The follow up to Tsarina, the story of her daughter Elizabeth is filled with mystery, intrigue, danger and love. As those she holds closest to her heart die, Elizabeth realizes that the trusted advisors are only intent on grabbing power for themselves. She battles back to take the throne when a shocking secret turns everything upside down. Much like Tsarina, this is the point where the book ends for Tsarina’s Daughter but it left me curious about her time as ruler.

I have a new appreciation for this period in Russian history which I previously knew nothing about. I can’t wait to read book 3, which I’m hoping is about Catherine the Great.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

I did not enjoy The Tsarina's Daughter. Frankly, I was bored and only managed to get through the prologue and the first chapter before I had to walk away.

4.5 stars.

Given I loved Ellen Alpsten's debut, Tsarina, I had no doubt I'd also love the sequel, this time centering on Elizabeth, Catherine I's daughter, who also eventually became Tsarina. I'll admit the first 30-40% of this story was a little slow for me, but we go full speed in the intrigues surrounding Peter II than Anna Ivanovna's courts, with Elizabeth being in constant danger for her life and freedom. Alpsten's knowledge of Russian history and culture shines through, as always, and she even adds in some supernatural elements in this that thankfully aren't too out of place, serving as foreshadowing for the story and which ends up being rewarding for the reader when the prophecies come to pass. Another small downside is that I noticed a few typos here and there, but given the copy I was provided was an uncorrected version, I don't doubt they won't be there there anymore when we get the published version.

All in all, I really enjoyed this and I can't wait for the 3rd and final book in the series - fingers crossed it'll be about Catherine the Great!

I love historical drama. This book was on track to be a 5 star until the middle of the book. Suddenly the story felt like an interchange on a freeway. Everything seemed twisted together. It did straighten back out and overall I enjoyed the book.
#stmartinspress #thetsarinasdaughter #netgalley #ellenalpsten

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and St. Martin Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

The story continues as we watch Elizabeth the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine. Once again we are given an enlighten read by the author during a turbulent time in history. We watch as the fight for power and the lack of trust in the royal court.

A must read for Russian history.

I enjoyed Ellen Alpsten’s earlier book, “Tsarina” and was so happy to be able read “The Tsarina’s Daughter”. This is another very enjoyable read and I came to the end much too soon! I think what stays with me about this book is the palpable political undercurrents, rivalries and power grabs that seem to have plagued nations and politicians since time immemorial. Of course no country escapes these power struggles, but as I read I kept thinking, as the French say, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose ( the more things change, the more they remain the same).

The story of the Tsarina’s Daughter was well crafted and the characters well drawn. The details of common life in Russia during this time period was beautifully presented. I am hoping that there will be another book in this series!

Thank You St. Martin's Griffin for this ebook copy!

The Tsarina's Daughter
by Ellen Alpsten

Mini Review:
This was such a beautiful story.
The characters and stories were so real.
The characters in the book are well presented and the research is evident.
The plot is wonderfully crafted and my favorite part of reading this was getting the whole insight.
I was drawn right into the story and the characters.
So well written and descriptive.
I found myself just completely enraptured in The Tsarina's Daughter.
I enjoyed the book and couldn’t put it down.
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you again Publisher, NetGalley and Author for this ebook copy!

I have always found Russian history fascinating, particularly the relationship between the Tsar and the people. So, after reading and enjoying Ellen Apsten's earlier novel, TSARINA (about Catherine I - Russia's first female ruler), I was psyched to get early access to this follow-up novel (Scheduled publication March 15, 2022. Thank you netgalley.com and St. Martin's Griffin). As it turns out, three stars is a bit of a gift.

I expected from the book description that this one would tell the story of Catherine I's daughter, Tsarina Elizabeth. But it appears that THE TSARINA's DAUGHTER is just the second of a three-novel series Alpsten plans about the Romanovs. And since this one ends with the accession of Elizabeth as Tsarina, I imagine the third novel will track her 20 years as Tsarina. Unfortunately for me, the story of Elizabeth's first 30 years (before her accession) just didn't hold up for 512 pages.

It's NOT that this isn't an interesting period in Russian history. After the 1725 death of Elizabeth's father, Peter the Great, and during the following 16 years, there are no fewer than five different Tsars on the throne. So the story of Elizabeth during this period is all about being in and out of favor under different rulers and their ministers. She's in, she's out. She struggles, she prospers. But even while she's overlooked by some Tsars, she remains popular among soldiers and people and is therefore a potential threat.

