The Girl From Moscow

by Julia Levitina

1983, Moscow
Twenty-one-year-old Ella dreams of stardom and playing Natasha Rostova in War and Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy. One day when meeting her friend Vlad in the city, she finds herself in the middle of a protest and attracts the glare of the KGB.

Labelled a traitor, she must withdraw from the academy and she soon yearns to escape the cruel and oppressive Soviet regime. However, her hopes of leaving the country are smashed when her husband Roman is sentenced to two years' labour camp for selling American jeans with the intent to make a profit.

As she looks for another way out, Ella is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a KGB general, who has the power to secure her freedom. Will she risk everything and leave behind those she loves to pursue a life in the West?

A gripping, passionate and heart-stopping tale packed with twists and turns for fans of The Spy's Wife, The Girl from Munich and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2024

About the author

Julia Levitina grew up in Moscow with her Ukrainian Jewish mother and grandmother, who were both Holocaust survivors. She studied design and worked as a theatre designer before immigrating to Australia in 1991 with her family, two children and $200 to her name. Julia completed a Masters of Theatre Design at the University of Technology Sydney. While teaching set and costume design, she wrote short stories, and her short story ‘E-Love’ was acquired by Radio National. The Girl from Moscow is her first novel. It was shortlisted for the ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize for unpublished manuscripts. She lives in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with her husband and their toy poodle, Honey.

Reviews

[Brenda]

1983 in Moscow saw Ella deep in her dreams of stardom; to be acting in War & Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy. But when she became mixed up in a protest - wrong place, wrong time - with her good friend Vlad, the KGB were instantly made aware. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Roman, whom she'd just discovered she was pregnant to, was creating problems and pushing boundaries. Ella had to quit the Academy, much to her distress, which made her rival smile with glee. But would she keep the baby? Confused, Ella sought advice; marrying Roman was the answer. But did she love him? Suddenly Roman was arrested and sentenced to two years in a labour camp. How could Ella escape the oppression of the Soviet regime? She needed to flee the country she'd learned to hate.

The Girl From Moscow is Aussie author Julia Levitina's debut novel and it wasn't what I expected. It seemed to tread water for quite some time, with the focus on Ella's pregnancy, Roman and other friends, drawn out. Olga's days during the war were few and far between and didn't really feel relevant, which was a shame. There could have been more depth to that part of the story. That said, I'll be interested to see what the author has for us next.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Suz]

This is the first book I have read set in the USSR, with a timeline of the 1980’s being labelled as historical fiction (it makes me wonder what the rules are for this?!).

Ella is a young actress swept up into a protest she had no part in due to her friend’s activism, this was bad timing for a young woman on the cusp of everything good. Newly pregnant this turns into a bid for freedom after becoming involved with a General of the KGB using her as a pawn for his own agenda.

Ella is not always likeable, though ballsy and determined to keep her loved ones safe. Her Jewish heritage poses a problem, added to that her propensity to make rash and wild decisions made this an interesting read. This young woman is constantly fighting a repressive regime, and given the author’s background, it is clear the narrative is fueled by someone who has been there, which made me ponder what the author’s own experience must have been like during her own time there.

Ella is enmeshed with her insipid husband who will stop at nothing to serve his own needs, this is where she shows her courage to put her acting skills into motion.

This is not my preferred genre, so I am sure others will enjoy this more, though the audio narration added extra layers to the story, with accents provided seamlessly. This is a well written debut, and I look forward to see what comes next.

I listened to this via the BorrowBox platform and my public library.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews]

*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

Privet everyone!

With some of my favourite historical fiction authors lining up to sing the praises of Julia Levitina’s debut, I was pretty excited about the prospect of reading this Russian based novel. Thanks to my favourite book in the whole world, The Bronze Horseman, I’ve developed a deep affection for anything set in Russia. The Girl from Moscow is mainly set in Russia in the 1980s, with some core flashbacks to the grandmother figure of the main character in the 1940s. I really loved this overlay of narratives and personal stories. Much of this story is inspired by the author’s life experiences, so this is a story told with passion, heart and lived experience, despite it being a fiction piece.

