This is the first book that I have read by this author and I fell in love with her writing style.
• Going into this book, I didn’t know much about Russian history. I feel that Loesch’s writing style/research included a history lesson hidden inside a compelling story about family secrets, love, loss, betrayal, political upheaval, war and survival.
• It’s a beautiful dual-timeline saga surrounding 20th-century Russia encompassing many devastating events during that time period.
• The story is revealed to us through the eyes of two women: starting in 1915 with Tonya, her story includes the Russian Revolution and the tragic aftermath. The second timeline is Rosie’s; we are immersed as she uncovers many past secrets. Both stories were equally interesting and the connection between the two MCs blended together seamlessly.
• If you are a fan of mysteries and/or Russian fairytales, I would highly recommend reading this one!

The Last Russian Doll is a family saga that encompasses three generations, from pre-Revolution Russia in 1916 through the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Like so many current historical fictions written recently, the book bounces around in time rather than moving in a straight line. But it is also written as an allegory of Russia in the 20th Century. Loesch uses fairy tales, supposedly written by one of the characters, to move the story forward and provide an additional layer of meaning to the tale. As you might expect from my synopsis, the story can be complicated and confusing, with all its myriad layers. It only somewhat worked for me.
Given its time period, the themes cover betrayal, hardship and survival. The latter story has a mystery at its center. As a child, Rosie witnesses a man killing her father and sister. As Rosie thinks at one point, “Fourteen years of asking, Who Was he, that man, and why? Fourteen years of failing to ask, Who were you, Mum, and why? Like Rosie, I had no clue either.
A personal preference of mine is that I like historical fiction heavy on facts and light on romance. This was more the reverse. The story covers the Russian Revolution, the Siege of Leningrad, Stalin’s purges and the gulags, and the fall of the USSR. But there’s a dearth of specifics about those events other than the direct impact on the characters. But Loesch does a good job of providing plenty of atmosphere and giving you a sense of place.

I received this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from NetGalley & and Berkley Publishing Group. While I personally find Russian history fascinating and the tumultuous period part of this story is something I was immediately drawn to. I strongly encourage those seeking a detailed, historical, and well-designed novel on Russian history to read and enjoy this excellent book. Especially for those who like to take notes on the characters in a book, and who enjoy dual-timeline novels.

However, I am not a reader than enjoys the dual timeline format for any novel, and this one was particularly difficult to follow. The book leaps between 1917 and 1991 Russia as we follow the lives of three generations of women. I really enjoyed the history and the storyline, but found the plot super difficult to keep up with our characters. It would have been most useful to have a list of the specific characters' names, and their section of the story/timeline they belong to. The most challenging aspect was that there were more than 1 name for each character -- which was overwhelming on top of the many individual characters in different timelines.

Nonetheless I found the story intriguing. I wasn't able to finish the book as swiftly as I would have liked, but overall it was a solid read and well worth the time.

Usually I don't like stories that happen simultaneously in the "past" and "present," but The Last Russian Doll made it work really well. It's a book about family, love, sacrifice, loss, and dedication - both an epic love story and a heart-wrenching tragedy. My primary complaint is that it seemed to wrap up too suddenly, that we were just told the solution to one of the primary mysteries, rather than having a gradual realization or coming to the right conclusion at the same time Raisa learns the truth. But aside from that, I was captivated by the characters and sweeping scope of their lives, thoughts, and feelings.

Language: Mild (maybe more, I don't speak Russian)
Drugs: Mild (alcohol abuse)
Sex: Mild
Violence: Moderate (murders not described in detail)

This moves back and forth in time between 1915 (and forward) and 1991 when Raisa, reclaiming her Russian name, goes to Moscow in hopes of understanding what happened to her family the night her father and sister were killed. How does her life intersect with that of Tonya, the teenage wife of a wealthy factory owner, who fell in love with Valentin, a revolutionary? And Alexey- the writer who brought Raise to Russia? Tonya's story is the more compelling one - and to be honest, it's less confusing. Raisa is hunting for answers using bits of paper she finds in the heads of dolls- and dolls are a recurrent theme. Tonya is given one by her husband, Raisa's mother Katya collected them, and now they're turning up in Raisa's path. Some chapters are preceded by fairy tales which might have been written by Katya (or are they coded messages from Raisa's father?). I'm willing to be a bit at sea trying to figure out who's who and so on but Loesch lost me at more than one point as Raisa tries to untangle things. And Lev? What about Lev? It's an interesting read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical fiction willing to pay close attention.

