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zsometimesreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: War and Gun violence
Minor: Blood
britneyfan19's review against another edition
I really tried to enjoy this but I just couldn’t get into it. I will always love the Anastasia movie.
oliviawrisinger's review
5.0
OH MY GOD!!!
I read this book a few months ago. I started this around 7:45 pm (right before dinner). I missed Dinner and stayed up all night to finish. I didn't notice until I put the book down at 3 am. It was so good!
I read this book a few months ago. I started this around 7:45 pm (right before dinner). I missed Dinner and stayed up all night to finish. I didn't notice until I put the book down at 3 am. It was so good!
jnishi's review
5.0
Wonderful story! Seamlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy without doing a disservice to either. Written from Anastasia's point of view, Brandes writes with so much hope, cheek, and emotion she had me smiling and sobbing. This was a visceral read for me. I love how she didn't overwhelm the story with romance but gave promises of romance, subtle hints, like a real love story during that time would look like. One of the best Romonav retelling I've read. Just great.
natalerrrr's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
itslorei's review
1.0
DNF
The first 100 pages were okay but after that the book bored me. Just too bad I was really excited for this book
The first 100 pages were okay but after that the book bored me. Just too bad I was really excited for this book
smart_girls_love_trashy_books's review against another edition
4.0
~POTENTIAL SPOILERS~
Well, it's been a good long while since I've really seen a book focusing on the Romanovs in some way so I've been craving some and when this book was announced I couldn't wait to finally get my hands on it. It was unique-premise wise from other Romanov stories, even ones where Anastasia survives and that alone was amazing. This whole book was amazing and honestly tailor-made for me. However, as much as I'd love to keep singing its praises and recommend it to like everyone I knew, it was still missing that special something that would compel me to give it five whole stars.
First of all though, the good stuff, as there really are quite a lot. I really loved the magic vibe and the idea of Anastasia being a spell-master taught by Rasputin none the less! It really reminded me of a book I read years ago called Tsarina which was similar where the Romanov children had powerful abilities though the main character of that was an original one the author made up. It's just a creative idea I really love seeing in stories like these since it adds to the whimsy and elegance of Imperial Russia.
I was also surprised this story basically started right in the middle of the action, as in unlike other stories about Anastasia where they start out with her still as a princess, this one opened up with her and her family already imprisoned and suffering from squalor. It did not mince words here and the author's research really shines in this part. On that note, this is likely one of my most favourite Anastasia portrayals ever because she's absolutely Anastasia; her mischievous nature yet kind heart but also her voile emotions. The rest of the family gets their own moments too, but the one who gets the most time is Alexei who is perfectly portrayed as a strong wise boy who cares more about the common people than being a ruler.
Plus it really does straight-up show the family being executed, like I was genuinely shocked by that. I did like how in spite of everything Alexei still survived and got to join the army, it was very fitting plus I've never seen a story like this where Alexei survives, always either Anastasia or sometimes one of her sisters but never him so it was a nice change of pace. I also liked how even though Anastasia is still a typical YA protagonist the author was not unafraid to make her 'ugly' by having her shave her head, a fact true to life but still.
However, I feel like the biggest issue is just simply the fact I thought there'd be a lot more to this story. Everything just seemed to resolve super quickly so the tension ends too soon and the huge journey driving the plot is pretty much over-and-done with. I thought there'd be more places to go or more people to fight or even more struggles to overcome but basically everything you think will happen does and that's that. I loved Alexei and Anastasia in this but their personalities were very stagnant. To be fair, it wasn't that sort of story, but I still felt like something should've changed with them, you know? Especially given everything that happens to them. Anastasia learns to forgive which leads to a moment with the villain I really liked but otherwise she remains the same.
Zash I felt could've been a really interesting character too but despite his development I also felt like he remained more one-note. You never really got the sense he'd ever truly betray Anastasia or whatnot because he's not written to be that complex. I liked him but I feel there could've been way more to him than just 'I did what I had to' I liked him and Anastasia bonding over being spell-masters but otherwise there was too little there.
I praised the historical details but I also felt like that too was either too much or too little at the same time. The story opens up right in the middle of their imprisonment so people who don't know very much about the family or the history of Tzar Nicholas II's rule will likely be confused by what the prior context is or the cultural mishaps leading them to that position, while other people like myself who know a bunch about the Romanovs will feel bogged down by the repeating of basic tidbits and wish there could be more light shed on lesser-known incidences rarely talked about while they were imprisoned. I liked the attention to detail but I've seen this song and dance before.
On that note, I did also really like the magic in it and the few times we get more hints of what it can do but I still never felt like we got the whole scope of it. How'd it come to be, how did the Russians discover it? What are its true limits? The book mentions Karl Fabergé is another spellmaster which I appreciated but that too just raises more questions about how it works and who gets it
Overall, a book with very good ideas I rarely if ever see in stories like these with interesting twists and turns that kept me engaged as well as good grasps of the royal family's personalities, however it amounts to a pretty surface-level historical fantasy with everything being solved too quickly and very little explained in terms of the world. However the good stuff here is super good so I can rate it this high in good faith, but no higher.
