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Tsarina #2
Die Tochter der Zarin
Ellen Alpsten's stunning new novel, The Tsarina's Daughter, is the dramatic story of Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great, who ruled Russia during an extraordinary life marked by love, danger, passion and scandal.
Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and his wife, Catherine, a former serf, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the envy of the Russian empire. She is insulated by luxury and spoiled by her father, who dreams for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule in Versailles. But when a woodland creature gives her a Delphic prophecy, her life is turned upside down. Her volatile father suddenly dies, her only brother has been executed and her mother takes the throne of Russia.
As friends turn to foes in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and their burning passion finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma--seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.
Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper’s den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great.
Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and his wife, Catherine, a former serf, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the envy of the Russian empire. She is insulated by luxury and spoiled by her father, who dreams for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule in Versailles. But when a woodland creature gives her a Delphic prophecy, her life is turned upside down. Her volatile father suddenly dies, her only brother has been executed and her mother takes the throne of Russia.
As friends turn to foes in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and their burning passion finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma--seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.
Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper’s den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great.
652 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2021
300 people are currently reading
11888 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Alpsten
23 books323 followersEllen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands. Upon graduating from the l'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, she worked as a news-anchor for Bloomberg TV London. While working gruesome night shifts on breakfast TV, she started to write in earnest, every day, after work, a nap and a run. Today, Ellen works as an author and as a journalist for international publications such as Vogue, Standpoint, and CN Traveller. She lives in London with her husband, three sons, and a moody fox red Labrador. Tsarina is her debut novel.
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February 14, 2022
this sequel is a very consistent follow-up to the previous ‘tsarina.’
it overlaps and continues in a very nice way, to where the story shifts seamlessly from catherine I to her daughter elizabeth. and this does exactly what i want from an historical fiction novel - it takes key people from history and humanises them. they are no longer facts and dates but become characters. obviously a lot of liberties are taken with this story, but i didnt mind it too much.
my main issue was with the writing itself. the narrative is a little all over the place. its pretty inconsistent pacing without any real indication of how much time has actually passed and other times felt unauthentic to the time period. it also took me a very long time to tolerate elizabeth as a character. i would have much rather the narrative focus more on her reign, rather than her early years, because of this reason.
but overall, this is an easy-to-follow story that can be read as a standalone. i think if you have any interest in this time period, then it would be a book i would recommend, as long as you go into this expecting entertainment value only.
thank you st. martins press for the ARC.
↠ 3.5 stars
it overlaps and continues in a very nice way, to where the story shifts seamlessly from catherine I to her daughter elizabeth. and this does exactly what i want from an historical fiction novel - it takes key people from history and humanises them. they are no longer facts and dates but become characters. obviously a lot of liberties are taken with this story, but i didnt mind it too much.
my main issue was with the writing itself. the narrative is a little all over the place. its pretty inconsistent pacing without any real indication of how much time has actually passed and other times felt unauthentic to the time period. it also took me a very long time to tolerate elizabeth as a character. i would have much rather the narrative focus more on her reign, rather than her early years, because of this reason.
but overall, this is an easy-to-follow story that can be read as a standalone. i think if you have any interest in this time period, then it would be a book i would recommend, as long as you go into this expecting entertainment value only.
thank you st. martins press for the ARC.
↠ 3.5 stars
March 15, 2022
4 Romanov stars
This sweeping historical fiction tale takes us back in time to when the Romanovs ruled Russia. You’ve heard of Peter the Great, this is the story of his daughter, Elizabeth. Filled with palace intrigue and everyone trying to get ahead, this one kept me engaged, but it was long, 512 pages!
Elizabeth’s circumstances changed several times, from the privileged upbringing as Peter’s daughter to being ostracized and cast out of favor because her parents weren’t married when she was born. She was threatened several times that she’d be sent to a convent for a life of misery.
You never know who to trust at court and there are several regime changes. There’s all the opulence of the court contrasted with the poverty and pain of the people of Russia. There’s even a little magical realism in this one with several prophecies for Elizabeth and her sister.
This is the second in the series, but I read this as a standalone. Be prepared for lots of nicknames for characters, as common in Russian books. I enjoyed the escape into the past with this atmospheric one.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this one to read and review. Now available.
This sweeping historical fiction tale takes us back in time to when the Romanovs ruled Russia. You’ve heard of Peter the Great, this is the story of his daughter, Elizabeth. Filled with palace intrigue and everyone trying to get ahead, this one kept me engaged, but it was long, 512 pages!
Elizabeth’s circumstances changed several times, from the privileged upbringing as Peter’s daughter to being ostracized and cast out of favor because her parents weren’t married when she was born. She was threatened several times that she’d be sent to a convent for a life of misery.
You never know who to trust at court and there are several regime changes. There’s all the opulence of the court contrasted with the poverty and pain of the people of Russia. There’s even a little magical realism in this one with several prophecies for Elizabeth and her sister.
This is the second in the series, but I read this as a standalone. Be prepared for lots of nicknames for characters, as common in Russian books. I enjoyed the escape into the past with this atmospheric one.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy of this one to read and review. Now available.
March 14, 2022
Elizabeth Petrovna aka as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, was the second oldest daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine, who had twelve children where only the girls would survive. Elizabeth was The daughter born to Peter and his second wife Catherine, who happened to have been a former maid. Catherine would go onto to be the head of Russia while Elizabeth would follow after seizing the throne.
Elizabeth was reputed to be a beautiful lady, one who had a natural wit and was able to handle well the intricacies of royal life. This book which I listened to was a follow up to the book Tsarina by Ellen Alspen, and narrated by Anna Krippa, who did a wonderful job with the Russian names of which there were many.
