Empress of the Night: A Novel of Catherine the Great

Catherine #2

by Eva Stachniak

Perfect for readers of Hilary Mantel, Alison Weir, and Philippa Gregory, Empress of the Night is Eva Stachniak’s engrossing new novel, told in the voice of Catherine the Great as the Romanov monarch reflects on her ascension to the throne, her rule over the world’s greatest power, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time.
 
A critically acclaimed historical drama and instant #1 international bestseller, The Winter Palace brilliantly reimagined the rise of Catherine the Great through the watchful eyes of her clever servant Varvara. Now, in Eva Stachniak’s enthralling new novel, Catherine takes center stage as she relives her astonishing ascension to the throne, her rule over an empire, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time.
 
As the book opens, the charismatic monarch is in her final hours. From the fevered depths of her mind, Catherine recalls the fateful trajectory of her turbulent her precarious apprenticeship as Russia’s Grand Duchess, the usurpers who seek to deprive her of a crown, the friends who beg more of her than she was willing to give, and her struggle to know whom to trust and whom to deceive to ensure her survival.
 
“We quarrel about power, not about love,” Catherine would write to the great love of her life, Grigory Potemkin, but her days were balanced on the razor’s edge of choosing her head over her heart. Power, she learns, is about resolve, strategy, and direction; love must sometimes be secondary as she marshals all her strengths to steer her volatile country into a new century and beyond—to grow the Romanov empire, to amass a vast fortune, and to control a scheming court in order to become one of history’s greatest rulers.
 
Gorgeously written with vivid detail and lyrical prose, Empress of the Night is an intensely intimate novel of a woman in charge of her fortunes, who must navigate the sorrows, triumphs, and hopes of both her soul and a nation.

Praise for Empress of the Night
 
“[Eva] Stachniak’s absorbing novel opens readers’ hearts to an extraordinary and misunderstood woman. . . . Wonderfully, lyrically written, Stachniak’s story vibrates with passion, drama and intrigue. This is a feast for fans.”—RT Book Reviews
 
“Stachniak’s insight into the opulent lives of Russia’s rulers continues in this reflective second novel. . . . Historical fiction fans will appreciate this personal account of a formidable and, indeed, infamous ruler.”—Library Journal
 
“The book takes on a dreamlike quality. . . . Ambitious . . . moving . . . structurally complex and psychologically intense . . . vivid descriptions.”—Quill & Quire
 
“Stachniak brings to life one of the most fascinating—and controversial—female rulers of all time.”—DuJour
 
“Empress of the Night casts light on Catherine’s life with unflinching honesty and intimacy. This fun novel of lovers, intrigue, and malicious and manipulative nobility keeps readers enthralled with every page.”—Virtuoso Life


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Russia, Fiction, Historical, Royalty, 18th Century, Ebooks

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2013

About the author

Eva Stachniak was born in Wrocław, Poland. She moved to Canada in 1981 and has worked for Radio Canada International and Sheridan College, where she taught English and humanities. Her debut novel, Necessary Lies, won the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award in 2000. Her first novel of Catherine the Great, The Winter Palace, has been included in the Washington Post 2011 list of most notable fiction and was a #1 international bestseller.
Stachniak lives in Toronto. Her latest novel is The School of Mirrors (2022).

Reviews

[La Talpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nachdem mich „Der Winterpalast“ richtig begeistern konnte habe ich mich sehr auf diesen zweiten Teil gefreut. Ich finde dieses Buch ganz gut, aber ich hatte mir ein wenig mehr erwartet.

Im Gegensatz zum Winterpalast lesen wir hier die Geschichte um den Aufstieg und die Amtszeit Katharina der Großen aus den Augen der Zarin selbst. Leider war die Erzählstruktur doch recht durcheinander mit etlichen Zeitsprüngen, so dass ich immer mal überlegen musste an welcher geschichtlichen Stelle wir uns grade befinden. Ansonsten hat mir der eher ruhige Erzählstil aber gefallen.