Also, did you really think I'd close out a review like this without some sort of tie back to 1997's animated Anastasia! You fool!
Well, it's been a good long while since I've really seen a book focusing on the Romanovs in some way so I've been craving some and when this book was announced I couldn't wait to finally get my hands on it. It was unique-premise wise from other Romanov stories, even ones where Anastasia survives and that alone was amazing. This whole book was amazing and honestly tailor-made for me. However, as much as I'd love to keep singing its praises and recommend it to like everyone I knew, it was still missing that special something that would compel me to give it five whole stars.
First of all though, the good stuff, as there really are quite a lot. I really loved the magic vibe and the idea of Anastasia being a spell-master taught by Rasputin none the less! It really reminded me of a book I read years ago called Tsarina which was similar where the Romanov children had powerful abilities though the main character of that was an original one the author made up. It's just a creative idea I really love seeing in stories like these since it adds to the whimsy and elegance of Imperial Russia.
I was also surprised this story basically started right in the middle of the action, as in unlike other stories about Anastasia where they start out with her still as a princess, this one opened up with her and her family already imprisoned and suffering from squalor. It did not mince words here and the author's research really shines in this part. On that note, this is likely one of my most favourite Anastasia portrayals ever because she's absolutely Anastasia; her mischievous nature yet kind heart but also her voile emotions. The rest of the family gets their own moments too, but the one who gets the most time is Alexei who is perfectly portrayed as a strong wise boy who cares more about the common people than being a ruler.
Plus it really does straight-up show the family being executed, like I was genuinely shocked by that. I did like how in spite of everything Alexei still survived and got to join the army, it was very fitting plus I've never seen a story like this where Alexei survives, always either Anastasia or sometimes one of her sisters but never him so it was a nice change of pace. I also liked how even though Anastasia is still a typical YA protagonist the author was not unafraid to make her 'ugly' by having her shave her head, a fact true to life but still.
However, I feel like the biggest issue is just simply the fact I thought there'd be a lot more to this story. Everything just seemed to resolve super quickly so the tension ends too soon and the huge journey driving the plot is pretty much over-and-done with. I thought there'd be more places to go or more people to fight or even more struggles to overcome but basically everything you think will happen does and that's that. I loved Alexei and Anastasia in this but their personalities were very stagnant. To be fair, it wasn't that sort of story, but I still felt like something should've changed with them, you know? Especially given everything that happens to them. Anastasia learns to forgive which leads to a moment with the villain I really liked but otherwise she remains the same.
Zash I felt could've been a really interesting character too but despite his development I also felt like he remained more one-note. You never really got the sense he'd ever truly betray Anastasia or whatnot because he's not written to be that complex. I liked him but I feel there could've been way more to him than just 'I did what I had to' I liked him and Anastasia bonding over being spell-masters but otherwise there was too little there.
I praised the historical details but I also felt like that too was either too much or too little at the same time. The story opens up right in the middle of their imprisonment so people who don't know very much about the family or the history of Tzar Nicholas II's rule will likely be confused by what the prior context is or the cultural mishaps leading them to that position, while other people like myself who know a bunch about the Romanovs will feel bogged down by the repeating of basic tidbits and wish there could be more light shed on lesser-known incidences rarely talked about while they were imprisoned. I liked the attention to detail but I've seen this song and dance before.
On that note, I did also really like the magic in it and the few times we get more hints of what it can do but I still never felt like we got the whole scope of it. How'd it come to be, how did the Russians discover it? What are its true limits? The book mentions Karl Fabergé is another spellmaster which I appreciated but that too just raises more questions about how it works and who gets it
Overall, a book with very good ideas I rarely if ever see in stories like these with interesting twists and turns that kept me engaged as well as good grasps of the royal family's personalities, however it amounts to a pretty surface-level historical fantasy with everything being solved too quickly and very little explained in terms of the world. However the good stuff here is super good so I can rate it this high in good faith, but no higher.
Also, did you really think I'd close out a review like this without some sort of tie back to 1997's animated Anastasia! You fool!
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
4.0
OMG. What a pleasant surprise. I don’t love retellings because they just never seem to live up to the original story, but this book is beautiful start to finish.
It provides insight into the characters mindsets in historical situations we’re familiar with and takes us on a new adventure. Highly recommend this read.
It provides insight into the characters mindsets in historical situations we’re familiar with and takes us on a new adventure. Highly recommend this read.
rebekah_albright's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
theseasoul's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
|| 2.5 ⭐️ ||
Can’t say I was the biggest fan. The setting and context of the story wasn’t particularly intriguing to me, and the romances seemed to blossom way too fast. The plot was engaging enough to keep me reading till the end, but there were a couple instances where I was tempted to drop it. Not really for me.