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The Waning Moon #2
The Sisters of the Crescent Empress
The Sisters of the Crescent Empress is the second book in Leena Likitalo’s Waning Moon Duology, a fabulous historical fantasy based on the lives of the Romanov sisters.
With the Crescent Empress dead, a civil war has torn the empire asunder. No one seems able to stop the ruthless Gagargi Prataslav. The five Daughters of the Moon are where he wants them to be, held captive in an isolated house in the far north.
Little Alina senses that the rooms that have fallen in disrepair have a sad tale to tell. Indeed, she soon meets two elderly ladies, the ghosts of the house’s former inhabitants.
Merile finds the ghosts suspiciously friendly and too interested in her sisters. She resolves to uncover their agenda with the help of her two dogs.
Sibilia isn’t terribly interested in her younger sisters’ imaginary friends, for she has other concerns. If they don’t leave the house by spring, she’ll miss her debut. And while reading through the holy scriptures, she stumbles upon a mystery that reeks of power.
Elise struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Captain Janlav. Her former lover now serves the gagargi, and it’s his duty to keep the daughters confined in the house. But if the opportunity were to arise, she might be able sway him into helping them flee.
Celestia is perfectly aware of the gagargi coming to claim her rather sooner than later. She’s resolved to come up with a plan to keep her sisters safe at any cost. For she knows what tends to happen to the sisters of the Crescent Empress.
With the Crescent Empress dead, a civil war has torn the empire asunder. No one seems able to stop the ruthless Gagargi Prataslav. The five Daughters of the Moon are where he wants them to be, held captive in an isolated house in the far north.
Little Alina senses that the rooms that have fallen in disrepair have a sad tale to tell. Indeed, she soon meets two elderly ladies, the ghosts of the house’s former inhabitants.
Merile finds the ghosts suspiciously friendly and too interested in her sisters. She resolves to uncover their agenda with the help of her two dogs.
Sibilia isn’t terribly interested in her younger sisters’ imaginary friends, for she has other concerns. If they don’t leave the house by spring, she’ll miss her debut. And while reading through the holy scriptures, she stumbles upon a mystery that reeks of power.
Elise struggles to come to terms with her relationship with Captain Janlav. Her former lover now serves the gagargi, and it’s his duty to keep the daughters confined in the house. But if the opportunity were to arise, she might be able sway him into helping them flee.
Celestia is perfectly aware of the gagargi coming to claim her rather sooner than later. She’s resolved to come up with a plan to keep her sisters safe at any cost. For she knows what tends to happen to the sisters of the Crescent Empress.
318 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2017
8 people are currently reading
518 people want to read
About the author
Leena Likitalo
21 books39 followersLeena Likitalo hails from Finland, the land of endless summer days and long, dark winter nights. She lives with her husband on an island at the outskirts of Helsinki, the capital. But regardless of her remote location, stories find their way to her and demand to be told.
While growing up, Leena struggled to learn foreign languages. At sixteen, her father urged her to start reading in English, and thus she spent the next summer wading through his collection of fantasy and science fiction novels.
Leena breaks computer games for a living. When she's not working, she writes obsessively. And when she's not writing, she can be found at the stables riding horses.
While growing up, Leena struggled to learn foreign languages. At sixteen, her father urged her to start reading in English, and thus she spent the next summer wading through his collection of fantasy and science fiction novels.
Leena breaks computer games for a living. When she's not working, she writes obsessively. And when she's not writing, she can be found at the stables riding horses.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 10, 2018
I still feel that the first book ended too abruptly, and really the two should have been published together. The first might’ve been a novella, but this was definitely long enough to qualify as a novel, leaving me really wondering why it was published as part of the novella line (though I see others in that line-up now that I wouldn’t have called novellas). Does The Sisters of the Crescent Empress satisfactorily complete what The Five Daughters of the Moon began? Well, sort of.
I did enjoy this a lot: the interactions between the sisters, the way it embellishes the basic story of the Romanov princesses in a fantasy world, the complex relationships and allegiances between the characters, torn between the old world and the new. I enjoyed the development of some of the characters, particularly Sibillia, and getting to see more of Celestia and what made her tick.
I did feel that it ended abruptly, again, and that there’s so much more of the story I want to know, and which the duology feels incomplete without. Does Celestia succeed in ending the riots? What role does Elise play? Does the body-swapping trick work, and how does that end up? Sibillia’s story just ends in a way that feels almost like wasting her character development, but she’s the only one who does get a solid end.
I also felt that sometimes the way the characters spoke felt wrong: the abrupt sentence fragments, for example, just left some of the characters sounding like automatons, when that plainly wasn’t the intent.
I definitely enjoyed this duology, but I wanted more from it, too.
Reviewed for the Bibliophibian.
I did enjoy this a lot: the interactions between the sisters, the way it embellishes the basic story of the Romanov princesses in a fantasy world, the complex relationships and allegiances between the characters, torn between the old world and the new. I enjoyed the development of some of the characters, particularly Sibillia, and getting to see more of Celestia and what made her tick.
I did feel that it ended abruptly, again, and that there’s so much more of the story I want to know, and which the duology feels incomplete without. Does Celestia succeed in ending the riots? What role does Elise play? Does the body-swapping trick work, and how does that end up? Sibillia’s story just ends in a way that feels almost like wasting her character development, but she’s the only one who does get a solid end.
I also felt that sometimes the way the characters spoke felt wrong: the abrupt sentence fragments, for example, just left some of the characters sounding like automatons, when that plainly wasn’t the intent.
I definitely enjoyed this duology, but I wanted more from it, too.
Reviewed for the Bibliophibian.
December 22, 2017
Review on my blog
Review of book 1 in the series
I enjoyed this book almost till the end. The prose is beautiful and the relationships between the sisters are portrayed in a very realistic way. Some sisters get on better with each other, some not so much. Things that one does or says affect the relationships with the other sisters.
It did have flaws that stopped me from really loving the book and most of them were understandable, considering the author has only written short-stories so far and I wouldn’t have minded those things (as much) then. But in a novel, I want to understand how the magic system works. Here I couldn’t even figure out who exactly is capable of doing magic, let alone where the limitations are or how one can protect oneself against spells.
I can forgive a short-story if it uses a short-cut and someone figures out a secret rather quickly and conveniently. This book was full of occasions where people just knew things. Especially Celestia frequently figures out not only that her sisters are keeping things from her but also what those secrets are. That way a fair number of potentially dangerous occasions are swiftly avoided.