Das Katharina so einige Liebhaber hatte ist nun zwar kein Geheimnis, aber dieses Thema steht doch etwas sehr im Mittelpunkt der Erzählung und andere Punkte innerpolitisch wie außenpolitisch kommen einfach zu kurz. Dafür wiederum hat man einen guten Einblick in die Familienverhältnisse der Romanows bekommen.

Ich bin doch etwas hin- und hergerissen wie ich das Buch finde, aber mehr als 3 Sterne ist es in meinen Augen nicht wert.

[Cameran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would like to preface this review with the statement that this book is in no way a testament to the author’s talent. I read the previous book in this series, The Winter Palace, and was very engrossed with the author’s ability to convey the rise to power of Catherine the Great through the eyes of a servant who comes to be a close friend. Because that book was so well done, I was thrilled to be granted an advanced reader’s copy of the book to follow. I only wish Empress of the Night could have lived up to the expectations.

From what I can discern, the problem with this book stems from the way in which it is structured. The story begins with Catherine as an old woman; before long, she is incapacitated on the seat of her toilet with a crushing headache, pain, and the inability to move her body. As she contemplates what to do, she continues to reflect back on her past, beginning with when she first arrived at the Russian court as Princess Sophie to be engaged to Peter III. To hear about this time in her life was almost like a refresher course for the readers who have read The Winter Palace. I was interested, but I was also not; and unfortunately, that sentiment continued throughout the entirety of the book.

Catherine the Great’s reign was filled to the brim with personal and political intrigue, yet this book focused way too much on her reflections about past lovers. I wanted to hear more about the politics! I also wanted the story to stop feeling so disjointed, because the view of one of her attendants with a mole on his face could automatically and randomly throw her thoughts to the past. The structure of this story did not work out, and I really cannot envision people enjoying this book. If you are interested in Catherine the Great and this author, then I would recommend you read The Winter Palace, which covers her arrival to the Russian court to the coup against her husband to become Empress of Russia. If you want to read a book about the politics of her reign, then I’m sure you can find one as well, and if you do find a good one then please let me know.

(I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is March 25, 2014.)

[mandinmandin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Empress of the Night: A Novel of Catherine the Great yesterday, but wasn't ready to rate or write a review about it, neither did I have time to do it anyway.

My copy of this book starts with a quote written to me by my grandmother: "When I gave you your first book, I also told you something. If you want to live a happy life, you got to read lots of books. I'm glad you remember". Why am I writing this? Well, to show you that I'll be good to this book, despite all the flaws it had.

When I saw what it was about, I was thrilled. I love reading about strong women in history, the great ones who changed something in the world. Yekaterina Alexeevna, how amazing is that?! The title, the cover, the theme... Everything had my name on it.

It took me a lot of time to read this, almost a month. So I have to say that this is one of those books you have to read fast, because if you skip one day, you might need time to focus on it again.

The writting was shallow and economical. It had really short sentences, which lead to no emotions.

The plot was boring and repetitive. This certantly wasn't the way to describe a woman as great as her. The book was focused only on her lovers, while the influence she had in arts, the politics she followed didn't get much attention or got no attention at all. In my opinion, most of her greatness was ignored.

Why are we walking?
Because we have to move.
Why?
If we stop, we die.

The last few pages were interesting. There once again we get a quick look over the characters' personalities. And they made me feel sad for finishing this book that I was eager to finish.

The living always got to say the last words.

I wouldn't recommend this for the people who are looking for a book who shows the great life and politics of Catherine, but to those who want to catch only a glimpse of it.

[Frau G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 Sterne

Irgendwie war das Buch weder gut noch richtig schlecht. Die ersten 100 Seiten war es noch einmal eine Wiederholung dessen, was man im ersten Roman auch schon aus Warwaras Sicht gelesen hat.
Das Mittelstück war in Ordnung, halbwegs interessant und kurzweilig zu lesen.
Aber das Ende, wenn auch klar war, was kam und kommen musste, war wirr und ich war wirklich froh, als es endlich vorbei war.
Ich weiß, es ist von der Autorin wahrscheinlich auf Grund der Umstände so gewollt, dass das Ende so durcheinander ist, aber mich hat es unglaublich gestört.