However, this was a story of a young girl, surrounded by beauty, insulated by the court in which she lived, and the only education she received was that given to her by her mother, Catherine. She grew up thinking of eventually marrying Louis XV the ruler of France but seemingly because of her mother's background, Elizabeth was cast aside. Life changes for Elizabeth when her father dies. To show how treacherous conditions were at court, her father had her half-brother executed, in an attempt to ward of a possible grab for the throne by his son. Considered not that educated, Elizabeth and her sisters did have a French governess who encouraged her in her learnings of French, math, art, and sports. She became fluent in Italian, German, and French Elizabeth like her father loved riding, sledding, and hunting.
When grown into womanhood, Eliabeth was betrothed to Charles Augustus, but tragedy was to befall the tsarina as both Charles and her mother died within a short period of time. At this time, Elizabeth was seventeen years old. For Elizabeth there were few prospects for marriage so she instead took a young sergeant as her lover. When t wa found out, this young man was sent to Siberia and thus ended that relationship. She had other lovers among the men of lower birth in the court, but eventually developed a relationship with Count Alexi Razumosky which it was rumored to have turned into a marital one secretly.
As the years went on and one after the other assumed the throne, Elizabeth seized the throne, relegated the church to a minor position and assumed an astute and well-loved leadership. She was a forward thinker and gifted politically, throwing out the overpowering Germans and establishing education for all (except the serfs), and was the person behind the scenes establishing the first Russian University. She ruled well, even abolishing the death penalty because of her hatred of bloodshed.
She never had a child so she selected her nephew, Peter as heir to the throne. From his birth, the infant, Peter belonged in essence to the state. Elizabeth's court was dazzling, elegant, and lavish. Her clothes were encrusted with gems, adorned with jewelry. She loved a celebration and it was said she had at least two balls a week, while the guests imbibed cases of French champagne and wines and always added pineapple to the menu.
When Elizabeth's health started to decline, she refused the medicine prescribed. She died in 1751 and was adorned in a silver dress that simmered.
Truly she was a ruler who had class, beauty, and ruled for her people.
This story, although long was inspiring. I was glad I listened to it, as the pronunciation of the names made the story come alive. The narration was excellent providing me with a fine consistent flow of events and a growing admiration for Elizabeth. Thank you to Ellen Aspen, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a copy of this well-done historical fiction story which publishes tomorrow, March 15, 2022.
Elizabeth was reputed to be a beautiful lady, one who had a natural wit and was able to handle well the intricacies of royal life. This book which I listened to was a follow up to the book Tsarina by Ellen Alspen, and narrated by Anna Krippa, who did a wonderful job with the Russian names of which there were many.
However, this was a story of a young girl, surrounded by beauty, insulated by the court in which she lived, and the only education she received was that given to her by her mother, Catherine. She grew up thinking of eventually marrying Louis XV the ruler of France but seemingly because of her mother's background, Elizabeth was cast aside. Life changes for Elizabeth when her father dies. To show how treacherous conditions were at court, her father had her half-brother executed, in an attempt to ward of a possible grab for the throne by his son. Considered not that educated, Elizabeth and her sisters did have a French governess who encouraged her in her learnings of French, math, art, and sports. She became fluent in Italian, German, and French Elizabeth like her father loved riding, sledding, and hunting.
When grown into womanhood, Eliabeth was betrothed to Charles Augustus, but tragedy was to befall the tsarina as both Charles and her mother died within a short period of time. At this time, Elizabeth was seventeen years old. For Elizabeth there were few prospects for marriage so she instead took a young sergeant as her lover. When t wa found out, this young man was sent to Siberia and thus ended that relationship. She had other lovers among the men of lower birth in the court, but eventually developed a relationship with Count Alexi Razumosky which it was rumored to have turned into a marital one secretly.
As the years went on and one after the other assumed the throne, Elizabeth seized the throne, relegated the church to a minor position and assumed an astute and well-loved leadership. She was a forward thinker and gifted politically, throwing out the overpowering Germans and establishing education for all (except the serfs), and was the person behind the scenes establishing the first Russian University. She ruled well, even abolishing the death penalty because of her hatred of bloodshed.
She never had a child so she selected her nephew, Peter as heir to the throne. From his birth, the infant, Peter belonged in essence to the state. Elizabeth's court was dazzling, elegant, and lavish. Her clothes were encrusted with gems, adorned with jewelry. She loved a celebration and it was said she had at least two balls a week, while the guests imbibed cases of French champagne and wines and always added pineapple to the menu.
When Elizabeth's health started to decline, she refused the medicine prescribed. She died in 1751 and was adorned in a silver dress that simmered.
Truly she was a ruler who had class, beauty, and ruled for her people.
This story, although long was inspiring. I was glad I listened to it, as the pronunciation of the names made the story come alive. The narration was excellent providing me with a fine consistent flow of events and a growing admiration for Elizabeth. Thank you to Ellen Aspen, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a copy of this well-done historical fiction story which publishes tomorrow, March 15, 2022.
March 17, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
The second book in a historical fiction trilogy about the early Romanovs, The Tsarina's Daughter is told from the perspective of Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. As a young woman, Elizabeth and her sister live a very luxurious life with promises of good marriages. But when her father passes, Elizabeth realizes that the life of the Russian court is a tightrope where she may fall from grace at any moment.
Every blessing can be a curse, and too many people wanted what I had: I was the Tsar's Daughter
Richly written characters and the constant feeling of tension kept me fixated on this novel for many hours. It doesn't matter which Romanov personage I learn about as a reader, I feel that each of them was an incredibly fascinating person. I truly felt that I was there watching the events unfold and Ellen Alpsten clearly illustrates the precarious positions that each held.
Honestly, I have not read the first book in the series but I would certainly enjoy reading it and I am also excited about the third book too.
Publication Date 15/03/21
Goodreads review published 17/03/21
The second book in a historical fiction trilogy about the early Romanovs, The Tsarina's Daughter is told from the perspective of Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. As a young woman, Elizabeth and her sister live a very luxurious life with promises of good marriages. But when her father passes, Elizabeth realizes that the life of the Russian court is a tightrope where she may fall from grace at any moment.
