My name is Anastasia . . . The history books say I died . . . They don’t know the half of it. Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them, and he’s hunted Romanov before. Nastya’s only chances of saving herself and her … of saving herself and her family are either to release the spell and deal with the consequences, or to enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya has only dabbled in magic, but it doesn’t frighten her half as much as her growing attraction to Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her.
That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.
Praise for Romanov:
“I am obsessed with this book! A magical twist on history that will have Anastasia fans wishing for more. I loved every detail Brandes wrote. If you love magic and Imperial Russia, you want Romanov on your shelf!” –Evelyn Skye
“Romanov will cast a spell on readers and immerse them in a history anyone would long to be a part of.” –Sasha Alsberg
“If you think you know the story behind Anastasia Romanov, think again! The perfect blend of history and fantasy, Romanov takes a deeper look at the days leading up to the family’s tragedy, while also exploring the possibilities behind the mysteries that have long intrigued history buffs everywhere. Brandes weaves a brilliant and intricate saga of love, loss, and the power of forgiveness. Prepare to have your breath stolen by this gorgeous novel of brilliant prose and epic enchantment.” –Sara Ella
- Full-length, stand-alone YA historical reimagining
- Includes a special bonus chapter!
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs!
more
Nadine Brandes’ Romanov is a masterfully crafted story of forgiveness mingled with history and magic. To be honest, I have never seen the Disney version of Anastasia, so I have nothing to compare this tale to. Brandes takes historical events and adds a little imagination to make a remarkable tale. With a fast moving plot, Brandes takes me for a magical journey from captivity to running from the enemy. The characters were crafted wonderfully and memorable. Brandes writing is top notch and really did an awesome job at describing the setting and using point of view well. Forgiveness is a theme running rampant through the pages of the plot. Nastya learns how important it is to forgive rather than seek revenge. Overall, Nadine Brandes’ Romanov is a wonderful take on a historical family and sprinkled with an element of magic and forgiveness. Fans of Nadine Brandes’ other works, Morgan Busse, Mary Weber, and Harry Potter might enjoy this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Romanov by Nadine Brandes, but the opinions stated are all my own.
A wonderful marriage of History and magic!
Anastasia’s story is one I never knew a lot about, but had always heard little things here and there and always have been interested in reading or learning more about. So when I heard about this book from the author of Fawkes, I was extremely interested in reading it. Let me tell you what, it did not disappoint! I was hooked from the moment I picked this one up, and like the other good historical retellings I’ve read in the past, it made me want to pick up nonfiction books and do research into the actual family and times that this involved. It is nice that the author put even a little helpful extra in the back with what were the true known facts of this story, and how she added or changed to fit her own telling of the story. There was a lot of emotion, seeing how the family was treated, yet how they seemed to treat those around them made a lot of what was done to them very uncalled for. And then, just when things started to seem kind of like they had an ally or two, horrible things happened, things that I had tears myself! Then there was Zash. You wanted to love him, but had to be upset with him because of how he seemed to not ever get past his preconceived notions. But then he did, and in the end, well, I won’t spoil anything. But wow! So much at the end of this when it really evolved into the fantastical bit of the story. Of course there was magic interspersed throughout the story, but the final part was where it all really came into play.
I loved the way the Russian nesting doll, otherwise known as a matryoshka doll was used in the story. It made me want to go open up the one my sister brought me back as a souvenir from her trip to Russia a few years ago just to check it out. I look forward to putting this book in my library at school as well, and sharing it with students as they study Russia and its history.
A fantasy historical retelling with a dash of magic, a ton of heartbreak and a lot to remember.
I always find it stimulating to raed a story that takes a historical event and spins it around with a touch of fantasy, a new angle of interpretation that opens up such delightful doors into a rich, unimagined possibility.
One of my weaknesses in History is the period surrounding the Romanov family and their association with Rasputin. The author starts her own plot at the time when the royal family was already under heavily guarded supervision by the new government and in the midst of angry political upheaval in 1918. The serene prose and the knowledgeable intuition infuse the historical events with humanity.
We get to learn about their ordeals, their resignation and fear, but also their dignity and hope and humble relatability. It’s obvious that the author puts this family onto a pedestal, though I’m sure many of their subjects and nobles had a different opinion.
