WWI from the perspective of the Soviets. This was a gripping novel that kept my attention.
We have secrets, lies, and betrayal, oh my!

Loved this historical fiction set in the Russian Revolution. Definitely not a book I usually read, but I loved it! Thanks to netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC of this book about a million years ago in exchanged for an honest review. (Sorry for not being quicker with this review, NetGalley - a pandemic happened).

Anyway, I’ve always been interested in Imperial Russia so I was drawn to this well-paced historical fiction novel set in Russia, beginning at the cusp of the Russian Revolution.

I was satisfied with the arc of the plot and the conclusion of the story. I know espionage is generally a sexy subject but I’ve never been a huge fan - but I liked that angle in this book nonetheless. I thought the narrative worked well because of the switch between Nadia’s narrative and the British SIS reports; I thought it was an interesting and thoughtful device that moved the story along while keeping me guessing about Nadia’s fate.

Sometimes I thought Nadia’s inner monologue, particularly related to her need to sacrifice herself to save her family - was too something - cliche? simple? I’m not sure how to describe it. But those were moments where perhaps the author could have shown more than told us what Nadia was thinking.

I also thought some of the side plot lines - particularly with Maya de Severin - were superfluous and unnecessary. It seemed like a gratuitous glimpse into the debauchery of 1920s Paris.

Overall, however, this book exceeded my expectations.

I was not able to get interested in this book and I did not finish it. The characters and the plot were not able to catch or keep my attention.

Nadia Shulkina, is the teenage daughter of Russian aristocrats and her parents own a house in Saint Petersburg and have a small county estate in Priyalko. In 1914, Nadia and her family are worried about her brother Vasily, he’s fighting in the war and the Russian troops are hungry and poorly equipped. Nadia’s sad when her English governess Miss Field’s returns to England and she's lucky to leave when she did.

The Shulkina’s have no idea, the Russian revolution is about to start, the friendly peasants living nearby, break into their country house and violence erupts. Nadia and her mother manage to hide, they return to Saint Petersburg, the house is taken over by the government and the two women are homeless. Nadia’s loses everything, the comfortable life she took for granted is gone, her extended family, friends and brother have either left Russia, are caught up in the civil war and some are in hiding.

Nadia marries Alek Semelkova, he’s older, and a Bolshevik and she has very few options. Alek wants her to travel Paris in the 1920’s, she’s to work as a translator and be a spy. Paris is full of Russians, they fled the country during the revolution and many are involved in the Russian Cultural League. Working under cover for the Soviets, Nadia has no idea who she can trust, and she’s not sure if she can even trust her own husband. She meets Lee Cooper, he’s English, he’s writing a book, he employs her to translate documents and she developes feelings for him. Nadia’s involved in something that’s gotten out of control, a conspiracy, she feels like she’s being followed, she feels unsafe, and she's trapped in her unhappy marriage.

Red Mistress, is a story about the Russian revolution, the terrible inequality, and people were literally starving in the streets, the rise of the communist party, and Nadia surviving in a time of civil unrest, danger, and turmoil. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I liked Elizabeth Blackwell's writing style and the book's full of interesting characters, historical facts and five stars from me. I have posted and shared my review on Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon Australia, Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss and my blog.

I love historical fiction, so I knew this would be a read I would love! The book centers around Nadia, who is the daughter of a Russian Aristocratic family who needs to learn how to survive in the new Soviet Russia. She finds herself married to an influential member in the party, and is then sent as a spy! This was such a great read and I enjoyed all of the plot twists and they really kept me on my toes!

What a great historical fiction novel. I really enjoyed this, and it was something I normally would not pick up, but happy I did

This was a smooth and fast read about a Russian aristocrat who was forced to become a Soviet spy after the Russian revolution in 1917. Set against this background, the "Red Mistress" gives an interesting literary account of the choices people had in Russia (or rather, didn't have). The historical facts have been studied and are reflected based on non-fictional records. The story was well-developed, leading to expectations of various potential endings until the very last bit of the book. It left me wanting to read an expanded version of the story of the main characters during all the in-between years not developed that much in the book.

With so many books out about WWII, I found the idea of reading about post WWI very exciting.
This read had so many layers as author Blackwell meticulously presented how a woman from a former aristocratic family finds a way to survive after the Bolsheviks' Revolution.
Filled with tension, the book pulled me back in time to a place where so many things were going on in the world. How countries attempted to recover after WWI and the rise to power of those who would send us back into another world war within twenty years.
Amazing read.