But towards the end, things really fell apart. This book is inspired by the Russian Revolution, and the Russian Revolution didn’t just happen one day. The same is true for the revolution in this book. The previous empress was always fighting wars. With most men conscripted as soldiers, nobody was left to tend the fields or earn money. Gagargi Prataslav – an unholy cross between Stalin and the worst Rasputin caricatures, who enjoys laughing diabolically – took advantage of that and incited the revolution.
Now there are clearly two things the sisters need to worry about: the people who have legitimate grievances and who now definitely won’t want to go back to a time where their Empress had full power over them. And the gagargi who is ye-olde-fantasy-villain. He doesn’t care about people but right now they listen to him.
And the book utterly fails at distinguishing between those things. Nobody points out that even if they somehow manage to get rid of the gagargi things won’t go back to the way they were before. Nobody has the viewpoint ‘The gargari is bad but the revolution happened because of understandable reasons.’
The one character who has sympathies for the revolution also refuses to believe that the Gargari is that bad despite all the evidence against it. (He literally wants to sacrifice children. Not kidding.)
As a result, a series that started as a promising subversion of the popular fantasy trope of ‘good and pure ruler that is threatened by evil outside forces’ ends up sounding like an advertisement for an absolute monarchy.
Talking about ‘ends up’: The ending sucked. Not just the moral of the story. It also was bad from a narrative standpoint. There are open endings. And there are endings where I have to go back and check if this is really the last book in the series. And there are endings like this where I had to go back, check and still refuse to believe that this was the end. I might have bought that ending if it made more effort to built up the revolution and the reasons for it as a genuine problem. But it didn’t and made the villain as cliche-fantasy-villain as possible. So the book stays a conventional fantasy-novel, despite all the pretty prose and nice window-dressing. And a conventional fantasy-novel can’t end like this.
Review of book 1 in the series
I enjoyed this book almost till the end. The prose is beautiful and the relationships between the sisters are portrayed in a very realistic way. Some sisters get on better with each other, some not so much. Things that one does or says affect the relationships with the other sisters.
It did have flaws that stopped me from really loving the book and most of them were understandable, considering the author has only written short-stories so far and I wouldn’t have minded those things (as much) then. But in a novel, I want to understand how the magic system works. Here I couldn’t even figure out who exactly is capable of doing magic, let alone where the limitations are or how one can protect oneself against spells.
I can forgive a short-story if it uses a short-cut and someone figures out a secret rather quickly and conveniently. This book was full of occasions where people just knew things. Especially Celestia frequently figures out not only that her sisters are keeping things from her but also what those secrets are. That way a fair number of potentially dangerous occasions are swiftly avoided.
But towards the end, things really fell apart. This book is inspired by the Russian Revolution, and the Russian Revolution didn’t just happen one day. The same is true for the revolution in this book. The previous empress was always fighting wars. With most men conscripted as soldiers, nobody was left to tend the fields or earn money. Gagargi Prataslav – an unholy cross between Stalin and the worst Rasputin caricatures, who enjoys laughing diabolically – took advantage of that and incited the revolution.
Now there are clearly two things the sisters need to worry about: the people who have legitimate grievances and who now definitely won’t want to go back to a time where their Empress had full power over them. And the gagargi who is ye-olde-fantasy-villain. He doesn’t care about people but right now they listen to him.
And the book utterly fails at distinguishing between those things. Nobody points out that even if they somehow manage to get rid of the gagargi things won’t go back to the way they were before. Nobody has the viewpoint ‘The gargari is bad but the revolution happened because of understandable reasons.’
The one character who has sympathies for the revolution also refuses to believe that the Gargari is that bad despite all the evidence against it. (He literally wants to sacrifice children. Not kidding.)
As a result, a series that started as a promising subversion of the popular fantasy trope of ‘good and pure ruler that is threatened by evil outside forces’ ends up sounding like an advertisement for an absolute monarchy.
Talking about ‘ends up’: The ending sucked. Not just the moral of the story. It also was bad from a narrative standpoint. There are open endings. And there are endings where I have to go back and check if this is really the last book in the series. And there are endings like this where I had to go back, check and still refuse to believe that this was the end. I might have bought that ending if it made more effort to built up the revolution and the reasons for it as a genuine problem. But it didn’t and made the villain as cliche-fantasy-villain as possible. So the book stays a conventional fantasy-novel, despite all the pretty prose and nice window-dressing. And a conventional fantasy-novel can’t end like this.
February 21, 2022
3.5 stars. Knowing of the bloody end of the Romanovs, I knew I wasn’t getting a happy ending from the author.
The ending she provides is kind of heartbreaking and horrible, even knowing how the girls’ mother had terribly mistreated her people, and how hard Celestia had hoped to get them all out of their increasingly tense imprisonment.
There were a couple of story threads left open at the conclusion, leaving me wanting a bit more closure.
The ending she provides is kind of heartbreaking and horrible, even knowing how the girls’ mother had terribly mistreated her people, and how hard Celestia had hoped to get them all out of their increasingly tense imprisonment.
There were a couple of story threads left open at the conclusion, leaving me wanting a bit more closure.
November 18, 2021
What an awful, terrible and disappointing ending.
I don’t mind sad or ambiguous endings. But here the author barely resolves anything of the main conflict.
Bad people remain bad. The villain is a caricature. The book is poorly paced and the writing at some points was horrible (Merile’s narration was riddled with unnecessary punctuation).
After two books I expect some answers. I don’t want to feel like there is a huge, vital portion of the story missing. Specially if it is the resolution what the novel lacks.
The Sisters of the Crescent Empress needed heavy editing. There was potential here but everything feels poorly executed. Like an amateur attempt.
I feel cheated. This was a lackluster book.
I don’t mind sad or ambiguous endings. But here the author barely resolves anything of the main conflict.
Bad people remain bad. The villain is a caricature. The book is poorly paced and the writing at some points was horrible (Merile’s narration was riddled with unnecessary punctuation).
After two books I expect some answers. I don’t want to feel like there is a huge, vital portion of the story missing. Specially if it is the resolution what the novel lacks.
The Sisters of the Crescent Empress needed heavy editing. There was potential here but everything feels poorly executed. Like an amateur attempt.
I feel cheated. This was a lackluster book.
January 27, 2023
1.5 stars.
There are so many loose ends its practically pointless to have read it.
There are so many loose ends its practically pointless to have read it.
September 18, 2017
The Sisters of the Crescent Empress is the second in a duology by Leena Likitalo that tells a mysterious, magical tale inspired by the Romanov sisters and their downfall. It’s a powerful debut series from Likitalo that tells me she’s a powerful emerging voice on the fantasy scene, but I was still left with mixed feelings about the way the duology wrapped itself up.
