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bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
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It’s not just the British royal family that captures my interest. I also have a passing interest in Russian History and the Russian Revolution. So I was happy to pick up the historical fiction novel The Fabergé Secret from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The book’s release date is January 5, 2021.
From the publisher: “St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can’t forget what he’s seen. Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar’s regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.”
First, I appreciated the fact that the author explained what Russian or Jewish words or phrases meant. Seriously, that’s a big deal to me. So often I read books where another language is sprinkled in and there’s no translation, so I’m left to try and figure out what the phrases meant.
I immediately connected with Prince Dimitri, even though his life is so unlike my own. In a loveless marriage to the Imperial Court’s top gossip, they live in a world of opulence and discreet affairs. Dimitri is also Tsar Nicholas’ closest friend. Unlike most of the aristocracy, Prince Dimitri has a job as an architect. It is my understanding that the author is, too, and that is made clear by the detailed descriptions of structures Dimitri is working on.
Dimitri is still a royalist until he meets a young woman doctor, Katya, and witnesses the after effects of a pogrom where he sees Jewish people brutally beaten and killed, including young children. He begins to doubt Tsar Nicholas’ handling of the situation, and soon, the running of the country.
Katya is just the antidote Dimitri needs from his loveless marriage and meaningless affairs. He finds his soul mate, despite their different stations in life. Katya opens his eyes even further to the true poverty of the peasants in Russia, not just the splendor of the ruling class. Soon, the two start a discreet relationship and Dimitri attends meetings where talk of a non-violent, peaceful revolution against the Tsar is discussed. Dimitri mainly stays quiet at these meetings, but he’s always listening, and thinks he could slowly convince the Tsar that a constitutional monarchy is what the country needs.
The persecution of the Jews is described and the Tsar’s obvious hate for the people he thinks killed his grandfather with a bomb comes through. There are repeated scenes of the Russian army attacking the non-provoking Jews. Dimitri and Katya witness this and become even more committed to the cause of peaceful revolution. Dimitri’s attempts to convince the Tsar of loosening restrictions against the Jews or giving the peasants more freedoms go nowhere. Tsar Nicholas is obstinate on those two subjects.
So, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with Faberge. The Tsar’s household is filled with spies, who pass notes to each other in code by placing notes inside the famous Faberge eggs in the display room in the palace. The reader might be surprised to find out who or who isn’t a revolutionary spy.
I wasn’t sure how the book was going to end up, either with Dimitri being arrested and executed for treason, going into hiding and continuing his revolutionary aspirations in Russia, or escaping the country. The Fabergé Secret (Amazon) was a quick read, and had a satisfying conclusion. The only thing I wished for this ARC, as I wish all historical fiction to do, is have an Afterword, explaining what exactly was fact and what was the imagination of the author. I have only done a little reading about the Tsar and his family, so I do not know enough of Russia’s backstory to
It’s not just the British royal family that captures my interest. I also have a passing interest in Russian History and the Russian Revolution. So I was happy to pick up the historical fiction novel The Fabergé Secret from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The book’s release date is January 5, 2021.
From the publisher: “St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can’t forget what he’s seen. Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar’s regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.”
First, I appreciated the fact that the author explained what Russian or Jewish words or phrases meant. Seriously, that’s a big deal to me. So often I read books where another language is sprinkled in and there’s no translation, so I’m left to try and figure out what the phrases meant.
I immediately connected with Prince Dimitri, even though his life is so unlike my own. In a loveless marriage to the Imperial Court’s top gossip, they live in a world of opulence and discreet affairs. Dimitri is also Tsar Nicholas’ closest friend. Unlike most of the aristocracy, Prince Dimitri has a job as an architect. It is my understanding that the author is, too, and that is made clear by the detailed descriptions of structures Dimitri is working on.
Dimitri is still a royalist until he meets a young woman doctor, Katya, and witnesses the after effects of a pogrom where he sees Jewish people brutally beaten and killed, including young children. He begins to doubt Tsar Nicholas’ handling of the situation, and soon, the running of the country.
Katya is just the antidote Dimitri needs from his loveless marriage and meaningless affairs. He finds his soul mate, despite their different stations in life. Katya opens his eyes even further to the true poverty of the peasants in Russia, not just the splendor of the ruling class. Soon, the two start a discreet relationship and Dimitri attends meetings where talk of a non-violent, peaceful revolution against the Tsar is discussed. Dimitri mainly stays quiet at these meetings, but he’s always listening, and thinks he could slowly convince the Tsar that a constitutional monarchy is what the country needs.