A great book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley Uk for a copy in return for an unbiased and honest review.

Elizabeth Blackwell is a new author to me, and since she was recommended by my reading group and because I was interested to discover more about the Russian Revolution, I decided to request this novel . I am more than happy that I did.

I was captivated by the historical detail and the lengths to which the author went in her research to present a novel with such clarity was exceptional. I was intrigued to find out more of the background of Russian society after the fall of the Romanov family.

The novel is slow to get started and at times, I found myself questioning the main character Nadia Shulkina's actions. I feel there is more that could have been said and at times, the story seemed to be rushed forward, with important details being skimmed over. However, on the whole I was intrigued to see how Nadia would develop and reinvent herself.

This story is a mix of factual information, fictional representation and a smattering of intrigue and romance, which goes some way in earning it it's 4 star review.

I enjoyed reading this book and also liked the fact that the author took from history regarding the elite of Russia and their downfall. It must have been an incredibly awful time for the aristocracy to at one time be revered and at another being less than mongrels. Those in power could snuff you out on a whim. A tragic time. But the book kept my interest and moved along at a good pace.

I have not read much about the Russian Revolution so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very well researched and written. It is about survival, spies, and. secrets.and is rich in historical detail.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

i really enjoyed this read, I really liked Nadia's journey into being a spy. It was a believable turn and I really enjoyed reading this from beginning to end.

This is a book filled with twists and turns and plenty of back stabbing. Nadia becomes a former person because of the Russian Revolution. This is her tale of heartache and triumphs. She learns how to live as her servants did, but she is able to overcome servitude by her life choices.

Very well written and held my attention from early on. The plot has plenty of twists and turns. There are 2 plot lines and it is interesting to see how they fit together in the end. Recommend for fans of WW fiction.

A good example of an historical novel based on fact. The story of Nadia Shulkina and her aristocratic Russian family gives you a taste of their lives before the Russian Revolution and how they are changed during and after as Former People.

It isn't clear if Red Mistress is a spy novel or a love story, but it does still give an insight in to what people are capable of if their life or the lives of their family depends on it.

I was given a copy of Red Mistress by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Paris, 1920. A woman becomes a spy. The story is often told. But this book has some interesting characters and a storyline that is compelling. Recommended read

Thank you Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Elizabeth Blackwell for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

Sometimes I get this instant weird connection with the book, and I know that I would love it to the last page. Red Mistress is the one, it just speaks my reading language. I love everything about it from vintage cover to the love story. And I am super judgmental of love stories. As soon as I saw it, I knew instantly I’d love it! I was not disappointed one bit. Probably, even more impressed.

Nadia Shulkina, is a youngest daughter of somewhat aristocratic family in Imperial Russia, with some land, connections and servants. She is privileged and doesn’t see herself that way as it was always the way. All of a sudden Bolsheviks come to power and her life changes in radical way. In spite of Nadia’s aristocratic upbringing, she is a hardworking young woman and isn’t afraid of any work to survive and take care of her fragile mother. Her life changes again when she comes across late family friend, new Bolshevik, Alik.

Red Mistress is beautifully written. The flow is smooth, the plot is intriguing, the characters come alive with every page. It made me feel nostalgic, it made me want to go back and see places from my childhood. However, as Nadia’s childhood places got destroyed in the revolution, mine were also devastated during turbulent 90s. I am like Nadia, have basically nothing to return too but the sense of belonging to Russia is forever strong.

Red Mistress will definitely stay with me for a long long time, and I hope one day I will pick it again to reminisce about old good days.

I was captivated from beginning to end! Cleverly structured, and well written to make you think you know what's happening and then to reveal that you don't. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happened next.

The story alternates from the story of Nadia Shulkina, a young Russian Aristocrat in early 1914, and reports from London in 1938 about the death of a young woman named Marie Duvall. It is a poignant story about love, family, control, and a person's choices or lack thereof. It questions what lengths to which someone will go to protect someone they love. Set initially in Russia at the beginning of turmoil, there is an underlying tension through the story: a need for survival but contrasted with moments of hope, and the possibility of freedom.

Thrilling, moving, and interesting... would recommend without hesitation!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I returned it because it didn’t hold my interest. I read books that capture my interest from the beginning!