This book hooked me from the first page as it instantly pulled me into a fascinating world. Though I have read of this time and these characters many times before, I have never experienced this story as if it were brought to life. The family came to life as I never have read of them before and thoroughly enjoyed the magical and fantasy elements of this captivating story! It is sure to be a fantastic hit!

I always had an interest in the Romanovs and was very lucky to have received this book as an ARC.

A magical retelling of the exile of the Tsar and his family, I felt myself getting attached to so many of the characters in the book. It also made me devastated at some parts of the story. This book was also written in Anastasia aka Nasya's POV.

It was also well researched and I absolutely loved reading it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The story of Anistasia is one that is quite popular. For many years it was pondered if the grand duchess had survived the horrific murder of her entire family. To add fuel to the fire so to speak the Royal family were sainted for their sacrifices. Not to mention the rumors and speculation that surrounded the family due to the mysterious Rasputin.

So the story in truth is quite remarkable and one I have had a passing interest in for many years, how could you not with all that!

Nadine Brande’s Romanov was spectacular! The historical aspects were well researched . So much so that you could almost believe this story to be true, even with the use of magic. The timing and events of history blended superbly with a story of survival and hope and love.

Knowing how the Romanov family died you would think it was hard to have hope for a happy ending, but the way Brande spun the tale there was one, at least for Anistasia and her brother.

This story is Rich with history and embued with hope. If you are not familiar with the story of the Romanov family then you could still get a pretty good idea about what had happened to them in this book, though let’s not forget it is a work of fiction.

The story takes place after the last Royal family of Russia had been arrested for treason for crimes against the mother country. They are being held prisoner until a decision can be made about what should be done with them. At one point the family is separated when the final verdict is exile. So the Romanov family is exiled to the edge of Russia where they are essentially under house arrest. From there the family suffer a great deal of ups and downs (you’ll have to read it to get the juicy bits). After a while things go from bad to order and the family begin to lose hope of rescue and worse hope of survival.

Laced throughout the history and bits of magic there is love. In fact two of our Royal girls find love, and heartache, entwined with their trials. Anistasia doesn’t know if she should dare to hope that love will blossom and that she will survive.

Nadine Brande, I thank you very much for your unique vision for Anistasia’s story. I only wish it were truth! I give Romanov a very enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars!

So my little booking if historical fiction is your thing, or stories of hope and survival, or forbidden love or young adult or just about anything, then this is a fantastic book for you to read!

I was supplied an advanced copy of Romanov from NetGally for a fair and honest review.

BTW, I loved it! 😉

Where do I even start - Nadine Brandes is a go to author for Historical Fantasy YA books!

An intriguing book taking you slowly into the history of Russia and the Romanov family. What Nadine has done is weave their deep family history and added a twist of magic with spell masters. This book builds an intricate tale of family, strength, faith, and never giving up.

This book had many cultural references which was a fantastic learning experience. An Anastacia retelling at heart, this book delves into siberian adventure and magic. The atmosphere build up in this novel was incredible. I thorougly enjoyed reliving the well known tale of the Romanov family. If you like historical fiction and fantasy genres, then I would recommend picking this book up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. A phenomenal retelling of The Romanov family. As someone who is low key obsessed with the Russian tsars, a love or the Anastasia movie, and the Amazon Romanoff series, this was perfect. As I read I constantly was asking what’s next?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5*/4* I was really excited when I first heard about this book because like many people, the animated Anastasia movie was one of my favourites growing up and it left me with a fascination with the Romanov family and their mysterious and tragic end. Having said that, I've never read anything by this author before so I had no idea what to expect, but I did end up really enjoying this book.

TW for violence, blood, death (as to be expected if you know what happened to the Romanov family)

I think the first half is fairly historically accurate, with a few embellishments such as the character of Zash. I really liked how Brandes wove in so many little details (that I later googled) like the soldiers building the family a swing, and Maria and Ivan's relationship. The second half of the book takes on more of a YA fantasy adventure element, and explores what might have happened to Anastasia if she had survived- this part of the book obviously considers how Anastasia and Alexei's bodies were initially not found, which spurned rumours of Anastasia's survival, so the second half of the book concerns the two of them, along with Zash. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the romance between Nastya and Zash, and I think the same elements of forgiveness could be explored through a friendship, I did think it was good that there was a non-familial character involved for Nastya to interact with, and to explore some of the views of the Bolsheviks. Their relationship also allowed themes of good vs evil and the blurred lines between those extremes to be explored.

