Item: Romanov
Author: reveriesociety_

by Nadine Brandes

My name is Anastasia. The history books say I died. They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them, and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of saving herself and her family are either to release the spell and deal with the consequences, or to enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya has only dabbled in magic, but it doesn’t frighten her half as much as her growing attraction to Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her.

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

Praise for Romanov:

"I am obsessed with this book! A magical twist on history that will have Anastasia fans wishing for more. I loved every detail Brandes wrote. If you love magic and Imperial Russia, you want Romanov on your shelf!" —Evelyn Skye

"Romanov will cast a spell on readers and immerse them in a history anyone would long to be a part of." —Sasha Alsberg

"If you think you know the story behind Anastasia Romanov, think again! The perfect blend of history and fantasy, Romanov takes a deeper look at the days leading up to the family’s tragedy, while also exploring the possibilities behind the mysteries that have long intrigued history buffs everywhere. Brandes weaves a brilliant and intricate saga of love, loss, and the power of forgiveness. Prepare to have your breath stolen by this gorgeous novel of brilliant prose and epic enchantment." —Sara Ella

Full-length historical fantasy
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Paperback contains special bonus chapter

This makes me so, so sad because I had all the reasons in the world to want to fall in love with this book. I wanted to promote the heck out of it, but I think it ends with this review.

For starters, I was so excited to have received a galley of this book since the premise sounded amazing and I couldn’t wait to read this Anastasia story with magic. But I couldn’t get past the first few chapters. I think it was another case of what happened with Nevernight. It may just not have been the right time for me.

I had problems with the pacing
Life has gotten super busy lately, so I want to be able to read on the go and for the stories I read to be read quickly. So when I realize it’s taking too long to read a story… It tends to get drawn out while I read other books. I liked the characters and was really looking forward to seeing the conflict develop, but for me it was taking a bit too long, so I had to pause it.

For example, at first there was so much tension going on, what with the Romanov’s confined in one place and then the announcement that her father was being taken somewhere else. I knew there was so much at stake and that it wouldn’t end well, but I just wasn’t feeling it as much as I should have to keep going.

I loved the siblings
Specially the relationship between Anastasia and her brother. She was so concerned for him, and even I got really scared for him, being vulnerable in such an already difficult situation. I wanted them to succeed and for him to feel better and be happy. His character was one of the high points of what I read.

Coincidentally, I also started watching the Netflix documentary about the Romanovs and I loved seeing the parallels between the story and the real lives of these people. It breaks my heart how things ended, and I might just pick this book up in the future again just to see how the author ends it.

This is a book that while I didn’t finish it, I don’t feel like discouraging people from reading. I completely feel like it was a case of ‘it’s me, not you’.

Romanov

by Nadine Brandes

Reviewed by reveriesociety_ on Sep 8, 2019

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