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

The story is set in an alternative history, a world including spells and Anastasia's survival. As a fan of the animated film, I was eager to read the book. The cover art is gorgeous too!

It was interesting to get some history on what it was like for the royal family after their arrest. The family dynamics were sweet. Zash and his backstory were a small part but I enjoyed learning about his culture and appreciated that the author included it. Sadly, I had a hard time with the rest of the book. Though the story strove for historical accuracy, criticism of the royal family was regarded as propaganda and portrayal of their enemies was continuously shed in a negative light. It was entirely one-sided and left me uncomfortable throughout the book because this viewpoint kept getting brought up. I understand that the story was entirely in Anastasia's PoV but there was a lack of self-reflection on her family's part in the country's demise. The magic system and world-building weren't as integral to the story as I was expected considering how motivated Anastasia was in attaining spells and becoming a spell master. Also, the story dragged until a little past halfway point. Once the inevitable had happened, it was much easier to follow along with the characters and their journey.

I loved everything about this novel from the characters to the plot and writing style. I cannot wait for other readers to get their hands on this book!

I loved to get my hands on everything about the Romanovs. Romanov seemed like an excellent read because it is a fantastical take on how Anastasia survived the revolution. However the plot was slow-pacing. It is not until almost two-third of the book that Anastasia escapes from her captives. The world-building was not explained, and it seems like the author simply assumes the reader knows about her world. Still, Romanov’s main strength is the writing, and I loved the historical details of the Russian Revolution. Thus, this novel had potential but was not executed well.

Taking a different view on the Russian princess Anastasia, Brandes begins the story with the Romanov's already exiled to Siberia. Weaving in just a hint of magic into the account of their imprisonment was fascinating and felt so realistic. As the story progresses, I was curious to see how she would handle their eventual deaths. And, spoiler alert - her solution was a heavy dose of magic. Once the magic aspect of the story came full force, I completely lost interest. It just felt too heavy handed for me to handle, and spoiled the book for me.

As a child, I grew up loving the animated movie “Anastasia”. It was one of my all time faves and still is to this day! So when I saw this book I immediately wanted to read it - and I liked it well enough. It leans heavier on the “historic” side of historical fiction, so if you are a huge history fan you will most definitely love this adaptation. All the shortcomings in my eyes I think originated from the fact that I went into this book thinking of an animated movie musical rather than the actual family that existed in history. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves history or wants to learn about the real family behind their favorite 1998 cartoon.

This was a really solid historical-fiction book for me. There was a little magic, which was used in a way that I had not seen before, which I loved, and there was a little romance, which wasn’t unnecessary or poorly written, there was action and life-or-death stakes. It was just a really enjoyable read. I don’t really have anything negative to say about it.

I can say for sure that this version of Anastasia is probably one of my favorites now. I loved how strong and confident Nastya was and how she protected her family. She was bold, mischievous, and full of heart. She really made the book for me.

If you’re a fan of the Romanov story or historical fiction, this book is a must-read.

Final verdict: 3.5/5 stars
*ARC copy kindly provided via Netgalley*

Anastasia, or "Nastya" Romanov is exiled along with the ruling Romanov family to Siberia when the Soviet Bolsheviks come to power in Russia. Endearingly called "shvibzik" by her father, she is impish and has always liked to play pranks on those around her. She will now have to use these skills to help save her family from future danger as she struggles to smuggle a magical Matryoshka doll made by one of the most powerful spell masters in Russia: Dochkin. While in exile and in captivity, Nastya and her sister make friends with the guards, per their father's (former Tsar Nikoloai) instruction. He is portrayed as a kindly man of faith who asks his family to be patient and kind to their captors, favoring forgiveness over hate and violence. Soon, Anastasia and her sister Maria begin to develop feelings for guards Zash and Ivan- but will their stories have a happy ending?

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD- BEWARE
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it has so much historical fact backing it that it makes the story very believable. You also get to live in the shoes of a family who was slaughtered in real life and get to the live out the 'what ifs'? Over the course of reading this book, I also grew to love many of the characters and the way they struggled to forgive their captors, no matter how harsh these Bolshevik men were to the royal family. You ALSO see how the royal family's kindness begins to wear on the enemy, and how they begin to sympathize. You get a clear and rare view of the humanity behind war and how if people forgive and treat each other with respect, it becomes harder and harder to hate someone- no matter how ideologically different. 

I began to fall in love with all the members of the Romanov family AND even with some of their captors, no matter their faults. You begin to see that sometimes those who are harsh and brutal are not that way out of choice. The plot in the novel is strong, the dialogue is wonderful and not forced, and the book moves at a relatively good pace. 


