As a big fan of C.W. Gortner's other books, I pounced on the opportunity to read a galley of THE ROMANOV EMPRESS. It didn't disappoint. The late 1800s and early 1900s are a fascinating time in Russian history and Gortner handles the challenges of depicting the fall of the Romanovs deftly. Grand palaces, royal jewels, courtly intrigue, and rebellion all mix together for a wonderful portrait of a woman who will do anything to save the empire she's grown to love.

Really wonderful historical fiction. This is the story of Princess Dagmar of Denmark- aka Minnie aka later as Maria- who becomes the Empress of Russia when she marries into the Romanov family. Oh the ups and downs of life as a member of ANY royal family during this period, let alone in Russia. This is a fascinating study not only of a woman who was married to a Tsar, mother of the last Tsar, and in the end, once again an impoverished refugee dependent on the generosity of others. You'll learn a lot about pre-Communist Russia = at least for the royal family- and about the complicated relationships between the royal families of Europe. Minnie is incredibly sympathetic and I applaud Gortner for making her so relatable as it could have easily gone the other way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of Nicholas and Alexandra (which I read years and years ago) will relish this one as will those looking for a good historical read to sink into. Highly recommend.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc! 4 solid stars. I love CW Gortner's writing, how you feel like you're actually THERE. I really enjoyed Maria's story - she's a historical figure that I knew virtually nothing about, except that she was the grandmother of Anastasia. Learning about Russian history was an added bonus, and I loved the ending and the historical notes.

This book was enthralling and I couldn't put it down. As a little girl, I was obsessed with Anastasia Romanov because of the animated feature movie from the 90s. I have read numerous non-fiction and fiction works about Anastasia and her immediate family, but I have never paid much mind to her grandmother as more than a footnote in her story. When I saw that C.W. Gortner was tackling Tsarina Maria Fedorova, I was thrilled. He portrays the complexities of her life in a way that make you understand who she is and what she stands for. As always with Gortner's books, I learned a great deal about the style and political ideals of the times frame which helped paint an engrossing picture of the era. The Romanov Empress was full of privilege and heartbreak and I would recommend this book whole-heartedly to any historical fiction lover.

When it comes to the Romanov women, It’s easy to highlight the excesses and dismiss their everyday lives as privileged and coddled. By focusing on one specific Romanov, Gortner depicts the weight they carried, and the fear and losses they bore. The sensationalism that often accompanies tales of the end of the monarchy is absent here, but knowing what is coming creates a palpable foreboding and an escalating sense of tragedy from the beginning.

The writing seems to take a couple chapters to settle in and is a bit choppy at first. There are a lot of characters with the same or similar names, and it would be helpful to have a list at the beginning of the book for reference. Regardless, it is a good piece of historical fiction that is well worth the read.

The Romanov Empress is a historical fiction novel about the Danish princess who would become Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, the mother of the last tsar of Russia. We meet Minnie, as those close to her call her, as a young lady bidding her sister Alix farewell as she heads off to begin her life as the wife of Queen Victoria's oldest son. Through a series of both happy and unfortunate events, Minnie soon finds herself marrying into the powerful Romanov family and becoming the mother of the next generation of Romanovs, to include the last Russian tsar. Her story takes place during a very unstable and tumultuous time in Russian political history, making her family the target of terrorist attacks and angry protesters. Illness also took many of those close to her. Through all this, she continued to thrive, becoming a dedicated mother/grandmother and ruler behind the scenes. Prior to reading this book, I didn't know much about this infamous member of Russian history. I always appreciate reading books I can learn from. The author did a wonderful job of setting the scenes historically, whether we find ourselves in St. Petersburg, Russia or Denmark. Minnie is a very complex character. She has an incredibly close relationship with her oldest son which causes her to come across as a very overprotective mother bear, especially when it came to his eventual marriage. Readers are also introduced to other infamous member from European history, such as Queen Victoria, Rasputin, and Vladimir Putin. While Minnie's story comes to a tragic end, I still felt that the author did an admirable job of telling the story of this strong, courageous woman. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in Russian history or historical fiction.