The magic element also wasn't something I completely expected, as I thought the novel might be more historical fiction, and although I do think I did prefer the first, more historical, part of the book, I did like the way magic was woven into the story and provided an element of hope and light in what is realistically a very dark story.

I also really enjoyed the authors notes and her identification of which parts of the story were fact based and which were not.

Overall, I think Brandes take on Anastasia's story is unique and I am pretty impressed and will read more of her work. Definitely recommend this one to anyone who like me grew up with an interest in the Romanovs and would like to explore what could-have-been through fiction

"Romanov" is a wonderful YA historical fiction which weaves magic into the story of the Romanovs. This book completely hooked me from the start and did not disappoint with twists and turns and magic and romance that added new elements to the story we know. The book begins with the Romanovs in exile at Tobolsk. The Bolsheviks are keeping them under lock and key fairly loosely at first but the restrictions begin growing over time. Anastasia (primarily called by her nickname Nastya) is 16 years old when this has begun and looks to her father for guidance. He has endless patience and forgiveness for the soldiers who he views as also trying to do the best for Russia.

"It is [hard] if you separate the two- old life and new life. But once you learn that it's all one life and each day is a new page, it gets a bit easier to let your story take an unexpected path."

Things begin to change when her father, mother, and sister are taken to Ekaterinburg, and Nastya is given a task by her father to protect the Matryoshka doll which was gifted to her family by a powerful spellcaster. As Nastya takes this mission, she must work hard to keep the doll safe and to know when to use the spells within. She is also trying to help her brother, Alexei, who has hemophilia, and is often in pain because of it. Nastya wishes she knew more spells to heal him rather than just take away the pain, but she is also running out of the spell ink she needs to cast these simple spells.

"Revenge would have shattered us both. But you've given us the opportunity to be strong. To mend our hearts instead of break them further."

As Nastya and her siblings travel to join their parents and Maria in Ekaterinburg, they know that everything is changing for their family for the worse. Centering around Nastya and her hopes, dream, and dedication to the mission given her by her father, this book is anything but boring. If you know the story, this follows the history pretty closely- with the added element of magic and some new characters in the soldiers who guard the Romanovs.

"Peace, quiet, and safety are all well. But community and relationships are what truly fill a person's life."

The first half of the book consists of a lot of character, setting, and world building; however, I found it anything but dull. I was completely caught up in Nastya, her siblings, her parents, and the Bolshevik soldiers for whom they came to care. The second half contains the death and bloodshed that are to be expected in such a story, and we felt as Nastya does, connected to these characters who will face the worst. Nastya is such a great character and so insightful at 16/17. She sees what is happening with her family, with her sister, with the soldiers, and views it from many perspectives. She has the heart of a troublemaker and uses this to help her family as they are under lock and key. Nothing is so black and white, and I think this was beautiful.

"Let no one call you tame."

The added element of magic was interesting- this is different than the typical magic, requiring spell ink and knowledge rather than the usual formats you will see in books, and this felt really unique. With some added romance for Nastya, full of the push and pull regarding the situations and decisions they will face, this book has something for everyone. I absolutely devoured this book, and I highly recommend for people who like cross-genre YA. This is a book not to be missed!

"The bond of our hearts spans miles, memory, and time."

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

“I realized that a part of forgiveness was accepting the things someone had done – and the pain that came with that – and moving on with love.” -Anastasia from Romanov

This book was AH-MAZING.

I’m someone who very rarely reads Historical Fiction aside from a few authors and Nadine Brandes is definitely now a part of this list. My issue with so many Historical Fiction books is that they often feel like I’m reading a history textbook, and this…this was NOT one of those books.

This story was crafted so beautifully, and the ending was beyond perfect. Throughout the whole story I was just in LOVE with the Romanov family. I loved their relationships and love for each other. I especially loved the relationship between Nastya and Alexei! It was beyond beautiful. And I love how the story focused more on the love and relationship between a family more than the love interest story line. I knew nothing about the real-life Romanov family going into this story and the whole time I was reading this book I was just rooting for them and my heart rejoiced and grieved with them and their situation over and over and over again. Their small moments of joy brought me joy and their moments of sadness broke me. I was so invested in this story of their amazing family. I love the strength and the voice Nadine brought to Nastya’s character. She was so easy to connect with and relate to. I love that despite everything Nastya and her family has been through, she is so strong and despite her pain and being faced with many difficult decisions she was never selfish. She always thought about her family and those around her.

Whether you read Historical Fiction on a regular basis or not I 100% recommend this book.

