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The Russians #1
The Crown and the Crucible
Amid the turbulence of prerevolutionary Russia, the lives of two families become inextricably entwined. When Anna Burenin leaves her tiny village to work in St. Petersburg, she is thrust into the life of the spoiled Princess Katrina Fedorcenko. Soon both peasant and princess will face the prospect of their beloved Russia being torn apart.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
427 people are currently reading
2726 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Phillips
250 books612 followersLibrarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 8, 2018
3.5 stars
A Christian historical romance, The Crown and the Crucible takes place in the late 19th century and circles around the homes of two families- one peasant, one noble. I didn't find that this story offered anything new because I have read many a tale about the eager young son of a nobleman finding himself in love with a maid from a different social group. However, I am hoping that a wrench will be thrown in the mix and we will see a different path as the book progresses. My higher rating is certainly influenced by the fact that the short chapters made this a quick read, but I would have liked a bit more meat.
A Christian historical romance, The Crown and the Crucible takes place in the late 19th century and circles around the homes of two families- one peasant, one noble. I didn't find that this story offered anything new because I have read many a tale about the eager young son of a nobleman finding himself in love with a maid from a different social group. However, I am hoping that a wrench will be thrown in the mix and we will see a different path as the book progresses. My higher rating is certainly influenced by the fact that the short chapters made this a quick read, but I would have liked a bit more meat.
December 1, 2010
I read this book one summer when I was starting to fall in love with romance novels and just didn't know any Christian romance existed. Imperial Russia has always been a fascination of mine (Anastasia anyone?) so I was excited to read this. It was so beautifully written. The story of love, growth, faith, position....everything was so well done! The character development was very believable. I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and a good romance!
July 13, 2015
Oh Christian Fiction. It's been a long haul. You really have been bad lately. So much so that I was starting to wonder whether I would ever be able to find a good Christian Fiction book out there.
Thank you, The Crown and the Crucible, for reminding me that yes, Christian Fiction can sometimes be good. Or even better than good, awesome.
The novel is basically a look into life in Tsarist Russia in the late 1800s, showing pretty much every sort of person you can imagine; from a poor servant and her rebel brother to a rich princess and her poet brother turned soldier. Of course sometimes the plotlines are a little incredulous (seriously, Anna just accidentally goes into a garden and gets promoted from lowly cooking servant to lady's maid for Princess Katrina?) since the authors keep forcing the characters together, but it can be forgiven what with all the vibrant characters to discover and the other plot points (like just even surviving Russia) that fill the majority of the time.
I also appreciate how the authors are able to insert historical information without being overbearing. Sometimes when you read a historical novel, the authors either spend way too much time explaining in minute detail every single thing that ever occurred on the planet during that time period or none at all so you have no idea what the significance is of anything the characters are doing. Here, the information is just right and when you need it.
And of course, the writing itself is awesome. The beginning sequence alone deserves a mention with the linking stories of how a nation and a family came to be. Maybe it's just because of my Russian ancestry, but the sequence of the lone man walking down the road while all those of Russian descent to be sing in a low key always left me a little breathless.(Michael Phillips would later do a very similar sequence in Legend of the Celtic Stone for Scotland but it was too long and a little over the top. Rest assured though, in other parts of his novel he really showed the tenacity of the Scottish spirit.)
What really makes this book a shining star in Christian Fiction, however, is the fact that the Christian message is in the story but is not too much of an anvil pounding on top of the readers' heads. You know that some of the characters are Christian and they talk of Christianity sometimes but it isn't so clear cut that if they are a Christian, life is awesome and they are always right and if they aren't, life sucks and they fail at everything. Which, by the way, is something Christian Fiction does a lot and needs to stop doing.
All in all, a great book. The beginning is a little slow but once in, you won't want to stop reading!
Thank you, The Crown and the Crucible, for reminding me that yes, Christian Fiction can sometimes be good. Or even better than good, awesome.
The novel is basically a look into life in Tsarist Russia in the late 1800s, showing pretty much every sort of person you can imagine; from a poor servant and her rebel brother to a rich princess and her poet brother turned soldier. Of course sometimes the plotlines are a little incredulous (seriously, Anna just accidentally goes into a garden and gets promoted from lowly cooking servant to lady's maid for Princess Katrina?) since the authors keep forcing the characters together, but it can be forgiven what with all the vibrant characters to discover and the other plot points (like just even surviving Russia) that fill the majority of the time.
