This book was a very interesting historical fiction. I really enjoy this genre, though this book had more sex and gore than I expected. I admit I did skip parts of the book as I found them hard to read. I received a copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I LOVE historical fiction and consume a lot of it, so when I say that this feels fresh and enduring know that I mean that very seriously. This is one of my new favorites!

I stopped reading this book due to the ridiculous amount of graphic sexual assault depicted in it. This book needs a content warning in the beginning and the publisher should make reviewers aware of the disturbing content when asking them to participate in blog tours/review/promoting this novel. I was very upset and disturbed this book's content.

This was a very interesting take on the Russian Royal family. So much research and time must have gone into this work. With that being said the author did a great job making the content light and enjoyable to read.

Wow - what an incredible ride. I sometimes forget how much I leave history. It's always fun to find books that remind me, especially historical fiction novels such as this one. I think the author tells the story well. I will say there are many trigger warnings that need to be said for this book, such as sexual assault. Those portions are incredibly uncomfortable to read. However, sexual assault will always be uncomfortable.. It's also something that happened with frequency during those times and are incredibly important stories to tell, so I'm glad the author did so. I loved the unique point of view as well. I did feel the story moved a bit slowly at time, however. If you like a good historical romance, this is a great choice.

I was initially intimidated by the length of this but once I got into it, I found it delightful. It was a quick flowing story with well-drawn, remarkable characters and a very intriguing plotline. Parts of this made me cringe, but that's to be expected with Russian historical fiction. This would be ideal for book clubs.

I really debated on how to rate this one. With my Russian major hat on, I didn't find any glaring problems, which I often do in fiction set in Russia or with Russian characters. Peter I was well known to be a cruel, sadistic person, and this story holds to that character. The author has really done her research, incorporating real figures like Mary Hamilton into key scenes. Although we have some conflicting sources on Marta/Catherine's early life, the author proposes a plausible life story... and depicts the way a female serf may have been treated. In graphic detail. When even the positive reviews compare a book to Game of Thrones, you might guess there is some rape, murder, incest, etc., but there is a lot more than I was even expecting. It was overall just sad and exhausting to read about this group of people. But it might be someone's cup of tea. Or vodka.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Marta is born an illegitimate serf who endures horrific suffering on the road to become the first crowned #Tsarina of Russia.

There are so many trigger warning for this book that I could give, rape, torture & child abuse to name a few. If you are squeamish this book probably isn’t for you.

Despite the disturbing content I really enjoyed this book! Life was very violent in the past, and Russia takes the crown if this historical fiction is correct. Marta/Catherine is a very interesting and strong woman, she can be ruthless and cruel but it seems that this was typical of everyone in the story/of those times. I wish there was more at the end about her reign after her husbands death since the whole book was leading up to this moment, but perhaps it just wasn’t as interesting as the rest of her life (this is a fictional account but based on historical fact).

I would definitely read more by this author and this book has ignited an interest in Russian history. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the chance to read this book! This book is full of intricate historical details that I found fascinating.

Thank you to the author Ellen Alpsten, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

What a Great Book! I loved reading this book. This book is a historic telling of the life of Tsarina Catherine, wife to Tsar Alexander's consort and wife. Her life begins as an impoverished daughter of a serf who is sold to a rapist/abuser and then becomes a washer woman for Alexander's army. Catherine, who is a great beauty, captivates Alexander and goes on to bear him 13 children.

It is aa amazing story of an amazing woman who captivated one of the Great rulers of Russia. It was well worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This book is full of intricate historical detail and did not disappoint.

This book was very well-written despite the fact that it took me a really long time to read. One of the teenaged girls gets sexually assaulted in the beginning of the book and even though that was a real aspect of life back then, I was not prepared for how graphic the descriptions would be and how they would affect me. Once I got over that, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the story.

I'm sorry I was unable to read this as I reader broke. And I didn't get it downloaded on another device in time.

This book seems to be well researched for the times, and has a compelling cast of characters. It should be noted that there is rape / trauma and that may be something some will want to pass on. Aside from that, it's a dramatic read.

I could not finish this book. While historical fiction, there was way too many detailed sex scenes and rape. Understandably that happened quite a bit in the past as “spoils of war” but the graphic nature of it seemed unnecessary. I’ve read and enjoyed other books with some scenes that are similar in nature, but these books also didn’t focus so heavily on detailed pleasure scenes.

As I stated, I did not finish reading the book, perhaps it changes tack after the 40% mark, but I just couldn’t continue any longer. Not all books work for all people and this one did not work for me.

As someone who has only recently become interested in Russian history, I was particularly excited to jump into Ellen Alpsten's Tsarina this year. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-copy.

Tsarina is the harrowing story of peasant-turned-royalty Catherine I of Russia. From humble and often brutal beginnings to a palace in Russia, Marta (who later takes the name Catherine) and her relationships with both Peter the Great and Russia make for an addictive (and educational!) read.

While not much is known for sure about Marta's early years, Alpsten paints a dreary picture of a beautiful young woman with no family and no hope surviving wartimes by the grace of kind strangers and a keen sense of self-preservation. After a failed marriage and years of servitude, she's traded among Russian soldiers, eventually beginning an affair with the Tsar of Russia. As Peter's mistress, Marta's catapulted from the dregs of society to the Tsar's bed in Moscow and the newly minted St. Petersburg, where her journey to the throne begins.

What’s great about Catherine's story isn't necessarily the "fairytale" aspect (e.g., rags to riches). Rather, it's the resilience that women had to harness and exhibit during a time in which a woman's body was her only asset. I'll confess that I was disgusted at how much value she, Peter, and his court place on her giving birth to sons who will go on to "serve" Russia. Marta gives birth 12 times, and in most of those situations, she prays for pregnancy as a means to an end, a reprieve from obsolescence. While it’s evident that she is deeply loved by this mercurial and feared leader, she knows that her key to survival is producing heirs.

Her tenuous but crucial place in the Tsar’s life makes for a story richly cemented in the foundations of Russian history. The life of Marta – Catherine Alexeyevna, Tsarina, Empress of Russia - is truly one of the greatest tales of a woman seizing power despite her position, elevating her beyond her fated station. Alpsten deftly marries social commentary, historical relevance, and cold hard facts to create a painful yet compelling narrative of a shrewd woman and beloved leader.

A really good book though it was slow paced in my opinion. Still very interesting and well executed though!! Overall, solid 3 star read. Though I did get bored during reading it during some points.

I loved this story!
It took me through the ups and downs of the life of Catherine's life. The Russian monarch was abolished in the 1800's but before that they had many Tsar's.

This book took me through so much history and I ended up googling the characters to see what they looked like and sometimes spoiled some of the book by looking up the facts. Although this is a historical fiction, it follows the real dates and events in the history books.

I loved reading about these characters lives and personalities as created by the author. There was so much detail that sometimes I really could fully picture all of what I was reading.

I was very glad that receive this book on NetGalley as I had heard great things. It did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the plot and characters. It was well written and very entertaining.

Tsarina is an enlightening story of Catherine, mistress & wife to Peter the Great. It’s the compelling tale of a young woman who went from peasant to lead the Russian empire. Great storyline! Great characters!