The young daughters and son become sweetly and sadly alive to the reader during their imprisonment under Bolshevik guard. There’s a glimpse of romance, a touching sense of freedom as it is cherished in its most basic form. The sense of foreboding, though, permeats the atmosphere.
The fact that Anastasia dabbles in smagic spells due to her relationship to Rasputin is one of the most appealing elements of this retelling for fantasy fans. It weaves itself with the terrible tragedy of the Romanov family in an intriguing, whimsical and very heartening way. For who wouldn’t want their cruel fate to be tampered with so as to avoid the darkest parts of their end?
The story has two distinct parts. The first half is devoted to the family’s reclusion with a slow, cozy pace. It’s a good way to get to know all the characters, their soul and ways. Also the social unrest, the division in beliefs. There is romance but it is far from rosy-colored. I would say that it is even hard to bear. The second part is quite a contrast as it is full of action, betrayal, drama and whimsical hope draped in magic spells and the healing touch of hope. I loved all of it. I loved Alexei’s nobility, Anastasia’s courage, Zach’s torn nature. The ending has both facts and dreams in it.
It’s a painful and magical story and very rewarding to read.
Favourite Quotes:
Impatience was the grim reaper of all true victories.
Even empty promises could fill a heart for a moment.
Hope never abandoned us, only we could abandon it.
I admit, I haven’t really dig much into the Romanov history, yeah I have heard about it here and there but I not one of those die hard fans that one every single detail but I love history and once I heard about this book I was totally into and couldn’t get my hands on it. And in my opinion it totally did it for me, I loved it, yes it was fiction and the facts may have not have not been all 100% all right, but that’s what a fiction book is, right?
Can we talk about the Romanov’s? I loved getting to know about the family, yeah maybe they were not all so tight and loved each other like in the book but I personally loved that it was done this way.
And let’s talk about Anastasia, there were times I wish she could step up a little more but man, when you look at what she was going through I would probably freak out so bad that I wouldn’t do half of what she did. And the romance, well I’m still not sure how I feel about it, no spoilers but what the heck I don’t think I could ever forgive him.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 out of 5 stars and it has made me want to learn a lot more about the Romanovs.
Did you read it yet and if so what did you think about it?
This is a must read for anyone who is fascinated with the Romanov family. I loved the magical-realism that was added to this tragic story, and the liberties that Brandes took, as well. Fantastic characters, great story!
I absolutely loved Romanov! I was completely captivated from word one and couldn’t get enough of it. I got so frustrated when real life interrupted my reading and let me tell ya’, it got interrupted quite often. But once things settled down and I was able to hunker down and read to my heart’s content, I flew through the pages. It was utterly compelling. The seamless way Brandes weaved the magical element in with the actual history was brilliant.
I hate to admit this, but I didn’t know a whole lot about the Romanovs before this book. Though, you can be sure that through the course of reading this novel, I looked up information, did more research, and quickly became fascinated by the actual history behind this historical fantasy. I love when fiction does that! Some of my favorite novels are ones that teach me new things, lead me to new interests, and make me want to learn.
This is a book that’s definitely going on my favorites list. It was beautiful and, yet, heartbreaking. There were times I was laughing so hard at Anastasia’s mischievous antics and then tearing up, heartbroken, over the cruelty of what was happening to the Romanov family.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
Oh. My. Goodness. I got wayyy too attached to this book. Do I mind? No. Do I love it? YES! I have never read historical fiction before, mostly because I don’t usually find them interesting, but Brandes hooked me from the beginning! I could not put this book down at all. It was like a magnet for my imagination, bringing me to the book and not wanting to be put down. I love how the characters developed, and their individual, unique personalities. AND THOSE TWISTS! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OVER THEM! I don’t doubt that I will be stuck in a book hangover forever.. (or at least for a good amount of time). It’s an enchanting book, and I will never forgive Brandes for messing with my emotions so skillfully. The world building was amazing, and so was the plot. I love the historical aspects, which were accompanied by the historical fiction very well. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought the large majority of it had truly happened. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone, whether they enjoy historical, or historical fiction books, or not. Brandes is truly a talented writer.
“Hope never abandoned us- only we could abandon it.”
