Ricochet

by Kellyn Carni

History got it wrong. I survived.

Anastasia Romanov and her younger brother Alexei escape their family’s execution when a bullet strikes Anastasia’s garnet necklace, transporting them to a parallel universe. This alternate Russia is a second chance. Anastasia wants to save her family, Alexei wants the throne, and they plan to travel the infinite multiverse to find a world in which both are possible.

When Alexi is mistaken for the tsarevich of this dimension, he is brought to the Winter Palace, where he eagerly starts impersonating his doppelganger, playing the role that was stolen from him in his own world. To maintain his façade, he must deceive everyone—including Anastasia.

Anastasia just needs time to grieve and heal after losing everything that defined her, but Alexei’s lies lead her on a journey through the alternate Russia. With rebellion brewing, she is determined to save this world’s Romanovs—and Alexei—before they meet the same fate as her own family.

For readers who enjoy Anastasia by Sophie Lark, The Crowns Game by Evelyn Skye, and Romanov by Nadine Brandes.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fantasy, Retellings, Russia, Romance

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Aspen Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely BRILLIANT retelling! I’m gonna try and not get too spoilery. This book was the perfect blend of giving homage to the original story and characters, but mixing it with one of the most unique pieces of world building I have ever read. The parallel universes are so expertly executed by Carni, I never had trouble following where they were going or what was happening. Absolutely captivating!

Carni also does a phenomenal job at portraying the characters and giving them a fresh flavor and voice that made me so invested in them as they discover and confront their different destinies. The themes of trying to do the right thing (even when the people around you are doing the exact opposite) and acceptance are some of my favorites and they were strong in this one.

It’s clear that Carni has done extensive research on Russian culture, and everything down to the smallest detail felt so genuine and intriguing.

Solid 5 stars- I recommend for all YA Fantasy lovers! Phenomenal debut from Carni, I cannot wait to see what’s next from her.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please write more! Weaving together history, fast-paced danger, humor, and heart (plus a bit of magic!), Kellyn Carni brings fresh life to a story that has captivated the world for generations. In this retelling, although Anastasia survives, she must now find her place and purpose in a new world, where everything she thought she knew has been turned upside down. The further into the book I got, the harder it was to put down. It has a wonderfully twisted plot that all loops back around beautifully (which I love), some really great writing that gets even stronger as the book goes on, and an actual well-done ending. I'm constantly disappointed by endings so always pleased when a book had a good one. Bonus, I also learned a lot about Russian history. Despite the horrific events this book is based on, this is an uplifting story of hope and resilience. Highly recommend checking it out, and hope to see more from Kellyn Carni!

[Izzy Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tragic story of the Romanov royal family has sparked imagination, and for years, many believed Princess Anastasia had somehow survived. Kellyn Carin explores the legend of Anastasia with a twist: a garnet necklace infused with magic saves Anastasia and Aleksei, bringing them to an alternate world where the revolution has not yet begun. Grieving the loss of their family, the siblings struggle to make sense of this new world, but it is soon apparent that they have clashing interests. Anastasia wants desperately to save the Romanov family, but Aleksei wants to seize his birthright as the next Tsar, no matter the cost. As they struggle to survive and discover the secret of the magic garnet, discontent and anger simmer below the surface, threatening to destroy their family, the throne, and anyone who gets in the way.

I found it hard to rate this book, as overall I enjoyed it, but it felt off in places. I broke it down to figure out a rating.

Premise & originality: 4 stars
Interesting premise and I enjoyed the blend of historical fiction and fantasy/science fiction. I read quite a bit of each genre and this one stands out, though there may be other similar novels out there. I have always found the story of the Romanov family fascinating, so I was quite invested in the story.

Historical setting/context: 4 stars
I loved the different locations and I had to keep looking up palaces to keep a mental picture in my mind. It seemed well researched and I loved the historical events that were woven in, some of which I didn’t know about before reading. I especially liked the balanced view of the murder of the Romanovs- recognizing it as a tragedy, but also recognizing how the Tsar let his people suffer while living lavishly.