An enthralling tale set against the last days of the Romanov family, Russia’s final royals.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I found it enthralling, well-written, and above all a fascinating story. Brandes has crafted a fantastic plot, blending truth with fiction, and populated it with compelling characters, on both sides of the revolution.

The premise based on magic and spell-masters is captivating and the writing doesn’t disappoint. Intricate descriptions and atmosphere drew me into the tale and kept me reading way past my bedtime.

The only thing I found a little jarring was the peppering of some modern words and terms throughout. It shook me out of the novel’s world and felt a bit unnatural.

I recommend this to anyone who likes a good story, fans of historical fiction, and YA lovers.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. I am grateful for the opportunity to review an ARC for my readers, but this will not influence my final rating. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and based solely on the book. 

What can I say but thank you, Nadine Brandes, for gifting me with my first five star read of the year? (I read this much earlier than the publication of this review may suggest, but trust me, I was starving for a fantastic read.) Romanov is all the Russian history and magical realism you could ask for, wrapped up in evocative themes of loss, forgiveness, and strength in the face of adversity. 

Like many, many others, I was introduced to the House of Romanov via the 1997 animated movie. I still get tears when I hear Once Upon a December and as far as I'm concerned, Rasputin was one of the creepiest on-screen villains. In Romanov, I had to take a step back from the *heavily* creative adaption that was the Anastasia movie, though. If you watched the film, here are some major differences to watch out for in the book:

-- Rasputin isn't an evil sorcerer bent on destroying the Romanov line. He's a spell-caster who treated Nastya's brother, Alexei, for hemophilia. He's already dead at the beginning of the book, killed by the Bolsheviks for his use of magic. 
-- Anastasia, known as Nastya to her friends and family, is not separated from her grandmother after getting amnesia. In fact, in Romanov there is no grandmother. (Well, not of our protagonist's, anyway.) Nastya spends most of her time with her brother, Alexei, and sister Maria. Both play a big part in the story. 
That was how we sisters worked. When one was weak, another picked up the strength. — Romanov, Nadine Brandes

"[...] As we speak, Dr. Botkin is incapacitating the Bolsheviks."
"Bravo, Dr. Botkin!" I applauded and we both giggled at the image of our dear doctor wielding his stethoscope as a weapon.
Almost as quickly as the giggles came, Alexei sobered and his face fell. "But imagine that I never get strong enough to travel..." —Romanov, Nadine Brandes

I have to be honest in saying that 99% of the things I want to scream my adoration over would absolutely qualify as spoilers, so I had to severely edit my review to both 1) hype you up for this YA release while not 2) ruining the entire plot in one go. However, Brandes sticks closely to the Romanov's history following their imprisonment by the Bolsheviks. If you're familiar with the story, then you'll spot the similarities while reading. I'll admit it: I forgot/didn't know a lot of details, but love how Brandes tied them in to Romanov while keeping the novel her own, original piece. 

I personally think the book summary does Romanov a small injustice. Saying Nastya's only chances of survival are to release a spell or rely on Bolshevik soldier Zash (her enemy) both made her sound unable to rely on her own strengths AND portrayed the Zash-Nastya romantic relationship as a large component of the book. But Nastya is a level-headed, clever girl who gets herself and her family out of trouble more than once using her own wits. And her relationship with Zash. Oh my, that needs a whole paragraph. 

Nastya and her family have been held prisoner for months. They don't know if they are to live or die. But Nastya's father, the Tsar Nicholas II, is always quick to remind his children that all of their people are deserving of kindness. Even though they have been stripped of their royal titles, they are to act with goodness and grace. It is Nasty's father's instructions that encourage her, even in the hardest of times, to be friendly to the Bolshevik soldiers: including Zash. Nastya's relationship with Zash represents the efforts of a family to love even when a country has turned against them. 

I wished I could keep my peace the way [Papa] did. It was as though he bore no animosity. I tried to be like him, but sometimes I felt as though a small ball of hate lurked in the back corner of my heart—waiting to spring out and consume me. —Romanov, Nadine Brandes

Review posting on blog MAY 2: https://bookprincessreviews.wordpress.com/
Review posting on Goodreads MAY 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2577266649

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! I wish you could give halves of stars because I would’ve given it like 4 1/2 stars.

First of all I loved how a lot of the history in this book is accurate. If something wasn’t accurate you could pretty much tell. Like the whole magic thing and I kind of knew Zash wasn’t real. Now I hope Nastya and Alexei really did survive! I also think the fiction parts aren’t too far stretched except for the magic. I like how Alexei was able to survive his hemophilia and didn’t have pain at the end.