What did I not really enjoy?
1. Be warned- there are STRONG religious overtones AND undertones in this book- frequently detailing how the family prayed, references to the bible and Jesus, etc. So if you are not a very religious person, you may feel uncomfortable reading this. At the same time, the Romanovs were known for being devout- so don't shirk away from the book just because of that!

2. Anastasia is left with a support role at the end, when I would have liked her to continue the fight. She is also frequently overshadowed by her sickly YOUNGER brother towards the end, which to me seems a little sexist. I understand that he is the tsarevich (next in line on the throne), but she so readily and humbly submits to him. She wanted to be a spellmaster and talked about her dreams throughout the whole book for goodness sakes and at the end her brother STEALS Dochkin from her just because she wants to play the domestic? Nah, this didn't fly with me all too well. 

3. I understand forgiveness, but COME ON- freeing Yurovsky like that?!?! No way. I would have liked for Anastasia to come down on this dude who MURDERED her family and then continued to hunt her, Zash, and Alexei (her younger brother). She should have gone full John Wick when her brother's Spaniel was killed and given him a magical ass-whoopin' he would NEVER forget. 

So yeah, I gave it a 3.5/5 because to me, it became a little sexist and too humble at the end. Call me terrible about the whole humble thing, but whateva. Everything needs limits. If you are not into religious stuff, you may also not dig some parts of the novel but it isn't SO MUCH that you put the book down- trust me. Give it a shot, you might like it. 

ONE MORE THING- This book is GORY- it's like an 8/10 on my gore scale so yah, you've been warned!

Awe I loved this!! So lovely! I always loved reading about the Romanovs as a kid and the thought of a princess not knowing who she truly is. This is perfect for the teen that loves the fairytale but historical novel, the american girl doll type novels. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was so, so excited for this book. I love the premise, but the execution fell a bit short for me (poor choice of words, sorry). I thought Nastya was written pretty well- I especially liked her spunk and mischievous nature. The whole romance aspect did not come across like it does in most books, and I'm still not sure if I like it or not. I think the author had a good balance of historical accuracy and fiction, and it never read like a non-fiction book at any point. The one thing I didn't really understand or enjoy the magic system. I understand that Nastya herself didn't fully understand it, but I was so confused at the beginning and really wanted some sort of explanation as to the basics of how it works. 

Overall, I enjoyed the idea of this book more than the actual book itself.

I absolutely loved Romanov! I was completely captivated from word one and couldn't get enough of it. I got so frustrated when real life interrupted my reading and let me tell ya', it got interrupted quite often. But once things settled down and I was able to hunker down and read to my heart's content, I flew through the pages. It was utterly compelling. The seamless way Brandes weaved the magical element in with the actual history was brilliant. 

I hate to admit this, but I didn't know a whole lot about the Romanovs before this book. Though, you can be sure that through the course of reading this novel, I looked up information, did more research, and quickly became fascinated by the actual history behind this historical fantasy. I love when fiction does that! Some of my favorite novels are ones that teach me new things, lead me to new interests, and make me want to learn. 

This is a book that's definitely going on my favorites list. It was beautiful and, yet, heartbreaking. There were times I was laughing so hard at Anastasia's mischievous antics and then tearing up, heartbroken, over the cruelty of what was happening to the Romanov family. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

This book was definitely poignant and touching, but something about it never really clicked with me. It was enjoyable enough and tugged all the right heartstrings, but ultimately, I didn't really feel close to any of the characters.

An interesting alternative history take on a tragic story, with bonus magic. Unlike many YA novels, this one has an amazing and loving father and close-knit family (and it seems that this is true to life, though artistic license has obviously been taken). Handy author's note at the end shares some factual information and areas where Brandes made changes, which I really appreciate in historical novels with main characters who were real people. It also has discussion questions if anyone reads it for a bookclub.

I received a copy of Romanov by Nadine Brandes through NetGalley in exchange for review. 

So I was initially excited to hear about this historical- fantasy blend on Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov as she is introduced to us here, infusing magic into Grand Duchess's tragic tale of what might have been.
I want to like this more, but the descriptions of the settings is what really drags it down for me.
We meet Nastya and her family already well under abdication, they have long fled their palace home and are under Bolshevik control. Living in property that has been seized by all who would not yield to the regime. Surrounded by enemy soldiers who hate the Romanov's, only her family ties bind them together.
I like Naysta as a character, she's single-mindedly driven by love her her family and the idea that magic from one of the country's Master Spell Writers can liberate her family and save the Tsarivch Alexei from hemophilia which plagues his very life. With the last bastion of magical items - a Matryoshka doll, each layer containing a precious spell that may save them all. She must keep it hidden and discover the meaning to open it, all while navigating what is though to be the final months of her families lives. 
Both Romanovs and Bolshevik's come to see that each side is not quite what they expected, friendships are formed. Loyalties are tested. But tragedy will still find the Romanov family, some things even magic can not re-write.

