The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure is a history lesson, a spy story and a romance all rounded up in one enjoyable novel.  The story takes place in the Russia of Tsar Nicholas II.  The novel is full of  palace intrigue, deception, envy, plotting, flirting and almost every other emotion.  The descriptions of the architecture of the day as shown by of the palaces and the public buildings presents a vivid picture.  We also have a bird’s eye view of the balls, formal occasions as well as the ceremonies and rituals centering around the Tsar.  There are vivid descriptions of the gowns, jewels and, of course, the Faberge eggs, which have their own room.  The book deals with the spies within and without the palace plotting to bring down the Tsar and the romance of Prince Dimitre Markhow and Dr. Katya Golitsyn.  A secret discovered by Dr. Golitsyn leads to events that have repercussions down through history.  A great novel which I enjoyed very much.

The Fabergé Secret is enjoyable, but not memorable. Overall, it was interesting to learn about Russia in 1903, and the tensions and conflicts that led up to and contributed to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Tsar Nicholas' ultimate demise. If you enjoy detailed historical fiction that isn't too heavy on the cheesy romance, then I think you will enjoy this book. The relationship between Katya and Dimitri is a main plot point of the book, but it never distracts too heavily from the historical setting and larger story of Russia's state-sanctioned violence against Jews. This book seems well-researched, but there are some parts of the story that seemed unrealistic and done to tie up the story in a neat way. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book rather than an audiobook due to the historical nature of the story, but overall it was an interesting story.

Thai audiobook was really interesting. I admittedly never finished it though. The story being placed in Russia during the Jewish purge was very eye opening to the events of back then. Being very descriptive in the abuse against the Jews it was a little too dark for my taste but I did enjoy the story. Although I never finished listening to it I would recommend this book to others and the narrator.

The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure is an exciting story of Imperial Russia in 1903, from the excesses of the Imperial Court to poor starving peasants and deadly pogroms.  I listened to the audiobook version, which was convincingly narrated by Nancy Peterson.  I was particularly interested in this story for two primary reasons:  my father's family is related to Tsar  Nicholas II, and my family and I have visited Russia.  That adds even more poignancy to the tale.

Prince Dimitri Markhov is a talented architect who happens to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, and is "Uncle Dimitri" to their beautiful children, the Grand Duchesses.  When not working, most of his time is spent attending glittering balls and visiting the Imperial palaces with his wife Princess Lara, with whom he shares a loveless marriage.  Dimitri's insulated existence is breached when he sees a toddler who was brutally killed in a pogrom.  (According to The Free Dictionary, a pogrom is an organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group, especially one conducted against Jews.) Dimitri cannot get this image out of his mind.  At a royal ball he meets Doctor Katya Golitsy, a talented doctor who is dedicated to helping the oppressed Jews and peasants.   The two begin an affair, and Dimitri can no longer stand back and watch the slaughter... he must get involved.

This book started off rather slowly, but I'm glad I stuck with it.  This slow build-up seemed to amplify the incongruity between the lavishness of the Russian aristocracy and the pitiful existences of much of the rest of the country.  I loved Dimitri and enjoyed watching his metamorphosis from entitled prince to a man who realized he could not simply stand by and watch innocent people be destroyed.  Katya was also a great character.  She wasn't poor, either; she came from a rather wealthy family. Her work as a doctor, however, gave her more empathy to those mistreated for their religion or lack of status.  What I found most heartbreaking was watching the love and affection the Tsar had for his beloved wife and children, but then hear him say the Jews brought their misfortune upon themselves and being totally blind to the suffering of most of his subjects.  Though not addressed in the book, I felt dread in my heart, knowing what was in store for the children of the Tsar and Tsarina.  Heartbreak all around.

Nancy Peterson's narration was admirably done, with the possible exception of English accents.  Her narration helped entirely immerse me in this riveting story.