[AdiTurbo · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. This is a retelling of Catherine the Great's story of ascension to power, already told in the previous novel - The Winter Palace - this time told through the eyes of Catherine herself. It may have sounded like a good idea in the author's head, but the result is a story the reader is already familiar with, told again without enough new insights on it to justify the retelling. Instead of the interesting point of view of the courtiers and servants from the first book, we now only get to learn more about Catherine's love life, which does not in any way give us more information about the politics, schemes and culture of Imperial Russia. For me, this wasn't enough to make me want to read the same story again.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the moment I started listening to this book, I could tell that it was something unique. It was probably a novel that I would have enjoyed more in print than as an audiobook. Listening too it, I found my mind wandering and got lost in the disjointed storytelling.

Beginning with the scene of Catherine's dying moments, Empress of the Night has a dreamlike quality of the empress' life flashing before her eyes. Instead of a comprehensive biography, the reader is given random snippets that stand out to Catherine as her last breaths slip away. Some scenes are told in exquisite detail, while others are never mentioned. Most of the focus is on Catherine's legendary love-life.

There is some beautiful prose in this novel, but not enough of a distinct plot to keep my interest in this format.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read "The Winter Palace," I had been dying to read "Empress of the Night" so I was so excited to be able to finally get it in my hot little hands. I was definitely not disappointed in this book but if you've read "The Winter Palace," "Empress of the Night" has a completely different feeling. Catherine the Great is an absolutely fascinating historical figure and she gets an amazing treatment in this book.

This book has a vastly different flavor than "The Winter Palace." This book felt much more dream-like and while the style took me a little bit to get used to (there's a lot about Catherine's feelings and in places it almost felt like stream of consciousness type writing), but it actually really works for this book. Catherine the Great is a looming figure in history and I thought the style sort of gave a nod to that. I was utterly entranced by the writing.

You certainly don't need to have read "The Winter Palace" in order to read and enjoy this book but it can't hurt. This book focuses way more on Catherine's later life. I also thought that it was really interesting that the book focused much more on Catherine's inner feelings and not much as to what was going on with her reign. You really do get an internal view of her thoughts and feelings. I did wish that the book went into a little bit more about her actual reign and the politics of the time but I did like getting to know her a little bit better through this book. Catherine is one of my favorite historical figures (she is so absolutely fascinating to me) but there has been very little historical fiction with her at the center. This book definitely fits a great void!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book because that particular subject fascinates you, so you enjoy reading more than what you've already read? And then, as you are reading, the book begins to become eerily familiar - like you've read it before? This is how I felt about Empress of the Night. I love historical fiction, and Catherine the Great is such an intriguing figure that I enjoy reading about her from a variety of perspectives. Sadly, this book reminded me so much of the last book I read about Catherine (Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman) that I literally had to check a couple of times to make sure that I wasn't accidentally repeating myself. The only stark difference in what I read and what I recall reading was the interjections as Catherine appears to be suffering a stroke, and that it appeared to have more to do with her lovers and less to do with her fascinating ruling.

I suppose you can make the argument that, as an historical figure, there is little left to the imagination anymore. Not being a writer, I wouldn't know whether that could ever be true. But this just felt like a rehash of so much of what I have already read.