The book it's self is set in extremely limited settings, and I never really got a feel for the descriptions of the places they occupied. I did feel the connective and emotional love of family ties, and the ability to forgive and heal. But it just didn't connect for me, and felt stilted and lacking in some areas.
The main vehicle for the magic aspect of survival, kind of drive me nuts, because it was just frankly not that believable. And it fit in strangely with only the minor spells we are introduced to in the beginning, and when we learn the way Alexei was healed by Rasputin.... It doesn't match with the sort of "laws" of magic that are set up. And feels like a real stretch.

I really wanted to like this, maybe more research would have helped, a better more through out magical system, more in the book its self to built the world up. Just something.

Because of the huge fascination the world has had with the Romanov royal family I am so glad that someone has written this story. Its clever and the story interesting but the one issue I had with the text was that often times I was unable to find the real tone of the book and had issues identifying what kind of story Nadine was trying to do

This book was really enjoyable! The information given throughout the story and I'm the afterword, taught me a lot about the Romanovs that I hadn't known before. The magic system is something I've never seen before and was intriguing. Spell ink? Very clever but seems impractical. My favorite part of the book is Nastya's relationships with her father and brother Nikolai. I wasn't here for Nastya's romance at all. 

Forgiveness is a big thing in this book, which is great in concept and as a lesson for my kids, but it's not one I learned well myself and that I think is a bit overrated. I could never and would never forgive what Nastya does. It's unforgivable in my eyes. 

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.

I am still not over this, I started this at 9:30pm and finished it at midnight! Didn't regret it! This was such a powerful book, my heart broke everytime someone died, which is to be expected but it was so sad!!!!!!!!! I love how history is weaved in throughout this book, I'm going to read more about the Romanov's.

I knew little about Ramanov family going into the story but always been interested in knowing more and so when this book promised a magical twist on an age old tragedy, how coukd I not be tempted?

I found the beginning difficult to get through, having no background knowledge but as soon as it crossed 20%, I coukdnt stop reading. The story was so compelling, the magic bit was alright but didnt really need to be there. I found their struggles of hope, forgiving and being humble so interesting to read. Their final days, their hope of survival and how they formed friendship with their enemies that costed the royal family and the soldiers. All of it so heartbreaking to read.

I love how the author managed tp construct an compelling story on the alternate if the last of Ramanov blood had survived with the added twist of magic.

I wish we got more of the relationship between the sisters like we had of Maria and Anastasia. Like Olga and Tatiana. 

I also love the end section holding information of what was real and what was fabricated for the sake of story. I found the real bits more fascinating even without knowing they were real.


I sincerely thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*I was gifted an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. *

I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, I was absolutely entranced by the idea of Anastasia the Lost Princess. Imagine being a little girl, waking up one day with no memory of who you are. What if what you didn't remember was that you were royalty?

Of course, the Fox cartoon movie only fueled that fire (Who among us didn't belt out "Journey to the Past" every time we had to make a decision in life? Or waltz around the house while humming "Once Upon a December"? Oh, that was just me? Carry on...). 

Despite the discovery of the missing Romanov children in 2017, the story will never fully lose it's magic for those of us who grew up wondering if- somehow, someway- we might be that little lost girl, never knowing who we were born to be.

So serious kudos to Nadine Brandes for actually infusing that myth with magic, and finding a way to use that magic to keep the truth we've found over the years from ruining the fairy tale we grew up with!

There's something really special about an author that can tell stories of historical fiction, yet still keep you riveted to the page dying to know what happens next. Every page, I knew the family was destined to die, and yet, every page I couldn't resist turning to the next "just one more time" waiting to learn more about these people. (And, by the way, the shooting takes place about 50% of the way through the book, so if you were concerned that this book would be boring or predictable, let me assuage that fear for you.)

Ever wondered what happened to separate Anastasia and Alexei from the rest of the family? Then read this book and open your heart because I definitely cried SEVERAL times!

The Final Breakdown:
The Book
Despite my knowing that Nicholas and Alexandria weren't exactly the picture of reason or inclusivity, Brandes still got me to open my heart up to them and see the pain and heartache of living out the last few months of their family's life the way they did.
🌹🌹🌹🌹

The Writing
Masterful, as many have come to expect from Brandes. The progression of the story was completely natural, and I never found myself losing concentration while reading.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️

Readability
I read this in under twenty-four hours. I didn't want to stop reading it to go to bed, even though I had to be at work early the next day. And it was worth it. When I got home the first thing I did was pick this book up to finish it because I just HAD TO KNOW!
🕰️🕰️🕰️🕰️🕰️

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

If you love the Romanovs, and historical fiction especially, then this is the book for you. 