The technical things that bothered me about the first book continued in the second, while much of the magic drifted into the background. Many questions left open in the first book were never resolved, and many questions introduced in the second weren’t resolved either. There’s a lack of robust world-building around much of Likitalo’s world that creates the need for sisters to explain things awkwardly within the narration itself, and yet many of the more exciting mysterious magics within the novel are actually never explained, or are dropped all together. I definitely enjoyed this duology, but I think perhaps it would have actually done better if it was longer, and could fill in its own world-building, and expand on its loose threads, rather than hurrying to an ending.
But I did love many things about this second book. The troubled relationship of Elise and Celestia was underdeveloped but interesting, and while I could have done without the part where Sibilia outlines every sister’s character development, it was still well-done throughout the book. In fact, it was Sibilia with the best character arc. The discovery of her own magic and connections to the Moon, her strengthening, her coming of age, all provided the heart and strength of the finale of this duology. And it was thanks to her that despite my wanting more threads to be tied up, the ending was still powerful, sudden though it was. If you enjoyed The Five Daughters of the Moon, The Sisters of the Crescent Empress is definitely worth reading—and I recommend keeping an eye out for Leena Likitalo’s name in the future. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The finale of the Waning Moon duology comes out November 7.
The technical things that bothered me about the first book continued in the second, while much of the magic drifted into the background. Many questions left open in the first book were never resolved, and many questions introduced in the second weren’t resolved either. There’s a lack of robust world-building around much of Likitalo’s world that creates the need for sisters to explain things awkwardly within the narration itself, and yet many of the more exciting mysterious magics within the novel are actually never explained, or are dropped all together. I definitely enjoyed this duology, but I think perhaps it would have actually done better if it was longer, and could fill in its own world-building, and expand on its loose threads, rather than hurrying to an ending.
But I did love many things about this second book. The troubled relationship of Elise and Celestia was underdeveloped but interesting, and while I could have done without the part where Sibilia outlines every sister’s character development, it was still well-done throughout the book. In fact, it was Sibilia with the best character arc. The discovery of her own magic and connections to the Moon, her strengthening, her coming of age, all provided the heart and strength of the finale of this duology. And it was thanks to her that despite my wanting more threads to be tied up, the ending was still powerful, sudden though it was. If you enjoyed The Five Daughters of the Moon, The Sisters of the Crescent Empress is definitely worth reading—and I recommend keeping an eye out for Leena Likitalo’s name in the future. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The finale of the Waning Moon duology comes out November 7.
March 24, 2025
[3.5⭐️]
Still love the pov. switching chapters, it’s super unique and fits perfectly with this story! Low key wanna research everything to do with the Russian revolution now.
But. After 250 pages where basically nothing happens, you do get kinda tired. The writing is still engaging in the way each chapter is characteristically defined by the sister it’s following, and you don’t grow entirely bored with the slow progression, but still. It has limits.
The last 30 pages are amazing tho, adrenaline rushing, tears threatening to spill and dread creeping in. [4/4.5⭐️] end game man.
—————————Slight spoilers —————————
Definitely a bittersweet, frustrating and slightly unfulfilling ending. I feel like they could have expanded so much more on the intricacies of the magic system, and also on why exactly she had to stay behind to keep the last spell active, when all other rituals, where they move the soul, are simply permanent once performed.
Still love the pov. switching chapters, it’s super unique and fits perfectly with this story! Low key wanna research everything to do with the Russian revolution now.
But. After 250 pages where basically nothing happens, you do get kinda tired. The writing is still engaging in the way each chapter is characteristically defined by the sister it’s following, and you don’t grow entirely bored with the slow progression, but still. It has limits.
The last 30 pages are amazing tho, adrenaline rushing, tears threatening to spill and dread creeping in. [4/4.5⭐️] end game man.
—————————Slight spoilers —————————
Definitely a bittersweet, frustrating and slightly unfulfilling ending. I feel like they could have expanded so much more on the intricacies of the magic system, and also on why exactly she had to stay behind to keep the last spell active, when all other rituals, where they move the soul, are simply permanent once performed.
March 5, 2024
I am devastated. Don't talk to me. Don't touch me. Let me cry in the corner please. I absolutely LOVED the premise of this duology. It's equal parts fantasy and sci-fi, a little bit steampunk and different enough from the historical basis that you honestly aren't sure what's going to happen at the end.
August 16, 2020
Strangely paced
The story is an odd mix of anti communist fantasy and historical fiction reimagining. What felt gleaming and original in the first half of the duology was done to death. Merile's speech pattern made me want to scream, and after nothing much happening for the first 60% or so of the book, suddenly plot threads are dropped and the characters race to an inevitable finish line. I really thought this book would be much more unique given how promising the first one was. Disappointed. I'm disappointed that this book wasn't better.
The story is an odd mix of anti communist fantasy and historical fiction reimagining. What felt gleaming and original in the first half of the duology was done to death. Merile's speech pattern made me want to scream, and after nothing much happening for the first 60% or so of the book, suddenly plot threads are dropped and the characters race to an inevitable finish line. I really thought this book would be much more unique given how promising the first one was. Disappointed. I'm disappointed that this book wasn't better.
June 10, 2018
3.5/5 stars.
Mon Avis : Il y a quelques mois je me suis lancé dans la découverte de ce diptyque de Fantasy qui se basait sur la révolution Russe de 1917, ce qui changeait selon moi des récits de Fantasy médiévaux, et dont le premier tome m’avait offert un très agréable moment de lecture, même si certains points m’avaient paru pas complètement maîtrisés. Il était donc logique que je me laisse rapidement tenté par la suite et fin de ce cycle en faisant entrer ce second tome dans ma PAL. Concernant la couverture, toujours illustrée par Anna et Elena Balbusso, je la trouve très réussie et qui colle parfaitement à l’ambiance du récit.
On plonge avec ce livre dans la suite directe du premier tome qui a vu l’Empire s’effondrer, l’Impératrice mourir et ses cinq filles envoyées en exil à Angefort une résidence isolée dans le nord. Pour autant tout n’est pas encore terminée pour les filles de la Lune, Gargari a besoin de Celestia pour en faire sa femme et asseoir son pouvoir et il parait aussi avoir besoin d’Alina pour son étrange machine. Sauf que voilà, les soeurs ne comptent pas se laisser faire et vont tout faire pour réussir à s’enfuir. Alors, cette suite a-t-elle corrigée les défauts du premier tome, trouvant enfin la justesse entre intrigue et ambiance ? Je dois admettre que non. Je ne dis pas que ce second tome est mauvais, loin de là, il y a clairement quelque-chose qui se dégage et offre un sympathique moment de lecture. Mais voilà, une fois la dernière page tournée, il y a quand même ce léger sentiment de frustration devant un récit qui ne parait jamais arrivé au bout de ses idées, oubliant un peu qu’un livre doit aussi et avant tout raconter une histoire, une intrigue. Il y a pourtant un vrai potentiel dans ce roman et, je pense, que l’autrice si elle corrige ses légers défauts pourra clairement s’imposer. Déjà, sachez-le, ce livre est un récit qui repose sur un rythme très lent, une impression figée qui se dégage ainsi majoritairement de l’histoire. Cela pourra en bloquer certains, surtout si vous aimez les récits qui bougent, mais pour ma part j’ai trouvé que cela offrait une accentuation intéressante concernant cette ambiance d’enfermement, d’exil, d’étouffement et permet aussi de développer vraiment les personnages et l’atmosphère.
