This is a tragic story narrated by Tsar Nicholas’ mother, Maria. She is a 19 year old Dutch princess when she marries Sasha, the Romanov Heir. When her husband dies and Nicholas becomes the Tsar, she desperately tries to guide him. Due to many various issues..one being Nicholas’ wife...the tragedy cannot be stopped

Maria is a character lost in history. I do not think I have read very much about her. However, she should not be forgotten. She was smart and tough.

Even though I knew how this story was going to end, I could not stop reading. The would’ve, could’ve, should’ves which follow this tsar, even before he was born, are astounding. From his grandfather, who released the serfs. He thought he was doing a good deed. He just did not understand the serfs had no education or skills. To his father, who refused to have a constitution or to even understand the rebels point of view. Nicholas inherited a mess of a country. He was just not strong enough or smart enough to make the right changes.

I have always been a fan of books set in Russia and this one is amazing. I can’t say enough about this book! C. W. Gortner hit it out of the park with this one! This story is so vivid, so well researched and so well written! Don’t miss this one!

A fascinating book on Russian History from 1862 to 1918 it’s told through an imagined account. This is the Romanov dynasty. A youn teen bride who becomes a matriarch and how she went from a poor princess to an opulent life. It’s a story of power, love, family, war and life. Beautifully, written and exquisitely visioned.

First, let me start by saying that as a fan of Russian history, I had heard of Maria Feodorovna, but knew very little about her. While this former empress was beloved in Russia for her glowing personality and dedication to her people, I thinks it is safe to say that she was often overshadowed by more controversial members of her family.  This novel is a great introduction to her fascinating life. It starts with her life in Denmark as a young princess and follows her to Russia where she learns to deal with the complexities of the Russian court, the Romanov family, and the beginnings of the Russian Revolution. We see her through countless turmoil as she worries for her husband and son and tries to guide them as they rule an increasingly divided country. Her life is full of drastic and dramatic changes and how she manages to handle each of them serves as a testament to her strength.

Not only did I become drawn in by her story but I loved the characters who inhabited it. I loved getting to know Maria Feodorovna. Not only is she a resilient, opinionated woman but she is considerate and aware. She is the one of the few members of the royal family who understands that change needs to occur in order to prevent anarchy. It was interesting to see three different Romanov reigns through her eyes and I really felt for her as she struggled to deal with her family’s unwillingness to see how their decisions were putting them in danger.

I was also swept up in the romance between her and Sasha. While their relationship was unexpected at first, thanks to circumstances that could only happen in a royal family, it was sweet to watch her grow to adore him. There was also her fun and complex realtionship with her sister-in-law, Miechen. They were a perfect example of strong female friendship as they supported each other through all the instability they experienced in their lifetimes while still maintaining a healthy competition for the position of Russia’s most prominent hostess.

The main problem I had with this book was that there was so much covered in too short of a book. Everything moved so fast, sometimes with years passing in a single chapter. I kept seeing little sparks of great stories that were started and hastily finished or long periods of time skimmed over. Because there was so little time to cover so much, I felt that some of the characters came off a little one-dimensional. While I understand what the author was trying to do, I can’t help but think this might have been better divided as a series.

Overall, I enjoyed following Maria Feodorovna through the immensely eventful life that she lived. I will definitely be picking up a biography on her soon so I can expand my knowledge on her story.

Minnie/Maria, a Danish princess who becomes the mother of the last Russian tsar, shares her memories.

Have you ever wondered what led to the downfall of the Romanov family in Russia? Then look no further! Ever since reading Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons years ago, I have been fascinated by stories set in Russia, and this one was no exception. While Tatiana focused on a poor Russian commoner, The Romanov Empress focused on the polar opposite, the ostentatiously rich lifestyle of the royal family. Told from the perspective of Anastasia's grandmother, Minnie (renamed Maria after she married a Romanov), I was spellbound by this story as it followed the Romanov family from the late 1860s, all the way to its tragic end in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution. Even though I knew it did not end well for Nicholas II and his family, I found myself hoping their story would end differently.

I would definitely recommend this for fans of strong female characters and Philippa Gregory, and I look forward to more from this author!

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

A while back, I read a book about a strong woman, in a position of royalty, that had absolutely nothing to do with the Tudors…and I LOVED it. (For those of you new to my blog, I am obsessed with all things Tudor. So branching out into other women of royalty is a fairly new thing for this history nerd.) Therefore, I was so stinkin’ excited to dig into The Romanov Empress. Would she be strong? Ruthless? Submissive? Abused? Happy?

