Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I'm late to post my review, for that my apologies.

This was a hard book for me to pick up. Knowing the tragic events that befell the Romanov's, I was reluctant to become emotionally attached to the 'characters' as I knew would be the case reading historical fiction.

Bryn Turnball writes with great feeling and emotion, backed by extensive research that shows plainly on the page. She deftly humanises the subjects of her novel, expressing the love that bonded the family through their trails.

Having recently read several historic fictional accounts around the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, I was really looking forward to reading The Last Grand Duchess as it was written around the eldest daughter Olga’s perspective. It was a bit dry, I struggled with the back and forth of timeline and found it difficult to connect emotionally with her character in this rendition, but overall it still captured my interest, despite knowing the outcome of the story.

Recommend for readers of historical fiction and those interested in fiction around the Romanov Dynasty and Russian Revolution.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book. This is my honest review and these are my opinions.

Somehow innocent and sweet, as told through Olga's eyes, even though we all know the treacherous and horrifying end. Interesting and captivating. And so sad - of course it is. Definitely worth a read.

An interesting look at the last days of the Romanovs, told through the eyes of their oldest daughter, Olga.

Heavily reliant on historical research, and based in part on Olga's own diary, which somehow survived the slaughter of the family.

Olga is rather innocent and naive. We see the sad tale through her eyes, as if through a veil. She tells us what happens, but we don't really know what is going on behind the scenes. Innuendos and hints, but no real understanding.

As a young woman, with a romantic nature, we live the days before and after, through Olga's romances and her work as a war nurse.

The ending is subtle, and apt. And they are gone to the mists of time.

The full review of this title appeared on Pages and Pictures.

As someone who appreciates historical fiction, I am always looking for a story that spotlights a character too often lost to history. The focus on Olga, a daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. This story strikes the balance between maintaining insular focus on this one character, and showing how she was always doomed by history.

ess
A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution
by Bryn Turnbull
#TheLastGrandDuchess #NetGalley

I enjoyed this author’s earlier title, The Woman Before Wallis, so I was eager to read this book. I can confidently recommend this novel.

This time, as can be told by the book’s title, readers are transported to Imperialist Russia and the Romanov family. The reader’s guide in this world is the Czar’s oldest daughter.

Many aspects of the family’s life that are familiar to history buffs are here. There is the family’s sheltered and luxurious existence along with the prince with hemophilia and, of course, Rasputin.

Readers know the eventual fate of the Romanovs. Still, when reading this tile, they will perhaps learn things that they did not know. For example, Olga nursed soldiers and, as a young girl, had her dreams of romance.

Those who enjoy historical fiction will want to take a look at this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

I love Bryn Turnbull and this book solidified that. Ultimately I know very little about Russian history, so I was a little behind when starting this. I learned a lot of interesting information and also enjoyed the story that was being told within the history lesson.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I had the opportunity to interview Bryn over Zoom in the early days of the pandemic, and her writing style in her previous work (The Women Before Wallis) and now The Last Grand Duchess is one that really captures your attention.

In her latest novel, Bryn takes us behind palaces walls and into the world of the last Grand Duchess Olga Romanov. Not everything is tea parties and intrigue, and when war descends on Russia, Olga's life is forever changed.

A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction!

The Last Grand Duchess tells the downfall of the imperial Romanov dynasty from the perspective of Olga, the daughter of Tsar Nicolas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Olga Romanov enjoys the parties and ballroom dances of imperial Russia. However, with the start of World War I, there is growing discontent in the country. There is talk of a Russian Revolution. Olga goes from being a sheltered princess to a woman who does everything to protect her family even if it costs her life.

The Last Grand Duchess portrays Olga as a young, naive sheltered princess as she grows into a smart, intelligent young woman who risks her life to protect her family. I thought Mrs. Turnbull did an excellent job in depicting Olga’s character. At first, Olga loves parties and even has an innocent crush on one of the soldiers. As she grows older, Olga is aware of the people's hatred of the imperial family and is constantly uneasy about the political unrest. I admired how Olga sacrificed love in order to protect her family. Her family is everything to her. She would rather die with her family than live and be without them. Therefore, I found Olga to be a very courageous woman who had the tenacity to stand up to peril.