I also appreciate how the authors are able to insert historical information without being overbearing. Sometimes when you read a historical novel, the authors either spend way too much time explaining in minute detail every single thing that ever occurred on the planet during that time period or none at all so you have no idea what the significance is of anything the characters are doing. Here, the information is just right and when you need it.
And of course, the writing itself is awesome. The beginning sequence alone deserves a mention with the linking stories of how a nation and a family came to be. Maybe it's just because of my Russian ancestry, but the sequence of the lone man walking down the road while all those of Russian descent to be sing in a low key always left me a little breathless.(Michael Phillips would later do a very similar sequence in Legend of the Celtic Stone for Scotland but it was too long and a little over the top. Rest assured though, in other parts of his novel he really showed the tenacity of the Scottish spirit.)
What really makes this book a shining star in Christian Fiction, however, is the fact that the Christian message is in the story but is not too much of an anvil pounding on top of the readers' heads. You know that some of the characters are Christian and they talk of Christianity sometimes but it isn't so clear cut that if they are a Christian, life is awesome and they are always right and if they aren't, life sucks and they fail at everything. Which, by the way, is something Christian Fiction does a lot and needs to stop doing.
All in all, a great book. The beginning is a little slow but once in, you won't want to stop reading!
January 16, 2024
I am an Orthodox Russian History and Literature Major. This is a Christian publishing novel set in Russia. There were a lot of eyerolls for me of things that the authors get wrong or that I’d approach differently - things are definitely written from the spin of the author (as is their wont.) I do appreciate it, however, as often Christian fiction books have terrible print and paper qualities, and this one wins on those scores. A pleasant read as I was mildly curious to the plot. At some point, I will more than likely pick up the next one.
July 16, 2020
After 154 pages, I am bidding do svidaniya to The Crown and the Crucible.
Oy. 2020 just isn't my year for reading books, it seems.
I do hate quitting novels. There was such promise at the beginning of this one, too: the publisher is Bethany House (*heart sigh*); the blend of rich history and colorful fiction had a strong Gilbert Morris flavor; and the pre-chapters establishing the historical background of Russia were fascinating. But at the end of the day, (or, perhaps I should say, at the end of the verstas) The Crown and the Crucible felt less like fiction inspired by history, and more like a historical textbook covered in a thin veneer of fiction. Gilbert (and Lynn) Morris, Michael Phillips and Judith Pella are not.
In my opinion, historical fiction is best when the history is a minor character -- when the creation of the author is what captivates. In Jessica Brockmole's Letters from Skye, I know about World War I, but I care about Elspeth and David. In Tamera Alexander's A Lasting Impression, I know about the Civil War, but I care about Claire and Sutton. Too much history and too little imagination creates what reads more like a teaching tool and less like a rich piece of entertainment. (Or, at worst, more like narrative non-fiction -- which is a completely different matter and shall be addressed another time.)
Because of this, the characters are more like caricatures or archetypes -- and I found this to be especially true about the main character, Anna Burenin. Anna sounds the same whether she's a country peasant, a scullery maid, or a lady's maid. Same inner thoughts. Same demeanor. Same speech. Skimming through the rest of this tome, it doesn't appear this changes. But everyone is like this. Each character (excluding Prince Sergei and Dmitri, because I quit right as they were introduced) is a tool to teach us about Tsar Alexander II and the socioeconomic structure of 1876 Russia. One chapter alone was an info-dump of Russian politics disguised as a dinner amongst the aristocracy. How do you say "snooze" in Russian?
But the non-fiction-narrative genre is compounded by the novel's unbearably slow pace and thick (and I mean thick) history. It simply takes too long to advance the plot and sub-plots. I have perseverance as much as the next bibliophile, but apparently not enough to see me through even half of this novel. ()
And so, I am bidding adieu -- er, I mean, do svidaniya. It's not Phillips and Pella's fault. Perhaps I'll simply continue to draw my historical fiction from the same trustworthy wells. Goodness, I do hope I find something to read before the year is over.
Oy. 2020 just isn't my year for reading books, it seems.