Ella is our heroine in the main 1980s storyline. I immediately warmed to Ella and was fully invested in her mission to reach the safety and freedom of life away from the oppressive regime of the Soviet rule. I did find Ella a little naïve but overall I appreciated her sense of determination, persistence, strength and ingenuity. Ella is a figure of emancipation and empowerment that you just can’t help but admire. Ella’s grandmother Olga allows us to travel back in time to the 1940s revealing a time of war, trauma, pain, uncertainty and high risk. Both timelines are punctuated with similar themes around suppression, a lack of agency, escape, longing for a better life, war, societal rules, family expectation, reputation, ambition, relationships and love.

With shifting time frames, a transportive setting, endearing characters, plenty of emotion, high drama and a strong moving plot, readers who enjoy the work of Paullina Simons and Belinda Alexandra will lap this one up.

*With thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book for review purposes.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

⭐️3.5 Stars⭐️

Thank you Pantera Press for including me in the Bookstagram tour for the fabulous debut of The Girl From Moscow and it’s my stop today. Isn’t the cover just stunning?

The Girl From Moscow is a dual timeline historical fiction drama and I was very excited to read a novel set in Russia.

1982 - Ella twenty one is a young actress studying at the Moscow Theatre Academy who dreams of a successful career on the stage. She is about to play the lead role of Natasha in War and Peace.

When Ella meets up with her friend Vlad she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time during a dissident protest where she attracts the attention of the KGB. Ella’s photo is on the front page of the newspaper labelling her a traitor.

We follow Ella as she loses the acting role and has to withdraw from the Academy, she is now desperate to escape the USSR along with an unplanned pregnancy and impossible choices to make.

I loved Ella’s strength, loyalty and resilience and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough so see what she would do next.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to Ella’s grandmother Olga’s life as a younger woman during war times. I found the story very eye opening and well paced. The story is inspired by the authors family although a work of fiction.

Publication Date 27 February 2024
Publisher Pantera Press

[Craig and Phil]

Thank you Pantera Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
The Girl From Moscow is a historical fiction debut from new author Julia Levitina.
A story set mainly in the 1980s and inspired by the authors own history, so you know it’s raw, honest and authentic.
In chilly Moscow, 1983, Ella has dreams of being an actor.
Whilst meeting her friend during a protest, she is in the wrong place at the wrong time attracting the attention of the KGB.
Now she must escape the country but then her husband Roman is sent to a camp.
Ella is quickly forced into a game of control with the higher order and must fight for the one thing she wants the most…… her survival.
A dual timeline, a cast of interesting characters, a crisp setting, a plot of drama and an ending that’s satisfying, it’s one for those who enjoy historical storytelling.
Emotional, intrigue, courage, bravery, the lead character Ella gives it her all for her freedom.
A slow burn with a steady pace that will give you the feels.

[Kim (hundredacreofbooks.com)]

Having not read much about the USSR I was keen perhaps to gain a little more knowledge on the subject, I knew the KGB were not respected by many but I never knew just how controlling they were there were times when reading this book my blood felt as if it was boiling, I was most interested in how this tale would end because I thought Ella and her loved ones deserved more, everyone deserves to choose how and where they live without having to look over the shoulder.

Read my full review on the blog
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....

[Rina]

Moscow, 1983. Twenty-one-year-old Ella was a rising star at the Moscow Theatre Academy. While handling some personal stuff, she went into a wrong place at the wrong time and attracted the glare of the KGB. What followed was a series of unfortunate events that saw her trying to escape the country.

First of all, I couldn’t believe that the events that served as a background to Ella’s story happened in the 80s, which wasn’t that long ago. Secondly, what an epic adventure! I was expecting some romantic historical fiction, but this packed more depth than that.

I really felt Ella’s struggles as her aspirations faded away due to her situations (some of which she caused herself, unfortunately!). She definitely made mistakes and bad decisions as a young woman, but the consequences ended up being so big she had to quickly adapt to survive. I loved her resilience and growth throughout.

By the end of the book, I was invested in Ella’s wellbeing. I wanted her to succeed, and I was so worried for her as the pages diminished but I hadn’t seen a way out yet. I loved the suspense and high stakes in this debut. Can’t wait to read Julia’s next book!