Every blessing can be a curse, and too many people wanted what I had: I was the Tsar's Daughter
Richly written characters and the constant feeling of tension kept me fixated on this novel for many hours. It doesn't matter which Romanov personage I learn about as a reader, I feel that each of them was an incredibly fascinating person. I truly felt that I was there watching the events unfold and Ellen Alpsten clearly illustrates the precarious positions that each held.
Honestly, I have not read the first book in the series but I would certainly enjoy reading it and I am also excited about the third book too.
Publication Date 15/03/21
Goodreads review published 17/03/21
March 6, 2022
The Tsarina’s Daughter is the sequel to Tsarina. Although is is the second novel, it can be read as a standalone without any problems. However, to get the full flavor of this historical fiction, I do recommend that one reads the first book before reading this one.
There are numerous characters and luckily, there is a cast of characters listing that outlines the who is who in the story. Truthfully, it was a blessing to have this as it helped me navigate the narrative a lot better. Especially since different names were used interchangably throughout the novel. Each of the characters were well developed. I didn’t particularly care for any of them until later in the story when many of them have matured or grown old.
Insofar as the storyline goes, it is a little longwinded. But it is probably because a certain atmosphere needed to be established — bejeweled monarchs, impoverished villages, and extravagant palaces.
The Tsarina’s Daughter is an enjoyable read. However, I didn’t quite appreciate the sprinkle of fantasy when a forest spirit prophesized the fates of Lizenka and Anoushka. To me, fantasy no matter how minute it is to the novel’s entirety has no place is an otherwise great historical fiction. Overall, four satisfying stars.
I received a physical and digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press for a book tour. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions. Tour Date: March 15, 2022
There are numerous characters and luckily, there is a cast of characters listing that outlines the who is who in the story. Truthfully, it was a blessing to have this as it helped me navigate the narrative a lot better. Especially since different names were used interchangably throughout the novel. Each of the characters were well developed. I didn’t particularly care for any of them until later in the story when many of them have matured or grown old.
Insofar as the storyline goes, it is a little longwinded. But it is probably because a certain atmosphere needed to be established — bejeweled monarchs, impoverished villages, and extravagant palaces.
The Tsarina’s Daughter is an enjoyable read. However, I didn’t quite appreciate the sprinkle of fantasy when a forest spirit prophesized the fates of Lizenka and Anoushka. To me, fantasy no matter how minute it is to the novel’s entirety has no place is an otherwise great historical fiction. Overall, four satisfying stars.
I received a physical and digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press for a book tour. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions. Tour Date: March 15, 2022
September 30, 2021
I really like historical fiction for so many reasons, but one is being transported into the past. A time I never experienced. I enjoyed this book, although I didn't read Tsaria, I didn't have issues at all. I thought it was interesting and a bit sad. The rivalry in courts was intense. Those who like period peices with royalty would like this.
September 30, 2021
After my belated discovery of the excellent Tsarina a couple of months ago, I was unashamedly desperate to read this sequel. I bought the paperback at the first opportunity, but then stalked my library in case I would be able to quickly get my hands/ears on the audiobook edition, again narrated by Anna Krippa. I was in luck! Although I'm now a little more familiar with the Russian names, I was happy to have Krippa read them to me once more. Although this book didn't have the same rags-to-riches fairytale quality as the first, the unexpected joy I got from it was in learning enough about the history of the period to spot all the inaccuracies in a recent re-watch of the Hulu TV series The Great! (OK they never laid claim to being accurate, but those guys really did take some liberties.)
Anyway, so about the first 30% of this book covers the same ground as the end of Tsarina, but importantly from a different angle. This time it is a teenage Tsarevna Elizabeth (second surviving daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I) worrying about the succession, and how it might affect her, if at all. While it's still very much hypothetical, Elizabeth - Lizenka - and her sister Anna, sneak off into the woods one day and come across a Leshy (a kind of wood sprite), who makes a dark and ominous prediction about Lizenka's future. It's something she never forgets, and will even affect her decision-making at times in the future.
As we know, her father dies while she's still fairly young, and for a moment, with her engagement to Louis XV of France as yet unconfirmed, she does wonder if she will become the first Tsarina of all the Russias. But, as we also know, it is her mother who takes that honour. From here on we are breaking new ground. Blended families, foreign interference, machinations and manipulation - this story is a roller coaster, on which we follow Lizenka through the losses and schemes to restore her birthright.
I was delighted to read in the Author's Note that this is going to be a trilogy, and can't imagine a Book #3 about anyone other than Catherine the Great. I hope I don't have to wait too long!
Anyway, so about the first 30% of this book covers the same ground as the end of Tsarina, but importantly from a different angle. This time it is a teenage Tsarevna Elizabeth (second surviving daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I) worrying about the succession, and how it might affect her, if at all. While it's still very much hypothetical, Elizabeth - Lizenka - and her sister Anna, sneak off into the woods one day and come across a Leshy (a kind of wood sprite), who makes a dark and ominous prediction about Lizenka's future. It's something she never forgets, and will even affect her decision-making at times in the future.
As we know, her father dies while she's still fairly young, and for a moment, with her engagement to Louis XV of France as yet unconfirmed, she does wonder if she will become the first Tsarina of all the Russias. But, as we also know, it is her mother who takes that honour. From here on we are breaking new ground. Blended families, foreign interference, machinations and manipulation - this story is a roller coaster, on which we follow Lizenka through the losses and schemes to restore her birthright.
I was delighted to read in the Author's Note that this is going to be a trilogy, and can't imagine a Book #3 about anyone other than Catherine the Great. I hope I don't have to wait too long!
April 18, 2022
It is nighttime, and Elizabeth Romanov stands in the nursery of her infant cousin the Tsar of All the Russias, contemplating her next move and all the events that brought her here.