I do hate quitting novels. There was such promise at the beginning of this one, too: the publisher is Bethany House (*heart sigh*); the blend of rich history and colorful fiction had a strong Gilbert Morris flavor; and the pre-chapters establishing the historical background of Russia were fascinating. But at the end of the day, (or, perhaps I should say, at the end of the verstas) The Crown and the Crucible felt less like fiction inspired by history, and more like a historical textbook covered in a thin veneer of fiction. Gilbert (and Lynn) Morris, Michael Phillips and Judith Pella are not.
In my opinion, historical fiction is best when the history is a minor character -- when the creation of the author is what captivates. In Jessica Brockmole's Letters from Skye, I know about World War I, but I care about Elspeth and David. In Tamera Alexander's A Lasting Impression, I know about the Civil War, but I care about Claire and Sutton. Too much history and too little imagination creates what reads more like a teaching tool and less like a rich piece of entertainment. (Or, at worst, more like narrative non-fiction -- which is a completely different matter and shall be addressed another time.)
Because of this, the characters are more like caricatures or archetypes -- and I found this to be especially true about the main character, Anna Burenin. Anna sounds the same whether she's a country peasant, a scullery maid, or a lady's maid. Same inner thoughts. Same demeanor. Same speech. Skimming through the rest of this tome, it doesn't appear this changes. But everyone is like this. Each character (excluding Prince Sergei and Dmitri, because I quit right as they were introduced) is a tool to teach us about Tsar Alexander II and the socioeconomic structure of 1876 Russia. One chapter alone was an info-dump of Russian politics disguised as a dinner amongst the aristocracy. How do you say "snooze" in Russian?
But the non-fiction-narrative genre is compounded by the novel's unbearably slow pace and thick (and I mean thick) history. It simply takes too long to advance the plot and sub-plots. I have perseverance as much as the next bibliophile, but apparently not enough to see me through even half of this novel. ()
And so, I am bidding adieu -- er, I mean, do svidaniya. It's not Phillips and Pella's fault. Perhaps I'll simply continue to draw my historical fiction from the same trustworthy wells. Goodness, I do hope I find something to read before the year is over.
September 2, 2010
I read this series nearly a decade ago, but they left a lasting impression with me.
I fell in love with each of the characters. I rooted them on; cried when they failed, laughed when they succeeded. As their stories unfolded, I had hopes and dreams for them too, as if they were my very own friends.
This story and its successors (including the Daughters of Fortune trilogy) gave me a love of Russian history and the desire to know more, for which I will always be thankful.
I fell in love with each of the characters. I rooted them on; cried when they failed, laughed when they succeeded. As their stories unfolded, I had hopes and dreams for them too, as if they were my very own friends.
This story and its successors (including the Daughters of Fortune trilogy) gave me a love of Russian history and the desire to know more, for which I will always be thankful.
March 8, 2009
I read part of this series as a child and loved it. I'm re-reading it so that I can get through the whole story. I have found a love for historical fiction and because of one of my cousin's early interests in Tsarist Russia the time period this book takes place in fascinates me. It is a heart-warming love story and a story about two girls, seperated by class distinction who are brought together and become friends. The strength of Anna's character and how she shows God's love to everyone she meets just by being herself is awesome. She is a light in a dark place.
Each girl must also deal with loving someone they cannot have, at least currently. Where the future leads I'm not sure of. The book ended on a bittersweet note. I've already begun the second book and I'm excited to see how Anna's revolutionary brother fairs in the choices he makes.
Each girl must also deal with loving someone they cannot have, at least currently. Where the future leads I'm not sure of. The book ended on a bittersweet note. I've already begun the second book and I'm excited to see how Anna's revolutionary brother fairs in the choices he makes.
May 12, 2014
This was the second time i've read this book. The first time was, I believe, 5 years ago.
I've only read the first 4 books of this serie back then (because they aren't all translated to Dutch), so I wanted to start over and read the last 3 in English. Now I'm not so sure I will continue.
In my memory I liked the first 4 books very much, but now I've read The Crown and the Crucible and I found it very wordy. It took me weeks to finish this book due to all the (in my opinion) boring details about Russia and the war. Furthermore I thought Anna is too good to be true.
I've only read the first 4 books of this serie back then (because they aren't all translated to Dutch), so I wanted to start over and read the last 3 in English. Now I'm not so sure I will continue.
In my memory I liked the first 4 books very much, but now I've read The Crown and the Crucible and I found it very wordy. It took me weeks to finish this book due to all the (in my opinion) boring details about Russia and the war. Furthermore I thought Anna is too good to be true.