A compelling fictional story based on the life of Empress Maria Feodorovna and narrated by the mother of Russia's prior tsar. She was the Princess Dagmar of Denmark before marrying the heir to the Russian throne. She goes by "Minnie" and at the tender age of nineteen begins a life that will take her down many paths.

I was fascinated with the ambiance of the time period in Russia. Luxurious living, the royal jewels and all the Russian culture to the heartbreak of disease and war, this was such a captivating story. I loved following Minnie's life in Russia from the palace to the fight to save their empire.

Minnie ultimately had to face many struggles and she proved to be such a strong woman and a bold leader. She will witness the collapse of the Romanov dynasty and try to hold her family together. The politics, the strong family bonds as well as all the inner family drama added to the intrigue of this absorbing tale set in a turbulent historical time period. It is well written and richly detailed. I enjoyed reading about the Romanov Dynasty.

Review will post to my Blog on July 24,2018 as part of blog tour. Amazon review will post on publication date July 10,2018.

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

I wish I could travel back in time to live in this book. Imperial Russia has always been a huge interest of mine! This book was phenomenal! The description, the details! I enjoyed it all! A huge must read for any fans of not only the author C.W. Gortner, but of other historical fiction authors such as Philippa Gregory or Michelle Moran!

Normally, I tend to read books quickly. Not this time. It took me weeks to finally finish but not because it wasn't interesting, actually it was quite the opposite. Not only did I want to use a dictionary in order to understand some unfamiliar words but I also ended up spending lots of time researching some of the characters online. I used to think that I hated history because it was boring until I discovered that I actually do enjoy learning about it if it is told as an interesting story as opposed to reading about it in a history book. Thanks to C.W. I have a better understanding about what took place during that period of time through the eyes of Tsarina Maria Feodorvna.

The central figure of this book is Maria Feodorovna or Minnie, the mother of the last tsar of Russia. Of the royal house of Denmark, Minnie wasn’t meant to marry the tsar she did…Accepting her fate, she takes on the role of empress and becomes the strong, influential wife of the tsar. Despite not being Russian, she holds her own and becomes a crucial part of the court. But all’s not well with uprisings becoming frequent and devastating. Her reign as empress transitions when her husband dies - passing the baton to their son Nicholas. We know the history, the fall of the Romanov Empire and the eventual fate of members of the family. What C.W. Gortner does is take us into the day-to-day lives of the royal family and of the times. Full of intrigues, the positioning and the distinct dislike Minnie had for her daughter-in-law Alexandra, including the inexplicable relationship Alexandra had with Rasputin. There were so many characters who passed in and out of the book that I sometimes felt Gortner would have been better served not including all of them. While Minnie was definitely the central character and well fleshed out, I felt there was something missing - she felt flat and more like a character in a book rather than a real-life person - unlike the other two Gortner books I’ve read - Madame Chanel and The Last Queen. I enjoyed those two much more than this one. However, I learned more about Russia, Minnie and the fall of the Romanovs. I just didn’t enjoy it as much as the author’s other books. My three stars do mean it was good and worth the read! Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I have long been fascinated with the Romanov family and their tragic end. Although I have read many books about them, this one gave me a fresh point of view. It is told from the perspective of Minnie, a Danish princess who marries into the Russian royal family. We follow her life as a teenager moving to Russia, eventually becoming Empress and then mother to Czar Nicholas. She witnesses the changes and discord that happen over her lifetime in Russia, eventually culminating in WWI, the Russian revolution and the demise of her entire family. This book is really well-researched and educational, but it reads like a great, well-written novel.

This novel was such a treat. I've been long fascinated with the Romanovs, mainly because of Anastasia. I've read every book with her as the protagonist. I had just completed I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon when I learned of CW Gortner's newest book and did a happy dance. I loved that this was through the perspective of Anastasia's grandmother. I adored​ ​Maria Feodorovna. Her tenacity, her resolve, her compassion. This novel was very much a page-turning saga of her life. The novel also introduced me to new people, such as Victoria, and I gladly proceeded to binge-watch PBS's series on her younger years. All in all, this is exactly the type of historical novel I love. It touched upon an area that greatly interests me, it delivered, and it sparked ​interest in new people/stories.