Having said that - the story is written well and would be a good starting point for anyone not overly familiar with Catherine and her ascent to the throne. I think it would be enjoyable for them. Unfortunately for me, it was a case of deja vu that was too strong to ignore.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 1 out of 5]

A novel of Catherine the Great book 2

Based on Catherine’s memoirs, this second novel seems more of a literary novel than anything else. Its approach is quite daunting and has less of a straightforward narrative than “The Winter Palace” had. Told through a series of vignettes that shift back and forth in time the princess on her death bed recalls and reflects on the key episodes of her reign. This complex and psychologically intense novel of a woman in charge of her destiny should have been a very captivating read….but

The pussyfoot narrative left me baffled on too many occasions to have keep my attention at bay and I had a hard time focusing on what should have been an intimately captures of history’s most fascinating monarch. The flashbacks lacked coherence. The narrative was very choppy on many occasions and the prose did not flow well throughout. The whole book was a mishmash of frivolous events and Catherine’s boring love affairs. I was expecting to read the greatest challenges Catherine had to face and how she positioned herself. What we have is Catherine’s long stream of incomprehensible babbles for too many pages…..

This said ¾ into the book I abandoned it……

[Faye* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich habe dieses Buch gekauft, weil mir „Der Winterpalast“ von Eva Stachniak eigentlich gut gefallen hat. Leider wurde ich von dieser (nicht so wirklichen) Fortsetzung enttäuscht.
In dem Roman geht es wieder um Katharina die Große, die dieses Mal auf ihrem Sterbebett liegt und ihr Leben Revue passieren lässt. Das und der Titel „Zarin der Nacht“ hätten mir eigentlich schon zu denken geben müssen. Leider erinnert sich die Zarin vor allem an ihre aktuellen und ehemaligen Liebhaber, dazwischen gestreut sind Erinnerungsfetzen, Halluzinationen, aufgeschnappte Gesprächsfetzen einer Frau, die nach einem Schlaganfall zwischen Bewusstsein und Ohnmacht driftet. Stachniak schreibt über Belanglosigkeiten (z.B. eine halbe Seite über Fliegen, die durch zu langes Lüften in den Salon kamen und daraufhin erschlagen wurden) und in einer unzusammenhängenden Art, die auch leider kaum Politisches abdeckt, sondern sich lieber dem Liebesleben der Kaiserin und der Erwähnung diverser Körperflüssigkeiten beschränkt.
Alles in allem war das Buch zwar nicht ganz schlecht, weil ich nach wie vor finde, dass Stachniak schreiben kann, aber trotzdem leider eine (langweilige) Enttäuschung.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me with a strange feeling. I have to say I struggled to finish at some point... The narration was to evasive, I would have wanted more details, and the book would have gained from a first-person point of view. The moments in which Catherine is dying were too long and it was difficult to return and connect to the main story after... The series of lovers was getting frustrating toward the end, perhaps because the author didn't really "focus" on them nor on the Empress' feelings toward them. Sometimes I wasn't even sure of what was going on...
One positive note: the moments with Catherine's grandchildren (Alexandrine, Alexander...) were adorable, but I would have wanted more!
I never read The Winter Palace but I definitely not intend to read it. Sorry...

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book Empress of the Night, the storied history of Russia’s Catherine the Great comes alive. Details breathed one by one, as written by master storyteller Eva Stachniak, bring history to life – not only vividly, but entrancingly.

I love this book. It’s the perfect read for delving deep into history, for gaining an understanding of someone’s life, and for escaping into a different place and time.

I got a chance to interview the author, Eva Stachniak, about writing, inspiration, and Russia (she shares photos!) - click through to read her funny and wise take on writing, research, and Catherine: http://www.wanderingeducators.com/bes...

[Katherine Gypson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Winter Palace, Eva Stachniak created a portrait of one of Russia's greatest rulers from the outside: through the viewpoint of her spy (and sometime friend) Varvara. The choice was brilliant, bringing the scheming court of St. Petersburg alive in all of stench and snow and glittering wealth. Now, with Empress of the Night, Stachniak completes the portrait by allowing Catherine to tell her own story.

I had my doubts about whether or not Catherine the Great's reign could work as novel - after all, fiction rises and falls on conflict and while Catherine's reign was eventful and she built a Russian empire whose legacy lingers in our present day, it doesn't quite have the drama of her rise to power depicted in The Winter Palace.

