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A review by sarahc1215
The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander
3.0
Although I've been known to read historical fiction every now and then (or all the time, but whatever), it's typically centered around the Plantegenets and the Tudor dynasties. Robert Alexander's Romanov Bride, a quasi-historical look into the Russian Revolution, was a change of pace for me. The book weaves together the story of the Grand Duchess Elisabeth "Ella" Fyodorovna, the older sister of Tsarina Alexandra, and a fictional revolutionary named Pavel.
Hoping to escape a life of abject poverty, Pavel and his pregnant wife join a large group of unarmed protesters demanding reform. Pavel's wife is killed when Imperial forces open fire during what will later be known as the Bloody Sunday massacre. To avenge her death, Pavel devotes his life to the revolution and vows to aid in the elimination of the Romanov line.
Pavel and his comrades permanently alter the course of Pavel's wife when they assassinate her husband, the Grand Duke. Although he was a cold husband, Ella was devoted to him and grief-stricken at his death. She opens a women's monastery that serves as a hospital and orphanage to many of Russia's suffering people. The lives of Ella and Pavel crash into one another at the book's shocking and touching conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Many of the comments mention the overly simplistic writing style, and I agree, although I found the story compelling enough to not be too frustrated by this. When possible, Ella's story was illustrated by actual letters, diary entries and historical facts, which strengthened the character. Unfortunately, Pavel's story, being fictional, did not have that similar weight. However, I found his character more intriguing. Whether or not I agreed with her, Ella had very clear convictions in regards to what was right and what was wrong. She believed in God and the God-given rights and duties of the Tsar, and she likened the Russian revolutionaries to poorly guided children. She never lacked confidence that what she was doing was the right thing.
Pavel, on the other hand, had more of a struggle. Although embarking on a life of violence, he frequently suffers from shadows of doubt, and is stricken by significant internal conflict at the book's conclusion. His crimes are horrific, but he has an underlying moral code. I'm not sure if I'll read another of Alexander's books, but I look forward to reading more about the ill-fated Romanovs.
Hoping to escape a life of abject poverty, Pavel and his pregnant wife join a large group of unarmed protesters demanding reform. Pavel's wife is killed when Imperial forces open fire during what will later be known as the Bloody Sunday massacre. To avenge her death, Pavel devotes his life to the revolution and vows to aid in the elimination of the Romanov line.
Pavel and his comrades permanently alter the course of Pavel's wife when they assassinate her husband, the Grand Duke. Although he was a cold husband, Ella was devoted to him and grief-stricken at his death. She opens a women's monastery that serves as a hospital and orphanage to many of Russia's suffering people. The lives of Ella and Pavel crash into one another at the book's shocking and touching conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Many of the comments mention the overly simplistic writing style, and I agree, although I found the story compelling enough to not be too frustrated by this. When possible, Ella's story was illustrated by actual letters, diary entries and historical facts, which strengthened the character. Unfortunately, Pavel's story, being fictional, did not have that similar weight. However, I found his character more intriguing. Whether or not I agreed with her, Ella had very clear convictions in regards to what was right and what was wrong. She believed in God and the God-given rights and duties of the Tsar, and she likened the Russian revolutionaries to poorly guided children. She never lacked confidence that what she was doing was the right thing.
Pavel, on the other hand, had more of a struggle. Although embarking on a life of violence, he frequently suffers from shadows of doubt, and is stricken by significant internal conflict at the book's conclusion. His crimes are horrific, but he has an underlying moral code. I'm not sure if I'll read another of Alexander's books, but I look forward to reading more about the ill-fated Romanovs.