Though the prequel Tsarina is on my TBR, this is my first taste of Alpsten's work. Luckily the work stands alone. And it was a fascinating read. I knew very little of the early Romanovs beyond that one of them picked his wife in what was basically a marriage cattle fair, which is probably not of much use. Anyway.
What I really enjoyed about this book was how vivid all the characters were. Elizabeth and those who surround her are well-sketched, and despite the large cast I was able to easily keep track of them. Her larger-than-life family members in particular were enthralling in their appearances on the page. The story is also an interesting one, with many twists and turns.
However, I did not quite enjoy the writing style, which jerks the reader around from scene to scene sometimes. All the little snippets made it difficult to stay immersed. Because of this too, the novel's pace is inconsistent, and it was exceedingly difficult to keep track of passing time in the story due to it. Also I did not enjoy the various romances between Lizenka and her suitors, as they all felt rushed in their progress.
Ultimately an interesting and engaging read, and I am interested in the series as a whole, but I don't know that I would reread this book.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Though the prequel Tsarina is on my TBR, this is my first taste of Alpsten's work. Luckily the work stands alone. And it was a fascinating read. I knew very little of the early Romanovs beyond that one of them picked his wife in what was basically a marriage cattle fair, which is probably not of much use. Anyway.
What I really enjoyed about this book was how vivid all the characters were. Elizabeth and those who surround her are well-sketched, and despite the large cast I was able to easily keep track of them. Her larger-than-life family members in particular were enthralling in their appearances on the page. The story is also an interesting one, with many twists and turns.
However, I did not quite enjoy the writing style, which jerks the reader around from scene to scene sometimes. All the little snippets made it difficult to stay immersed. Because of this too, the novel's pace is inconsistent, and it was exceedingly difficult to keep track of passing time in the story due to it. Also I did not enjoy the various romances between Lizenka and her suitors, as they all felt rushed in their progress.
Ultimately an interesting and engaging read, and I am interested in the series as a whole, but I don't know that I would reread this book.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 7, 2021
Tsar Peter the Great strides like a colossus across Russian history, single-handedly dragging the country out of its medieval past into the modern world. A hard act to follow, but the beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth feels sure she is destined to do just that, and in this sprawling historical romance we follow her through the highs and the lows of her path to possible greatness as the ruler of Russia – if only she can find the strength of body and will to fight off her rivals. In a vivid first person narrative the reader is drawn into Elizabeth’s world, the world of the Romanov dynasty, where all manner of trials and tribulations await her. Intrigue, ambition, greed, debauchery, lust, sex, passion, murder, betrayal, and possibly even love. Never a dull moment for our Elizabeth. A veritable check list of all possible emotions and disasters and the result is a hyperbolic, overwritten, simile-laden narrative which proceeds at a frantic pace, which according to taste will either enthral you or make you throw the book across the room in disgust. Characterisation is little more than caricature, with little subtlety or nuance, dialogue is overblown and inauthentic, and although the blend of fact and fiction is relatively well-handled, some basic inaccuracies jarred. Matryoshka dolls, for example, weren't invented until 1890. Elizabeth’s sister loves to read novels – not many of them around in the 1730s. Tsaritsa and Tsarina seem to be used interchangeably. Keeping track of the timeline was difficult – a few dates would have been helpful. Be that as it may, this sweeping saga will no doubt delight some readers. But unfortunately not this one.
March 24, 2022
4.5 Stars
It was down to the wire, but I finished this early this morning and was again so impressed with the author’s research and storytelling ability. The second in a planned trilogy, you could read this as a standalone. It is a long book (514 pages), but it goes by quickly and you definitely become immersed in young Elizabeth’s life. I feel bad for the author because this is a tough time to have a book about Russian royalty come out given all that’s happening in Ukraine. Thankfully, it’s written about people so far in the past that I was able to solely focus on the content and storytelling abilities. I think what you want the most from good HF - in depth research, accuracy, good storytelling and a good pace. This book checked all those boxes. I’m really looking forward to the next installment and I hope by the release of the final book, we have peace and Putin and his cronies are held accountable. 🇺🇦🇺🇦
It was down to the wire, but I finished this early this morning and was again so impressed with the author’s research and storytelling ability. The second in a planned trilogy, you could read this as a standalone. It is a long book (514 pages), but it goes by quickly and you definitely become immersed in young Elizabeth’s life. I feel bad for the author because this is a tough time to have a book about Russian royalty come out given all that’s happening in Ukraine. Thankfully, it’s written about people so far in the past that I was able to solely focus on the content and storytelling abilities. I think what you want the most from good HF - in depth research, accuracy, good storytelling and a good pace. This book checked all those boxes. I’m really looking forward to the next installment and I hope by the release of the final book, we have peace and Putin and his cronies are held accountable. 🇺🇦🇺🇦
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March 22, 2022Apparently this is the second novel about the eighteenth century Romanovs, the first being about Catherine the Great. This one concerns Elizabeth Petrovna aka Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, the second oldest daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine--one of twelve kids, of whom only the girls survived.
This is an impressive picture of how power distorts, (very very timely, considering the current tsar's antics, sigh). It also took me months to read.
This novel takes us through 500 pages of sometimes extremely graphic court intrigue and its grim fallout, as Elizabeth gets through childhood and finally attains her throne. It was very clear that the author had done mountains of research. The result, for me, was like thousands of colorful tesserae that never quite fit together into a picture. Part of that was due to the fact that so many years had to be covered. We never actually get to see her reign, but follow the courtly ups and downs of those close to the throne--one day covered in jewels, the next threatened with being immured in a convent, or tortured to death.
If you're all right with the GAME OF THRONES style royal saga (tons of piecemeal scenes of sex and violence, especially violence) give it a shot. The imagery is impressive, resonating with period detail.
Copy provided by NetGalley
This is an impressive picture of how power distorts, (very very timely, considering the current tsar's antics, sigh). It also took me months to read.