I received an ARC of this audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.  I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The narrator did a good job, and her voice is very nice, but it always baffles me when an American narrator is chosen for a book set in Russia. I’m not an expert on Russian accents, but I think she did an acceptable job with them. As for the story itself, it was interesting to get a different perspective of the Russian court and the days leading up the revolution. I only had a scant knowledge of the pogroms and other atrocities done to Jewish people in Russia, so I liked learning more of that time in history. I don’t really know the point of the actual story the characters went through. I thought the romance between the two main characters was very generic and took up too much space. They got the word out about the pogroms but what else did they do? I understand that they helped lay the groundwork for the revolution but we don’t see any fruits of their labor come about in this story. I did not dislike this story, but I thought the writing could have been stronger. It does make me want to research more of this time period, which is very fascinating.

I just love well done historical fiction, and this is well done. It gives you feelings, tingily, suspense, hope, sorrow.  All the feels!  What a ride. Russia is also of great interest to me.  I live in Alaska but have never gone nextdoor, so one could say I love any chance to peak into my neighbors yard as it where. 

To me the balance of views and being forced to stand up for what you belive.  Mixed in with the character development and conversations. Created by a good writer made for a seriously enjoyable read. I look forward to more books by this author.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review*  I was actually surprised by how much i liked this book, was really hard for me to put it down!

This was an interesting take on the revolutionists who contributed to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. The author provides a good amount of insight into life at the Russian court. Belfoure also attempts to explain how the beliefs of Nicholas II and Alexandra impacted their ability to successfully lead the Russian people. This book highlights what people can and will do for something they believe in. I particularly enjoyed how the details of so many Faberge eggs and the other pieces developed by the famous designer were worked into the story without seeming forced. Overall it is a good read that presents the beginning of the end of the Romanov family.

I received a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley.

This was a DNF for me, as much as I typically love historical fiction. I wasn’t interested in the characters, sadly. The narration was wonderful, but I just found that this book did not hold my attention.

The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audiobook ARC.

I enjoyed listening to this historical fiction book. I don't know much about Russian history, so found it quite interesting.
The narrator Nancy Peterson kept it entertaining.

#TheFabergeSecret #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

Dmitri, a close friend to Tsar Nicholas, is slowly becoming aware of the travesty of this regime. When a Jewish Pogrom happens in front of his eyes, he is devastated by the loss of life and the destruction. He vows to stop this even if he has to betray his best friend.

If you are familiar with Charles Belefore, you know his stories are a slow burn but worth every minute. And this is the first one I have listened to. I was afraid I would “zone out”. Well, that did not happen! This is a unique story and I was tuned in! I enjoyed the history. Plus, I was captivated by Doctor Katya Golitsyn. She is a strong female character during terrible time.

I also enjoyed reading about how “out of his element” the Tsar actually was. Tsar Nicholas was a very good father and husband but he was not a ruler. He was very out of touch about his country and it lead to his downfall. Also, the Russian aristocracy rules are fascinating indeed!

The narrator, Nancy Peterson, did a fabulous job with the accents and the characters, including the southern accent. I was impressed with her ability. Sometimes a narrator can hinder a story if there are accents. But Nancy definitely nailed it!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Faberge Secret tells the story of Dimitri Markov, a Russian prince and best friend to Tsar Nikolaus. Dimitri, being one of the only members of the Russian Imperial Court to have a real job, understands the values of hard work and fairness like few in the aristocracy can. But when asssassination attempts are thwarted and Dimitri's eyes are opened to the suffering of the people of Russia, can Dimitri go on living his aristocratic life? 

This book was beautiful on so many levels. For one, the description of the balls and palaces and gowns was like no other. I felt like I was there. I could see the sleighs on the ice. I could feel the silk under my fingers. Belfoure has extremely exquisite descriptive prose. Secondly, the dynamic between all the characters was so unique and perfectly presented. You know who in the aristocracy is corrupt and who is sleeping with who. You feel like a fly on the wall in their world. Thirdly, the opening of the door to antisemitism and peasant suffering that we see through Dimitri's eyes is heartbreaking and world shattering. We, as the reader, feel the internal struggle that Dimitri is feeling. To avoid spoilers, I will stop there. However, this book is necessary for historical fiction lovers. It paints the narrative of antisemitism at the turn of the century that leads to corrupt minds that form the WWI and WWII events that we know so well. Phenomenally done.