Concernant l’univers, je reste clairement sur cette impression que j’avais ressenti dans le premier tome. Un univers étrange, déroutant, poétique et magique qui ne manque pas d’attrait ni d’intérêt. Entre sorcières, fantômes, magie, mais aussi cette idée liée à la Lune qui est finalement l’Empereur de ce monde, ou encore la notion de technologie qui va peu à peu transformer ce monde, il y a un vrai potentiel dans ce que construit l’autrice au fil des pages, sauf que voilà comme dans le livre précédent, il repose trop sur l’acceptation du lecteur. Des fantômes apparaissent c’est normal, la magie existe on ne sait pas trop sur quelles bases ni comment elle fonctionne vraiment, la technologie permet des actions mais a une contrepartie sans qu’on ne sache comment ça marche, ce qui a quand même un côté, je trouve, frustrant. Pourtant l’ensemble est cohérent et colle parfaitement au récit, quelques explications aurait alors pu rendre l’ensemble plus solide, plus logique. Pareil concernant tout ce qui tourne autour de la différence de la petite Alina, elle est capable de manipuler une certaine magie, de ressentir certaines choses sans qu’on comprenne vraiment pourquoi, ni même parfois se rendre compte de ce que cela apporte au récit.
L’autre point de cet univers vient clairement de l’idée de la révolution, et principalement dans sa présentation à travers le point de vue des filles de l’Impératrice, du passage du pouvoir, du faste et de la richesse à l’exil et franchement de ce point de vue là c’est très intéressant. Maintenant le soucis c’est que le récit est un peu trop, justement, centré sur elles, on manque par conséquent de densité dans tous les bouleversement que cela provoque sur le pays, les guerres, les morts ou encore l’aspect endoctrinement qui apparaissent ainsi un peu trop en surface je trouve. Pourtant il y avait la possibilité, à travers certains personnages secondaires que l’on croise, de faire tellement plus. Pareil concernant Gargari, celui qui a fait tomber l’Empire, il pourrait apporter un aspect complexe dans cette révolution, mais pourtant il reste trop dans cette image du grand méchant vilain qui veut le pouvoir. Un peu plus de soin dans la construction de ce point de vue là aurait pu apporter un vrai plus. Alors attention, cela ne veut pas dire que l’aspect politique n’est pas traité pour autant dans ce roman, il y a de vraies bonnes idées, principalement dans l’évolution de la relation entre les deux soeurs Celestia et Elise, mais voilà on se dit qu’il aurait pu faire plus sans que cela soit dérangeant. L’univers reste pour autant intéressant à découvrir, offrant une toile de fond plutôt efficace, mais voilà il ne trouve pas le juste milieu entre mystères et explications je trouve.
Par contre la grande force du récit vient clairement de l’ambiance que construit l’autrice au fil des pages qui s’avère à la fois poétique, magique, envoûtante et captivante. Que ce soit dans le traitement du fantastique, comme dans la façon dont elle tisse le récit il y a vraiment quelque-chose qui se dégage, qui enveloppe et happe assez rapidement le lecteur selon moi. Le tout est aussi porté par une plume que je trouve franchement lyrique, fluide, entraînante, aboutissant au fait qu’on se retrouve finalement à tourner les pages assez facilement avec l’envie d’en apprendre plus. Ajouter à cela une caractérisation des personnages vraiment dense, soignée et très efficace et on se retrouve ainsi à suivre cinq héroïnes très intéressantes à découvrir. La grande force de ce point de vue là est ainsi d’avoir su donner à chacune d’entre elle une voix propre, une personnalité qui lui appartient avec pour chacune d’entre elle ses propres rêves, ses propres secrets, ses propres peurs, ses propres besoins, sa propre personnalité. Je ne vais pas dire qu’on est captivé par chacune d’entre elle de la même façon, mais elles ont toutes réussies, à un moment ou à un autre, à me toucher. On découvre ainsi un certain déchirement qui apparait entre les soeurs qui cherchent pourtant à rester souder, un certain besoin de routine dans un monde qui pourtant s’écroule autour d’eux. Ce qui est dommage c’est que les personnages secondaires restent un peu en retrait de ce cercle, ce qui les rend parfois un peu trop binaires, voir, comme je l’ai dit avec Gargari, manquent quand même clairement de profondeur.
Ce roman ne manque clairement pas d’attrait, que ce soit comme je l’ai dit dans son atmosphère, ses personnages, voir même dans sa toile de fond, mais voilà pour autant il ne manque pas de défaut. Leena Likitalo oublie parfois de construire une intrigue, ce qui fait qu’on a parfois plus l’impression de plonger dans des tranches de vies alors qu’il se passe quand même une révolution. J’ai eu l’impression qu’elle se laissait ainsi plus porter par son ambiance, ce qui fait que le fil rouge principal du récit est par moment étouffé et c’est dommage. Comme je l’ai dit aussi, le récit joue trop sur les mystères et surtout les laisse majoritairement sans réponses. Dans certains cas cela peut avoir un intérêt, mais ici c’est un peu frustrant. Ensuite l’autrice soulève des points d’intrigues secondaires qui ne paraissent jamais trouver leur réponse, je pense à Alina et la machine par exemple. Enfin, je dois admettre que si on connait un peu l’histoire Russe, on sait comment finit le récit, ce qui lui enlève peut-être un tout petit peu de sa force, mais de ce point de vue là rien de bloquant tant finalement la conclusion m’a paru percutante et pleine d’émotions. Au final j’ai passé un sympathique moment de lecture avec ce diptyque qui, certes, aurait pu être encore meilleur, mais qui ne manque pas pour autant d’attrait. Si Leena Likitalo arrive à rendre son intrigue plus présente, je pense qu’elle pourra offrir des récits magnifiques. En tout cas je me laisserai tenter par ses prochains écrits rien que pour sa plume et l’aura qui se dégage de ses écrits, en espérant qu’elle ait évolué.