This novel takes us through 500 pages of sometimes extremely graphic court intrigue and its grim fallout, as Elizabeth gets through childhood and finally attains her throne. It was very clear that the author had done mountains of research. The result, for me, was like thousands of colorful tesserae that never quite fit together into a picture. Part of that was due to the fact that so many years had to be covered. We never actually get to see her reign, but follow the courtly ups and downs of those close to the throne--one day covered in jewels, the next threatened with being immured in a convent, or tortured to death.
If you're all right with the GAME OF THRONES style royal saga (tons of piecemeal scenes of sex and violence, especially violence) give it a shot. The imagery is impressive, resonating with period detail.
Copy provided by NetGalley
June 3, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! THE TSARINA'S DAUGHTER by Ellen Alpsten is a well written account of the life of Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. The account is filled with sorrow, love, and a constant fight to survive. The story is well documented and can be a bit overwhelming at times with the large cast of characters. I enjoyed the book nonetheless and recommend it to those who would like to know more about this fascinating historical character.
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April 9, 2021
This book follows Elizabeth, daughter of Cathrine I and Peter the Great; it details her remarkable and often suspenseful journey from innocence to surviving life in the volatile Imperial Russian court.
The story timeline overlaps with Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten however, you could read this one without having read the first book.
Similarly themed to Tsarina, this is a novel filled with love, lust, heartbreak, greed, murder, and betrayal. There are some fantastic descriptions of their insane wealth and how they spent it.
I enjoyed this book; I found the story engaging and a fascinating fictional insight into the Russian Courts.
[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
The story timeline overlaps with Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten however, you could read this one without having read the first book.
Similarly themed to Tsarina, this is a novel filled with love, lust, heartbreak, greed, murder, and betrayal. There are some fantastic descriptions of their insane wealth and how they spent it.
I enjoyed this book; I found the story engaging and a fascinating fictional insight into the Russian Courts.
[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
January 14, 2022
I'm fascinated by stories of the royals, especially the Romanovs. I enjoyed learned more about Tsarina Elizabeth, however, I found her almost unbearable for the first half of the book. As many who are in positions of power, she is selfish and spoiled and thinking only of her own gains while the people of Russia suffer. As the story progresses, Elizabeth matures and does come to think of other's suffering and how she might as their ruler. I gave this story 3 stars because the writing was very clunky, and at places, too modern.
Want to read
April 23, 2022A follow-up to Tsarina featuring that saucy minx Elizabeth?? HELL YES. 😬
March 19, 2022
4.5 Stars! Vibrant, informative, and highly entertaining!
The Tsarina’s Daughter is an insightful, enthralling tale set in eighteenth-century Russia that tells the story of Elizabeth Petrovna Romanov, the second-eldest daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and Catherine I, whose life seemed to have been fated by the dark prophecy predicted by a woodland spirit when she was a child and who after bearing tragedy after tragedy, loss after loss, and survived in a world in which friends easily turned to foes, and calculated manoeuvres and political advancement were always higher on the agenda than love, became the Empress of Russia in 1741, at the age of thirty-one, and ruled until strokes led to her death in 1762.
The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are willful, ruthless, and cunning. And the plot is an alluring tale of life, loss, scandal, sacrifice, desires, passion, heartbreak, opulence, corruption, treachery, rivalry, and tumultuous relationships.
Overall, The Tsarina’s Daughter is another fascinating, absorbing, immersive saga by Alpsten that does a spectacular job of once again highlighting her incredible knowledge and impeccable research into the infamous House of Romanov and the remarkable life of this last direct Romanov to ever reign in Russia.
The Tsarina’s Daughter is an insightful, enthralling tale set in eighteenth-century Russia that tells the story of Elizabeth Petrovna Romanov, the second-eldest daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and Catherine I, whose life seemed to have been fated by the dark prophecy predicted by a woodland spirit when she was a child and who after bearing tragedy after tragedy, loss after loss, and survived in a world in which friends easily turned to foes, and calculated manoeuvres and political advancement were always higher on the agenda than love, became the Empress of Russia in 1741, at the age of thirty-one, and ruled until strokes led to her death in 1762.
The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are willful, ruthless, and cunning. And the plot is an alluring tale of life, loss, scandal, sacrifice, desires, passion, heartbreak, opulence, corruption, treachery, rivalry, and tumultuous relationships.
Overall, The Tsarina’s Daughter is another fascinating, absorbing, immersive saga by Alpsten that does a spectacular job of once again highlighting her incredible knowledge and impeccable research into the infamous House of Romanov and the remarkable life of this last direct Romanov to ever reign in Russia.
July 18, 2021
"Everything comes at a price."
Take a bow, Ellen Alpsten, for you have created another absolute masterpiece.
The Tsarina’s Daughter follows the journey of Tsarevna Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. When the story begins she is a teenager, known for being the world’s most beautiful Princess and awaiting her expected engagement to the King of France. But after her mother’s death her fortunes quickly change and a dark prophecy predicting a turbulent future inexorably linked with her beloved Russia seems to be coming to pass. As Russia is torn apart, so is Elizabeth’s life, and we follow her one a journey of highs and lows, of rags and riches and of life and death.
Tsarina was one of my favourite books of 2020 and put Ellen Alpsten on my list of aut-buy authors. I was elated to learn that it was the first in a series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the follow up. Expectations were high, and she exceeded them all. The Tsarina’s Daughter is a spectacular novel. Exquisitely written, beautifully crafted and addictive, I luxuriated in every word. Once again the author’s meticulous research leaps from the pages and transports you back in time to the opulence of Imperial Palace and the rule of the Tsars. One of the things I love about historical fiction is when a book educates and entertains you, and this certainly does both of those things flawlessly.
"I had not yet turned twenty but felt weighed down by all I had lived through."