That in a nutshell is the core of this historical novel -- the changing status of Elizabeth. Plus, a few romances. But it just wasn't interesting enough to hold up for an entire book. Perhaps to make up for the repetitive nature of the events, the author instead has, in my opinion, included an excessive amount of flowery detail and description, some of which seem not only UNnecessary but occasionally, downright strange. A couple examples:
Chapter 59: "The gaze of her sour-cherry eyes was impenetrable."
Chapter 84: "The sky over St. Petersburg looked like a badly wrung dishcloth, the clouds hanging low in the shade of stained yellow."

Even with my interest in this country and subject matter, I think this novel would have benefitted by telling Elizabeth's FULL story, including her two decades on the throne. And a good editor could have helped cut a good 100 pages out of this manuscript. I can't say I recommend this one, even to those who share my interest in Russian history. Very disappointing.

Not usually as far back as I go with Romanov history but this was excellent! Elizabeth is a fascinating woman and this was very well written! Very hard to put down.

The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten is a stunning novel about Tsarevna Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great and his wife Catherine, born into the House of Romanov.

As friends turn to foe in the dangerous atmosphere of the Russian Court, Princess Elizabeth fears for her freedom and her life.

She deals with one blow to the next, yet matures into a strong and wise survivor destined to take her rightful place but not without a cost.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine has an idyllic childhood. She is surrounded by luxury and family. She dreams of marrying King Louis XV of France, and ruling as Queen. When her father dies the Russian line of succession is thrown into chaos and she finds her fortunes reversed. Now she is dependent on the goodwill of those around her.

Elizabeth was an interesting and dynamic character. She truly grew over the course of the book, and it was fascinating to watch. The book was well paced and unraveled in a dramatic and intense way. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

The Tsarina's Daughter was an epic nove whose main character, Elizabeth the daughter of Peter the Great who founded St. Petersburg and Tsaritsa Catherine I was a plucky, beautiful and very wronged person in the hierarchy of Russian Royal history. She was the target of assassination plots, escaped through her native intelligence and bravery and with the help of a small entourage of faithful friends of various backgrounds. She lived through the death of her first lover and the imprisonment and sadistic torture of another and remained always sure of her identity as the true tsarevna of all the Russian people. I knew a lot through reading about the last czar and the horrific end of his entire family, but I am glad to know more now about the previous history of Russsia. They seem such a suffering people, that I sometimes wonder that it might be why the Western mind has a difficult time wrapping itself around Russia even today. All in all it was an amazing reading experience and I thank Ms. Alpsten for writing and researching this magnificent book. Thank you also to Net Galley and St. Martin"s Press for allowing me to write my unbiased opinion of this ARC.

“The Tsarina’s Daughter,” by Ellen Alpsten, is the second in a trilogy about the Romanov family. Having never read the first book “Tsarina,” I was a bit hesitant - but this book stands on its own. I did like that Ms. Alpsten included a list of who-is-who in the beginning of the book, as I ended up consulting that (and, I’ll admit, online sources) to keep track of who was related to who and how others fit into the narrative. “The Tsarina’s Daughter” follows Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, as she lives her life, sometimes inching closer to being Tsarina - sometimes moving further down the line through court manipulations. Very nicely, it begins at the end and then goes back in time to give some back story as to how things evolved. This book has a lot of drama - there’s family drama all over the place, there’s foreign entanglements, there’s manipulations to rival the court of Nero (though not quite the Borgias), there’s broken promises, there’s even an appearance of some mysticism (a wood sprite and tarot) - but through it all, Elizabeth remains true to Russia and her idea of what “Mother Russia” means. At times this book felt like the pacing was sped up (more toward the end), but in general I found the pacing to be really well done. I will add “Tsarina” to my list of books to be read - and I look forward to the third book, which I hope is about Cathrine the Great (though possibly we have a bit of a look at Elizabeth’s rule too). If your knowledge of Russian rulers is, like mine, a bit lacking (or rusty), this book very nicely fills in the Peter the Great to Catherine the Great gap (or at least part of it). Four stars and a great roller coaster ride, with some crazy twists.

A terrific gem of a story! I didn't know anything about this incredible woman and her life before reading this. The author does a great job of blending narrative with descriptive and interesting narrative to paint a life of a woman you will absolutely admire. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great Read...I found myself captivated by palace life! I also found that I was constantly checking wikipedia for the names of the characters to see if they were real or imagined..to my surprise they were in fact real !! I must say I was quite shocked by some things I read, saddened by most things that happened to Elisaveta .....I cant wait to read more on the Romanov Royal Family
Thank you so much to St. Martins Griffin for the opportunity to read this copy

