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minastacked 's review for:
The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar
by Robert Alexander
I really expected this book to be good, or at least interesting. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed.
Most of the novel is very repetitive. Basically, all we get are endless descriptions of how the Romanovs hid their jewels, how expensive they were, and what good, brilliant people the Emperor and the Empress were. According to the author, they were simply misguided. Having in mind that their rule was marked by extreme poverty and hunger, after such statements I just couldn't take this book seriously.
Still, I would have given it 2 stars had it not been for the ending. The last 20 or so pages include probably the worst plot twist I've ever heard of. It's not just unrealistic - it's stupid and pointless.
Most of the novel is very repetitive. Basically, all we get are endless descriptions of how the Romanovs hid their jewels, how expensive they were, and what good, brilliant people the Emperor and the Empress were. According to the author, they were simply misguided. Having in mind that their rule was marked by extreme poverty and hunger, after such statements I just couldn't take this book seriously.
Still, I would have given it 2 stars had it not been for the ending. The last 20 or so pages include probably the worst plot twist I've ever heard of. It's not just unrealistic - it's stupid and pointless.