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I had absolutely zero clue who Maria Feodorovna was. So I did a little research about her, to give myself a jumping point on her story. After that, however, I relied solely on the talents (incredible talents, I soon discovered) of C. W. Gortner to fill in the missing pieces for me. To say that I was hooked from the start is a grievous understatement. I absolutely adored this book!

C. W. Gortner fleshed Minnie out, bringing her to life for his readers and giving her personality, quirks, faults, breath, humanity. I ached for her when she hurt. I cheered for her victories. I respected the decisions she made…had to make…for her family, for Russia. Minnie, however, is not the only one that the author brought straight into my living room. There were various people that I quite enjoyed, and others that I was not fond of (here’s looking at you, Alexandra!) which is further proof of the talent of the author. I was absolutely caught up in the story, the flow of the plot, the emotions of the characters and the fate of Maria Feodorovna. Not only is the novel itself masterful, but I now have a new favorite author.

I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest review. I really enjoyed this fictional look at the life of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. The story captivated me from her childhood through the end of the story. The story was well-crafted and I will definitely re-read this one and recommend it to others.

If you love historical fiction and royalty, this is a MUST read!! I have always been fascinated my the Romanovs and the mystery surrounding their deaths. The Romanov Empress tells the story of the mother of Russia's last tsar, Maria Feodorovna. I was instantly transported to the past by C.W. Gortner's amazingly descriptive writing of breathtaking palaces, royal intrigue and glamour along with some very sad and heartbreaking times. The amount of research he must have done for this book is staggering! Well done!! This is the first book I have read of C.W. Gortner and I will be looking at his other works.

Fantastic! Nicholas II and his family will always be one of history’s greatest tragedies. Revolutions don’t come about from one event, they come from many, many years of strife. It was interesting seeing these events unfold through Minnie’s eyes. She was a formidable woman that was as devoted to Russia as she was her family. Gortner is a fantastic writer that puts life into his characters and enables history to come alive for his readers. Highly recommend.

WOW!!!! I have read numerous books about the Romanov's over the years and this one I could not put down.. This was a fascinating view of the Romanov's from Tsarina Maria Feodorovna . The Romanov reign was never smooth but somehow I missed the unrest that Alexandra Feodorovna caused and the last of support from Queen Victoria and Tsarina Maria Feodorovna.

Fantastic historical book ❤ I can't recommend it enough. Told in third person, it details the life of a Yong woman married into the Romanov dynasty. Going through years, loves, relationships, families, its so richly detailed and outlined that you find yourself falling into history. Excellent read - wonderful described characters and places, I can't recommend this book enough. #theromanovempress #netgalley

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

5 tragic stars


Over the last week or so, I have been so very fortunate to have read two fantastic historical fiction novels, one about Patsy Jefferson and now this wonderful novel about the Russian Empress, Maria Fedorovna.

Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) was a Danish princess. Her parents were of royal blood yet somewhat impoverished. Through the lines of succession, Dagmar's father became the king of Denmark and his children went on to be married to various rulers or to lead various European countries. Dagmar was originally betrothed to Nicholas who was the heir to the Russian throne. Tragically, he died of meningitis and supposedly had begged that Dagmar marry his younger brother, Alexander, who would eventually become Alexander III the tsar of Russia. She did and became the Empress of Russia. She and Alexander had four sons and two daughters. One of her sons, Nicholas, would ascend the throne and become Nicholas ll. He would marry Alexandria and they would have five children. In 1917, with the advent of the Russian Revolution, Nicholas and his family were held and eventually murdered by the revolutionaries. Maria, went onto live to the age of eighty outliving four of her children.

Mr Gortner has written a book about Maria that was both riveting and engrossing. He made Maria become quite real in both her regency, and her life as a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. He portrayed the glory, the fabulous riches, and the majesty of the time when the tsars ruled. They had it all, a divine right to who and what they were, many times forgetting the people they ruled and the dreadful lives many of them were forced to lead. Maria's life was one of entitlement and yet she too, was a tragic figure. She is shown to have an iron will and to be concerned for her subjects. However, hard as she tried to make both her husband and later her son aware of the need for the people to have a voice in their government, she did not succeed. She lived gloriously, jewels, clothes, travel, all was at her very fingertips. She would go on to lose it all as revolution swept the nation, and Maria lost not only her wealth and status, but also her children and grandchildren. In the end, it was a story of sadness. One can certainly have it all and then lose everything.