I, like many people, have a fascination with Anastasia and her family, and I know quite a few facts of their final weeks in exile. Romanov made the Romanovs come to life in exquisite, painful detail. Their closeness as a family, the siblings’ love of each other, Nastya’s adoration of her father, Nicholas’ humility and love for his country, which informs and guides the whole family throughout all of their interactions, is just beautiful. I don’t often struggle with words, but the entire first half of the book, which kept to the historical narrative extremely accurately, left me speechless. 

“We are Romanovs. The bond of our hearts spans miles, memory, and time.”

Now, this is not the book I was expecting. I feel the synopsis is a bit misleading on this point. I thought this would be a more loosely based account, fraught with magic and an epic journey (probably heavily influenced by the animated film, let’s be honest). If that is the novel you want, look elsewhere. This is a book about familial love, devastating loss, betrayal, and one family’s capacity for forgiveness and love of their country. Even the romance takes a backseat and is hardly worth mentioning, though it is sweet and complex on its own. Anastasia does not spend the entirety of the book obsessing over Zash, though she does make an effort to befriend him. But all along she realizes the danger that she and her family are in, and she is fully aware that befriending their captors could be their only hope of escape.

“This will help you.” For now. “I will save you” Maybe. “I love you.” Always. 

The magical aspect definitely does not permeate as much as I might have expected, but I don’t think I would have changed it. Since Anastasia only really knows one spell when the book begins, it would have felt ingenuine for her to all of a sudden be able to perform anything more complicated until the climax. And boy. What a climax that was. I was stressed basically for the entire last half of this book, but the final showdown may have actually shaved a few years off of my life. 

“Let no one call you tame.” 

In essence, I would definitely recommend Romanov to anyone even mildly interested in the history of Anastasia. I need a copy for my own shelves, but it is definitely not a light read, and I am going to have a book hangover for at least a few days. That said, there are many fabulous quotes, one of which WILL BE one of my next tattoos. That is probably the highest praise that I can offer.

First of all, thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

I had a basic knowledge of the Romanov’s history before entering this novel, enough to get me very intrigued. And I had been following Nadine Brandes on Instagram for some time, but although it had given me a glimpse of what a lovely human being she is, I was yet to read her works. I am very happy I got to discover her through this touching novel.

The story opens up in revolutionary Russia, with the Romanov family being held in captivity, anxiously waiting for their fates to be set. Alexei, the son, heir of the throne before his father abdication, suffers from hemophilia, and we are soon introduced to an intriguing system of magic that may hold the key of his (and the whole family’s) salvation. In this alternate 20th century Russia, spells are made out of inks and words.

The action quickens as the family is separated. Before leaving, the tsar Nikolai entrusts his daughter Anastasia with a matriochka doll fabricated by Doshkin, a legendary spell master. The mysterious spells it holds have not been unveiled yet, but he is confident it will help save them when needed.

“Did she see all the threads of life we were leaving behind? The piles of memories we’d never revisit? The sheen of hope we were abandoning?”

We then follow the trials of a family confronted to the hostility of their people and facing menacing uncertainty, through the eyes of Nastya. It was interesting and heartrending to see the incomprehension building between a ruling elite and a suffering people, and how desperate the royal family is to befriend their captors and make them understand who they truly are. The tsar set a wonderful example for his family, privileging humility, compassion and kindness, and trying to reach the heart of their captors.

“My soul cracked right along with the crisp pages.”

Nastya is an endearing narrator, bold, mischievous and brave, very loving as well. She provides with a refreshing perspective on her civil war-torn country, as we share her hopes and fear, her doubts and pains.

Lessons about love and forgiveness are threaded throughout the story and I appreciated that. And then, when tragedy strikes it takes all Nastya’s strength to surmount her trials while staying true to these values.

“Everyone’s hearts had their own aches — and that was not something I could scoff at.”

I found this story gripping, full of adventure and emotions. The first half is slow and intriguing, setting the context and building relationships, before the shocking twist that blows Nastya’s world and changes the Romanov’s fate forever. I read the second part in almost one sitting, heart pounding and eager to see the resolution, to learn whether love and life would triumph in the end.

The writing is clear and fluid, a bit naive in parts, but it suits the character.

“That was what positive moments were for — to help heal the wounds of the future. As long as we chose to remember.”

It is clear there was a lot of research put into the building of the novel and in the afterwords Nadine Brandes tells us more about what is history and what is fiction. I found that the two were braided together convincingly and the magic twist she added very original. Reading the novel, you can feel her affection for the family and how she tried to honour their memory.

All in all an original, touching and charming story, that tells important lessons, but also stays gripping and entertaining.

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

In short : Read if you love quick historical reads with a fantasy twist, that mix love, tragedy, action and a ladle of good intentions and virtues.