I also liked how this was an easy read and kept a good pace. The characters were easy to love and understand. I thought the whole storyline was really amazing. Usually if I love a book, I can finish it in a few days, and that’s what happened. If you’re looking for an easy fast paced read this is for you!

I only have two things I think could be better. I liked how the Romanovs were portrayed as the good guys, but I think that we could’ve heard more about why the other people didn’t like them as much. I feel like it was a little too good vs evil. There wasn’t anything bad about the Romanovs. I mean good for them, but I think there could’ve been something bad about them that I would still love them for.

The second thing is that I wish there was more romance between her and Zash. That little kiss at the end just wasn’t enough for me.

Overall I think this book was really good and I’d definitely recommend it!

At first I really didn't get into this book. I hated how Anastasia's character was developed but once the plot took over I was addicted.
Anastasia's character is explained to us constantly at the start of the book which is particularly difficult to read because it is written in first person. She grew on me as I actually got to know her through her actions and relationships with the other characters.
It's definitely an interesting take but if you're a history nerd or a fan of the movie I wouldn't recommend it! For those who don't know a lot about this part of Russian history, Brandes includes a small chapter at the end explaining what is real and what she changed.

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley.

Let me start off by saying I don't think this is a bad book, but I do think <b>Romanov</b> needed quite a bit more developmental edits. Specifically, 1st act plot revision.

Here's the break down:
Romanov has 40 chapters total (335 pages)
<i>Nothing</i> of consequence happens until chapter 20
C h a p t e r t w e n t y
That's 184 pages of build up until the inciting incident (or decision that catapults the main character into the rest of the story) and makes for an incredibly long and dull first act. For those of you stats folk, that means you will be 55% of the way through the book before the first major plot point hits.

I also couldn't believe the main characters "voice". Nastya is supposed to be a 17-year-old, but her actions, interactions, and inner monologue create the voice of a much younger girl, maybe 11-14. If some of the gore and death were cut out (with the plot issue fixed) this could have been a killer middle-grade novel.

A few things I liked:

-The brutality of the situation was never hidden. We all know what happens to the Romanovs and how terrible it was. The author doesn't shy away from the savagery.

-The relationship between our MC and her brother was truly beautiful. Alexi ended up being one of my favorite characters and I found myself caring about his welfare just because the MC cared for him so much.

-The authors note at the end was a very nice touch.

-There are dogs. Like, how can you not enjoy dogs in a book?! (btw–trigger warning if you are sensitive to animal harm)

So this was a big miss for me, but I would still recommend if you can handle slow stories, are very interested in the Romanov family, or are dying for more Russian inspired tales.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

I'm in two minds about this book: on one side I liked the mix of historical fiction and fantasy, on the other side I think that there were some historical issue and the writer was too keen on the Romanov and Rasputin.
It's well written and entertaining and I'm sure there will be a lot of person who will find it amazing.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

I was able to read this ebook through NetGalley.

I'm not a huge fan of retellings. What caught my attention with this book was the main character-- Anastasia. I've always been interested in her story and how a royal family's execution could be so brutal and swift.

My main issue with this book is the writing style. If you're going to add fantasy and magic into a historical event, do it. But still hold onto the time period's stylistic preferences. Also, the pacing was off. So much time was spent with Anastasia mulling over her family's misfortune; how did they get there? Some flashbacks would have made the first half less dull.

I'm still not a fan of retellings. Unfortunately, this book didn't have anything there to change my mind.

I liked the subtle mix of magic and history in this one. The fantasy element is what really kept me going when not a whole lot was happening otherwise. I really enjoyed the end when the author outlined what was and wasn't based in history. I liked it overall.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

WOW!!! This was one of my most anticipated release of 2019, and it did not disappoint. I am fascinated by the Romanov's and everything that happened. I also enjoyed that a bit of fantasy was mixed into the historical part of this book. It was nothing like what I expected but so much more! I plan on getting the physical copy of this book. I felt for Nastya and Alexei throughout the entire ordeal.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys history and fantasy.
5 stars out of 5 for me

Romanov is a reimagining of the doomed final Czar of Russian and his family, namely his youngest daughter Anastasia who was believed not to have died alongside her family for years.

I love the cover of this book and when I read the blurb I was even more interested in reading it. What I was expecting was a fantasy reimagining of Anastasia's tale, but what I didn't expect was a well-researched peek into history. I'll admit, other than the basics I didn't know much about the real Anastasia beyond the old cartoon movie. For instance, I thought Anastasia was killed as a child, not that she made it to her teenage years. I didn't know they shot her family and put them in a mass grave or that Anastasia and her sisters sewed their jewelry into their corsets; so I really appreciate the author mixing the fact in with the fictional.