The Faberge Secret, by Charles Belfoure, is a fictional account of Prince Dimitri Markhov’s life in Tsar Nicholas II’s Russian court.  Dimitri enjoys a very close family-style relationship with the Tsar’s family.  Through his eyes, we see an intimate view of the Tsar’s personality and prejudices. 

Dimitri is a compassionate, sociable, and genuine person who desperately wants a family.  Unfortunately, his wife would rather spend her time with the other men at court.  Because divorce is not an option at court, he is doomed never to have his dream family. 

As a talented architect, Dimitri loves to draw and create.  He is a loyal person whose best friend is the Tsar himself.  He believes himself to be a moral and ethically righteous person.  His beliefs about himself, the Tsar, and Russia’s people are about to be severely tested.

Enter a young female doctor named Katya, who has first-hand experience with the horrors that Russia’s lower-classes must endure.  As Dimitri spends more time with her, he is exposed to atrocities that he never imagined could be real. 

Will he risk his position at court and confront the Tsar with the truth of how his people really live?  Will he follow his heart to Katya and forsake the only life that he has ever known?

Some of my favorite books are Russian historical fiction.   This story occurs during a historical time period, but Dimitri’s inner conflict is the star of the show.  The book focuses on Dimitri, his relationships, and his struggles to do the right thing.  Historical Russia is the setting, not the star.  I would call this book moderately accurate historical fiction.  The facts are not perfect, but Dimitri’s journey of self-discovery more than makes up for it, in my opinion.

One of my favorite things about this book is the detailed descriptions of the Fabergé eggs.  I have never heard them described with this much admiration.  About halfway through the book, I found myself stopping every time a new egg was introduced to Google a picture or video of the egg.  The way the author wove the Fabergé eggs into the story was truly genius!

I also enjoyed the architectural components of the book.  Dimitri puts his heart and soul into the buildings that he designs.  When he discusses architecture, his passion really comes to life.  It did not surprise me to learn that the author, Charles Belfoure, is himself an architect.

Nancy Peterson narrates this book.  She brings the story to life around you.  During one of the action scenes, I felt like I was standing right next to Dimitri and Katya, surrounded by injured commoners, treating the wounded, and dodging soldiers on horseback.

If you can only accept a perfectly-researched book, this may not be the book for you.  If you want to read a compelling, character-driven story set in a beautiful place and a wicked time period, then you should definitely pick this one up!

Sensitivity Warnings: Expect to see graphic violence directed toward Jews and Russian commoners (including violence toward children).

Source: I received temporary access to this audiobook at my request in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was eager to read/listen to a novel set in Russia during the Revolution. The narrator did an excellent job with pacing, keeping me engaged, and mimicking the accents of the characters without going over the top. The writing was disappointing, though, so much so, that I almost stopped about halfway through. The author was so busy describing what people were wearing that the plot suffered. There were also issues with authenticity. For example, “To hell and a handbasket” was a phrase used during the American Civil War and would not have been said in turn-of-the-century Russia. A good editor should have caught those missteps. Based on the synopsis, I expected more intrigue ̶ the Faberge eggs had very few secrets–and less about how the eggs looked.

As someone who enjoys Russian history I was excited to listen to this audiobook.  However, the plot fell a little short for me.  It was a very slow building plot and the characters were a little boring.  I just couldn't get engaged in the story.  The narrator was wonderful, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.

The Faberge Secret takes us into the heart of St. Petersburg during the revolution. Dmitri is a Russian prince who becomes captivated with doctor Katya as the world around them erupts in discord caused by a pogrom against Jews. I love how Belfoure seamlessly blends historical facts with suspense to create an intense and entertaining work of historical fiction. This was excellent on audio and I really was captivated by the narrator throughout the entirety. This will be a good pick for book clubs.

To be honest, I could not get through this book, even with the audio and how short it is. I made it to the halfway point and could not find any reason to continue reading. With a book of such short a length, the character development and plot needed to happen much sooner and I was still waiting for something to happen at 4 hours into it. 