Fictional Setting/ world building: 2.5 stars
I had to separate this from research because more was needed to bring the fantasy worlds/alternative timeline to life. It felt quite superficial and the author didn’t address why the other world was different; it would’ve been neat to see the event that caused the other world to veer off in another direction. Some major plot points involving key characters were not explained as well.

Characters: 2.5 stars
Anastasia was just a plucky and brave girl without a strong character arc. I would have liked to see more of her real-life personality along with some growth. Aleksei experienced some growth, but it felt formulaic. I liked how characters wrestled with their ideals, but it was quite superficial. In relation to historical context, adding dimension to the revolutionaries instead of showing them as violent henchmen would have strengthened characterization.

Plot: 3 stars
Very interesting plot, and lots of things happened, but there was some Deus Machina, and lots of luck. Related to pacing, the plot was overly complex and thus the author had to remain on the surface. I also struggled to reconcile the author’s choices for some major events in light of her theme.

Pacing: 2
The pacing felt off during much of the book. It read like 3 novels crammed into one with way too much inner voice and summary, which often distracted from the action. More descriptive scenes were needed to balance the pace, and I think this should be at least 2 novels, especially because I was left with many questions and too many loose ends were left untied.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it provided a welcome look into the complex story of the Romanovs and the revolution that brought about their deaths, as well as an alternate world with hope of a different outcome.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued and I was not disappointed! I love retellings. The writing was not bad, but the characters lacked depth. Their thoughts stayed surface level. Overall, I was very captivated with the story but some details kept getting me out of it.

More detailed and nuanced political background could have benefitted the world-building. The characters do not seem to think too much about the political situation and do not seem to question the tsar system. I was definitely expecting more political stakes or at least some more discussions, especially from someone with a degree in International Politics.

We were told that Anastasia was smart but it did not appear that way. It was mainly from her point of view, but her thoughts stayed focused on only a few things (mainly her family and Lev). However, the way her trauma was well written and felt heart-wrenchingly real.

Alexei's redemption arc felt a bit rushed. He is the only character who seems to show growth but it felt very superficial.
The other characters (especially the other Alexei) seem to just go with the flow and the rhythm Anastasia set. They are very flat and very plot-oriented.

There are also some parts of the plot which are a bit too easy. It is too convenient, therefore there is a lack of tension. More difficulties or more description in the world building would have added more realism and depth to the story line.

It was still very good for a debut novel and I will definitely check out her future books !

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Natalie Hitchcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic is real. Realm teleportation is possible. Sibling rivalry is at its absolute worst, all for what? Brother goes against sister all for the sake of the crown. Ricochet by Kellyn Carni is the first book by Kellyn Carni and tells the story of “What if Anastasia Romanov lived?” Would the same events happen in another realm? What would happen in another dimension? Other realms are possible? For the longest time, Anastasia has fascinated generations of people about the Romanov family since her passing. There’s action beyond measure in this book and it has left me on the edge of my seat.I had to pace myself while reading this as I didn’t want to finish it too early. Kellyn Carni has thoroughly researched Anastasia and her Russia in preparation for this book. The fictionalization of these very real people jumped off the pages. What I loved most about this book is that love comes in various ways in this book. Sibling love, new love, love for family, love for country, and love that is found in forgiveness. There is so much love that can be seen throughout the book. You can see bravery in this book, and it has never been clearer for Anastasia. Anastasia found a bravery that she never knew that she needed. Anastasia pushed herself to protect a version of her family that didn't even remember her or acknowledge her existence as a sister. She protected a healthier version of her brother. She learned how to rely on herself and trust what she was doing, despite what was going around her. Could she handle yet another rebellion? Could she trust her uncle, who was falsely accused of harming her brother? This book does have some violence, and it does involve executions and near-misses in terms of Anastasia's and Alexei's execution in her home realm. I am simply amazed by Anastasia's growth throughout the book. Anastasia, when transported to this realm, finds herself losing her family all over again. Finding herself was no easy task. Trust was gained, then lost, and then gained again. Somehow, Anastasia was able to find bravery within herself as well as courage. She found courage and became a better version of herself for it. If there is anything I learned from this book, it's how you will never stop becoming a better version of yourself. Tough times are inevitable and hard to fathom in the best of times, but as long as you have people who love you around you, and have the bravery and the courage to go through them, you will never be alone.