The author made Maria real. He brought out the many conflicts she had in her life, the tragedies that followed her starting with the loss of her betrothed Nicholas, to the death of her husband Alexander, the death of two of her children, to that of her exile and death of her son and daughter in law and their five children. He includes in his telling the effect that Rasputin had on the royal family and the various heads of state and their familial relationships.

I can't recommend this book more highly to those who so relish historical fiction novels. Truly this was a book that was able to make the reader know the real characters so very well and feel their triumphs, their joys, but mostly their sorrows. "If I have given my all, and still do not win, I haven't lost. Others might remember winning or losing, but I remember the journey." (Apolo Ohno) For Maria, herself, had the journey of a lifetime.

Thank you to C.W. Gortner, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this fantastic story of a woman who had ultimate power and grace.

Princess Dagmar of Denmark or Minnie is a daughter to Denmark's King Christian IX and sister to Alexandra, who would marry Edward VII and become Queen of the United Kingdom. Minnie knows she too must marry and would rather marry for love. When she meets Nicholas Alexandrovich, or Nixa, the Tsarevich of Russia, Minnie is taken. However, as fate would have it, Minnie marries Nixa's brother, Sasha, Tsesarevich Alexander of Russia, and eventually becomes Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna of Russia. Minnie must adjust to Russia, a new religion and rules of royalty. Minnie exceeds in her role and is a driving force within the Russian government. Although, times are changing in Russia and things become dangerous for Minnie and her family. Minnie sees that the government also needs to change. When her beloved Sasha passes, Minnie's son, Nicholas becomes Tsar. Nicholas' wife, Alexandra is not as diplomatic as Minnie and finds herself in a war of wills with Minnie. As actual war finds its way to Russia's door, Nicholas heeds his wife's opinion and that of her mystic Rasputin over Minnie's and brings the downfall of the Russian empire with him.


With historically accurate detail, The Romanov Empress gives an in-depth and entertaining look at the amazing woman behind the storied last Tsar of Russia. Told from Minnie's point of view from the time she was a teenager through her son's death, we get a full view of her life. I went into this book not knowing much at all about this time in Russia's history and I was very pleased that I was able to learn about Russia through her eyes. As Minnie came to love Russia, she saw the faults as well as its amazing features. Minnie wanted Russia to grow, change and survive, but as a woman she could only offer so much guidance to the men in her life. I enjoyed seeing how Minnie was able to affect change in the government, even if the men did not always listen. I also took to heart her and her sister, Alix's motto of living to the next day: "You will live,...You can do nothing else." It was very insightful to see Minnie's relationship with her son Nicholas and his wife Alexandra especially when Rasputin came into the picture. I did not know the breadth of Rasputin's influence on Russia at the time and his relationship with Alexandra and her children. Maria's story brings us through the fabled deaths of her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. While I knew of this story, I was unaware of the reasons behind it and the political climate of Russia at the time. Overall, an astounding and epic tale of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Growing up in Denmark as an impoverished royal Minnie never expects to rule. But her father suddenly becomes King and her life is never the same.Not only is she now a Princess but she is expected to make a royal match. She finds herself married to the heir to the Russian throne and has to make her way in the Russian court. This story follows her from a young bride learning to navigate court to the Dowager Empress in exile. A story of a little known woman who was part of many events that shaped history.

Great historical fiction. Gives some insight into the world of Kings and Queens. Also timely look at Russia history.
Excellent book for discussion and application to situations in todays world around rich vs. common man.

I really enjoy this author's work. I have read a few and there are more I want to read. This one landed on my lap and I've been drooling over this book for weeks. I wanted to wait until after or near its publication.

The story follows Minnie/Maria who is Tsar Nicholas' mother. We all know the tale of the fall of Nicholas, his family, and Imperial Russia. However, how many people can they really know his mother? I know I know very little of this force of nature. In this tale, we get to see her young, newly married, become the empress, become a mother, and see her lose everything. So sad, so very sad. I cannot imagine seeing everything fall away and never really, truly knowing what happened to part of your family. She lost so many of her family members during the fall of the monarchy.

If only those stubborn men had listened to her!! That darn Russian pride was the downfall. If they had listened to her and followed through on her father-in-law's plan to follow in England's footsteps ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. But no. The stubbornness of males caused so many needless deaths. They could have avoided the fall of a great country.

The story was told wonderfully. I enjoyed every moment. There were a couple of slow moments, but they did not last long. Maria had very time to rest. Lots to do especially with all those kids and constant issues popping up.

Yes, she was a stubborn woman and could be harsh, but I was on her side pretty much for everything especially Nicholas' wife. Yes, let Nicky marry her...but I really feel that Alexandra was a huge factor in the fall of the monarchy especially with her fascination with that man.