Most things were told to the reader, and scenes that could have been emotionally hard hitting were not because I had no connection to the main character. The writing itself was very dry and I found myself drifting in and out of listening. I'm an avid audio listener so  the medium was no the issue. Also wasn't a huge fan of the Russian accents by the narrator, but that has more to do with the performance than the book itself. I understand why it was done, I just found it to be distracting.

This is a review of an audiobook courtesy of Dreamscape Media and NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Set in St. Petersburg, Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, it is a time when the Russian Revolution is in its infancy,   Prince Dimitri Markhov is married to Princess Lara and is perhaps Tsar Nicholas II’s best friend.  Their marriage has become one of convenience with each one having their lovers as divorce is not possible.  At one of the many balls of the time, Dimitri meets Dr. Katya Golitsyn and his world will never be the same as she introduces him to the persecution of the Jews and the brutal treatment of the masses.  When he witnesses a pogrom and then is present for Bloody Sunday, he becomes convinced more than ever that he must do something to help.  But how can he approach the Tsar?  And how can he avoid the merciless protectors of the monarchy?  Lest I forget, the title refers to the use of Faberge eggs within the royal palace to hide messages between the insurgents and those within the palace who are sympathetic to the cause.  Although I thought the book started slowly, its pace picked up quickly.  The narration was excellent (that is always key to a good “read” of an audiobook).  
Having recently visited St. Petersburg for the second time, this book brought out memories of a wonderful trip but also made even more realistic the opulent life style of Russian royalty at the time.  While the assassination of Nicholas, Alexandra and their children a few years later was horrific by any standard, this story does make you think about the anti-Semitism and poverty-stricken peasants rampant at the time as the arrogance of the ruling class sowed the seeds for the Soviet era and beyond in Russia.

As an avid reader of the historical fiction genre, I have to admit The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure is more fiction than historical. However, I did get swept away in all the intricate and vivid details of the early 1900s Russian Imperialism. The Czar and Czarina’s balls that include flowing ballgowns, dripping jewels and pure elegance on display. 

Of course, court life would be nothing without its elaborate social calendar, rumors, outright lies and so much jealousy. This background leads the reader into a story of social inferiority, oppression and forbidden love. Sound familiar? It is, but not quite! 

Charles Belfoure illustrates how elitists’ distain for ordinary people comes from leadership, the tone at the top, and how one’s surroundings become one’s own reality. 

Due to ancestry and a lacking of his own family, Prince Dimitri Markhov is an aristocratic architect that is exceptionally close with the Tzar and his family. The Prince meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn in a chance encounter. He soon learns of the Czar’s persecution of Jews due to their religious beliefs. He begins to ponder the question, what do you build in your life? 

As the gap between wealth and impoverishment grows, change is demanded and a revolt is oncoming. What happens when you are the social elite with an advisory role to your greatest friend, the Czar, and you acquire religious enlightenment and empathy? Does one’s perception change? If so, can you educate someone of such high prominence? After all, perception is seeing things as WE are. Caught between status and knowledge, Prince Dimitri must decide which side of history he is going to be on and what will it cost him in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. 
4.5/5 stars 

The last tsar of Russia and his family have been a fascination for me from a very young age. (Thank you, Anastasia!)  I've read pretty much every non-fiction and fiction book available on the Romanovs. So, I was quite excited to see The Faberge Secret but also a little apprehensive. However, this is a wonderful book. Belfoure blends historical fact with this fictional narrative well, and it creates a fascinating story that you can't put down. He can write of the glittering royal court, busy St. Petersburg hospitals, pogroms, and more- all with the same skill. And I applaud him for highlighting the Imperial family's anti-Antisemitism. It is often avoided and ignored, but it had very real effects on millions of people. All in all, well worth your time! (I docked half a star because it ended rather abruptly.) 

Nancy Peterson was a fantastic narrator- I thought she did a wonderful job of differentiating all of the characters without turning them into stereotypes or caricatures. Given just how much I've read about tsarist Russia, I was able to wonderfully escape into this story, and Peterson is a big part of that.