When I saw a new retelling on the Romanov family and Anastasia Romanov, I knew I had to read this. The fact that there was a fantasy element to it – even better! I received an ARC from the publisher, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
What I loved about this book was how much true history went into it. I have always been fascinated with the true Romanov story, probably above an average level, and I could tell this author did her homework. The story is told from the perspective of Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov, who begins the novel at age 16 and turns 17 during the course of the story. She’s sort of the mischievous shvibzik of the family, not rebellious but definitely one who pushes her boundaries and knows how to be sly when she needs to be. She was a very relatable character who earned my interest and sympathy right away. She struggled with a lot of things, understandably so, but went to a lot of effort, often at great risk, to help her family. The biggest struggle for her, I felt, was working within her limitations because she wanted to do more and much of what she thought she needed to do was far beyond her control or ability, and I thought the author captured these feelings well. I felt them right alongside her.
Yurovsky was a character I genuinely hated (and I was supposed to). He did horrible, unspeakable things with absolutely no remorse or sense of humanity whatsoever, and I felt that this big theme of humility and forgiveness that Papa preached and emulated to their family that Nastya tried very hard to understand and practice, would have been very hard for me.
Zash, the Bolshevik soldier who first came into the picture in Tobolsk and then on to guard the family at Ipatiev House, started out as a hard, solid, defensive and dutiful soldier that you think you’re going to hate until you don’t. His character was interesting and different, and I would’ve liked to know more about his history and what his life was like before he came to be a Bolshevik soldier. He plays his part, and in some cases way too well… you’ll know what I mean if you read the book… but it’s hard not to love this guy, and it was fun to watch the way he came to play a part in Nastya’s story and her fictional life.
There’s a point about halfway through the book where an inspector comes in and finds something happening that sets events into motion, and that is where the story starts getting to where you cannot put it down. There’s a sense of urgency and unrest, an anxious need to keep reading to find out what happens next, and there are times of dread and times of relief, and the story is very deep and heartbreaking because you’re thinking in the back of your mind that a lot of this is historically factual. Let that sink in as you’re reading this book.
The four reasons I can’t give this book 5 stars are:
1. The first maybe half of this 335-page book was a little on the slow side as far as pacing went. Not boring – it held my attention, and there wasn’t a point where I wanted to put the book down, but just not a whole lot was happening up until about the halfway point. That is when it really started rolling. (But when it did, it really got good!)
2. We got a lot about Nastya (Anastasia), and a fair amount of Alexei, a little less of Maria. The other two siblings, Tatiana and Olga, were just kind of mentioned here and there with not much else. Was this because of their age differences? They didn’t play as big of a role in Nastya’s life? And while we got to know a little about Papa and just a tiny scene where Mamma revealed a secret to Nastya, Mamma was otherwise nonexistent in the story. I felt like some of these characters could have been fleshed out a little more than they were. In some cases, it was like they were just kind of there with no emotional connection or purpose.
3. I hate to say it, but I didn’t really feel like the Romanov family’s time spent in exile at the Ipatiev House was made to seem all that bad. Maybe it got a little boring, but who hasn’t spent time in their childhood bored out of their mind stuck in a house somewhere when they wanted to be anywhere else? Was that really just me???
4. The magic, I felt, was very low key, almost to the point of magical realism in this story, up until toward the end. There was “healing magic” throughout that I would almost equate to the topical use of essential oils and the power of self-fulfilling prophecy. It wasn’t until the end when Dochkin and the use of the Matryoshka doll and its hidden powers really came into play that magic really became prominent in the story. I guess I would like to have seen the fantasy aspects be a little more central to the overall story.
That being said, I really enjoyed this book overall. I read it all in one day, except for the very last chapter that I woke up and read the following morning. I loved this fictional take on a factual story in history, and I can’t wait to hear what other people’s thoughts are on it.
The book was wonderful! I couldn’t put it down and I was hooked from the very start. This book is a retelling of historical events that transpired in Russia. It revolves mainly on the Romanov family, which were the last monarchs of Russia. I absolutely loved the characters and how the author narrated the story. Honestly, I did not know anything about the royal family until I searched for the main character’s name, Anastasia Romanov, and found some answers. I loved how historically correct the story is, how the author based the plot on real events and the ending on some theories. It was an enjoyable read and I could feel that the author enjoyed writing the story. It was very interesting and a worthwhile book. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who love historical fiction so much. I can say that I gained knowledge from this book at the same time I had an amazing journey through the life and thoughts of Anastasia. Amidst confirming that the ending of the book did not happen in real life, one wonders if what if Brandes’s story was true and Anastasia lived on without being detected by the people. Despite having a lot of retelling based on the Romanov family, I can say that this novel was whimsical, as it involves magic in it. It was really a creative and bold move by Brandes to add that.