(Thanks to Pantera Press for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)

See my bookstagram review.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf)]

Set in 1983, twenty one year old Ella has dreamt of freedom since she can remember, that and the bright lights of a career as a successful actress on the stage. Her acting dream is becoming a reality as she is set to play Natasha in War and Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy

In a case of “wrong place, wrong time” while visiting her childhood friend Vlad, Ella is photographed at a protest. The photos end up front page of the local paper and Ella is labelled a traitor, and she must withdraw from the theatre academy. This event sets in motion a new life for Ella and sends her on a different path and her dreams of escaping the Soviet regime are seemingly slipping away

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. While the narrative is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, Ella’s determination is inspiring. I was absolutely invested in her and felt all her emotions, right from the get-go. And I loved her relationship with her Grandmother Olga, and the flash back chapters when Olga was younger gave another insight to what Ella and her family have endured

Thank you so much Panterapress for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

[Jessica (bibliobliss.au)]

This is one for reads who like their historical fic a little more recent & with a side of suspense. There were some gripping twists to this Cold War drama! The oppression protagonist Ella lived under in Moscow is 1983 felt truly claustrophobic at times & I really had to remind myself while reading just how recent this setting was!

Crafted from lived experience, this story will immerse readers & leave them waiting to exhale.

I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.

[Sam]

I bought this book because it was described as 'fun' and a 'page turner' . It was neither of those. 

It was shortlisted for an award for historical fiction and I cannot see why. 
I do have an interest in Russia prior to glasnost but mentioning Solzhenitsyn and Sharansky once in the whole sorry story hardly contextualises the narrative.
The premise that a young, knocked up ex drama student would be a credible character used by the KGB to discredit a pro democracy movement is ridiculous.
The main character lacks depth and agency. Ella is purely reactive and clings to whatever piece of flotsam happens to be passing.  Her lover's parents have applied to leave Russia on a family visa so she marries him to be included in the departure.  When he is jailed for black market activity she immediately switches  her emotional allegiance to Illya who will be happy to raise her husband's child. We learn nothing of this new 'beloved' apart from the fact that he is a good lover with an irresistible clavicle. Like the other characters he is a mere device used to map her escape route. The irritating segues into her grandmother Olga's past are totally irrelevant.  We know Lubov is a bad man - golly he is KGB and it hurts when he digs his fingers into Ella's arm.

The descriptions invariably descend into cliches - bosoms are 'ample', seniors have 'dry papery skin' and red carpets just bleed into the floor.  There is no sense that this writer has evoked the atmosphere of cold war Moscow. In the closing sequences of the book the author has created too many loose ends that must be tied up quickly.  The resulting dramatic denouement at the press conference is really quite confusing and silly.  Suddenly all the pegs drop into the holes in pat formation and Ella has achieved her dream but at whose expense?
Her family are left to face a considerable symphony of music from the Soviet authorities and Illya has had to abandon his son.  At least Ella is happy and apparently that is all that counts.

[Kate]

Here’s one for the lovers of Cold War Drama.
USSR 1980.
Very much a first for me.
I’ve read the bronze horseman, but that’s 1940s; it was all coming of age, sex and starvation.
This was spying - a crash course in KGB. A land of few luxuries and many insecurities. Nobody trusts anybody. Apart from a genuine love of Riesling, it’s all pretty bleak.
The Girl from Moscow starts with Ella meeting a friend near where a freedom protest is taking place. Photographed as part of the demonstration, she is labelled a traitor and loses her position studying acting at the Moscow Theatre Company.
Chuck in a pregnancy and Ella wants out. Out of the USSR. Her dream- ‘to be the grandmother, the matriarch who relocated her family to another country.’
What follows is a tumultuous journey of escape. Full of ups and downs, it’s all very tense.
I quite enjoyed the alternating POV of her grandmother Olga, a welcome addition to the story telling. I would have liked more from her back story.
It is a very serious read. It had to be.
I guess I didn’t realise how much I seek the light in the darkness- those moments that break the tension, give you a giggle, restore your faith in humanity (Fredrik Backmans’ Beartown delivers this in spades).
An altogether interesting read.

Thanks @panterapress and @julialevitinaauthor for including me in #TheGirlFromMoscow tour.

[Lois Flores]

The Girl From Moscow is a gripping, emotional journey through the tensions and dangers of the Soviet era, told through the eyes of a compelling young woman. Julia Levitina has a remarkable talent for blending historical detail with deeply personal stakes, and Ella’s story is impossible to put down. From the first page, I was drawn into Moscow in 1983 the streets, the theater academy, and the underlying fear of the KGB all felt vivid and alive. Ella is a beautifully layered protagonist: ambitious, passionate, and fiercely determined, yet also vulnerable in ways that make her incredibly relatable. Watching her struggle with the loss of freedom, the threat to her husband Roman, and the impossible choices she faces had me constantly on edge. What makes this novel truly shine is the tension Levitina creates. The cat-and-mouse game with the KGB general keeps the stakes high, but the story never sacrifices character depth for suspense. I also appreciated the subtle way the book explores loyalty, love, and personal ambition against the backdrop of political oppression it’s thrilling but also profoundly human. If you enjoy historical fiction that combines suspense, emotional depth, and immersive period detail, The Girl From Moscow is a must-read. It left me thinking about Ella long after the final page.