[Libby Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well my house is a disaster because I ignored everything in real life for three days to read this book instead. From the first chapter I was hooked. I love stories about the Romanov family and Kellyn Carni has an irresistible writing style. She also has a great mind for seeing multiple sides of an issue and I appreciated her nuanced approach to the Romanov rule. She's obviously done her homework and the world she creates is convincing. If the traveling between multiple worlds sounds hokey for a historical fiction, trust me- she pulls it off. This book had just the right amount of magic and the right amount of grit and realism. I also appreciated the lackof gratuitious sex, violence, and swearing. There was tension and intrigue without those. I'm so grateful I got to read an ARC, and I can't wait for people to enjoy her work when it comes out. I would highly reccomend!!

[Darcey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of magic, fantasy, and a sprinkling of romance, this book is for you! I have read several retellings of the Romanov story and had expected there to be overlap but this story was so original and I found myself consuming every word. This book did not disappoint as a creative but faithful retelling of such an interesting piece of Russian history.

Carni did a fantastic job of weaving in the importance of family and friends even when it was easier for the character's to choose the more corrupt path. I find it difficult to connect with younger characters in books but Anastasia, Lev, and Alexei felt so real that it was impossible NOT to connect with them.

I can't wait to purchase this book for my school's library so that my middle schoolers can be introduced to some really good YA fantasy.

[Jillian Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Quick read only because I couldn't put it down. Each chapter was action packed and satisfying, and I loved the characters. Hope to see lots more from this author!

[Shaly ☾ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book felt so tedious to me. Took me far too long to finish. It just wasn’t for me.

[Brynn Bodily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Thanks to BookSirens for providing a free arc in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is what I wanted Romanov by Nadine Brandes to be. Ricochet captures the atmosphere of 20th century Russia, not unalike Anastasia the movie. The prose is on-point, the plot structure and pacing are balanced, and the characters are likeable (something that seems to be harder to find nowadays). My only complaint would be that there's not much character development from beginning to end (I feel like I should specify here, there weren't any problems with the characters being perfect at the beginning, but you didn't feel the pull of the characters' inner struggles and growth).

This book isn't quite 5 stars (though only a few books are), but it's worth a read. If you loved Anastasia, you'll love this. It puts a unique spin on the Romanov family's story and is one of the best retellings I've read!

7.5-8/10 stars

[Chelsie Speakman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricochet is a fantastical retelling of the story of Anastasia Romanov, featuring magical amulets and alternative universes. The magic system within this novel is so intricate and beautiful.

This is such a stand out book, it’s so unique from the kind of books I’ve read before. It’s very politically heavy, with a good mix of fantasy. This retelling feels so genuine, every element plays out beautifully and is told in such a magical way.

[J. Else · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When the time comes, malenkaya, you’ll escape. Take it, and promise you’ll find me.” These words were spoken by Rasputin as he secretly gave young Anastasia a necklace of gold and garnet, which she’s worn ever since. When guards execute her family, a bullet ricochets off her necklace. The next thing she knows, 17-year-old Anastasia and 13-year-old Alexei wake up in an unfamiliar Russia, one with armored airships! Alexei understands what’s happening: they’ve been transported to a parallel reality. Rasputin told him it was possible, which means he has a chance to claim his throne, the one his father shamefully abdicated. For Anastasia, she hopes to save their family. After multiple jumps between worlds, they meet Lev, a soldier who promises to return Alexei to his family; however, he’s never heard of Anastasia Romanov. When Anastasia and Alexei are separated on the way, will the promise of the throne tear Alexei away from loyalty to his sister? Can Anastasia find a place where she’s never existed?