Sur le blog
Mon Avis : Il y a quelques mois je me suis lancé dans la découverte de ce diptyque de Fantasy qui se basait sur la révolution Russe de 1917, ce qui changeait selon moi des récits de Fantasy médiévaux, et dont le premier tome m’avait offert un très agréable moment de lecture, même si certains points m’avaient paru pas complètement maîtrisés. Il était donc logique que je me laisse rapidement tenté par la suite et fin de ce cycle en faisant entrer ce second tome dans ma PAL. Concernant la couverture, toujours illustrée par Anna et Elena Balbusso, je la trouve très réussie et qui colle parfaitement à l’ambiance du récit.
On plonge avec ce livre dans la suite directe du premier tome qui a vu l’Empire s’effondrer, l’Impératrice mourir et ses cinq filles envoyées en exil à Angefort une résidence isolée dans le nord. Pour autant tout n’est pas encore terminée pour les filles de la Lune, Gargari a besoin de Celestia pour en faire sa femme et asseoir son pouvoir et il parait aussi avoir besoin d’Alina pour son étrange machine. Sauf que voilà, les soeurs ne comptent pas se laisser faire et vont tout faire pour réussir à s’enfuir. Alors, cette suite a-t-elle corrigée les défauts du premier tome, trouvant enfin la justesse entre intrigue et ambiance ? Je dois admettre que non. Je ne dis pas que ce second tome est mauvais, loin de là, il y a clairement quelque-chose qui se dégage et offre un sympathique moment de lecture. Mais voilà, une fois la dernière page tournée, il y a quand même ce léger sentiment de frustration devant un récit qui ne parait jamais arrivé au bout de ses idées, oubliant un peu qu’un livre doit aussi et avant tout raconter une histoire, une intrigue. Il y a pourtant un vrai potentiel dans ce roman et, je pense, que l’autrice si elle corrige ses légers défauts pourra clairement s’imposer. Déjà, sachez-le, ce livre est un récit qui repose sur un rythme très lent, une impression figée qui se dégage ainsi majoritairement de l’histoire. Cela pourra en bloquer certains, surtout si vous aimez les récits qui bougent, mais pour ma part j’ai trouvé que cela offrait une accentuation intéressante concernant cette ambiance d’enfermement, d’exil, d’étouffement et permet aussi de développer vraiment les personnages et l’atmosphère.
Concernant l’univers, je reste clairement sur cette impression que j’avais ressenti dans le premier tome. Un univers étrange, déroutant, poétique et magique qui ne manque pas d’attrait ni d’intérêt. Entre sorcières, fantômes, magie, mais aussi cette idée liée à la Lune qui est finalement l’Empereur de ce monde, ou encore la notion de technologie qui va peu à peu transformer ce monde, il y a un vrai potentiel dans ce que construit l’autrice au fil des pages, sauf que voilà comme dans le livre précédent, il repose trop sur l’acceptation du lecteur. Des fantômes apparaissent c’est normal, la magie existe on ne sait pas trop sur quelles bases ni comment elle fonctionne vraiment, la technologie permet des actions mais a une contrepartie sans qu’on ne sache comment ça marche, ce qui a quand même un côté, je trouve, frustrant. Pourtant l’ensemble est cohérent et colle parfaitement au récit, quelques explications aurait alors pu rendre l’ensemble plus solide, plus logique. Pareil concernant tout ce qui tourne autour de la différence de la petite Alina, elle est capable de manipuler une certaine magie, de ressentir certaines choses sans qu’on comprenne vraiment pourquoi, ni même parfois se rendre compte de ce que cela apporte au récit.
L’autre point de cet univers vient clairement de l’idée de la révolution, et principalement dans sa présentation à travers le point de vue des filles de l’Impératrice, du passage du pouvoir, du faste et de la richesse à l’exil et franchement de ce point de vue là c’est très intéressant. Maintenant le soucis c’est que le récit est un peu trop, justement, centré sur elles, on manque par conséquent de densité dans tous les bouleversement que cela provoque sur le pays, les guerres, les morts ou encore l’aspect endoctrinement qui apparaissent ainsi un peu trop en surface je trouve. Pourtant il y avait la possibilité, à travers certains personnages secondaires que l’on croise, de faire tellement plus. Pareil concernant Gargari, celui qui a fait tomber l’Empire, il pourrait apporter un aspect complexe dans cette révolution, mais pourtant il reste trop dans cette image du grand méchant vilain qui veut le pouvoir. Un peu plus de soin dans la construction de ce point de vue là aurait pu apporter un vrai plus. Alors attention, cela ne veut pas dire que l’aspect politique n’est pas traité pour autant dans ce roman, il y a de vraies bonnes idées, principalement dans l’évolution de la relation entre les deux soeurs Celestia et Elise, mais voilà on se dit qu’il aurait pu faire plus sans que cela soit dérangeant. L’univers reste pour autant intéressant à découvrir, offrant une toile de fond plutôt efficace, mais voilà il ne trouve pas le juste milieu entre mystères et explications je trouve.
Par contre la grande force du récit vient clairement de l’ambiance que construit l’autrice au fil des pages qui s’avère à la fois poétique, magique, envoûtante et captivante. Que ce soit dans le traitement du fantastique, comme dans la façon dont elle tisse le récit il y a vraiment quelque-chose qui se dégage, qui enveloppe et happe assez rapidement le lecteur selon moi. Le tout est aussi porté par une plume que je trouve franchement lyrique, fluide, entraînante, aboutissant au fait qu’on se retrouve finalement à tourner les pages assez facilement avec l’envie d’en apprendre plus. Ajouter à cela une caractérisation des personnages vraiment dense, soignée et très efficace et on se retrouve ainsi à suivre cinq héroïnes très intéressantes à découvrir. La grande force de ce point de vue là est ainsi d’avoir su donner à chacune d’entre elle une voix propre, une personnalité qui lui appartient avec pour chacune d’entre elle ses propres rêves, ses propres secrets, ses propres peurs, ses propres besoins, sa propre personnalité. Je ne vais pas dire qu’on est captivé par chacune d’entre elle de la même façon, mais elles ont toutes réussies, à un moment ou à un autre, à me toucher. On découvre ainsi un certain déchirement qui apparait entre les soeurs qui cherchent pourtant à rester souder, un certain besoin de routine dans un monde qui pourtant s’écroule autour d’eux. Ce qui est dommage c’est que les personnages secondaires restent un peu en retrait de ce cercle, ce qui les rend parfois un peu trop binaires, voir, comme je l’ai dit avec Gargari, manquent quand même clairement de profondeur.