The Last Russian Doll is instantly captivating, both due to its gorgeous language and the two distinct storylines. In summer 1991, Rosie’s first-person chapters unfold like a mystery as she uncovers clues in her family’s history. Who killed her dad and older sister, and why? And why is it that, the more she learns about the missing Kukolka the elderly author needs her help finding, the more she accidentally learns about her own unknown ancestors?

The other storyline starts in 1916, with third-person narratives following both Tonya and Valentin. Tonya is only 17, recently married to a wealthy and powerful man; Valentin is young, too, but already a leader within the growing Bolshevik party. The two come from completely different backgrounds, yet they’re drawn to each other and quickly start an affair. Things only grow more and more complicated between Tonya and Valentin. They’re torn apart, brought back together, torn apart again. Over the course of more than 30 years, we see how their lives unfold against Russia’s turbulent backdrop.

Naturally, The Last Russian Doll is a fairly political book. Valentin is an idealist and active member of the Bolshevik party, loudly proclaiming his support of the lower classes gaining more power. His role within the party and support of its actions changes over time, and indeed, the party does take some increasingly dark and dangerous turns. While Valentin’s views may have been more pure, the party certainly becomes problematic and violent, with their end goal justifying the means. Valentin goes through a significant transformation over the years.

Tonya, too, changes a lot from her teenaged self to her adult self. She goes from a sheltered life with little autonomy to one that requires her strength and perseverance. She learns how to make her own life and protect those she loves. Tonya is a fascinating character, and one that I only grew to like more as her story progressed.

The past timeline spans decades before ending on a cliffhanger. What happened to these characters next? What was their end? I do love how it all comes together by the novel’s close, but I definitely cried at some parts.

Rosie’s chapters are about putting the puzzle pieces together, sometimes in surprising ways. Some of my theories were ultimately proven wrong; some mysteries never feel fully resolved, like it’s a secret the past will continue holding onto. While a couple climatic reveals felt a bit underwhelming, I like how Rosie is eventually able to move forward with her life.

The Last Russian Doll weaves in themes of lifelike dolls and the secrets they hold (in their heads!), the unexpected ways people, even strangers, can impact your life, and mental health issues that arise from harrowing trauma.

One final element that struck me in reading The Last Russian Doll is the inclusion of short, one- or two-page fairy tales periodically throughout the book. Each one is mesmerizing and magical, inspiring wonder but also connecting to the main plot of the novel. As the author states at the end of the book, each story can be interpreted literally, in connection with the main characters, and as related to the larger political sphere of the time. Incredible!

The Last Russian Doll is a stunning debut, incorporating both the great Russian epic and succinct fairy tales, and combining both intimate relationships and the larger sociopolitical landscape. It is intricate, thoughtful, and beautifully written, and could be one of my favorite novels of 2023. I already look forward to reading more from Kristen Loesch.

I found Loesch's writing to be incredibly captivating and beautiful. I thought the duel perspective worked really well and felt interested in both timelines throughout the whole book. Perfect for historical fiction fans, this is one of my favorite new releases of 2023!

*A haunting, epic novel about betrayal, revenge, and redemption that follows three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the last days of the Soviet Union, and the enduring love story at the center."
I finished this but I didn't really care for it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I would've given this book 5 stars because it's an excellent read. However, I had a problem following the large number of characters that were included during various time periods of the novel and how they went by different names and nicknames. The main story takes place in 1991. It centers around Rosie White, (Raisa), who attends a book signing by Alexy Invanov, a Russian author. Her interest in his book, "The Last Bolshevik," is mainly because her mother and she escaped Russia after her father and sister were murdered there by an unknown man. Her mother has since referred to him as "That Man," but has shared very little with Rosie about her past or why her husband and daughter may have been killed.