[Marie]

“There is no such thing as a little bit of freedom.”

What an amazing debut! Set in Moscow in 1982, we follow the life of Ella. This is a perfectly written dual timeline novel, where we also learn a lot about Ella’s grandmother Olga, in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s.

Although years apart, granddaughter and grandmother had the same fate and similar young lives in Moscow. This book was so captivating from the start, I couldn’t put it down.

I thought there would be more about The Cold War, but this story was more about Ella’s life. How her career ended after one photograph taken at the wrong place, which gained the attention of the KGB, marrying the wrong man and her mission to leave Moscow her whole life.

Ella had a terrible life. There was so much pain and deception, everything was difficult. Ella took alot of risks, had secrets and was sometimes quite reckless. Lots of secrets unravel from the past to present. There was a bit of suspense and a great fast paced ending.

What an incredible journey of an inspirational woman who never gave up! Highly recommend!

Thank you so much @panterapress for having me on this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of the book.

[Sheree Fitzpatrick]

I wouldn’t liken this book to the Tattooist of Auschwitz. I also wouldn’t describe this book as engaging or compelling. It felt like it dragged on and was quite boring. Ella wasn’t a particularly developed character and I had little interest in what happened to her and her baby. She seemed selfish and one-dimensional. One minute she loves Roman, the next she’s shacking up with Ilya. Her relationship with Ilya is apparently deep, but it lacks development or any depth. Ella just decides her husband is in prison and cheated on her, so why not!? The book only picks up at the halfway-mark. Ella is Jewish but it has little impact. The Jewish background of the lead character is a poor attempt at creating a well-rounded character. It did little for the story and the main character is irreligious anyway so it seemed irrelevant. The book is a bit of a snooze. Pick up something else if you want a fun read. This book doesn’t deliver. It gets better halfway, but you really have to push through. I had already wasted my time so I thought I had better finish it.

[Andrea Barton]

The power in Julia Levitina’s The Girl From Moscow comes from her vivid portrayal of the setting – oppressive, grim and moody. No wonder Ella wants to leave.
About to graduate from acting school, Ella is on the cusp of landing a breakthrough role when she is caught at a protest. Despite her innocence, she is treated as a traitor and forced to withdraw from the academy.
Ella is similarly trapped by her personal life, as she has an unplanned pregnancy with a man who isn’t delighted by the prospect of a child. Determined to create a better life for herself and her child, Ella’s determination to defect builds. But defection is no small feat when even just talk of leaving can have ramifications for not only Ella but the rest of her family – lost jobs, being jailed or worse. And she’s already in the KGB’s sights.
Ella’s resilience is tested at every turn, and she is forced to make impossible moral choices.
This gripping read left me wondering what I would do in Ella’s shoes.

[Mary]

I listened to this book as an Bolinda audiobook.

I found it difficult to agree with the main characters decisions in her life . The angst and futile situations that the main character Ella found herself in were difficult to enjoy. Russia is not painted as a great place to be in the 1980s. I visited during this time and have a sense of how difficult difficult the political climate was. It may not even be much different today to when I was there.

Not all books have to have joyful parts and not all main characters need to be liked . It’s impressive as a first novel.

Despite these misgivings having listened to the authors, reasoning and passion for her writing, I have nothing but support for her cause The stories told are close to my heart. For this reason alone, I would recommend reading the book for yourself.

[Belinda Cranston]

Ella, an aspiring actress, finds herself caught up in an anti-state protest she didnt intend on attending, in 1980s Russia. Because there is a photo to prove she was there, her life starts to unravel, starting with her acting career being pulled from underneath her feet. But this young woman is resilient and wont surrender her soul to the forces that rule Cold War era Russia. Its a remarkable debut - i felt like i was on the edge of my seat in a dark cinema as i read it, watching on as Ella came up against numerous obstacles standing between her and that most basic human right, the freedom to pursue our own dreams. Highly recommended for those interested in Cold War Russia and a sassy story you cant put down.