Ce roman ne manque clairement pas d’attrait, que ce soit comme je l’ai dit dans son atmosphère, ses personnages, voir même dans sa toile de fond, mais voilà pour autant il ne manque pas de défaut. Leena Likitalo oublie parfois de construire une intrigue, ce qui fait qu’on a parfois plus l’impression de plonger dans des tranches de vies alors qu’il se passe quand même une révolution. J’ai eu l’impression qu’elle se laissait ainsi plus porter par son ambiance, ce qui fait que le fil rouge principal du récit est par moment étouffé et c’est dommage. Comme je l’ai dit aussi, le récit joue trop sur les mystères et surtout les laisse majoritairement sans réponses. Dans certains cas cela peut avoir un intérêt, mais ici c’est un peu frustrant. Ensuite l’autrice soulève des points d’intrigues secondaires qui ne paraissent jamais trouver leur réponse, je pense à Alina et la machine par exemple. Enfin, je dois admettre que si on connait un peu l’histoire Russe, on sait comment finit le récit, ce qui lui enlève peut-être un tout petit peu de sa force, mais de ce point de vue là rien de bloquant tant finalement la conclusion m’a paru percutante et pleine d’émotions. Au final j’ai passé un sympathique moment de lecture avec ce diptyque qui, certes, aurait pu être encore meilleur, mais qui ne manque pas pour autant d’attrait. Si Leena Likitalo arrive à rendre son intrigue plus présente, je pense qu’elle pourra offrir des récits magnifiques. En tout cas je me laisserai tenter par ses prochains écrits rien que pour sa plume et l’aura qui se dégage de ses écrits, en espérant qu’elle ait évolué.
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January 29, 2021
4*
Bolo to komplexnejšie, lepšie podané s väčším množstvom mágie...a...je to veľmi krátke. Mnohé veci jednoducho sú, a na malom priestore sa ťažko dajú podať striedmo a uváženejšie. Často sa zdalo, že niektoré prvky sú tam navyše, iba aby bolo.
Ale ku koncu sa mnohé z toho pekne využilo.
Odhliadnuc od mágie a istých dejových línií, ktoré sa už iba kvôli povahe tohto diela nevyriešili (haló, v realite sa tiež veľa vecí nevyrieši uspokojujúco. S týmto teda nemajme veľké očakávania. Je to smutný príbeh, že hej...) sa kniha čítala veľmi rýchlo - má to výhodu, keď berieš z reality takto otvorene. Chcem vedieť ako to autorka podá.
Odhliadnuc od väčšieho množstva magických elementov, čo skutočne zaváži sú postavy.
Ich rôznorodosť, vnútorné rozpoloženie každej zo sestier je elementom, ktorý tú knihu poháňa. Vzťahy medzi nimi sú znovu hlavným "akčným" prvkom celej duológie. Navyše teraz sú aj o voľačo dospelejšie .
Čo sa v prvej knihe zdalo ako milé prekvapenie sa tu rozvinulo skvelo. Je ťažké napísať knihu založenú na špecifickej historickej udalosti, ktorej koniec je každému známy. Riskuješ, že tvoj čitateľ sa unudí. Ak zlyháš v charakterizácii postáv... si v keli.
Chvalabohu, toto je príklad, kde sa také nestalo. I keď som vedela, že mnohé veci nedopadnú dobre stotožnila som sa s nimi, fakt mi na sestrách záležalo. Takže hej. Good job.
Pocit z tejto duológie je rozhodne melancholický a horko-sladký. Je ti zima, keď to čítaš a máš pocit ako keď držíš vážne krehké porcelánové sošky, ktoré pri jedinom zlom pohybe rozbiješ.
Ku koncu akoby sa niečo utlo priveľmi skoro (ale v dobrom slova zmysle).
Už iba preto je to jedinečné.
Som zvedavá, čo ešte autorka napíše. Ak sa moje prianie 500+ stranovej knihy splní, budem medzi prvými, kto to prečíta.
Bolo to komplexnejšie, lepšie podané s väčším množstvom mágie...a...je to veľmi krátke. Mnohé veci jednoducho sú, a na malom priestore sa ťažko dajú podať striedmo a uváženejšie. Často sa zdalo, že niektoré prvky sú tam navyše, iba aby bolo.
Ale ku koncu sa mnohé z toho pekne využilo.
Odhliadnuc od mágie a istých dejových línií, ktoré sa už iba kvôli povahe tohto diela nevyriešili (haló, v realite sa tiež veľa vecí nevyrieši uspokojujúco. S týmto teda nemajme veľké očakávania. Je to smutný príbeh, že hej...) sa kniha čítala veľmi rýchlo - má to výhodu, keď berieš z reality takto otvorene. Chcem vedieť ako to autorka podá.
Odhliadnuc od väčšieho množstva magických elementov, čo skutočne zaváži sú postavy.
Ich rôznorodosť, vnútorné rozpoloženie každej zo sestier je elementom, ktorý tú knihu poháňa. Vzťahy medzi nimi sú znovu hlavným "akčným" prvkom celej duológie. Navyše teraz sú aj o voľačo dospelejšie .
Čo sa v prvej knihe zdalo ako milé prekvapenie sa tu rozvinulo skvelo. Je ťažké napísať knihu založenú na špecifickej historickej udalosti, ktorej koniec je každému známy. Riskuješ, že tvoj čitateľ sa unudí. Ak zlyháš v charakterizácii postáv... si v keli.
Chvalabohu, toto je príklad, kde sa také nestalo. I keď som vedela, že mnohé veci nedopadnú dobre stotožnila som sa s nimi, fakt mi na sestrách záležalo. Takže hej. Good job.
Pocit z tejto duológie je rozhodne melancholický a horko-sladký. Je ti zima, keď to čítaš a máš pocit ako keď držíš vážne krehké porcelánové sošky, ktoré pri jedinom zlom pohybe rozbiješ.
Ku koncu akoby sa niečo utlo priveľmi skoro (ale v dobrom slova zmysle).
Už iba preto je to jedinečné.
Som zvedavá, čo ešte autorka napíše. Ak sa moje prianie 500+ stranovej knihy splní, budem medzi prvými, kto to prečíta.
August 3, 2017
Jacqueline Carey's cover blurb for The Five Daughters of the Moon calls the book "a lyrical elegy to the fall of an empire," and the book description is clear that this duology is inspired by the 1917 Russian revolution and the final days of the Romanov sisters, so you must know going in that this story doesn't have a happy ending. In alternating chapters told in first person from the perspective of each of the titular five daughters--ranging in age from six to twenty-two--Leena Likitalo brings each girl to vivid life and lets them tell their own stories. Fifteen-year-old Sibilia (whose chapters are excerpts from her diary) and sixteen-year-old Elise have the strongest voices of the five, and Sibilia's journey and coming of age is perhaps the most profound and deeply-felt story of any of the girls. However, Likitalo also does a lovely job of portraying the little girls, Alina and Merile, though the author's vocabulary is far better than any six- or eleven-year-old's would be. Eldest sister Celestia is a more difficult character to get to know and love; she's often distant from her sisters, focused on her own trauma and still trying to bear up under the weight of her responsibilities in a situation that is far different and more dangerous than anything she was ever prepared for.