Elizabeth is a fascinating historical figure. The daughter of not only one of Russia’s greatest Tsars, but its first Tsarina, she is understandably a force to be reckoned with. She lives in an era where everything is a matter of life or death. You have to watch your every word and play the game carefully in order to survive, and I loved watching her grow and learn to master the rules of the game. But Elizabeth was also born during a time of great change, where women took power and had their voices heard for the first time in Russia’s history. At the beginning of her journey, the best she hopes for is to be the wife of a great King, and by the end she is fighting to take her place as Tsarina of All of Russias.
The Tsarina’s Daughter is a dazzling, magnificent and captivating novel that I couldn’t put down. And after that ending I can not wait for book three to see what is next for Elizabeth and the Romanov dynasty. This outstanding series is a must for any history lover.
Take a bow, Ellen Alpsten, for you have created another absolute masterpiece.
The Tsarina’s Daughter follows the journey of Tsarevna Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. When the story begins she is a teenager, known for being the world’s most beautiful Princess and awaiting her expected engagement to the King of France. But after her mother’s death her fortunes quickly change and a dark prophecy predicting a turbulent future inexorably linked with her beloved Russia seems to be coming to pass. As Russia is torn apart, so is Elizabeth’s life, and we follow her one a journey of highs and lows, of rags and riches and of life and death.
Tsarina was one of my favourite books of 2020 and put Ellen Alpsten on my list of aut-buy authors. I was elated to learn that it was the first in a series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the follow up. Expectations were high, and she exceeded them all. The Tsarina’s Daughter is a spectacular novel. Exquisitely written, beautifully crafted and addictive, I luxuriated in every word. Once again the author’s meticulous research leaps from the pages and transports you back in time to the opulence of Imperial Palace and the rule of the Tsars. One of the things I love about historical fiction is when a book educates and entertains you, and this certainly does both of those things flawlessly.
"I had not yet turned twenty but felt weighed down by all I had lived through."
Elizabeth is a fascinating historical figure. The daughter of not only one of Russia’s greatest Tsars, but its first Tsarina, she is understandably a force to be reckoned with. She lives in an era where everything is a matter of life or death. You have to watch your every word and play the game carefully in order to survive, and I loved watching her grow and learn to master the rules of the game. But Elizabeth was also born during a time of great change, where women took power and had their voices heard for the first time in Russia’s history. At the beginning of her journey, the best she hopes for is to be the wife of a great King, and by the end she is fighting to take her place as Tsarina of All of Russias.
The Tsarina’s Daughter is a dazzling, magnificent and captivating novel that I couldn’t put down. And after that ending I can not wait for book three to see what is next for Elizabeth and the Romanov dynasty. This outstanding series is a must for any history lover.
December 16, 2021
I thank St. Martin's Press and netgalley for providing me with an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Ellen Alpsten and I realised she has written Tsarina before this one, so I am not sure if I should have read that one first before reading Tsarina's Daughter. So I have judged this one as a stand alone.
This book is a fictionalized story of Elizabeth, daughter of Tsar Peter and his wife Catherine, who later became the Empress of Russia. Her journey prior to that wasn't easy. There is love, betrayal, hard work and all elements at work to forge into what she later became.
I liked the story that is weaved and got to read about the rise of Russia during the times that has been described in the book. I love reading historical fiction and this didn't disappoint. The overall life of Russians - be it peasants or the nobility has best been brought forward in this book. I loved the book cover as well. This book not only describes the life of Elizabeth, but also brings forward other elements.
This is my first book by Ellen Alpsten and I realised she has written Tsarina before this one, so I am not sure if I should have read that one first before reading Tsarina's Daughter. So I have judged this one as a stand alone.
This book is a fictionalized story of Elizabeth, daughter of Tsar Peter and his wife Catherine, who later became the Empress of Russia. Her journey prior to that wasn't easy. There is love, betrayal, hard work and all elements at work to forge into what she later became.
I liked the story that is weaved and got to read about the rise of Russia during the times that has been described in the book. I love reading historical fiction and this didn't disappoint. The overall life of Russians - be it peasants or the nobility has best been brought forward in this book. I loved the book cover as well. This book not only describes the life of Elizabeth, but also brings forward other elements.
March 23, 2022
The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten. Pub Date: March 15, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟. I always appreciate reading novels in which I learn about something unknown to me or I have little knowledge about. This novel fits that mark and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s lengthy, full of detail, but the short chapters keep the story flowing. It’s a story about Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine and Peter the Great. She lived a tumultuous life, born out of wedlock, shunned by the throne and later succeeded in re-establishing her place in the Russian hierarchy. A woman of perseverance and dominance, she was not to be messed with and by the end of the novel I felt respect for her story. Read this novel if you enjoy historical fiction! Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this free e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #stmartinspress #bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #bookworm @netgalley @stmartinspress
February 15, 2022
The Tsarina's Daughter by Ellen Aplster
The Tsarina's Daughter is a follow-up from Tsarina which I did not know going into this book. However, I had no trouble knowing what was going on. This book is a historical fiction story of Elizabeth, daughter of Tsar Peter and his wife Catherine, who later became the Empress of Russia. The story details Elizabeth's remarkable and often suspenseful journey from innocence to surviving life in the volatile Imperial Russian court. There is love and tragedy and all that other good stuff. I definitely enjoyed reading this one! I've read that there will be a third book so I am looking forward to reading that and picking up the first book as well! Thank you Netgalley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
The Tsarina's Daughter is a follow-up from Tsarina which I did not know going into this book. However, I had no trouble knowing what was going on. This book is a historical fiction story of Elizabeth, daughter of Tsar Peter and his wife Catherine, who later became the Empress of Russia. The story details Elizabeth's remarkable and often suspenseful journey from innocence to surviving life in the volatile Imperial Russian court. There is love and tragedy and all that other good stuff. I definitely enjoyed reading this one! I've read that there will be a third book so I am looking forward to reading that and picking up the first book as well! Thank you Netgalley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
August 7, 2021
Novel set in 18th Century RUSSIA
We were first introduced to Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova, daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine 1 of Russia in Tsarina, Ellen Alpsten’s first novel in the Romanov series. Here, the story is taken up pretty much where the first left us, but The Tsarina’s Daughter is tightly enough crafted to work well as a stand-alone.