Nastya is not the spoiled self-absorbed girl the Russian believe her and her family to be like. She's kind and thoughtful and loves to make her family laugh by putting on little plays. She loves her father and watches over her sickly younger brother and is really close with her immediate family. All she wants is for them to disappear into a small village to live out the rest of their lives. But the Bolsheviks have different ideas.

As Nastya endures hardship for the first time in her life, prejudice from people who know nothing about what's she's really like, and unspeakable tragedy she must use her wits and spells taught to her by Rasputin himself to save herself and Alexi.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, addictive read that gave me the most precious gift of all... knowledge about a part of history I only thought I knew the details of before.

When I saw a new retelling on the Romanov family and Anastasia Romanov, I knew I had to read this. The fact that there was a fantasy element to it - even better! I received an ARC from the publisher, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

What I loved about this book was how much true history went into it. I have always been fascinated with the true Romanov story, probably above an average level, and I could tell this author did her homework. The story is told from the perspective of Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov, who begins the novel at age 16 and turns 17 during the course of the story. She's sort of the mischievous <i>shvibzik</i> of the family, not rebellious but definitely one who pushes her boundaries and knows how to be sly when she needs to be. She was a very relatable character who earned my interest and sympathy right away. She struggled with a lot of things, understandably so, but went to a lot of effort, often at great risk, to help her family. The biggest struggle for her, I felt, was working within her limitations because she wanted to do more and much of what she thought she needed to do was far beyond her control or ability, and I thought the author captured these feelings well. I felt them right alongside her.

Yurovsky was a character I genuinely hated (and I was supposed to). He did horrible, unspeakable things with absolutely no remorse or sense of humanity whatsoever, and I felt that this big theme of humility and forgiveness that Papa preached and emulated to their family that Nastya tried very hard to understand and practice, would have been very hard for me.

Zash, the Bolshevik soldier who first came into the picture in Tobolsk and then on to guard the family at Ipatiev House, started out as a hard, solid, defensive and dutiful soldier that you think you're going to hate until you don't. His character was interesting and different, and I would've liked to know more about his history and what his life was like before he came to be a Bolshevik soldier. He plays his part, and in some cases way too well... you'll know what I mean if you read the book... but it's hard not to love this guy, and it was fun to watch the way he came to play a part in Nastya's story and her fictional life.

There's a point about halfway through the book where an inspector comes in and finds something happening that sets events into motion, and that is where the story starts getting to where you cannot put it down. There's a sense of urgency and unrest, an anxious need to keep reading to find out what happens next, and there are times of dread and times of relief, and the story is very deep and heartbreaking because you're thinking in the back of your mind that a lot of this is historically factual. Let that sink in as you're reading this book.

The four reasons I can't give this book 5 stars are:
1. The first maybe half of this 335-page book was a little on the slow side as far as pacing went. Not boring - it held my attention, and there wasn't a point where I wanted to put the book down, but just not a whole lot was happening up until about the halfway point. That is when it really started rolling. (But when it did, it really got good!)

2. We got a lot about Nastya (Anastasia), and a fair amount of Alexei, a little less of Maria. The other two siblings, Tatiana and Olga, were just kind of mentioned here and there with not much else. Was this because of their age differences? They didn't play as big of a role in Nastya's life? And while we got to know a little about Papa and just a tiny scene where Mamma revealed a secret to Nastya, Mamma was otherwise nonexistent in the story. I felt like some of these characters could have been fleshed out a little more than they were. In some cases, it was like they were just kind of there with no emotional connection or purpose.

3. I hate to say it, but I didn't really feel like the Romanov family's time spent in exile at the Ipatiev House was made to seem all that bad. Maybe it got a little boring, but who hasn't spent time in their childhood bored out of their mind stuck in a house somewhere when they wanted to be anywhere else? Was that really just me???

4. The magic, I felt, was very low key, almost to the point of magical realism in this story, up until toward the end. There was "healing magic" throughout that I would almost equate to the topical use of essential oils and the power of self-fulfilling prophecy. It wasn't until the end when Dochkin and the use of the Matryoshka doll and its hidden powers really came into play that magic really became prominent in the story. I guess I would like to have seen the fantasy aspects be a little more central to the overall story.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book overall. I read it all in one day, except for the very last chapter that I woke up and read the following morning. I loved this fictional take on a factual story in history, and I can't wait to hear what other people's thoughts are on it.