January 22, 2018
5 Stars
Judith Pella and Michael Phillips combine Christian Historical Fiction, Romance, and Russian History into a 7 book series. That's a combination of some of my favorite genres. Sergei was the sweetest, and I loved watching Anna and Katrina's friendship progress. This book/series ranks as one of my favorites.
Judith Pella and Michael Phillips combine Christian Historical Fiction, Romance, and Russian History into a 7 book series. That's a combination of some of my favorite genres. Sergei was the sweetest, and I loved watching Anna and Katrina's friendship progress. This book/series ranks as one of my favorites.
September 2, 2018
Loved this entire series. The author did a lot of research into the history of Russia. Although I had to look past the unlikely romance that I'm not to fond of, I learned so much about the country. My only regret is that there aren't more books in this series or a similar historical series based on another country. I will be watching this author and Judith Pella.
April 4, 2017
Revisiting an old favorite - this one is comforting in it's gentleness and predictability. I definitely got more out of the historical sections then the first time through (it's amazing the difference between a 15-year-old mind and a 36-year-old mind).
August 8, 2015
I'm going back to some Old School Inspirational. The Crown and the Crucible is full of Russian history with an interesting story tied into it.
The Crown and the Crucible was a good quality Inspirational Fiction for those looking for recommendations.
The Crown and the Crucible was a good quality Inspirational Fiction for those looking for recommendations.
March 30, 2012
Great for anyone who really enjoys the historical aspect of historical fiction. I found parts rather dry and tried not to skim too much!
January 20, 2013
The history is interesting, but the plot and characters are too predictable...
Want to read
December 22, 2016Why have I never heard of this series?! Set in prerevolutionary Russia and I'm part Russian...I'm so in!!!
February 25, 2017
Will I liked the history that's behind this story I just couldn't get into it at all.
July 21, 2017
Great Story
I enjoyed this novel. The development of the characters is well done. The story line is engaging. I will be getting the next novel in the series.
I enjoyed this novel. The development of the characters is well done. The story line is engaging. I will be getting the next novel in the series.
February 20, 2019
From the prologue: 368 AD The solitary figure of a man receded into the distance.
From chapter one: A solitary figure bent himself against the elements.
Premise/plot: The Crown and The Crucible is the first in a seven book historical series set in Russia. The first novel opens in the 1870s.
Yevno Burenin and his wife have five children but he dotes on his oldest two Anna and Paul. Though they've been "free" for a little over a decade, life is still incredibly difficult. The family is facing a tough choice: should they send their oldest daughter, Anna, away to be a servant in a nobleman's household? If they do, then she might be able to support herself and find her own way in the world. If they don't, then, well they'll continue to struggle to have enough food to eat. Yevno feels that Anna is his brightest child--she can read and write--and that she deserves her best chance at life. Paul is bright but perhaps not wise. He's fallen into "bad" company--revolutionary company that is promoting dangerous ideas that could overturn the government.
The novel mainly follows Anna with only the occasional return to her family--her father and brother. Anna DOES decide to leave her family and small village. And she does begin her new life as a servant--first in the kitchen as a scullery maid--and then as a lady's maid. Now if you're thinking that's a HUGE jump--it is. But Anna catches--quite by accident--the attention of the spoiled Princess. The Princess Katrina is looking to replace her bossy Nanny with a maid near her own age. So Anna starts her training under the guidance of Nina--the maid of Katrina's mother Princess Natalia.
Readers follow the lives of two families primarily--Anna's peasant family and Katrina's noble family. Also some scenes with the tsar and his family are included here and there--but they are never the main focus.
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It had me at hello. Okay perhaps the prologue didn't hook me--nor did it deter me--but once I met Yevna and his family it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. (And I was thankful I had taken the time to read the prologue.) I found this an addictive novel to read. I thought the writing was absolutely fantastic.
From chapter one: A solitary figure bent himself against the elements.
Premise/plot: The Crown and The Crucible is the first in a seven book historical series set in Russia. The first novel opens in the 1870s.