Gortner is one of this generations great authors. This book was amazing. I loved how connected I was with the characters. The look past the imperial curtain was amazing. Gortner draws the reader in, to where you are part of the story. Great work!

I enjoyed this book! I had no idea any of these things had happened. I enjoy insight into what life must have been for royals in those days. Arranged marriages for the good of the realm and such. I also enjoyed the love story between the main characters as well. Finding love when you least expected it.

I loved this book! I've read so many books over Anastasia and the murdered members of the Romanov family. It's interesting to examine the events that led up to that murder from a new point of view. This book is full of realistic emotion and explanation of the years of Maria Feoderovna's life and the lives of her families from a refreshing point of view. Top marks!

I read one of C.W. Gortner's books about Juana of Castile years ago and loved it. As a result, I always pay attention whenever there's something new from this author. "The Romanov Empress" does not disappoint. It's an entertaining, engrossing read that does what I always want my period fiction to do - tell a good story, yes, but also make me interested enough in a time period or historical figure to seek out more information on it/them on my own. I want to learn more about teh real life of Maria Feodorovna now, and that's the highest compliment I can pay this story.

5 stars...

I have loved everything I have read by CW Gortner, but this surpassed my expectations! The writing was superb...voiced so well by Minnie. I was truly engrossed the whole book!

I have done peripheral reading on Russian royalty, mostly starring Tsar Nicolas' children. The Romanov Empress covers this and so much more! Although the plight of the last Russian Tsar is covered, it is minimal while still giving a good picture of the time period and family life. Dagmar of Denmark, aka Tsarina Maria Fedorovna, aka Minnie bridges several generations of Romanovs, and gives us insight into more than just her son's rule. It was fascinating to me! Her family touched many of the main countries Royal families in was you probably didn't know before. Even if she wasn't the mother of Tsar Nicolas, her story would be so interesting and relevant. It begins with her slightly impoverished childhood in Denmark and reading it will tell you where it ends. I highly recommend it to lovers of Royal or Russian fiction-you won't want to miss it!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, CW Gortner, & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC to read and honestly review!**

Follow Danish princess Minnie as she becomes the tsarevna of Russia, Maria Feodorvna. As the Romanov family is faced with threats from their people, this woman does everything she can to protect her family only to face tragedy.

This fictional look at a bold woman who was the mother of the last tsar was one I couldn't put down. I'd never read about this particular royal before, and I was fascinated as I watched her grow through the pages of this book. Her love for her country shone through the narrative.

I loved taking a closer look at this remarkable woman. There were a couple instances of sex scenes, although they were not too detailed. Though this spans the majority of Maria Feodorvna's life, it doesn't feel too long.

I would recommend this to any reader who is interested in the Romanovs or for any reader who enjoys historical novels, fiction or not so much.

A rich, detailed and highly engrossing look at the life of Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Alexander III and mother of Tsar Nicholas, the last Romanov Tsar. I am familiar with the lives of the last Tsar and his wife but had little to no idea about his mother, who was born a member of the Danish royal family and not raised in the ostentatious fashion indicative of Tsarist Russia. Gortner has written other historical fiction books, but I have yet to read any of them even though they seem like they would be right up my alley. However, having read this tome over the last few weeks and having loved it, I would definitely like to see what else is on offer from this author.
The story follows the Dowager Empress from her birth in Denmark and early life through her engagement to Nixa (the original tsarevich) and following his death, her marriage to his brother. I was entranced by the descriptions of the historical occasions, costumes and characters and transported to late 18th century Russia.
I would absolutely recommend this book.

I have been on a royal historical fiction kick lately. I absolutely love the War of the Roses, the Victorian Era and of course, The Romanovs. Now, given that author C.W. Gortner wrote this book, I assumed I'd love it but I read it one sitting--from 9 PM to 1 AM! The story follows Dagmar of Denmark (known as Maria Feodorovna when she married into the Imperial Family) and the trials and tribulations she faced at one of the most rebellious and revolutionary times in Russian history. I loved how real she felt, how her pain and happiness felt so true to both the time period she lived in and true to how a woman could feel in those situations. It was such a wonderful read...highly recommend!