I liked Sasha too, but in the end, he was a stubborn male who didn't realize the people give power NOT god. England learned this and some other countries did too THUS why their royalty got to keep their place. A pity indeed.

The ending was so sad, of course. I did get some tears especially thinking how monstrous revolutionaries can be. THE CHILDREN! They did nothing. UGH!!!!! So sad. My heart broke for Maria. She lost everything and pretty much everyone; such a tragic story. I loved it though. This was real and I felt the author really brought the characters to life. Splendid, indeed.


In the end, this is a must-read for anyone who likes historical fictions. Heck. For anyone who likes a good people story. The author is such a good storyteller and knows how to bring historical people to life! Just note...there is no HEA in this one. Very sad. I'll stamp this with 5 stars. :3

An absolutely amazing book! Over the years the Romanovs have been written about extensively, if not obsessively. Mostly on the reign of Nicholas II and Alexandra-the opulent lifestyle, the scandals, and their horrific ending. However, Gortner has written in the voice of Minnie, Princess Dagmar of Denmark, and the mother of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II. He begins her story in 1862, when Minnie is 15, and the family's fortune have dramatically and suddenly changed. This is a sweeping story, covering 56 years, broken into six parts, and truly breathtaking form. Gortner's ability to write in a woman's voice is incredible, and, in my opinion, rarely done well. This is Historical Fiction at its finest; almost 450 pages of a well researched, beautifully written account of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Five Stars.

5 huge stars to The Romanov Empress!

Historical fiction fans will not want to miss C.W. Gortner’s latest novel! I would also offer, if you enjoy perfect storytelling involving an enthralling and strong woman, this book is also for you.

The Romanov Empress is narrated by the mother of Russia’s last tsar. Maria (formerly “Minnie”) Feodorovna is born a Danish princess; however, while her family has rank due to title, it is low on funds. Her story begins when she is a teen, and her sister, Alix, is about to marry the Prince of Wales, son of Queen Victoria. I find Queen Victoria especially fascinating, so it was intriguing to hear about her from Maria’s point-of-view.

Maria also is set for a royal marriage to keep her family’s status, and while it is not an easy or simple journey, especially for her heart, she marries the Romanov heir who later takes the throne. The descriptions of the setting as she arrives in St. Petersburg were absolutely mesmerizing.

Later Maria’s husband dies, and her son, Nicholas, is now the ruler of a disintegrating empire that is struggling in every way. She attempts to guide her son, but her efforts are futile with Nicholas’ wife and Rasputin having the emperor’s ear.

The Romanov Empress is epic in its scope, and the writing is exquisite, while also being highly readable. The rich setting is replete with opulence and grandeur balanced with war and extreme turmoil. I savored this reading experience, and Maria is a memorable and inspiring historical figure who falls in love with Russia and does her best to honor and uphold it. It is a story of family, sacrifice, strength, and ultimately, love.

First novel I've read surrounding Russia's imperial rulers, and it did not disappoint. Similar to Phillipa Gregory's novels around England's throne, this novel enlightens the reader, in historical fiction to the inner workings of the Russian thrones pre World War 1, and then the fall of imperial Russia.

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down to 4 stars

This book was riveting! I knew a proverbial car crash was eminent, but I couldn’t look away. Much has been written about the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Tsarina Alexandra; and the mystery surrounding their deaths and the deaths of their five children in 1918 during the Bolshevik years Russia. I suspect that many readers are probably at least slightly familiar with this generation of the Imperial Russian Romanov dynasty. In ‘The Romanov Empress’, C.W. Gortner has taken us back two generations from their deaths, and explained how they ended up where they did. He has told us the story of how the last couple of pre-revolutionary (pre 1917) generations of Romanov’s lived and ruled and how things might have turned out differently if different choices had been made at any one of multiple places along the way.

The book’s primary character is Maria Feodorovna who is Nicholas II’s mother. She was named Dagmar and was born into a penniless European duchy in 1847. Her father unexpectedly inherited the role of King of Denmark, at which point she became known as Princess Dagmar of Denmark. Her older sister Alexandra (Alix), married the British Prince Edward. She went on to become the Queen Consort of England after Victoria died, and Edward was crowned King Edward VII. At age nineteen, Dagmar changed her name to Maria Feodorovna when she converted from Lutheranism to the Russian Orthodox Church before marrying Alexander Romanov who would go on to become Alexander III upon his coronation. They married in 1866 at which point her title became, Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna of Russia. Sasha and Minnie, as they were known within their family, eventually had six children. Five of whom survived to adulthood, and whom they raised during a very tumultuous time in Russian history.