The author does a great job balancing magical versus historical/politically charged elements. As Anastasia and Lev undertake a quest to help her brother, the magic threading through the plot begins to unfold in intriguing ways. And where is the elusive Rasputin–because here, all magicians have been executed. For Alexei, who’s always coveted the throne, how much is he willing to sacrifice? This world of luxury, one where he isn’t coddled because of his illness, surely he’s entitled to this? For Anastasia, even though her family’s alive, tragically, they don’t know her. Both characters wrestle with their grief, self-worth, loyalty, and a fascinating new choice: who can they become in this new world? This is an enchanting, well-plotted novel with daring escapades, strong characters, and heart-stirring consequences appropriate for ages 13 and up.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...

[Daniella · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I was intrigued by the description of this book. The premise of this was super promising but I am not sure it delivered. My main pros and cons are;

Pros:
- Original and unique setting
- I liked the historical element
- I am a big fan of Russian history and Russian literature (or Russian inspired literature) and studied Tsarist Russia. I liked that there were historical accuracies mixed with fiction and feel this blend was done well by the author.
- I liked Alexei's character the most, I felt he had the most depth

Cons:
- The pacing felt odd to me. It was too fast paced, there was no set up, no historical background, no character descriptions, no place descriptions. It jumped straight into the action, which when done well can be compelling, however the characters did not really register any emotion or reaction to traumatic events which felt off to me. It was also hard to tell how much time had passed between different events and I think this was also a pacing issue.
- Lack of descriptions which makes visual reading hard, even though some of these characters are historical figures it would have been nice to get descriptions of them. The same with the places.
- Awkward dialogue at times, speaks too modern and almost in a millennial/gen Z manner.
- Repetitive dialogue due to multiple POVs, the same thing was mentioned numerous times which messed with the pacing of the story as well.
- I found Anastasia and Lev to be a bit dry and the romantic connection was lacking.

Overall I love the premise about the complex story of the Romanovs mixed with a fictional/fantasy setting but I felt that due to the odd pacing and lack of descriptions especially, it was a bit difficult for me to enjoy this book.

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

History is full of “What ifs?” In RICOCHET, author Kellyn Carni explores the start of the Russian Revolution—with a fascinating fantasy twist.

Anastasia Romanov, the daughter of the Tsar, and her brother Alexei miraculously escape their execution by tapping into a magical necklace. They are transported to a Russia much like their own, but with a few important differences. Anastasia sees this as the chance to save her family, while Alexei believes it is his chance to claim the throne denied to him in their homeworld. Sure enough, there’s an Alexei in this world, too, which complicates matters.

But Anastasia doesn’t have a doppelganger and finds herself captured by a young man named Lev, who suspects she’s up to no good. But they soon realize they are on the same side, as a group of revolutionaries plans to assassinate the Tsar’s family in this world, too. So Anastasia is in a race against the clock to both stop them and save her real-life brother from his own ambition.

RICOCHET is steeped in actual Russian history and culture. Carni even begins each chapter with a quote from a famous work of Russian literature. But the story itself is a fast-paced, high-stakes adventure. I have no idea what the real-life Anastasia was like, but this one is brave, resourceful, and caring. She’s a great hero for a fantasy novel and is the heart of the book.

The characters, the world-building, and the plot all come together and had me turning pages to see what happens next! If you like historical fantasy, RICOCHET is definitely one you’ll want to read.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book, it was absolutely amazing! I was super intrigued from the get go. All the characters had great depth and were very well written, with great character development. Anastasia was great female character. She would just roll with the punches and all about getting stuff done. Alexei was written so well, like I hated him and was stressed about his decisions, because of how he was written. Lev… *insert swoon gif here* I love him. His half smiles and smirks…. *chefs kiss* He was also really good at rolling with the punches and just going with the flow. I loved how Kellyn wrote the parallel universes. She was able to describe them so well, I felt like I was witnessing it all alongside the characters. She was able to keep me on the edge of my seat and not being able to turn the pages fast enough. Overall 10/5 stars and I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!

[Suellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

#OUABC Once Upon A Book Club February 2025 Young Adult selection

5 Stars • Ricochet by Kellyn Carni is a thrilling YA historical fantasy where Anastasia and Alexei Romanov, saved by a magical garnet, navigate an alternate 1918 Russia. Blending rich history with multiverse twists, the story shines with Anastasia’s fierce loyalty and fast-paced plot, though secondary characters could use more depth. A captivating 5-star debut for fans of magic-infused history.

#Ricochet #KellynCarni #Bookish #Romanov

[Sarah Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an odd yet satisfying story. I loved Anastasia growing up, so anything with her as a character, I usually enjoy. This was no different. The ending was so unexpected! Loved it!

[The Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea was good but everything else was boring

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up!

I am sure you know the story of the Romanov’s. But in this retelling, Anastasia Romanov and her brother Alexei survive! Transported to a parallel universe with an alternate Russia when the bullet meant for her strikes her garnet necklace instead, these siblings have a chance to try to change the course of history.

This was a fascinating look into what could have happened if history was altered…adding in a bit of magic. The character arcs were fabulous as you watched Alexei mature as the chapters progressed. But I did struggle at times to stay invested. I think the magical aspects through me a bit.

[BellaDonna's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story, and it has made me even more obsessed of the actual story of the Romanovs and what really happened to them. I received this book in a giveaway, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Abby (readingrainville) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟

[lit_eratka · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay I guess, I really like Anastasia's story, but it was missing something that would keep me glued to my seat
It was a pleasant enough to listen, but I'm afraid I'll forget about it quickly

[Kathrine Stricklin]

Spell binding. Hard to put down. Page turning suspense. I was captured from the first page. Very enjoyable read with surprises and plot twists. Certain to cacpture the imaginations of youthful readers and guaranteed to have them researching and exploring the real life history of the Romanovs. Highly recommend.

[Katelyn Spedden · Rating 2 out of 5]

To start I was excited to read this book. It had a really interesting synopsis and I’m a girl that loves an Anastasia story. I mean, I did grow up with the movie that was completely unrealistic, but did have some fantastic music. But parts of this book did fall flat with the fact that there wasn’t much description of what was going on around the characters And the environment they were in. I also found the ease in which characters lost important items and didn’t seem to find an issue or go looking for them a little annoying but if this was a set up for a series, I will give the second book a try.

On a sidenote, completely unrelated to my rating of this novel, I would not recommend the audiobook. While the narrator doing Anastasia was great and stuck with her accent the entire time the male narrator for any non-Anastasia chapters spoke in an American accent, and the Russian accent he attempted was awful. It honestly made it hard to get through, but that did not affect my rating of the actual novel.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ricochet,” by Kelly Carni

This was a very interesting book. I liked the whole Anastasia retelling but mixed with parallel worlds and tons of family drama. The book wasn’t what I thought it was going to be because she was way braver and more concerned about justice than I was initially thinking she was going to be seeing as she’s still a young girl. The biggest thing would be that there is so much political intrigue so if that’s not your thing then don’t read it and expect it to be a princess book. There are a lot of heavy topics and traumas mixed with complicated and sweet romance and tons of kids doing the wrong thing because they think they should type vibes throughout the book. This book really stands out because I haven’t read something like it. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Parallel Worlds
-Russian
-Alternative History
-Anatasia
-Multi POV
-Magic

Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.

[Reyna M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens & CamCat Publishing LLC. for providing me a free e-ARC in exchange for a review.

**2 stars** The blurb intrigued me with its promise of a fantastical twist on the story of Anastasia Romanov but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

We are immediately thrown into the action following the execution of the Romanov family but instead, Anastasia and her brother, Alexei manage to transport themselves in a parallel universe. Anastasia finds her family still alive in this universe and spends her time finding a way to rescue them while Alexei has a personal vendetta of claiming the throne for himself.