Fortunately, Stachniak takes a different approach. Starting with the stroke that would eventually kill Catherine and then working backwards through her reign, Stachniak builds a dreamy, contemplative, richly textured world that shifts rapidly through years and events. The sometimes fragmentary, present-tense narrative emphasizes the emotion of the moment and how a ruler must pay attention to the small details of gesture and dress, a slipped word or the wavering handwriting on a letter. These are the small things that result in survival and a name in the history books.

Of course, because it's a novel about Catherine the Great, the reader meets many of her lovers and learns Catherine's true - and often conflicting - feelings about all of them. I caught myself skimming over these parts - because Catherine's point of view is so strong, its hard to develop an independent picture of the men and so they all start to blend together. I was a bit disappointed that the reader did not get more of a sense of Catherine's love of learning and her engagement with the great philosophers of her day - there are plenty of novels that reduce women from history to mistresses and I think my appreciation for Catherine could have deepened if she had been shown considering the great questions and intellectual debates of her time.

This is not the case with Stachniak's portrait of Catherine's sprawling Imperial family. I greatly enjoyed the development of relationships between Catherine and her grandchildren and appreciated the contrast between Catherine's "old" world and their "new" world of the coming 19th century.

Empress of the Night is a richly detailed, risk taking novel that ably recreates the sweeping world of the Russian Empire and the inner landscape of a legendary ruler.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid reading!
Having read this as a stand alone, I did not feel like I missed anything by not reading The Winter Palace, though I will be reading it at some point.
I do feel like I learned a great deal about Catherine the Great. I knew that she could be shrewd, but I can understand why for the most part. She really did what she had to, to benefit Russia. She was hard and stubborn but she did some great things. Now the debauchery, I know it was big at that time, but she really enjoyed herself. Even in her old age she was enamored with young men. You could say she got around more than enough corners in her life, considering most of her children were not her husbands', and they all had different fathers, still it was not her and her husbands' child to come next in line. Even with that, she did not let her infidelities interfere with her running Russia.
A great deal of thought went into this book, you can tell, and I know a lot of you will enjoy the way it is laid out and written.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe this wasn't one of the best writing novels i had ever read, but this had one of the best messages. It learnt a lot about power, about being powerful. And sometimes this is something we really need. In most of that world, there are usually two kind of people: leaders and submitters. And Catherine was a leader, a queen, as well as one of the most powerful women in the history.
She wasn't perfect, but the tried to let her weakness behind in the eyes of her nation. She was the queen of Russia, and the tears and weakness weren't for her. She was more a man than a woman. In that way she became one of my idols, because i have always appreciate people and mostly women, that make the difference in a life and in a world where only men are destined to lead.

[TienvoorNegen · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took me forever to finish this book! I had read the Winter Palace (which I enjoyed) and expected a similar-style-follow-up about Catherine's ruling years.
The book lacked cohesion, the facts known about her life were in there, but it felt as if they were added to a harlequin novel. The main part of the story is told in hindsight, when Catherine is old and ill. (Sure, fine) The last pages (20? 30?) are the writers fantasies and ideas of what it is like to die from a stroke and the things you muse about when that happens. (Boring, tedious, and ehm.. annoying really)
Superfluous to say I wasn't impressed.

[Marci - · Rating 5 out of 5]

stupendous!! I loved this book even more than The first book The Winter Palace!! Evocative, Inviting yourself into the world of Catherine the Great of Russia - her tireless work, her life, her struggles, the court and the cast of characters will have you unable to put the book away for even a minute until it's finished. I didn't want it to end. BRAVO EVA!!

[Marisa Fernandes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catarina, a grande, está entre as minhas figuras históricas preferidas e já são vários os livros romanceados que leio em que ela é a personagem principal. De Eva Stachniak é o segundo, tendo "O Palácio de Inverno" sido o primeiro.

