Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Rise of Gorchakov #2

Last Heir in the Old Empire

Rate this book
With considerable effort, the young prince Alexander Gorchakov managed to prevent a large-scale war between St. Petersburg’s old royal families. However, he got into a lot of trouble in the process and his actions did not go unnoticed by Her Imperial Majesty. Now, as his punishment, Alexander is forced to put on a uniform and enroll at a military school. And not at the most prestigious one, for that matter.
New life, new friends, and old enemies. But who is really the target of the mysterious conspirators? The Gorchakov family? Or maybe even the entire empire?

A solid foundation of an alternate history with wars waged between noble families and their talented heirs. Cars, girls, rock’n’roll, politics, magic, and intrigue!

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2022

130 people are currently reading
8 people want to read

About the author

Victor Pylaev

10 books5 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
170 (62%)
4 stars
73 (27%)
3 stars
21 (7%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
80 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2022
Great

Superb book. I can't wait for the next book. This story has an outstanding plot and characters. I really enjoy the exposure to Russian culture and history. Awesomeness.
1,162 reviews15 followers
February 27, 2025
The author forgot about his reincarnation plot and focuses on the intrigue plot. The whole book consists of side quests and people fawning over the dashing protagonist who mysteriously always ends up where big events happen.
Profile Image for Ford Miller.
760 reviews7 followers
August 25, 2025
Weak second book, getting harder to recommend.

This book started slow just like the first one. 100 pages in before the book started to let you know where the plot was going. The overall story plot line is there but there was so many irrelevant scenes and interactions that are meaningless overall. The story meanders long rather convoluted, mostly because the world isn't fleshed out enough to really understand the power rankings although this book tried to do more. But it only defines levels of power not what those powers would be or how to counteract. Because constantly the main character fights people of higher level but his reserve levels are undefined he just has more... It's not confusing but it's not very compelling to care because you don't really understand what the stakes are. I like the main character and overall I like the genre and the Russian nobility stories. This is just tons of filler to add side plot lines that really don't matter. There's huge descriptions of vehicles with the subcasting characters that you don't care anything about. There are relationship with soldiers as brother and arms that aren't defined and feel weak because the main character is going to move on anyway. It's hard to recommend the story as it just meanders and is not compelling.
Profile Image for Jon Svenson.
Author 8 books114 followers
November 28, 2022
In book two, Alex has now prevented the war between the old families. The Volonstov's family has sworn an oath of vassalage to not the grandfather, but to Alex himself. Which makes his gift that much more powerful.

Because of the chaos he caused in saving the other family, he's sent as punishment slash training to the Vladimir Military Academy. He puts on the uniform, gets a rifle with a bayonet, and off he goes. While he's there he makes friends and enemies both, and a senior agrees to protect him from the worst of what happens after the lights go off.

Although Alex is at the military academy, that doesn't slow down the action. He manages to escape at night as he tries to piece together what is happening. There are protests in St Petersburg for the first time in memory as workers begin to unite demanding better pay, shorter work weeks, and the ability to become nobility without the gift.

Yeah, that's not going to happen.

Once again, I really enjoyed this. The author has created such a foreign world that things I wouldn't overlook in other books are overlooked here. 5/5*
56 reviews
January 8, 2025
These Russian guys have a Knack!

I've been reading LitRpg for a couple years now, devoured a lot of books * stories - hot harem & beastkin tales, progression adventures & fantasy, "reborn" progression & conflict etc. After hundreds of these, I seem to have found my favorites amongst the stuff written by the Russian authors & now seek their works. Characters * heros with an understated relatively emotion free style. Lots of humor, interesting stories, appealing protagonists,
Profile Image for Frank Bertino.
1,771 reviews21 followers
August 31, 2022
EXCELLENT READ

Prince Alex is sent to military school for his shenanigans. He comes across new enemies connected with the death of brother. He gaining in power as he puzzles out what is happening. I like the action, humor, and intrigue. I look forward to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
8 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2022
great read

Interesting spin on a alternate reality, well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series. Hope he keeps up the great work.
Profile Image for M.
608 reviews21 followers
January 8, 2023
I think the author completely forgot that he's writing an ALTERNATE HISTORY genre. If you aren't going to weave in the history then why bother with a REINCARNATION plot?
1,151 reviews9 followers
October 10, 2024
Refreshing

Definitely Russian.

Some elements you would not find in a U.S. edition that make it a lot more realistic.

Lots of action and political intrigue.
Profile Image for Michael Burnett.
1,278 reviews8 followers
August 14, 2025
Great book

Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.