Overall, this novel is about family, sacrifice, and courage. While I thought the imperial family was well-written, I thought other major characters in this novel needed more development. There are also two alternating timelines. The first timeline is before the Russian Revolution, and the second one is during the Russian Revolution. I preferred it was told in a more linear format rather than going back and forth between two timelines. This would have avoided some confusion. Several times I had to go back and reread the last few pages of the previous timeline to help me remember where it left off. Still, I thought Mrs. Turnbull did an excellent job in portraying the civil unrest of the Russian Revolution. Mrs. Turnbull did not hesitate to show Tsar Nicolas II’s mistakes as a ruler. He kept making one blunder after another and did not listen to criticism by those who cared about him. The only voice he listened to was his wife who also made mistakes and ignored criticism. Therefore, Mrs. Turnbull showed that Nicolas and Alexandra were out of touch with the realities of the country and their downfall was inevitable. The book is a very well-researched novel that vividly describes the downfall of the imperial family. The Last Grand Duchess is a story full of tragedy, drama, and romance that shows the decay of the glittering facade of an imperial court. This is a must read for fans of the Romanovs. I also recommend this novel for fans of The Romanov Empress, The Funeral Bride, and The Romanov Bride!

I have been waiting for this book for what feels like years, and it did not disappoint. Turnbull’s first novel The Woman Before Wallis brings to life another woman on the edge of a popular story (Thelma Morgan Furness, to be replaced by Wallis Simpson), and The Last Grand Duchess has continued that in the best way.

Olga is often remembered solely for being the oldest of the children, the O in OTMA, and half of a pair with Tatiana. However, she was a distinct and individual young woman who led her own life. I think that Turnbull creates a plausible telling of Olga’s life, and gives her a voice that few others do.

My favourite element of this story is seeing Olga’s interactions with her cousins and other members of the court, in particular Prince Felix Yusapov. We always get his story of the racy, playboy prince who murdered Rasputin, but this provides an interesting perspective on his life. Her interactions with everyone also highlight just how unbelievably sheltered these four girls were, and how little they knew outside of their very (constructed) middle-class and controlled life.

Readers obsessed with the last royals of Russia will find themselves enthralled with the book The Last Grand Duchess. Focused on Grand Duchess Olga Romanov, the book tells the story of her and her family as unrest begins to build in Russia and the dangerous controversy of Father Griogori Rasputin and what he does behind closed doors. The book goes through the scandalous opulence of turn of the century St. Petersburg and teh tensions that would end Romanov Rule. This is a work of historical fiction.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Readers who enjoy evocative and enthralling historical novels will not want to miss Bryn Turbull’s latest sumptuous tale set towards the end of Imperial Russia: The Last Grand Duchess.

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov has just come of age, but outside of the opulent palace walls, there is great unrest and unease. However, Olga leads a very small and sheltered life and has no idea of the fast-approaching winds of change that threaten to turn her entire world on its head. Life at the palace is not without its challenges. Her mother is ill, her brother suffers from his own secret affliction and the tsarina has come to rely far too much on Father Grigori Rasputin, who is not somebody who should be trusted. The only respite Olga gets from this sometimes oppressive existence is attending the lavish tea parties organized by her great aunt amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg.

With the gathering clouds of war impossible to ignore, the once grand palaces of Russia are transformed into military hospitals, forcing Olga and her sisters to trade their lavish gowns for nurses’ uniforms. Tending to the broken and battered bodies of the Russian military officers is hard work, but Olga ends up finding purpose and fulfillment – and romance. Yet, the future is uncertain, tensions are running high, supplies are low – and revolution is in the air. With the Romanov rule threatened, will Olga ever find the happiness she seeks? Or will her family name condemn her to a tragic and terrible fate?

From the very first page of The Last Grand Duchess, Bryn Turnbull immerses her readers into a richly detailed, wonderfully atmospheric and highly engaging world of love, war, duty and family. Olga Romanov is a fascinating character who leaps off the page from the moment she first appears and will hold readers enthralled by the decisions she takes, the choices she makes and the lengths she will go to in her search for agency and fulfillment.

A sweeping historical novel perfect for readers hooked on The Crown, The Last Grand Duchess is another triumph for Bryn Turnbull.

The book begins slowly but builds and builds. The Grand Duchess Olga is the protagonist. The tale is based on fact, the author does use creative license to combine some characters. [Read the author's comments at the conclusion of the book].
If you are interested in early 20th century history, this is a must read.

The Last Grand Duchess is the story of Olga Romanov, the eldest child in the Romanov family. It is set during their last years, during the war with Germany, revolution and the confinement and eventual murder of the family. We read about Olga’s sheltered life living with her parents and siblings, her love interests, work in the hospital during the war and the eventual end of her life. I knew about Father Grigori Rasputin, a controversial priest and friend of the tsarina, but the story shares how he became so important to the family and how he is perceived by the Russian people. But, this is Olga's story and we see her life as she divides her time between suitors, home, elegant ballrooms, and hospitals, while she and her family face increasing danger from political unrest and home confinement.