The best part of this duology, however, is the way that Likitalo manages to capture the ambivalence of revolution. There's tragedy here, for sure, and there's a definite villain, but there's also a recognition of the hope the revolution offered to many people and some meditation on the idea that there's always a human cost in any system; the question is just who has to pay it and who benefits from it. The Waning Moon duology is a gorgeously written and deeply humane meditation on this question and its answers.
Read more reviews at SF Bluestocking.
The best part of this duology, however, is the way that Likitalo manages to capture the ambivalence of revolution. There's tragedy here, for sure, and there's a definite villain, but there's also a recognition of the hope the revolution offered to many people and some meditation on the idea that there's always a human cost in any system; the question is just who has to pay it and who benefits from it. The Waning Moon duology is a gorgeously written and deeply humane meditation on this question and its answers.
Read more reviews at SF Bluestocking.
October 13, 2021
This is a stylistically pretty book - but the ending leaves a lot to be desired.
The location of the book is the same: the sisters in the house. Celestia squirrels away food in preparation for an opportunity to escape. They're also haunted by
The location of the book is the same: the sisters in the house. Celestia squirrels away food in preparation for an opportunity to escape. They're also haunted by
December 26, 2017
I didn't like this part as much as the first - mostly because the confinement experienced by the sisters was just too frustrating. Likitalo wove a powerful feeling of being trapped and helpless throughout the novel, and of course the sisters did try to change their fate , but I just wish that they'd had more power to do something. I'm not super fond of imprisonment storylines, and of course this whole book was basically one.
The ending did feel like an ending, but there's so much of the overall story still untold (what becomes of the broken empire?) that I wish there was more. But perhaps that's just me futilely wishing for a hopeful ending.
The ending did feel like an ending, but there's so much of the overall story still untold (what becomes of the broken empire?) that I wish there was more. But perhaps that's just me futilely wishing for a hopeful ending.
December 19, 2017
And what a bleak little series this turned out to be! It's beautifully told and beautifully written, evoking moonlight and darkness and raising questions about truth and trust and connections between sisters. The fantasy empire is based on Russia or China or something Eurasian; some of the reviewers say it's the story of the Romanovs. Anyway, the Empire is coming apart at the seams, and Celestia, the eldest of five sisters of the Imperial family, is supposed to become the next Crescent Empress. She and her four sisters are isolated in a country estate far in the north of the Empire. They don't know who will survive and who will not. It's told in each of the five sisters' voices. It's beautiful and melancholy.
November 7, 2017
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2017/11...
The second book in Likitalo's duology, a fantasy/alternate history inspired by the Romanovs, left me almost breathless! I loved the journeys of the five sisters (though Elise is more sympathetic and compelling in the first one) and the end had me going “oh whaaaaaaat” but like in a good way. I a, pretty sure this is the end of the story, and while I found the ending fitting, I would one hundred percent read more in this universe. And will definitely read more from this author. A/A-.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released tomorrow.
The second book in Likitalo's duology, a fantasy/alternate history inspired by the Romanovs, left me almost breathless! I loved the journeys of the five sisters (though Elise is more sympathetic and compelling in the first one) and the end had me going “oh whaaaaaaat” but like in a good way. I a, pretty sure this is the end of the story, and while I found the ending fitting, I would one hundred percent read more in this universe. And will definitely read more from this author. A/A-.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released tomorrow.
November 20, 2017
Quite a heartbreaking conclusion to this story. The multiple viewpoints from the first book were continued in this one, and their occasionally odd syntax is very charming. The confined setting and character list is rich in detail. One consequence of hearing the story only from the perspective of the sisters: they all like each other, so their flaws are somewhat hidden from the reader. Its necessary to read between the lines to get the complete picture.
March 8, 2019
The second in a duology, I enjoyed this last outing far more than the first. Because it was highly focused on the sisters and took pains to really depict and examine their relationships and the consequence of the younger ones of being sister to the Crescent Empress.
Based on the ill-fated history of the Romanov sisters, the narrative never lacks for the sense of dread as these five girls wait what might be their inevitable end.
The emotion in this book is unrelenting. Most surprisingly is how my least favourite character of it last book really shone in this one, her arc finding a beautiful, if not heartbreaking, conclusion.
This duology is definitely worth a read if you enjoy historical fantasy. Especially set in revolutionary Russia.
Based on the ill-fated history of the Romanov sisters, the narrative never lacks for the sense of dread as these five girls wait what might be their inevitable end.
The emotion in this book is unrelenting. Most surprisingly is how my least favourite character of it last book really shone in this one, her arc finding a beautiful, if not heartbreaking, conclusion.
This duology is definitely worth a read if you enjoy historical fantasy. Especially set in revolutionary Russia.
March 23, 2021
The atmosphere and relationships in the book deepened what was introduced in the first one, but unfortunately there is still no satisfying resolution and much of the book is running in place. I think, similar to my thoughts on the first one, that this would have been better as one book, and then perhaps something afterwards but to my knowledge there are no further sequels planned.
December 18, 2017
Video review here: https://youtu.be/yRGlt6Iiwj0
This deeply character-driven sequel to The Five Daughters of the Moon is where the story of the Waning Moon duology really finds its strength, as each of its five protagonists come into their own under the most trying of circumstances. (You can read my review of book one here.)
In The Sisters of the Crescent Empress, the Daughters of the Moon arrive at an isolated house in the far north of the empire where they are held prisoner, as their distrust of each other festers with the secrets they keep. Unbeknownst to the others, Celestia is harboring the soul of a swan within her own. She's also suffering the damage of the things Gagargi Pratlsav has done to her, and her careful planning seems increasingly futile. Elise, previously an idealistic supporter of the rebellion, is at an idealogical standoff with her older sister, and their growing misunderstanding of each other's motives is intentionally frustrating. Sibilia, whose chapters are told, as in the first book, in diary entries, emerges as a central character, as she teaches herself magic from the mysterious runes hidden in the scriptures that only reveal themselves to a few. Merile is increasingly frustrated with being dismissed as a child unworthy of having things explained to her, and when she acts on incomplete information, she puts everyone in peril. And the things that Alina has been seeing in the shadows all along? They may be divinations of her sisters' destinies, but they are not to be understood until it is too late.
