A review by kamrynkoble
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

sad slow-paced

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

5.0

**Reread 2022 review**

Oh my word, I loved this book. I loved it the first time, but it broke me the second. My crying was ugly, I’ll tell you that. It wasn’t perfect (100 pages of starvation, constantly wanting to throttle Alexander, etc) but I adored it. If you’re ever in the mood for a very long-winded Russian World War II romance, this is a great one.

**Original crazy 2017 review**

Ah, the infamous Bronze Horseman with the rating scandalously above four stars. I don't know how many times I've started my obese copy, and a dear friend even bought me a kindle version so I could finish it once and for all. This is one of those books that transcends rating; I absolutely loathed some characters and parts and it was maddeningly frustrating, and it was also beautiful and enthralling and kept me from wanting to go about daily life. The topic of the Soviet Union during World War II was heavy, and yet highly intriguing. I have a scatter-brained note of thoughts, and we'll walk through it in an attempt to fully discuss this monstrous novel.

This book was unique because all of my feelings about aspects were passionate. What was bad, I loathed. What was good, I adored. As a veracious reader, this is a beloved feeling that only comes once in a great while. The above mentioned friend was constantly getting texts from me. When you recommend a book like this, you're going to receive both furious and elated responses. All the time. I tried to keep my Goodreads updates to a minimum, avoiding spoilers since this one is so popular.

Before we get to the interesting topics of the main characters, let's take a look at the conventions. Simons has a miraculous way of making the mundane and repetitive absolutely riveting. I did not skim like I normally do for huge books like this, and it would quickly make me forget my surroundings. I happened to be a lead in a show while reading it and let me tell you, trying to snatch bits of Bronze Horseman was a very risky habit indeed. On a bit of a tangent, the narration is quite strange. It's third person limited from Tania's point of view most of the time, but flips to Alexander's whenever it's convenient. One reviewer mentioned how the trials of the characters impacted her more because of the length. You truly follow these characters through an entire war; and yet, I don't know if any of them changed.

Let's start with Tania. She opens as a naive little girl eating ice cream at the beginning of the war, somehow sexy in her impractical high-heeled sandals, blonde hair blowing in the wind. She's so sexy that she manages to catch the eye of a full-grown soldier (more in this problematic hero next). Tatia (and yes, each character had forty nicknames, this is Russia!) remained completely innocent and naive (it turned into a bit of a fetish, let's be honest), but she was aware of it. Tatia is what we call a cinnamon roll, she's absolutely perfect and soft and sweet and must be protected at all costs. This is great. But as a reader, it was exhausting to see her always take the high road. She was always selfless. She never faltered. No matter how endearing she was, it didn't make her real. No matter how good she was, everyone around her was always bad, or at least failed in a catastrophic way. I desired for her to be more of a human than an archetype for Prevailing Goodness.

Alright. Alexander. Anthony Alexander Barrington. Shura. Where do I even begin with this bastard? He was much more human than his love interest, and oh, did I go through absolute hatred for this man. If you need a refresher, here's how the Dasha (Tania's sister)-Tatiana-Alex love triangle goes:

Tania: My handsome soldier, I love you so much! You walk me home each day, it must be true devotion!

Alex: Oh, I am crazy for you. Your innocence drives me absolutely mad. There is this one problem though - I went on a few "dates" with your sister at some dingy bars. But I can't break up with her.

Tania: You are so right. You simply cannot break her heart.

Alex: I have a plan. I am going to become engaged to your sister and sleep alone in the bed you two share with her, but it's all for show. I really love you. We'll sneak off and steal kisses in the hallway. Sound good? Just don't be offended when I ignore you and marry your sister.

Need I say more? This drove me absolutely batty, and it made me lose so much respect for Alexander. When Tatiana finally screamed at him, it was a moment of triumph. I was also alarmingly excited when Dasha and Dima finally died (good riddance, they were terrible. I tried so hard not to hate them). I don't care what Alex has gone through, he needs to figure life out because this is not how you handle women you "love."

So many people call this a love story. It's more of a "making love" story to me. For an entire month, Tania and Shura do nothing but bone in a cabin. They have so much sex it's a little ridiculous. Reviews please be warned - this was a little scandalous to read in public. My screen always had to be quite dark. If you don't like reading about nipple sucking and "rifles," try a calmer novel.

Yes, returning to Alex's "rifle." I was quite at war with this young man the entire eight hundred pages he was in Tania's life. He was down-right abusive multiple times to her and other people. It breaks my heart that Tatiana was so blind to it. The "he's a jerk to everyone else but me" is a dangerous black hole. I don't think this book was condoning his behavior, I don't think it calls for feminist rants. But my heart ached for Tania's blindness.

Why do I give it a five star, you ask, when I have so many bones to pick with these people? It made me feel something. A lot of things, really. Simons truly did her job, and I am certainly bringing the second on my vacation. Well done.