Sasha’s father was ultimately killed by a bomb after having survived several previous assassination attempts. Sasha and Minnie were crowned Tsar and Tsarina in 1883. Sasha’s father, Alexander II was on the verge of agreeing to allow a parliamentary system to be adopted in Russia. After Alexander II’s assassination, Sasha clamped down harshly on the factions that were pushing for reform, and refused to allow any sort of parliamentary system to be created in Russia. One wonders how the fate of Russia and the Romanovs might have changed if Alexander II had survived to implement his political plan.

The ensuing years in the story take Minnie from a young bride, to a widow in 1894. After 1894 she influenced her children as Dowager Empress. She tried to have her son, Tsar Nicholas II, implement some of his grandfather’s plans. Instead he was heavily influenced by his wife Alexandra (Alicky) and in turn she was heavily influenced by the prophet-like figure of Rasputin. Nicholas would not relinquish any control to a representative form of government. That decision coupled with the weakening of the Russian empire during WWI, and the resulting inability to clamp down on dissident factions ultimately lead to the 1918 massacre.

This work of historical fiction was riveting, if a tad bit long. While the book kept building towards the denouement of the last days of the Romanov’s in Russia, Gortner kept my attention by describing the history preceding the collapse of the Romanov’s in an approachable way. Minnie lived to be 80 years-old, and she lived through such a tumultuous time in world events. I knew enough of Russian history before starting this book to know that the Romanov story wasn’t going to end well, but the book explained how they ended up as they did. It also explained so much more about the interconnectedness of European royalty at the time. I found it fascinating and really well written.

Thank-you to NetGalley; Ballantine Books; and the author, C.W. Gortner; for providing a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: July 10, 2018

4.5 Stars

This engaging historical novel about the life of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, neé Princess Dagmar of Denmark, evocatively captures the last seven decades of the Russian Romanov dynasty. Dagmar, who went by the nickname Minnie, came from relatively humble beginnings in life, a strong contrast to the life she led when she married Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich. Prior to the Russian Revolution, she had been one of the wealthiest women in the world. Minnie, or more formally Princess Marie Sophie Frederikke Dagmar of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, was born into an impoverished royal-blooded family in Denmark. One of six children, when her family was raised to rule in Denmark she saw the entire family's fortunes change in less than a decade, as she and her siblings married into or were appointed to powerful royal houses of Europe. Closest to her sister Alix, who married Bertie, Prince of Wales and son of Queen Victoria, and related to most of the great royal houses of Europe, Minnie lived a truly incredible life. During the course of her life in Russia, she saw the country descend into disaster and revolution.

Fiercely loyal and a family person, Minnie endured considerable personal loss, beginning with the untimely death of her beloved fiancé Tsarevich Nixa, to whom she was happily engaged, prior to marrying his younger brother, Grand Duke Alexander, who later became Tsar Alexander III. Minnie went on to raise five children to adulthood, including her firstborn son, the ill-fated Nicholas II. With her powerful charisma and socially adept nature, Minnie had helped smooth over some of the problems of the revisionist reign of her husband Tsar Alexander III, a conservative leader who reversed a number of liberal reforms of his predecessor-father. His death after only thirteen years as tsar placed Nicholas II at the head of the Romanov trainwreck. While he initially took his mother's advice in the early years of his reign, he eventually supplanted her with his somewhat unstable wife Alexandra as his chief advisor, spelling disaster for the Romanov line. Minnie lived to see all of her sons (her son George Alexandrovich died in a vehicle accident in 1899, and her remaining sons Tsar Nicholas II and Grand Duke Misha Alexandrovich who were cruelly murdered by the Bolsheviks), along with her grandchildren from Nicholas die before her, her own exile into penury, and a country she had loved for fifty years descend into the chaos of revolution.

The story of Maria Feodorovna is truly epic in its scope. While I had some trouble with the early parts of the book dealing with royals marrying for love versus duty (honestly, wasn't it way more duty than love for women marrying into these Royal European families?), the story of the last Romanovs is so gripping that you get swept away by Minnie's amazing and ultimately tragic life. This was a stirring and well-researched novel.

By the way, I do have to say that looking at photos (supplied on my blog's review post and Goodreads post!) of Dagmar and Nixa versus Dagmar and Sasha, you can't help but feel that there was great reciprocity and fondness between the former star-crossed pair. Her sadness over Nixa's loss is captured poignantly in this novel. Still, a year and a half later, her family had her packed off to St. Petersburg to marry his brother Sasha. Duty called.