A escrita de Stachniak é soberba e já não lia algo com um vocabulário tão rico e elaborado há algum tempo (as descrições são maravilhosas), mas em termos de estrutura senti que a história se tornou a dada altura confusa. Temos Catarina jovem acabada de chegar à Rússia com a sua mãe (adúltera e promiscua com outros homens, tendo deixado o marido na "Alemanha"), Catarina sob o olhar de Pedro (que nunca teve grande simpatia para com ela, preferindo os soldadinhos de chumbo), Catarina e os seus amantes, Catarina e os seus netos, Catarina idosa e a morrer. E foi a partir de Catarina e os seus amantes que a história se tornou algo caótica... Perde-se a conta (e o norte) aos amantes e saltamos desse tempo para o tempo em que Catarina está a morrer e daí para Catarina mais jovem... Para voltar a Catarina e os seus amantes e depois Catarina e os seus netos. Um pouco confuso mesmo para quem não é novo a ler a história da Imperatriz.

Paralelamente, reconheço que quando a autora começou a focar-se demasiado no período da queda de Catarina comecei a não gostar tanto e a desmotivar, de algum modo. A minha velocidade de leitura abrandou consideravelmente...

Portanto, adorei ler mais de metade do livro, mas após isso... gostei apenas sem adorar.

[Tabea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Das kann halt nicht sein dass die nur von den Liebhabern in Katharinas Leben erzählt haben so ich check die artistic device warum die erzählstruktur so fragmentiert war aber bg ich denke wenn die stirbt erinnert die sich an mehr zurück als an den fucking bastard le nouriad.
Ich michte die Warwara refrences weil ich das erste buch mochte aber man hat gemerkt dass die nur als cameo für die Leser gedacht waren und nix zu der story beigetragen haben.
Es wäre ein interessantes Konzept wenn man dafür nicht komplettes Vorwissen über Katharina braucht weil ich check das ganze politische null und da hätte man paar sachen besser erklären können anstatt die nächste intime Beziehung zu beschreiben so irgendwann war genug...

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Story war interessant und ich war neugierig darauf.
Mit dem Schreibstil konnte ich leider aber wenig anfangen, ich kam schwer rein und anstatt Kapitel gab es Absätze, das hat mich durcheinander gebracht. Leider nicht meins.

[Rachel P · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF: I got about halfway through this book then finally decided to stop. I love the first one in the two-book series, The Winter Palace. Unfortunately though since I'm not a huge fan of reading books that I know what is going to happen or that I feel like I've read before I wasn't a fan. This book essentially takes the first book written from Catherine's servant's perspective, Vavara, and retells it from Catherine's perspective. Needless to say, it was a bit predictable and I enjoyed Vavara's perspective a lot more anyways. It seems that a lot of people on Goodreads are saying the same or similar things so perhaps she should have stuck with the first one as far as Catherine the Great's story. If she did choose to write about Catherine again I feel she should have continued on with the story from where she left telling it from yet another servant's perspective, someone else in the castle, or one of her lovers. Overall though she is an AMAZING author.

[Gretchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am having the worst luck with books right now. I put aside a bad book to pick up this book. About fifty pages into this book, I had to put it aside. This book was not good. It wasn't completely abysmal and that is why it's getting two stars instead of only one.

Eva Stachniak's previous book The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great was an ok book. I didn't think it was fantastic but I did think Catherine, as portrayed in that novel, had potential to be great in her own novel. This was not the case. My biggest problem with this book was the manner in which it was written. The author is constantly jumping around without really telling the reader what is going on. There is a point where the story goes from five years into Catherine's reign to twelve years into Catherine's reign in a matter of seven pages. It makes the book difficult to read.

I get the impression that while the author might think Catherine the Great is a fascinating women, the author does not think Russia is such a fascinating place. It would have been nice to see a little more about what was actually going on in Russia during Catherine's reign. To be perfectly honest, I cannot tell you anymore than I already know about Russia at this time period. For those who don't know me, I know very little about Russia before Word War I. This book is about a woman who is remembered with the title "the Great". That title doesn't just get bestowed on past monarchs. It's kind of a big deal. Ask Peter. What made this woman so great? I can't imagine it was the string of "lovers" she had while Empress.