While I appreciate that this is somewhat fast-paced, it would have been beneficial to have a more detailed backstory to see if we are following a historically accurate depiction of the Romanov family or a made-up story. In the book description, it states, “For readers who enjoy Anastasia by Sophie Lark,...”, this felt like it was loosely based off this book which could be confusing for readers going in blind.

On top of this, the pacing was all over the place. I almost wished we had a clear sense of a timeline because I was confused on how long these events were taking place. Sometimes there was a sense of urgency, other times, we read a sweet moment between Anastasia and her love interest. Since we switch between a few povs, some of the characters kept reiterating the same thing which was unnecessary. While I do appreciate the quotes at the start of each chapter, it didn’t add any substance to the chapters, so it could have done without as this also makes pacing choppy.

Also worth noting, there were a lot of awkward words that mostly ended in -ness. Once you spot a couple, it’s hard not to notice. There were also not a lot of physical appearance descriptions so as a visual reader, I couldn’t picture what the characters look like.

I did like reading about the magic system. As well as the time travel/alternate universe aspect. It’s a refreshing take on Anastasia Romanov. Though pacing was off, I was invested in the story by the halfway point. This book definitely could have been longer! We could have learned more about the backstory and really put more time fleshing out the magic system. I also enjoyed reading the romance subplot and would have loved to read more on this!

Overall, I can see that it is a debut novel and this is a promising start. If there is a prequel, even just a novella, I would love to read it.

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Life would certainly not be easy....Nor would life be empty, nor lonely, nor dull. I couldn't know what hardships or joys might lay ahead. But I was ready to find out. I was ready to face forward. I was ready to live."

The Romanov family story is such a tragic history. This book is a sci-fi, magic infused historical fuxtuon with an alternative ending for the family.

It reminded me of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, because it similarly explored alternate timelines and raised questions about whether our stories are kind of written where our canon events still happen even if some of the minor details are rearranged, or whether we can truly alter our destiny.

Overall I thought this book was just okay. The Rasputin parts felt underdeveloped and left me with more questions than answers. I also felt like there was a lot of repetition where there could have been more room for a new/exciting story. it felt like we just kind of got a lot of the same thing over and over.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was initially excited when this popped up (I loved Anastasia as a kid). Unfortunately I ended up DNFing at ~20% & then skipped around a bit, but could not get into this. From the ending this is not a standalone and there will be more in the series.

[JaNelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone. the pace would quicken, then drag on and on. I needed someone to root for. ended up just skimming the last half.

[Abby Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh the frustration!

I really, really, really wanted to love this book. I was smitten from the first moment I read the summary. I mean Anastasia with a magic necklace travelling through worlds? Alexei Romanov impersonating his other worldly double? Yes, please! I immediately ran out and bought the book in hardcover and got the audiobook to follow along.

Unfortunately a mix of writing that didn't gel with me, bad pacing, and brilliant ideas constantly brought up and then discarded for the sake of a less interesting plot left me feeling cold towards the book and honestly made it difficult to even make myself finish.

The trouble is, I don't hate it, I really don't. I did find the first half both too fast (as in it never slows down to properly explain its own premise, so I constantly felt like I had concept after concept chucked at my head but no time to absorb these concepts much less form opinions on them) and too slow (Lev's pov is boring, the alternative universe pov of the tsar's brother is also boring until literally the end when it becomes relevant and then is over), and the second half much more engaging but ultimately over too soon and about as satisfying as having cotton candy for dinner when I thought I was getting chicken cordon bleu. But I don't hate it. There is a handful of legitimately good, even potentially great, things in this book.

First, morally it's surprisingly sound, in that it has a really important moral of forgiveness and letting go of trauma in a healthy way I ultimately had to respect. It's a lot less problematic than Sophie Lark's Anastasia in this regard. Just the contrast of how THIS Anastasia Romanov goes out of her way to rescue her brother after a fairly big betrayal on his part for no other reason than familial love against Lark's Anya's "I won’t f**k this up again trying to save him" tempted me to bump the book up to three stars. But I resisted.