Somehow I missed the first novel “Tsarina” by Ellen Alpsten. Thankfully, I didn’t need to read it before enjoying Tsarina’s Daughter but I do intend to go back and fill in some of the history for myself by reading the first book. Tsarina’s Daughter is a fascinating story about Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and Tsarina Catherine l. Elizabeth is a spoiled heir who wants for nothing. She is soon to marry King Louis XV of France. But then her father dies, her brother is executed, and her mother takes the throne of Russia and Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger. This is a story of survival, betrayal, power, love, loss, deception and perseverance. You will get a glimpse into the Russian Empire, Russian folklore, and Russian history all tied into the beautiful and interesting life of Catherine the Great and her family.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved Tsarina so I was thrilled to get approved for this book. I didn’t love it as much as I loved Tsarina but it was a decent follow up. Again I am not sure how historically accurate the story is but it was enjoyable. The beginning started out slow, but when it picked up it was great. There are a lot of players but clearly the tide can change with the wind so when you are powerful and safe one day, could mean your demise the next day. I am so excited for the third book and cannot wait to see who she chooses to write about next.

I had read Tsarina earlier this year and learnt about Catherine I or Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya .. it was an informative read and this second book “The Tsarina’s Daughter is no less!! At the same time, one doesn’t need to read the first book to enjoy the second one, unless one prefers chronology!
**
“In your end lies your beginning. No man shall disappoint you as a woman will. An Angel will speak to you. The lightest load will be your greatest burden.” Prophecy of the Golosov Ravine
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This book is about Elizabeth Petrovna, second eldest daughter of Tsar, Peter the Great and Tsarina Catherine I. She is a beautiful and spoilt princess and is looking forward to getting married to King Louis XV of France and be the Queen in Versailles. When her mother, the Tsarina dies .. Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down! She is surrounded by enemies and threats and had to find ways to survive. This story is about love, survival, loss, politics, court drama, deceit, passion, power struggle.
**
The book is written well and the descriptions are vivid. I found the story engaging and gripping and had a hard time putting down the book. Thank God, for the long weekend .. I was able to finish the book.
**
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an Advance Reader Copy.
**

The Tsarina’s Daughter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Tsarina's Daughter, is the dramatic story of Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great, who ruled Russia during an extraordinary life marked by love, danger, passion and scandal.
Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and his wife, Catherine, a former serf, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the envy of the Russian empire. She is insulated by luxury and spoiled by her father, who dreams for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule in Versailles. But when a woodland creature gives her a Delphic prophecy, her life is turned upside down. Her volatile father suddenly dies, her only brother has been executed and her mother takes the throne of Russia.
As friends turn to foe in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and their burning passion finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma - seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.
Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper's den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great.

A thrilling rags to riches to rags and well wash, rinse repeat.

Don’t get me wrong here, I liked the book, but overall it was a tragic tale of self indulgence, deception and the destruction left in the path of the richest leaders of the Russian Empire in the 1700’s.

Missing for me was the life of Elizabeth, The Tsarina’s Daughter after …

From what I’ve read the book Tsarina by the same author is the first in the series and looks at the life of Catherine I, mother of Elisabeth The Tsarina’s Daughter with a third book in the works.

I read The Tsarina’s Daughter as a stand alone book and didn’t feel like I’d missed anything by not reading the 1st book. As for the alleged 3rd book, who knows?

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley, Ellen Alpsten and St. Martin's Griffin.

The Tsarina’s daughter by Ellen Alpsten. Wow, what a truly remarkable story about some truly remarkable people!! Peter the Great, the Grand Tsar of Russia, dies unexpectedly without nominating a male heir to inherit the throne. Who will now inherit the Empire of All Russias? Read The Tsarina's Daughter to find out..

The massive novel over 500 pages, (not a difficult read though), transports you to 18th century Russia through the rising and falling fortunes of the various successors to Peter the Great as his daughter Elizabeth Romanova tries to realise her legacy. Filled with court intrigue and interminable plots, suspense, romance, greed and betrayals, the story is bound to enthrall you. I loved not just the main protagonist but several other characters who fight for and against Elizabeth's rise to rule the Great Russian Empire. Her journey from a pampered and spoilt teenage Princess to becoming the Tsarina of all Russias, against all odds will grip you till the very end. I also learnt a lot about the history of Russia, its diplomatic and political environment at the time.

You will thoroughly enjoy this story if you are a fan of the Philippa Gregory novels about the English royal courts. While much has been written about the last Romanovs to rule Russia and the Russian Revolution, I haven't earlier found much historical fiction about the early Russian Tsars (and Tsarinas!). This book is definitely for you if you are looking for a lucid narrative of their lives and times. The author’s earlier novel Tsarina deals with the story of Elizabeth’s mother, Catherine I and the events preceding this book. However there is no compulsion to read the books in sequence, this book holds its own as a stand-alone novel.

This one had me reading late into the wee hours and I’m really hoping there is going to be a Part 3 soon. Thank you @NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advance reader copy