[Maureen]

What a refreshing change to read historical fiction set in Moscow. That the 80s can be considered "historical" is most distressing! Growing up in the US during the Cold War of this period, I was not fully aware of what was going on in the Soviet Union. Reading this was truly enlightening. Ella was put in one impossible situation after another. Her resilience was admirable, although she wasn't a character I always liked. That disconnect added to the drama for me. I also had to think about what I might do in her situation. Sometimes, it didn't seem like there was an answer. But the book ends satisfactorily.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy.

[Charlotte Lobb]

An intriguing and masterfully written insight into life in Moscow during the 1940s-1980s, exploring love, friendship, and freedom (that comes with a price). It was a stark reminder of how the KGB had eyes and ears everywhere, and how dissidents who dared to speak out were imprisoned, locked in mental asylums, suffered mysterious accidents, or simply disappeared. A beautiful read about horrific realities.

[Aimee Findon]

Such an insightful story on the history of Russia. While I knew a little about the political scene, I discovered I knew very little. How difficult it was to be raised in that era and the turmoil you would've felt when trying to leave. A brave glimpse into a foreign country that provides some romance, familial ties and the constant hope that things will get better.

[Dianne]

An insight into the social and political situation in The USSR of the 1980s.
I would think it’s no different now, probably worse.
The author and her family emigrated to Australia in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR and before Putin’s rise and rise to power.

[Lillian Vella]

A good read. About what I expected. Didn’t wow me but I did read it fairly quickly. I would read another of her books

[Connie Twist]

loved it.

[Kim Matthews]

Could not put this book down. Loved it!

[Judy]

In the Soviet Union, a young woman must risk all in a daring bid for freedom ...
Moscow, 1983. Twenty-one-year-old Ella dreams of playing Natasha Rostova in War and Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy. But when she meets her good friend Vlad outside a city synagogue, Ella finds herself in the middle of a protest and attracts the glare of the KGB.
Labelled a traitor, she must withdraw from the academy and she soon yearns to escape the cruel and oppressive Soviet regime. However, her hopes of leaving the country are smashed when her husband, Roman, is sentenced to two years' labour camp.
As she looks for another way out, Ella is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a KGB general, who has the power to secure her freedom. Will she risk everything and leave behind those she loves to pursue a life in the West?

[Kyra Geddes]

In 1983, the year her debut novel is set, Julia Levitina was a young mother working as a theatre designer in Moscow. A descendent of Ukrainian Jews and Holocaust survivors, Julia was also a Refusenik who detested her country of birth. In 1991, Julia immigrated to Australia with her family, two children and $200 to her name, and started a new life, including a long and fulfilling career teaching set and costume design. It is thus Julia’s direct lived experiences, as well as a writer’s imagination, which underpin this novel. The Girl From Moscow, is – as the cover suggests – a thrilling and page-turning story about one woman’s struggle for freedom; to escape from a cruel and oppressive Soviet regime without forsaking the ones she loves. Yet I found it to be more than just that. There is, at times, a certain depth and gravity in Julia’s writing which reminded me of some of the greats of Russian literature which I read long ago. Moreover, and perhaps as a result of her theatre design background, Julia’s descriptions of Moscow as a place setting - its architecture, the weather, even the clothing and facial expressions of its people - were economic in length but charged with emotional resonance. When asked about this aspect of her writing, the author has emphasised her belief that sense of place is so important in determining who we are as people, and that Russia has a very specific and unique atmosphere of oppression and suppression. Under such a regime, people quickly learn to lie as a means of survival; that the only sustainable morality is that of survival. Pretty bleak stuff! And yet also very timely in the context of today’s landscape of politics, ideology and war. So, in summary, I can highly recommend The Girl From Moscow as an action packed thriller, with well drawn characters and evocative descriptions, which also doubles as a social commentary and historical analysis, offering a fascinating glimpse into a world thankfully far removed from the one in which most of us are privileged to live here in Australia.

[Liat M]

I was lucky enough to meet Julia at the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival last month. She spoke about how her experiences trying to escape from Russia, and those of her family, influenced the story and helped shape Ella, the main character in the book.

While I do have a lot of school friends from Russia, the history there, specifically the Jewish experience, isn’t something I know a lot about, especially as it differs from most people I know who’s family, like my own, come from a background which involves the holocaust.

Ella’s journey is heartbreaking but her determination to help her family is inspiring and makes this a really special book.