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silverscripts's Reviews (131)
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I love the story of Anastasia, so I was excited to get my hands on a retelling!
The main thing that lowered my rating to 4 stars was that no one recognized Anna as Anastasia – this felt rather unrealistic to me. I'm not an expert on how well known the royal family was at the time, but surely SOMEONE would have known? I understand that a lot of the lower class might not know what she looked like and wouldn't have cared to learn, but they established that at least postcards existed with the entire royal family. Again, I suppose the Czech army had reason not to recognize her, but none of the White officers did? You don't recognize the royal family you're fighting for? Yurovsky was so worried Anna would tell her story, but if no one knows what she looks like, why would anyone believe she was telling the truth about who she was?
Kind of going off of that, for the first 80 pages or so, you aren't sure if Anna really is Anastasia or if this retelling just made her a rich merchant's daughter. The reveal came halfway through a chapter in the middle of Anna's inner monalogue. I feel like if you're going to skirt around that fact, then it should have been a bigger reveal.
I also didn't feel like the story was over when the book ended. Did they make it to safety? Was Anna's story told? I was left wanting more.
Nitpicking aside, I thought it was well written and a good read! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cover was gorgeous, the characters were fun, and I'd read gladly read another book by the author.
The main thing that lowered my rating to 4 stars was that no one recognized Anna as Anastasia – this felt rather unrealistic to me. I'm not an expert on how well known the royal family was at the time, but surely SOMEONE would have known? I understand that a lot of the lower class might not know what she looked like and wouldn't have cared to learn, but they established that at least postcards existed with the entire royal family. Again, I suppose the Czech army had reason not to recognize her, but none of the White officers did? You don't recognize the royal family you're fighting for? Yurovsky was so worried Anna would tell her story, but if no one knows what she looks like, why would anyone believe she was telling the truth about who she was?
Kind of going off of that, for the first 80 pages or so, you aren't sure if Anna really is Anastasia or if this retelling just made her a rich merchant's daughter. The reveal came halfway through a chapter in the middle of Anna's inner monalogue. I feel like if you're going to skirt around that fact, then it should have been a bigger reveal.
I also didn't feel like the story was over when the book ended. Did they make it to safety? Was Anna's story told? I was left wanting more.
Nitpicking aside, I thought it was well written and a good read! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cover was gorgeous, the characters were fun, and I'd read gladly read another book by the author.
I have never in my life felt such intense whiplash from a series. I think I'd rate the first book a 2, but this one is genuinely a 5 star read. I very rarely rate things as 5 stars, but it's been a long time since I couldn't put a book down and read it at any possible free moment I had.
a girl tries to break up a fight and gets accidentally punched by her best friend.... and then everyone, including her, acts like he's a monster and purposely punched her? it dragged for so long.
simply just hyperfixating on this entire fandom right now. if you need me, I'll be on tumblr and ao3