Rosie speaks with Alexy after his reading and learns that he needs an assistant to accompany him to Russia to work on another project. Considering it an opportunity to learn more about her past and find out who murdered her sister and father, Rosie applies for the job. Initially, Rosie's mother, an alcoholic who only tells Rosie fairytales and keeps lifelike porcelain dolls, isn't supportive of that decision but, on her deathbed, she asks Rosie to go to Russia and find "That Man."

After her mother's death, Rosie finds a key inside one of her dolls and a note indicating that it opens a drawer in their old house in Russia. When Rosie travels to Russia with Alexy, he takes her to a house where he leaves her with a man named Levy who is supposedly in charge of protecting her while Alexy is away.

The book then alternates between 1991 and the past, telling a love story that starts in 1916 between a woman named Tonya, married to Dmitry, a rich man who owns a factory in St. Petersburg, and Valentin, a factory worker and revolutionary. It also includes the fairytales told by Rosie's mother that play a large part in the book. I compared it to Kristin Hannah's novel, Winter Garden, that I recently read, which also included Russian history.

As Rosie investigates her mother's background, she learns of a connection between Tonya and Valentin. She begins to suspect that Alexy has an ulterior motive for hiring her as his assistant. She wonders about his identity and starts to have visions of her dead sister, who seems to be giving her clues. She also develops feelings for Lev, even though she's left her fiancee back in England.

This story is multi-layered. It involves a love story, Russian history, and much more. There are two big twists at the end that I didn't see coming at all.

I received an electronic ARC from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Powerful message about life and love and survival. Readers first meet Rosie in 1991. She has a fractured relationship with her mother, is engaged to a top quality man, and is in the process of accepting a job to go back to Russia. Slowly, her life and past tragedies unfold as the book progresses. We next meet Valentin and Antonina in 1916 as historic events are starting to begin in Russia. The story is told from these three points of view and in two time frames. Both love stories are juxtaposed against the revolutions happening in Russia and then the Soviet Union. I appreciate how Loesch has done her research and brings out the history as another main piece of the story. Each character has to survive the challenging times and events and live with the trauma caused by them. Readers see how much missed opportunities and miscommunication alters their life paths. They may see what is ahead but are still surprised by twists and changes as the book unfolds.
The Last Russian Doll is a perfect title for this novel as the dolls are key to so many plot points in this story. These porcelain dolls appear at curious moments and lead Rosie on her journey into the past to find her family history. In the 1916 plotline, they appear in real time and serve as a potential red herring trail for Antonina and Valentin.
Interwoven with the story are fairy tales that begin most chapters. This part of Russian folklore is revealed by book's end and adds to the overall message behind this book.

I like the idea of this, especially the inclusion of the fairy tales, which gives it a very ethereal vibe. But I found myself feeling very lost as to what was going on, with two timelines which did not really intersect in an obvious way, and I didn’t really have the patience to untangle all of it.

“the last russian doll” follows three generations of russian women who are bold, honest, and opinionated. rosie, or rather rasia, follows a famous author to moscow to put together the pieces of her family’s past. we see the 1917 revolution, world war II era russia, and the 90’s.

while it is clear that this author is knowledgeable, her writing can be a bit bland at times. there is no poetry here, it is blunt and straight to the point. i wish the prose had more music to it. i also felt that it was difficult to be immersed in russia due to the extreme lack of sensory details in the text.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this book is a winner for me. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it.

Before reading this, I had little to no Russian historical knowledge. While the unrest of the time period (roughly 1915-1948) was the backdrop of the book and a large part of the story- it was primarily about family secrets, an epic love story, and the price of injustice and war. Also, as it is told is dual timelines (the 1990s and the time period mentioned above), the mystery is slowly unraveled to the reader in the distant past while it is slowly unraveled for the character in the 1990s, Rosie. Despite this, there continues to be a point of mystery up until the end.

While I didn't find the mystery insanely satisfying in the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of getting to the end. I'm also not sure how realistic Rosie's storyline in the end was, but it was fine. Overall, the ending was sad.... yet sweet- but I still very much enjoyed/loved this one.

