This book is not for the faint of heart. But then, the history of the Romanovs is not for the faint of heart. The story is written in first person, which typically I do not care for. In this instance it was very well done. The first person narration causes the reader to be blind to some things that Minnie herself does not realize until the moment of realization hits. If it were not written in first person, we would've missed out on this interesting aspect of the story.

The story itself is excellent. Full of political intrigue and historical drama, it gives the reader an insight into the temperature of Russian culture at the time of the revolution which may have been overlooked in previous historical study.

Minnie herself is such an interesting character. I found myself sympathizing with her as she foresaw the coming storm and tried so desperately to prevent it. Her frustrations with her limited means to prevent the calamity was heartbreaking. Reading the story while knowing the sadness she would endure at the end was also quite interesting. My heart broke for her.

C.W. Gortner has turned a long, tragic political history into a page turning story. Fans of Phillipa Gregory will doubtless enjoy this lengthy historical. It was quite heavy, but worth it.

The Romanov Empress, by noted historical fiction author C.W. Gortner, is a well=written, well-researched look in the Romanov dynasty. While most books focus on Nicholas and Alexandra, this book examines the family through the eyes of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. You will enjoy learning more about her transition from a Danish princess to the Empress of Russia and how her relationships with her family influenced Russian and European history. The Romanov Empress will keep you engrossed through the end of the book and beyond. Be sure to read the Afterward and Acknowledgments....they are packed with even more interesting insights into the Tsarina and her family.

So much has been written about the Russian Revolution and the doomed Romanov family, Nicholas, Alexandra, and their children. This story looks at Maria, the Danish princess who would become Nicholas’s mother. From her privileged upbringing to her marriage to a Romanov and her rise to empress, to the dark days of the Russian Revolution and the rise of communism, this is a unique perspective of a period in history that continues to fascinate us today

I was transfixed by this book from the very first page - I couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading it. It is a well written and thoroughly researched story of a strong, intelligent woman who had a front seat during an historic time. From Princess Dagmar to Empress Marie she lived a life of luxury and power, but when the revolution came her world was turned upside down. A must read for fans of historical fiction!