Tsarevna Elizabeth is beautiful, clever, spoiled and strong-willed. She wants for nothing and anticipates her marriage to King Louis XV of France, dreaming of ruling in Versailles. Then, one fateful day, she and her sister, Anoushka, defy their parents’ rules and explore the sacred oak grove, which is commonly believed to be cursed. There, they encounter an evil spirit, a Leshy, who foretells their futures. This puzzling prophesy dogs Elizabeth and influences many of her future decisions.
From that time on, Elizabeth’s idyllic world is turned on its head and she faces a series of disappointments, losses and challenges. Her beloved father dies and her mother takes the throne, Louis XV announces his engagement to someone else and the closeness she has felt to her sister is lost when the latter becomes engaged to the odious Karl von Holstein. The Court becomes a very dangerous place for Elizabeth and fate deals her one blow after another, as she attempts to negotiate the dangerous waters of Russian politics at that time.
The Tsarina’s Daughter has many fairy tale elements but these are counterbalanced by the characterisation and the setting. These are no two-dimensional fairy tale characters, but instead a cast of fully developed, often funny and always unforgettable characters. We are allowed to witness Elizabeth as the tribulations of her life help her to develop from a spoilt princess to a strong and resourceful woman who has to decide between her loyalty to Russia and her loyalty to those individuals she loves.
The setting, too, is firmly grounded in reality. The novel gives us a real taste of the Russia of that period. Its sheer size is emphasised in the lengthy journeys the characters take from one place to the other. The weather is ever present too, from the extremes of Winter, with its dangerous frosts and snows and then the relief and joy that Spring brings. We are made acutely aware of the beauty of the country, but most of all, Alpsten ensures that we are informed about the contrasts between rich and poor, from the vast, lavish wealth of Imperial Russia to the abject poverty of the starving people.
This is a very weighty tome, full of wonderful description of landscapes, costumes, jewels, food. Every page sparkles with colour. Nor does Alpsten shy away from the gruesome and the grotesque; scenes of torture are described in the same intricate detail as sumptuous feasts. It could easily have been hard-going to get through it, but that is far from the truth. The story gallops along at some lick and keeps you completely engaged from first to last. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the third in the series.
We were first introduced to Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova, daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine 1 of Russia in Tsarina, Ellen Alpsten’s first novel in the Romanov series. Here, the story is taken up pretty much where the first left us, but The Tsarina’s Daughter is tightly enough crafted to work well as a stand-alone.
Tsarevna Elizabeth is beautiful, clever, spoiled and strong-willed. She wants for nothing and anticipates her marriage to King Louis XV of France, dreaming of ruling in Versailles. Then, one fateful day, she and her sister, Anoushka, defy their parents’ rules and explore the sacred oak grove, which is commonly believed to be cursed. There, they encounter an evil spirit, a Leshy, who foretells their futures. This puzzling prophesy dogs Elizabeth and influences many of her future decisions.
From that time on, Elizabeth’s idyllic world is turned on its head and she faces a series of disappointments, losses and challenges. Her beloved father dies and her mother takes the throne, Louis XV announces his engagement to someone else and the closeness she has felt to her sister is lost when the latter becomes engaged to the odious Karl von Holstein. The Court becomes a very dangerous place for Elizabeth and fate deals her one blow after another, as she attempts to negotiate the dangerous waters of Russian politics at that time.
The Tsarina’s Daughter has many fairy tale elements but these are counterbalanced by the characterisation and the setting. These are no two-dimensional fairy tale characters, but instead a cast of fully developed, often funny and always unforgettable characters. We are allowed to witness Elizabeth as the tribulations of her life help her to develop from a spoilt princess to a strong and resourceful woman who has to decide between her loyalty to Russia and her loyalty to those individuals she loves.
The setting, too, is firmly grounded in reality. The novel gives us a real taste of the Russia of that period. Its sheer size is emphasised in the lengthy journeys the characters take from one place to the other. The weather is ever present too, from the extremes of Winter, with its dangerous frosts and snows and then the relief and joy that Spring brings. We are made acutely aware of the beauty of the country, but most of all, Alpsten ensures that we are informed about the contrasts between rich and poor, from the vast, lavish wealth of Imperial Russia to the abject poverty of the starving people.
This is a very weighty tome, full of wonderful description of landscapes, costumes, jewels, food. Every page sparkles with colour. Nor does Alpsten shy away from the gruesome and the grotesque; scenes of torture are described in the same intricate detail as sumptuous feasts. It could easily have been hard-going to get through it, but that is far from the truth. The story gallops along at some lick and keeps you completely engaged from first to last. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the third in the series.
September 7, 2022
This is a fictionalised account of the life of Elizabeth, daughter of Russia's Peter the Great. It shows how bonkers the Russian nobility and gentry were and how out of touch some were when it came to the peasantry. Plenty of drama and the fact it's based on a real person's life proves the old adage that truth is definitely stranger than fiction.
June 21, 2023
A great follow up to the first book “Tzarina”. It is actually impressive how someone non-Russian can bring to life intricacies of the Russian court with such zest and flavor, make characters believable and full of persona. As a native Russian speaker I was truly impressed with what Ellen Alpsten managed to achieve in these two books of the series. Apparently, there is the third one on the way!? Can’t wait!
November 6, 2022
Fantastic book about Peter the Great and Catherine I’s second daughter. I hope this author writes more books!
March 31, 2022
I received an ARC of this a few weeks back and unfortunately wasn't able to finish before publication because of work-related things (working in a college can be so stressful!) but anyways, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press!
