but one can easily imagine that the point was to capture the feelings had about having Rasputin for a father and the tsarevich for a friend, only to have one murdered and the other exiled at a time when she was attempting to find her place in the world.
Enchantments is well written and most readers will enjoy Masha as a character and a story teller. Some may be disappointed that there isn't more about Rasputin, especially as an active character, but most will forgive this condition for Masha's charming stories and personality. There is a healthy dose of sexuality, which some may find graphic but was acceptable, if somewhat surprising, to the reviewer.
roulettegirl's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, and sensual, and cruelly violent at times. I'd never given much thought to the Romanovs and Rasputin, past what I learned in school. This book makes me want to learn more.
uncommongrace25's review against another edition
4.0
Set in Romanov Russia after the death of Rasputin. Told from perspective of his daughter who lives with Nicholas/Alexandra and family until their last days. Interesting history and engaging story