As a child, a man broke into Rosie's home, killing her father and sister. Rose and her mother fled to England to start a new life. However, Rosie has always felt divided, as if she has lived two lives. When her mother dies, Rosie takes an internship in Russia, intending to unravel the mysteries of her childhood.

The book had a dreamy, surreal quality to it, which worked well with the story. The characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. Well written and paced, I rate this book a 4 out of 5.

Written as an epic Russian novel, it is complex in composition but enjoyable as a surface story. What stands out to me are the fairy tales interspersed throughout that hint at what’s happening but have more depth than first appear. To future readers: it would be helpful to keep a list of secondary characters with a note of who they are as most characters resurface occasionally in the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

The Last Russian Doll is a dual-timeline novel set mostly in Russia. In 1991, Rosie (Raisa) is engaged to be married and taking care of her mother in London. When her mother dies suddenly, she leaves Rosie a key and a mystery. Rosie applies for a job in Russia, hoping to take that key and answer a lifetime’s worth of questions. In 1915, Antonina (Tonya) is trapped in a loveless marriage as the Bolshevik revolution is beginning.

This is a gorgeous saga, filled with mystery and Russian fairytales. The history of 20th-century Russia is told through the eyes of two women. The story encompasses many devastating events: the 1917 Revolution, the Russian Civil War, Stalin’s purges, and the siege of Leningrad during WWII. Rosie arrives back in Russia as the Soviet Union is nearing its end, determined to make sense of her past. The weaving together of the stories of Rosie and Tonya is a perfect tapestry of tragedy, romance, and survival. Fairytales and porcelain dolls add another intriguing layer. This magical but tragic blend of history and fiction transports us straight to Russia during many turbulent periods in its past. It is an absolutely mesmerizing read.

Fans of Russian history and folklore, and anyone who just wants to read an amazing novel, should pick this one up immediately.

I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

"A haunting, epic novel about betrayal, revenge, and redemption that follows three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the last days of the Soviet Union, and the enduring love story at the center.

In a faraway kingdom, in a long-ago land...

...a young girl lived happily in Moscow with her family: a sister, a father, and an eccentric mother who liked to tell fairy tales and collect porcelain dolls.

One summer night, everything changed, and all that remained of that family were the girl and her mother.

Now, a decade later and studying at Oxford University, Rosie has an English name, a loving fiancé, and a promising future, but all she wants is to understand - and bury - the past. After her mother dies, Rosie returns to Russia, armed with little more than her mother's strange folklore - and a single key.

What she uncovers is a devastating family history that spans the 1917 Revolution, the siege of Leningrad, Stalin's purges, and beyond.

At the heart of this saga stands a young noblewoman, Tonya, as pretty as a porcelain doll, whose actions - and love for an idealistic man - will set off a sweeping story that reverberates across the century...."

Oh I love sweeping generational tales and nowhere are they better set than in Russia.

Everything You Want in Good Historical Fiction

The Last Russian Doll will take you through the history of the Russian Revolution and into late 20th century Russia with well defined, believable and enthralling characters. You will also meet a modern day woman of Russian descent who is looking for information on her mother's past and ends up searching in Russian archives, meeting people from her mother's past and discovering much about herself. All of this presents a mystery which you will continually be trying to solve throughout the story. Bravo, Ms. Loesch for bringing it all together in one story, history, enthralling characters, and a great mystery to solve. This book is definitely for historical mystery lovers!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advanced copy of The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch. The book skips back and forth between 1917 and 1991 Russia while following the lives of three generations of women. There's a lot of history and a bit of mystery. I really enjoyed the setting but found it difficult to follow, especially with multiple names for each character. I really should have kept notes!

“The Last Russian Doll” has so much potential – the Russian historical period it covers is fascinating, the characters are intriguing, the writing is descriptive and sometimes even poetic. But, somehow, it fell short in bringing it all together. Much like many Russian novels, the characters have multiple names and they’re used interchangeably. That sometimes led to confusion over who was who. I really enjoyed about ¾ of the book but found the ending disjointed, hurried and altogether kind of confusing. There’s much to like about this book and its attempt at being an epic Russian tale. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.