Author: Nadine Brandes
I was eager to pick up this retelling of the Romanov family with a magical twist. Brandes writes a tale of the Romanov family during their exile and continues it past their historical deaths. This is a YA, but I believe teens and adults alike can enjoy this. It was informative without being unapproachable; while at times it did feel like reading a history books, the characters were relatable. However, the fantasy element of this story didn’t come into play until very late into the book and even then so the delivery fell flat. The magic system didn’t feel well integrated or explained – something that could’ve been fixed if it’d been introduced sooner. Overall, Brandes had a very cool idea and still delivered a story worth reading especially for this interested in historical fiction.
Kaitlin S.