Romanov by Nadine Brandes is a work of historical fiction that will leave you clinging onto hope into the final pages of the text. It is a retelling of the Romanov family and Anastasia which is far more closely aligned to the real story than previous adaptations. Therefore, if you know history, you will know what to expect, to a degree. Regardless of this, Brandes is a magnificent story teller who has the power to weave a magical, cohesive narrative which is raw and emotive.
In this retelling, Antastasia (otherwise known as Nastya) is focused upon attempting to smuggle a spell, in the form of a Russian doll, into her suitcase while travelling on her way to exile in Siberia. But she has the head of the Bolshevik army on her tails and he is determined to see the back of herself, her family and all magic in Russia. Nastya, over time, has to make a big decision, whether to release the spell (which is a mystery to her) or come to terms with the consequences of her actions if she does not use it.
This book is full of action and magic, which keeps the reader occupied until the very last page. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author tried to keep as true to the real life events as possible, excluding the inclusion of magic, as it allows the reader to imagine life in Russia in 1918 and witness firsthand, the events which unfolded. While it is still a work of fiction, so many previous adaptations have twisted the story completely and I admire the author and how she aimed to keep it true with some new elements in between. One of those inclusions was the use of magic. By including magic, Brandes was able to add another layer to the plot which turned the narrative into not only a survival narrative, but one with the spirit of hope as well. Magic gave Nastya and the rest of the Romanov’s the hope they needed to get through the torturous exile they were subjected to. They all know that magic was well and truly alive in Russia and remained optimistic that it would have the ability to save them (as well as the white army).
The descriptions in this book were also extremely well done. The descriptions of setting made the reader feel as though they were there, in 1918 in Siberia/Russia. They were so detailed and vivid, giving further depth to the story. The characters were also very complex and well thought out. They each had their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses were made evident throughout the book. By having such detailed characters, the reader is able to understand them better and what may trigger their actions.
Another aspect of the book which really stood out was the strong bond that the Romanov family had. Despite being a large family and being royalty, the parents and siblings stuck together to ensure that they would have the emotional strength to overcome the Bolshevik’s. Though they were subjected to harsh living conditions and even stricter company, they remained optimistic that they would ultimately survive. The love that each of them had for one another was admirable, especially how they each doted on Alexei due to his disability. The development of the relationship between Nastya and Alexei was heart warming as she did everything she could for the tsarevitch.
One part of the book I thought was extremely well done was the slow development of the relationship between Nastya and Zash. Due to the circumstances that both characters were placed in, the pacing of this relationship was extremely important. Brandes created this relationship in such a way that it seemed incredibly natural which is rare in many books these days.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Romanov and the way it was beautifully written while it focused upon some of the darkest days of Russia’s history. It captured the raw, true events of the Romanov family, while intertwining some fictional elements as well. I would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or stories of survival, love and family.
4 Stars
Romanov will be released on the 7th of May 2019 in the United States and the 13th of June 2019 in Australia
*I was kindly provided with a copy for review from the publishers, Thomas Nelson, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Romanov is not for the faint of heart. The true history of what happened to the Romanovs makes this a tragic story, and quite different from the other books Nadine Brandes has previously written. That being said, this is by far the best historical fiction fantasy I have read. It goes a step farther than just rewriting history, because it gives a reader hope.. Not just hope for the story of the Romanovs execution, but hope in the humanity of us all, no matter what side we fight on.
Brandes writing is so well-researched, rich with historical details as well as Russian words and phrases. While magic plays a large role in the book, it is not too hard to imagine everything in the book actually being true. Especially since the magic in the book could pretty easily be replaced with some other technology or medical ability. The true feeling of fantasy and magic comes from the hope that it brings and this declaration of survival: “Because I have a story I was meant to live. And not even you can unwrite it.”