If you have readThe Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great and are looking to pick up this book thinking it will tie into the previous book, stop right now. Varvara is briefly mentioned. She is in no way a key character in this book, nor is Darya.

I feel like this review has been as random as the writing of the book. I really just don't know what to say. It was not a good book. I am not as familiar with Catherine the Great as I am other historical figures but I am sure there are other fictional novels out there. I am sure that most of those books are better than this one. If anyone knows of any, please let me know.

[Gianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t resist a book about Catherine the Great, who is one of the most fascinating female historical figures. This is the sequel to The Winter Palace, and, as with the first novel, I thought that it might be an entertaining read if someone wanted an emotional and very personal account of Catherine’s life; I would even say her love or sex life. Many of the scenes from The Winter Palace are repeated here. For example, the scene and circumstances of Catherine’s first birth are depicted in an identical way. Empress of the Night shows Russia’s famous ruler's later stage of life, through her own eyes as she is dying, and the focus is firmly on her immediate family and closest associates.

While it is true that Catherine was known for her lovers (she had 12 favorites), the novel doesn’t do justice to this complex woman. I wish it had given us more insight into the transformation of Sophie, a minor German princess, whose father was so insignificant he didn’t even merit an invitation to his daughter's wedding, to the dominant political presence she established for herself and Russia in Europe, in other words, to her becoming Catherine the Great/Ekaterina Velikaya.

Catherine was a fairly progressive ruler for her time, considering the historical context of Russia. She was involved in the introduction to a new legal code for the country, actively communicated with some of the great minds of that period (Voltaire), and wanted to abolish the serf system, which she saw as a disturbing relic from an another era although she encountered stern resistance from the aristocracy. She had great diplomatic skills, but her armies also conquered strategic new territories for Russia. She collected art from all over Europe, much of which is now displayed at the Hermitage, and established new educational institutions.

In the novel, Catherine’s achievements as a politician are, at best, glossed over, and at worst, not mentioned at all. The relationships with her children, grandchildren, and her closest courtiers are described better. The novel, predictably, is a light read and provides a look at some of the court practices. For a good, well-documented account of both her personal and political life, I’d recommend the non-fiction book Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by R. Massie.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva’s second novel tells the story of Catherine the Great’s rise to power, just as The Winter Palace did, but this time from Catherine’s point of view. Stachniak paints an engaging, impeccably-researched portrait that humanizes one of Russia’s great rulers.

Her decision to begin with the stroke that fells Catherine is a daring and unique structural conceit that also serves as a real-time experience of a stroke throughout the novel: Catherine relieves her life as the blood that is killing her brain advances. Stachniak’s evocation of the experience of a stroke is convincing, including the alienation of oneself from one’s body, as in this sentence: “Her fingers gripping the edge of the water closet resemble claws of some ancient bird, not quite accustomed to such feats of agility.”

Stachniak’s writing is beautiful throughout, and studded with a level of detail that vividly conjures palace life. We remain inside the palace walls for much of the novel, as Catherine herself does, focused on palace and political intrigue, and Stachniak reminds us how criticisms of her behavior—her many lovers, her ambition—are portrayed through the lens of her gender. “They are valiant kings, conquerors, heroes. She is Medusa, the vampire, the harridan.” But Catherine is unrepentant in her vision. “Empires,” she reflects, “need to grow or die.” Stachniak’s portrayal of the Empress’s final hours is a fitting end.

A compelling, sympathetic portrait of a singular woman.

[Catherine (The Gilmore Guide to Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Power lies in hearing what is not meant to be heard. In understanding what motivates those who plot against you. In knowing what could make them turn about-face, come to your side.

Empress of the Night, Eva Stachniak’s new historical novel about Catherine the Great, begins at the end by opening with the last days before her death. Catherine is in the 34th year of her reign and is 67 years old. As she lays stricken by a stroke, leaving her unable to talk, her mind goes all the way back to the early years of her marriage to Grand Duke Peter III—a man who was raised in Prussia and sees his homeland as a backwater and his bride as a nuisance. The Grand Duke has no interest in his new young bride and Sophie (her birth name) is left to navigate the hostile waters of Empress Elizabeth’s court. When after five years of attempting to become pregnant Catherine finally gives birth to a son, there is much speculation that the child is not Peter’s. Still, it is a son and the child is taken from Catherine by the Empress to be raised her way, creating a split between the child and mother that never heals, to the point that Catherine chooses her grandson to succeed her, doubting that her son is fit to rule.