The persecution of the Jews is described and the Tsar’s obvious hate for the people he thinks killed his grandfather with a bomb comes through. There are repeated scenes of the Russian army attacking the non-provoking Jews. Dimitri and Katya witness this and become even more committed to the cause of peaceful revolution. Dimitri’s attempts to convince the Tsar of loosening restrictions against the Jews or giving the peasants more freedoms go nowhere. Tsar Nicholas is obstinate on those two subjects.
So, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with Faberge. The Tsar’s household is filled with spies, who pass notes to each other in code by placing notes inside the famous Faberge eggs in the display room in the palace. The reader might be surprised to find out who or who isn’t a revolutionary spy.
I wasn’t sure how the book was going to end up, either with Dimitri being arrested and executed for treason, going into hiding and continuing his revolutionary aspirations in Russia, or escaping the country. The Fabergé Secret (Amazon) was a quick read, and had a satisfying conclusion. The only thing I wished for this ARC, as I wish all historical fiction to do, is have an Afterword, explaining what exactly was fact and what was the imagination of the author. I have only done a little reading about the Tsar and his family, so I do not know enough of Russia’s backstory to
mhoffrob's review against another edition
3.0
Story line was okay; audiobook narrator not so much. Fake Russian accents were unnecessary and sounded like Boris and Natasha from the old cartoons.
suria_go's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shirin_mandi's review against another edition
4.0
The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure set in 1903 Imperial Russia at the time of the Japanese war, revolution, and Romanov problem with Jews.
(Queen Victoria I. grandmother) House of Romanov
I I
Alexandra (1872-1918) ________ Nicholas II (1868-1918)
I
Olga Tatiana Maria Anastasia Alexei
This is the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II is under the pressure of revolutionary actions and blaming the Jews for that.
The story focused on Prince Dimitri Markhov (royal architect) and his beautiful wife, Princess Lara who are close friends of the imperial family. Lara and Dimitri were no longer in love, and their marriage was for appearance. So when Dimitri meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn (one of a few female doctors), they both found each other similar opinions and interests; Dimitri starts to understand and help the revolution movement.
This is the story of love, friendship, betrayal, royal family, Russian people, fabergé eggs, and jewels. Sometimes was hard to follow narration, but overall was an interesting book with a surprising ending. I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure in exchange for an honest review.
Published Date 29 Jun 2021
My review on 22 Jun 2021
(Queen Victoria I. grandmother) House of Romanov
I I
Alexandra (1872-1918) ________ Nicholas II (1868-1918)
I
Olga Tatiana Maria Anastasia Alexei
This is the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II is under the pressure of revolutionary actions and blaming the Jews for that.
The story focused on Prince Dimitri Markhov (royal architect) and his beautiful wife, Princess Lara who are close friends of the imperial family. Lara and Dimitri were no longer in love, and their marriage was for appearance. So when Dimitri meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn (one of a few female doctors), they both found each other similar opinions and interests; Dimitri starts to understand and help the revolution movement.
This is the story of love, friendship, betrayal, royal family, Russian people, fabergé eggs, and jewels. Sometimes was hard to follow narration, but overall was an interesting book with a surprising ending. I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure in exchange for an honest review.
Published Date 29 Jun 2021
My review on 22 Jun 2021
gr8reader's review
5.0
This is the first time I've read Belfoure (I have The Paris Architect but have not read it yet) and REALLY enjoy his writing! The story was interesting, fascinating, enjoyable, compelling with some suspense thrown in. I also found it easy to read despite it being filled with Russian names which sometimes can bog down your reading because of the length and complexity of a single name. Definitely recommend this read!!
halkid2's review
3.0
FULL DISCLOSURE: I received early access to this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for writing an impartial review.
I had high expectations for this one since I love Russian history, particularly in the form of historical fiction. AND I have long been searching for a novel that paints a vivid image of Jews during the era of pogroms. Unfortunately, though both are addressed in this novel -- I felt the execution was a bit clumsy. A rating of 3.5 stars might be more accurate.
The novel begins at the turn of the 20th century, continuing through the next few years leading up to the Revolution of 1905. Tsar Nicolas II (a well-meaning but inept ruler) and his wife Alexandra have close relationships with their four daughters, but are desperate for a son and heir. Russian peasants live in abysmal conditions while the aristocracy enjoys unimaginable wealth and privilege. Would-be revolutionaries and the secret police are at war. And many in power, including the Tsar, blame the Jews for both revolutionary sentiments and violence.