Another unfortunately, but I didn't know that this was technically a sequel? I did not read the previous book so I went in blind. I think this book can be read as a standalone though since the previous book was about Catherine I. "The Tsarina's Daughter" is the fictionalized account of Elizabeth, the daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. I loved Alpsten's writing. They do a brilliant job of bringing life and vibrancy to history in a way that makes it feel very much larger than life. That said, I did find myself getting bored? At some points in the story, Elizabeth's perseverance just comes across almost nonsensically because it felt like she was being pointlessly reckless. I also thought that at the heart, the narrative was just boring. It was all about Elizabeth's loneliness and her search for love after everything the Leshy had told her it had "foreseen". I don't know why, but it just kind of felt lazy to me to rely so heavily on that aspect of Elizabeth who seemed to be very cool on her own.
I will say that I would recommend this for somebody who is interested in Russian history and the writing is gorgeous. I just felt it was a tad too long and some of the characterizations just felt unrealistic even for a fictionalized account.
Another unfortunately, but I didn't know that this was technically a sequel? I did not read the previous book so I went in blind. I think this book can be read as a standalone though since the previous book was about Catherine I. "The Tsarina's Daughter" is the fictionalized account of Elizabeth, the daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. I loved Alpsten's writing. They do a brilliant job of bringing life and vibrancy to history in a way that makes it feel very much larger than life. That said, I did find myself getting bored? At some points in the story, Elizabeth's perseverance just comes across almost nonsensically because it felt like she was being pointlessly reckless. I also thought that at the heart, the narrative was just boring. It was all about Elizabeth's loneliness and her search for love after everything the Leshy had told her it had "foreseen". I don't know why, but it just kind of felt lazy to me to rely so heavily on that aspect of Elizabeth who seemed to be very cool on her own.
I will say that I would recommend this for somebody who is interested in Russian history and the writing is gorgeous. I just felt it was a tad too long and some of the characterizations just felt unrealistic even for a fictionalized account.
March 1, 2022
Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and his wife, Catherine, a former serf, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the envy of the Russian empire. She is insulated by luxury and spoiled by her father, who dreams for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule in Versailles. But when a woodland creature gives her a Delphic prophecy, her life is turned upside down. Her volatile father suddenly dies, her only brother has been executed and her mother takes the throne of Russia.
As friends turn to foe in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and their burning passion finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma - seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.
Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper’s den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great.
This is an interesting book which makes the power of Elizabeth is not the same thing as it was purported to be.
The gist is that many people who saved their lives and their loves were meant to be.
This story is poignant and true to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
As friends turn to foe in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and their burning passion finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma - seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.
Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper’s den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great.
This is an interesting book which makes the power of Elizabeth is not the same thing as it was purported to be.
The gist is that many people who saved their lives and their loves were meant to be.
This story is poignant and true to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
March 15, 2022
After reading Tsarina, I was caught in Ellen Alpsten’s world, and I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out. “Tsarina” had all the right elements: suspense, twists, ups and downs, and one of the most improbable tales in history. Unfortunately, “The Tsarina’s Daughter” did not capture my interest the way the first book did.
Elizabeth is the main character, and we follow her through her years of trials and tribulations as she continually comes close to being next in line for the throne while one misstep away from being shorn and exiled to a convent. While the story itself was enough to keep me reading, it was the character herself that never solidified and seemed to change throughout the book. It was almost as if the author knew that showing more of Elizabeth’s unattractive characteristics might cause readers to lose interest.
I have a feeling that there will be another book in this series. I have not lost hope that Ms. Alpsten will return to the heights she reached with the first book and will probably read that book also. Even with my feelings about Elizabeth, the plot and characters that move in and out of the scenes will keep you interested. Three-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
Elizabeth is the main character, and we follow her through her years of trials and tribulations as she continually comes close to being next in line for the throne while one misstep away from being shorn and exiled to a convent. While the story itself was enough to keep me reading, it was the character herself that never solidified and seemed to change throughout the book. It was almost as if the author knew that showing more of Elizabeth’s unattractive characteristics might cause readers to lose interest.
I have a feeling that there will be another book in this series. I have not lost hope that Ms. Alpsten will return to the heights she reached with the first book and will probably read that book also. Even with my feelings about Elizabeth, the plot and characters that move in and out of the scenes will keep you interested. Three-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
March 14, 2022
This was a like, not a love.
I know nothing about Russian history so enjoyed googling the various characters and reading about them and comparing it to the story line. However, this took me forever to get through. The pace was extremely slow. Sometimes I had no idea how much time had passed and then it would be mentioned that years had passed. Also, for as long as this book is I didn't connect with Elizabeth at all, I didn't feel like there was much growth until the very end.
I know nothing about Russian history so enjoyed googling the various characters and reading about them and comparing it to the story line. However, this took me forever to get through. The pace was extremely slow. Sometimes I had no idea how much time had passed and then it would be mentioned that years had passed. Also, for as long as this book is I didn't connect with Elizabeth at all, I didn't feel like there was much growth until the very end.
June 1, 2024
Ce poate face o carte din tine și cât de multe răsturnări de situație au fost. In centru o avem pe Elisabeta, fiica tarului Pentru cel Mare al Rusiei. Avem atât de multe momente delicioase (unele erotice), atât de multe personaje. Nu m-am plictisit nicio secunda. Abia așteptam să mă întorc la carte și să mai citesc puțin. Pentru mine asta e o carte buna, indiferent de gen - cea la care abia aștept să mă întorc. Citiți prima data Țarina și apoi continuați cu aceasta.
November 16, 2021
My personal bonus in reading historical fiction books is that it’s an opportunity to learn something new! The Tsarina’s Daughter, written so elegantly by author, Ellen Alpsten ‘took me on fascinating & interesting ride’ as I read about Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, ruler of Russia. An extraordinary well researched story that I can highly recommend. Brava!
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