You can read the rest of this review AND enter to win a free copy of Empress of the Night at The Gilmore Guide to Books: http://wp.me/p2B7gG-GM

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not feel that if one is reading about Catherine the Great for the first time, this book does her justice. The book didn't give a satisfactory answer to the question: why was she called "the Great"? I was a bit disappointed. The writing was absolutely brilliant; I felt as though I were in the 18th century court of Catherine the Great of Russia. This book was filled with atmosphere. I liked the use of present tense, which made it feel more immediate.

We are told Catherine's story through the device of her having a stroke, then in 36 hours remembering her life from when she arrived in Russia to marry the eccentric Grand Duke Peter; her horrendous marriage and the gorgon Empress Elizabeth; the court; the coup; and her life up to her death. I would have liked more on her expansion of Russia to the west and south, policies and cultural achievements, such as the beautiful Hermitage art gallery. They were treated briefly or not at all. Catherine was a full-rounded character, not always loveable. I did not like her lovers or Favorites being so prominent in the story; I got sick and tired of them. The author didn't give a bibliography per se, but noted which books she used in her research. I did like the epilogue telling what eventually happened to other historical characters in the novel.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly I should have read Winter Palace first, but so it goes when you pick the wrong title when traveling. After a stroke and in a coma, Catherine, whose brain is as shart as ever, looks back on her life . This is her rule as Empress of Russia through her eyes. I confess I found the heavily accented voice of the narrator a distraction--cadence often seemed off and through me out of the book. On the other hands, this struck me as a character and life to observe, rather than to participate in, so, perhaps the narrator simply intensivfied that feel. Lots of historical, social, cultural details, real people play their part (Potemkin for instance), but it's a book of memories, reflections. It's easy to get caught up in her musings and forget that they are not actually happening now but are merely memories. It moves at a measured, stately pace, is trongly character-centered, well-researched and descriptive, told in a reflective tone. Intersting, but having read the award-winning biography by Massie, I may have had enough Catherine without reading Winter Palace.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not really what I like in Historical Fiction. Most of this book was about Catherine's relationships with her various lovers, and much of it told in reminiscences with a dreamy sort of stream of consciousness style. I'm glad that I read Robert Massie's biography of Catherine the Great before reading this, because this novel makes only brief references to Catherine's accomplishments during her reign without giving much detail or explanation. I much preferred the first book of this pair, The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great, which was not told from Catherine's POV but was a much more straightforward narrative.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

As fascinating as Catherine the Great’s life was, it was not portrayed well here. From the beginning, it’s a mess. It starts with Catherine having a stroke on the toilet and her observations while incapacitated. It is peppered with Russian proverbs that are distracting. The narrative presents Catherine’s life as it flashes before her eyes in her final hours, from her first days at court, to her coup to secure the throne, to her elderly years. The title is certainly fitting, as she dwells on all of her carnal conquests. By the time I was 140 pages in, I was exasperated that there were another 235 pages to go. There are a few insights to her family life that were moderately interesting, but as a whole, this book was erratic and insipid.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5 stars

This first half of this book assumes you have read (and remember) every detail of the Winter Palace, and tests your memory as to which Gregory or Alexander the empress is sleeping with, trying to avoid, doting on, or is her enemy. Countless pages were turned back trying to straighten out last names in order to follow the musings of a dying woman.

I do believe this was intentional on the writers part as the story was told in snippets of memory as Catherine lies in her death bed for three days. However, as beautiful as the writing was, the reader needs a greater knowledge than I possess of Catherine's accomplishments and behaviour, to fully appreciate this book.