And did I mention that the house is haunted? The ghosts hold grudges, and reveal themselves only to the the youngest Daughters. It is clear to the reader that Irina and Olesia are their mother's sisters, and their presence in this desolate and lonely place sheds a dark light on what it means to be a sister of the Crescent Empress, even if Celestia should manage to reclaim her throne, as she hopes to.
This is an intimate and claustrophobic story of five girls who are central to the fate of an empire in the throes of a civil war, but receive no outside news of events save some blatant propaganda, and are left to speculate on what has come to pass since the Gagargi's attempt to seize power. Like the politics, the magic in the story continues to be both elusive and compelling. You get the sense that there's a lot to it that you just don't get to see. There's a witch with unclear intentions, but an interest in the Daughters, a complicated system of casting mind-control spells that is never thoroughly explained, and last but not least, the incomprehensible will of their father the moon himself.
I found myself becoming increasingly nervous as the ending approached. Our Daughters are based on the Romanovs, and we know how that story ends. On the one hand, I would never have accepted a wildly revisionist, victorious conclusion to their stories. But on the other hand, you can't kill off all five of your protagonists at the end of a book and expect your readers to ever forgive you. Likitalo strikes a balancing act here with incredible finesse, delivering both tragedy and hope. The conclusion is heartbreaking, and stuck with me long after I put the book aside. Don't expect the fate of the Crescent Empire to be resolved here, or even that of each of the Daughters... there are still battles to be fought. But it's unquestionably the right ending for this story.
This deeply character-driven sequel to The Five Daughters of the Moon is where the story of the Waning Moon duology really finds its strength, as each of its five protagonists come into their own under the most trying of circumstances. (You can read my review of book one here.)
In The Sisters of the Crescent Empress, the Daughters of the Moon arrive at an isolated house in the far north of the empire where they are held prisoner, as their distrust of each other festers with the secrets they keep. Unbeknownst to the others, Celestia is harboring the soul of a swan within her own. She's also suffering the damage of the things Gagargi Pratlsav has done to her, and her careful planning seems increasingly futile. Elise, previously an idealistic supporter of the rebellion, is at an idealogical standoff with her older sister, and their growing misunderstanding of each other's motives is intentionally frustrating. Sibilia, whose chapters are told, as in the first book, in diary entries, emerges as a central character, as she teaches herself magic from the mysterious runes hidden in the scriptures that only reveal themselves to a few. Merile is increasingly frustrated with being dismissed as a child unworthy of having things explained to her, and when she acts on incomplete information, she puts everyone in peril. And the things that Alina has been seeing in the shadows all along? They may be divinations of her sisters' destinies, but they are not to be understood until it is too late.
And did I mention that the house is haunted? The ghosts hold grudges, and reveal themselves only to the the youngest Daughters. It is clear to the reader that Irina and Olesia are their mother's sisters, and their presence in this desolate and lonely place sheds a dark light on what it means to be a sister of the Crescent Empress, even if Celestia should manage to reclaim her throne, as she hopes to.
This is an intimate and claustrophobic story of five girls who are central to the fate of an empire in the throes of a civil war, but receive no outside news of events save some blatant propaganda, and are left to speculate on what has come to pass since the Gagargi's attempt to seize power. Like the politics, the magic in the story continues to be both elusive and compelling. You get the sense that there's a lot to it that you just don't get to see. There's a witch with unclear intentions, but an interest in the Daughters, a complicated system of casting mind-control spells that is never thoroughly explained, and last but not least, the incomprehensible will of their father the moon himself.
I found myself becoming increasingly nervous as the ending approached. Our Daughters are based on the Romanovs, and we know how that story ends. On the one hand, I would never have accepted a wildly revisionist, victorious conclusion to their stories. But on the other hand, you can't kill off all five of your protagonists at the end of a book and expect your readers to ever forgive you. Likitalo strikes a balancing act here with incredible finesse, delivering both tragedy and hope. The conclusion is heartbreaking, and stuck with me long after I put the book aside. Don't expect the fate of the Crescent Empire to be resolved here, or even that of each of the Daughters... there are still battles to be fought. But it's unquestionably the right ending for this story.
June 26, 2018
Strong finish to the Duology. Some great world building in limited space (due to the novella format)
July 2, 2018
I really didn’t like the ending. And Elise went from being one of my favourites of the sisters to being the one I hated the most. She’s such an idealistic idiot.
July 18, 2019
3.5 stars
January 6, 2024
Two and a half stars
October 27, 2017
WOW. This was an absolutely stunning conclusion. It had an incredibly lush setting. The writing was this mixture of luxurious detail and thrilling suspense. The characters were incredibly complex and their journeys were mesmerizing to read. And Likitalo continuously outdoes herself with plots that challenge our expectations. If you loved the first, or even liked it, you need to read this one. If you're at all interested in the Romanov sisters, this duology needs to be on your list.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
November 12, 2017
An interesting spin in historical fantasy. Well enough written
March 28, 2018
I would have liked this more if it wasn’t just so boring, nothing really happened or even caught my attention here at all.
The characters were really bland, and I often forgot about them. Not to mention the fact that the plot often lead to nowhere, in the sense that I just didn’t want to read on, sadly.
Although the premise was intriguing, but I felt that there was not anything that really kept my attention here. Although it is a sequel, but it still has to be engaging, and actually make me care.
The world was something that I thought really lacked something, something that will have drawn me into the story.
But, I just don’t, and I barely understand what this story is all about.
The characters were really bland, and I often forgot about them. Not to mention the fact that the plot often lead to nowhere, in the sense that I just didn’t want to read on, sadly.
Although the premise was intriguing, but I felt that there was not anything that really kept my attention here. Although it is a sequel, but it still has to be engaging, and actually make me care.
The world was something that I thought really lacked something, something that will have drawn me into the story.
But, I just don’t, and I barely understand what this story is all about.
January 30, 2018
Just as incredible as the first book! But with even more surprises & clever plot twists.
Leena has managed to create five different narratives that were all so individual & unique that each sister was totally exceptional & noteworthy in their own right. The book was written eloquently throughout & the ending was beyond unpredictable. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who loves historical fantasy or just fantasy YA in general. I'm sure I will read this duology many times during my life time.
I was sent a copy of this book by the author as an early birthday present, but this has in no way affected my opinion of the book.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2op
Leena has managed to create five different narratives that were all so individual & unique that each sister was totally exceptional & noteworthy in their own right. The book was written eloquently throughout & the ending was beyond unpredictable. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who loves historical fantasy or just fantasy YA in general. I'm sure I will read this duology many times during my life time.
I was sent a copy of this book by the author as an early birthday present, but this has in no way affected my opinion of the book.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2op
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November 20, 2017I received a copy of this book from MacMillian Tor via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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