Into this mix the author creates a character, Prince Dimitri Markhov, a member of the aristocracy who is also a close personal friend of the Tsar and his family. The novel centers on Markhov's story and his transition from enjoying his life of privilege to gaining a deep recognition of the widespread injustices and antisemitism that underpin the Tsar's regime. This involves Markhov wrestling with issues like friendship, loyalty, and love.
On the plus side, I do think the book does an admirable job of showing the societal gulf between rich and poor, including how out of touch the Tsar was with most of his people, their conditions, and their beliefs. The author successfully weaves in a number of assassination attempts against the Tsar as well as a number of other prominent historical events. And the book paints a sobering picture of Jewish life under the daily threat of pogroms -- one of the chief reasons so many Russian Jews emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, as my own grandparents did.
On the minus side, the author's efforts to include background information about the beliefs and treatment of Jews during this period was often awkward-- taking the form of stilted and unbelievable dialog between Jews and non-Jews. These exchanges simply didn't ring true.
I also never found myself emotionally involved with any of the characters. And I think that was because the book seemed to lack cohesion. At times it felt like a book telling Markhov's story. At other times the focus was more on peripheral characters who were revolutionary "plants" in the Tsar's inner circle. And sometimes, it seemed more like a story of the Tsar and his family. I felt this shifting around of the novel's point of view kept me at a distance.
I still recommend the book, particularly for those interested in the subject matter. It's a quick and engaging read. I just don't feel it was as good as it could have been.
I had high expectations for this one since I love Russian history, particularly in the form of historical fiction. AND I have long been searching for a novel that paints a vivid image of Jews during the era of pogroms. Unfortunately, though both are addressed in this novel -- I felt the execution was a bit clumsy. A rating of 3.5 stars might be more accurate.
The novel begins at the turn of the 20th century, continuing through the next few years leading up to the Revolution of 1905. Tsar Nicolas II (a well-meaning but inept ruler) and his wife Alexandra have close relationships with their four daughters, but are desperate for a son and heir. Russian peasants live in abysmal conditions while the aristocracy enjoys unimaginable wealth and privilege. Would-be revolutionaries and the secret police are at war. And many in power, including the Tsar, blame the Jews for both revolutionary sentiments and violence.
Into this mix the author creates a character, Prince Dimitri Markhov, a member of the aristocracy who is also a close personal friend of the Tsar and his family. The novel centers on Markhov's story and his transition from enjoying his life of privilege to gaining a deep recognition of the widespread injustices and antisemitism that underpin the Tsar's regime. This involves Markhov wrestling with issues like friendship, loyalty, and love.
On the plus side, I do think the book does an admirable job of showing the societal gulf between rich and poor, including how out of touch the Tsar was with most of his people, their conditions, and their beliefs. The author successfully weaves in a number of assassination attempts against the Tsar as well as a number of other prominent historical events. And the book paints a sobering picture of Jewish life under the daily threat of pogroms -- one of the chief reasons so many Russian Jews emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, as my own grandparents did.
On the minus side, the author's efforts to include background information about the beliefs and treatment of Jews during this period was often awkward-- taking the form of stilted and unbelievable dialog between Jews and non-Jews. These exchanges simply didn't ring true.
I also never found myself emotionally involved with any of the characters. And I think that was because the book seemed to lack cohesion. At times it felt like a book telling Markhov's story. At other times the focus was more on peripheral characters who were revolutionary "plants" in the Tsar's inner circle. And sometimes, it seemed more like a story of the Tsar and his family. I felt this shifting around of the novel's point of view kept me at a distance.
I still recommend the book, particularly for those interested in the subject matter. It's a quick and engaging read. I just don't feel it was as good as it could have been.
katejeminhizer's review
3.0
This was an interesting take on the revolutionists who contributed to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. The author provides a good amount of insight into life at the Russian court. Belfoure also attempts to explain how the beliefs of Nicholas II and Alexandra impacted their ability to successfully lead the Russian people. This book highlights what people can and will do for something they believe in. I particularly enjoyed how the details of so many Faberge eggs and the other pieces developed by the famous designer were worked into the story without seeming forced. Overall it is a good read that presents the beginning of the end of the Romanov family.
I received a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.
I received a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.
dazyiscrazy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
tpanik's review
3.0
Belfoure's strong story architecture showcases the royal world of historic Russia in this novel, but the setup is long, the characters numerous, and the plot complicated, which makes this story less enjoyable than Befloure's previous works.
morganhall21's review against another edition
5.0
Great audiobook! I absolutly love it and the reader is great gives you the feel of Russia because they have a russian accent. The story was so intreguing loved it on my long car ride over the holidays.