Unfortunately Carni also loses some good will points hard won with me simply by repeatedly in narrative calling my favorite character stupid and (on top of that) portraying Tsar Nicholas as a jerk in the alternative universe and just pathetic (so far as we get anything of him) in ours. And I really disliked who she chose for her villains... But more on those issues shortly.

Second, some of the ideas introduced in this book are bloody brilliant! The implication that in one of the alternative universes the Japanese won the war in 1905, the implication of Anastasia not existing in a world but OTMA still exists (Alexei being the A), and other things in that vein just...wow... Buuuttt, here's the thing, these ideas are mentioned quickly and never explored.

It's like here is this totally cool concept but the power point presentation is now over so let's move onto way less interesting stuff so the plot can plod along.

It was so zoomy I felt more like I was watching a Netflix movie than reading a novel at times.

My favorite character in the whole book was easily the alternative Alexei who doesn't have hemophilia. He's freaking adorable. He's just this cute kid who wants to go moose hunting but is so helpful and easy going with our lead characters despite not having to be I just wanted to reach into the book and drag him out and like adopt him or something. He gets a little bit of angsty character development when some bad things happen to him but he doesn't lose his gentleness or friendly nature which just makes me love him even more. Which is why I found myself getting pretty peeved with the narrative constantly saying he's not bright/intelligent. What, because he's NICE? You can't be good AND smart? Maybe he's just naturally good!



In addition, I was also less than thrilled he suddenly has friggin magic powers at the end of the book? Oh, not because it isn't awesome/a fun idea, but because it's not bloody foreshadowed AT ALL. We get this great scene where the tsar pretends to have magic but it's actually Alternative Alexei doing the magic in the background, which would be sooo cool (certainly better than Sophie Lark's Alexei who can lift a car with his mind, but we never get to see him do anything with it!), except you can't just spring something like that on me at the END of a book! There was no indication he was a magic user. He was just the "stupid" kid who wanted to hunt moose and let random girls who look like his sisters kidnap him. Then bam! Magic powers the second magic gets released into the world? I'm calling bullshit.

And while he's a great character the implication that in a life where he didn't suffer Alexei is this amazing sweet kid but the Alexei who's meant to be from "our" world is an angst machine betraying people because he needs desperately to be tsar? Yeah, I'm not crazy about that. He had a good redemption arc, but considering he ultimately didn't DO anything to further the end of the plot after he changed, it didn't have the impact I think it was meant to have.



Going back to alternative Alexei, what was the point of his face getting busted up? The rebels did it so he wouldn't be recognized only everyone plot relevant immediately recognizes him? So that just felt like seeing a kid get the crap beat out of him for no reason.

And the "real" Alexei getting shot in the foot really cheesed me off, too. Lev did it to stop him carrying out his plan and the narrative justified it with "it's okay because I didn't know he had hemophilia", but I'm not as forgiving as Anastasia. Because dude still shot your brother in the foot without hesitation. He could have died from infection or worse even without a medical condition.

Anastasia herself despite being the first person narrator for several parts of the book, ultimately didn't do much. She rescued her brother, fell in love with Lev (Rasputin's convenient son), and let go of her emotional trauma, which is all well and good and I feel there was a much quieter more thoughtful story somewhere in this where she is truly the MC, but her scenes are so boggled down with everyone else and the breakneck plot that apart from the canal, prison, and "get off my horse" scenes (loved those!) she doesn't add much to her own tale.

One major misstep for me as a reader was the author's choice to make Nicholas's brother the villain. To be fair, it's an alternative universe so she's not saying the one in our world was like this, and he has a different wife (the TRUE villain it turns out) than in our world, but it still made me very uncomfortable. In no small part because so much of what sets his portion of the plot in motion is our world's Alexei dislikes his own uncle for practically no reason, believing he's waiting for him to die. Yeah, no.

I get he sort of became the hero at the end, but it felt forced and took too much agency from our heroes. I'm glad he wasn't full blown evil, just misguided, but still.



But I'm for sure buying/reading the sequel when it comes out.