Knowing how this story ends, I tried to keep aloof from the characters. The story was well researched and developed as we learned about this time through the eyes of a loyal daughter. The characters were well developed and as much as I tried, I found it difficult not to come to like and relate to Olga. She was a likable character, one that cared about the Russian people, especially when we see her working in the hospital. The writing was descriptive, and vivid that allowed me to visualize the places and events described. The ending was well written, without graphic details of the fate of the Romanovs, but still letting the reader know what happened. I enjoy learning from historical fiction, and I definitely did with this book. I feel for this family wiped out for political power and definitely want to learn more. This book shared the family with me and made them real with all their issues, decisions, mistakes, illnesses, betrayal and even a little romance. If you enjoy historical fiction, want to learn more about the Romanov family or a period in history that you may not know about, I definitely recommend The Last Grand Duchess.

A tale of Imperial Russia at it's finest. Rich in detail and suspense, love and betrayal, this book will transport you in the direction of years gone by and you will become immersed in the story of the coming of age Grand Dutchess Olga Romanov and the shifting tides of the dynasties of Europe. A great escape from the troubles we are facing now in our war shattered world.

I liked that The Last Grand Duchess focused on the eldest daughter of the Tsar and Tsarina, Olga Romanov. I love any story to do with the Romanov family, and this one was no different. I enjoyed all the historical details that the author employed in order to transport the reader back in time. I thought that the character was really well developed and even though I knew how Olga's story ended up, I really liked the ending. Overall, this was a good read and one I would probably come back to!

I found it hard to get into. It is probably worth another try in a different political climate, but now is not the best time for it.

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov is coming of age in the late 1910s. She’s experiencing her first romances, as well as political turmoil. In 1914, she is beginning to fall in love with soldiers who are beneath her class. There are also rumors about her family, particularly her mother’s close relationship with Father Grigori Rasputin, but there is a reason they keep him so close. In 1917, her father is away at war when he abdicates his throne, signaling the beginning of the end for the Romanov family. Olga must navigate the politics of her country and time period while also keeping her family together.

This was a beautiful story. There are two narratives, one beginning in 1913, and the other beginning in 1917. Though these two narratives are close together in time, there are important events that happen in both of these time periods of Olga’s life.

I loved the ending of this story. It gave me goosebumps! I had read an article about Grand Duchess Olga and her Canadian connection, but I was completely shocked at the ending. I can’t explain why this surprised me without giving away the ending, but if you’ve read it, I would love to discuss it. It was definitely worth the read!

The Last Grand Duchess is an amazing story about the Romanov family.

Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book.

The Last Grand Duchess, subtitled "A Novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and Revolution," looks at the last years of the Russian imperial family through the eyes of the Tsar and Tsarina's oldest daughter, Olga. As she comes of age, her eyes begin opening to the reality of the political situation around her, and her parents' role in creating it.

This dual-timeline novel contrasts an era of opulent balls, tea parties, and the advent of WWI with scenes taking place several years later, beginning in 1917, after Nicholas II's forced abdication of the throne and the family's subsequent captivity and exile. Everyone had opinions on the split-timeline aspect, which made for a good discussion. I definitely recommend it to readers interested in imperial Russia and seeing these events from a new viewpoint.

This novel was the subject of an hour-length book discussion at Step Into the Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta3-bUKeYZY

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull.

I haven't read anything by this author before and both the cover and description hooked me. I knew little factual information on the Romanov family aside from movie versions, mostly focused on Anastasia or Alexei.

So the eldest sister Olga was an enigma and I was eager to learn more. Turnbull painted a picture of a caring and compassionate woman despite growing up with wealth and decadence. The novel was told from Olga's point of view and experiences. There were many things I didn't know about the family. The siblings had very sheltered lives, and were seldom allowed outside the palace. During World War I Olga helped the war effort by becoming a nurse. It was during nursing that she fell in love and began to see some flaws in her parents for the first real time.

The novel didn't delve into the atrocities committed by Nicholas II, instead using the historical author's note to expand in greater detail. Instead Turnbull wove a story about a regular girl, sure rich and sheltered, but still relatable. A girl wanting to help people and love who she wanted. A girl who was lost too soon.

This book seemed well researched and was very well written. I read it in one sitting and cried often. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Olga and not have the book overshadowed by her more famous siblings.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it.

If you know me, you know I love historical fiction. This novel was the story of the Romanovs. I’ve read a lot of books about this family’s tragic circumstances and each time I read, it’s always so sad because I know what is coming.

Book Summary:


This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.


But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumors about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.

This was the first time I read this story from the viewpoint of Olga, and this makes it stand out from other novels and non-fiction reads. I think that those who know this story will appreciate Turnbull’s attention to historical detail and creation of Olga’s “voice”. Thank you for my opportunity to read and be part of the tour!