Yevno Burenin and his wife have five children but he dotes on his oldest two Anna and Paul. Though they've been "free" for a little over a decade, life is still incredibly difficult. The family is facing a tough choice: should they send their oldest daughter, Anna, away to be a servant in a nobleman's household? If they do, then she might be able to support herself and find her own way in the world. If they don't, then, well they'll continue to struggle to have enough food to eat. Yevno feels that Anna is his brightest child--she can read and write--and that she deserves her best chance at life. Paul is bright but perhaps not wise. He's fallen into "bad" company--revolutionary company that is promoting dangerous ideas that could overturn the government.
The novel mainly follows Anna with only the occasional return to her family--her father and brother. Anna DOES decide to leave her family and small village. And she does begin her new life as a servant--first in the kitchen as a scullery maid--and then as a lady's maid. Now if you're thinking that's a HUGE jump--it is. But Anna catches--quite by accident--the attention of the spoiled Princess. The Princess Katrina is looking to replace her bossy Nanny with a maid near her own age. So Anna starts her training under the guidance of Nina--the maid of Katrina's mother Princess Natalia.
Readers follow the lives of two families primarily--Anna's peasant family and Katrina's noble family. Also some scenes with the tsar and his family are included here and there--but they are never the main focus.
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It had me at hello. Okay perhaps the prologue didn't hook me--nor did it deter me--but once I met Yevna and his family it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. (And I was thankful I had taken the time to read the prologue.) I found this an addictive novel to read. I thought the writing was absolutely fantastic.
February 9, 2025
After reading several books I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and found cumbersome to get through. I returned to historical romance and found an easy to read story with insights into the history of Russia albeit an oversimplified history to be sure. I also enjoyed the Christian overtones of the book. While it is not a book I couldn’t put down it was a wholesome read that was enjoyable enough that I have book 2 of the series in my possesion.
February 23, 2017
I really wanted to like this book, it's right in my wheelhouse. I love historical fiction. I'm especially partial to Imperial Russia as a historical center point thanks to the brilliance of Tolstoy, Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, and Massie's two non-fiction tomes, Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. The fact that it had good ratings and was a series only sweetened the pot. I dove into this excitedly (but as I've learned through the years, with no glowing expectation). Boy did this fall flat. Flat, flat, flat. Like soda pop left out of the fridge too long. Was it bad? No. Was it good? No. Why? Because there was no real discernible plot. It was simply a 'slice of life' piece that spanned a few years in time. It still could have been good. Slice of life books can be character driven and excellent. Was this book character driven and/or excellent? No. Why? Because there was nothing interesting about it. The 'plot': Two young girls from different backgrounds, a princess and her peasant-stock maid, become friends as they go from 16 year old children, to 18 year old young women--with a brief battle tossed in where the 3 men in their lives go to fight and all 3 come back without a hitch. That's it. Honestly, that's it. There's the cliche 'love affair' (for lack of a better term, because it's more like two people who like the same books and think the other one is nice...so they get engaged). The maid and the princess's brother, the princely heir going against convention (well they haven't gone against anything yet, they've only said they want to get married after spending approximately an hour in one another's company (no joke). There's another cliche 'love affair' (yes, another tepid romance) whereas the princess is in love with her older brother's dashing best friend who only sees her as a child. The character arcs are completely missing save for the princess who goes from petulant, spoiled brat to mature, deep woman in the space of a single page. The characters were likable enough (aka: boring), the story was inoffensive (aka: uninteresting), and the pacing, plot, and conflict were weak as tea with a thrice used teabag (aka: I'm being nice, they were actually nonexistent). I am going to assume that the writer is writing for the series rather than as a stand alone book. Even if that's true (aka: I'll never know, it's one and done for me), there has to be some conflict, something compelling that draws in the reader and makes them want to read the next book in the series. The Crown and the Crucible just doesn't engage the reader (in my humble opinion, of course). So much so that it took me 3 months to read 400+ pages (and I usually read a 600+ page book every 2 weeks, 3 weeks if it's a meh read). I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Perhaps the series on the whole is a good one, a great one even. Unfortunately, if the first book doesn't grab the reader it's pretty much a no go. The Crown and the Crucible can be summed up in a few words: boring, cliche, tepid, and uninteresting, with no conflict, character arcs, or compelling storyline (okay more than a few). Not nearly the worst book I've ever read. Just an empty one. A sandwich with no meat, no lettuce and tomato, no condiments....just a single piece of processed white cheese on Wonderbread. You can eat it and it's ok. Only why would you want to eat that when there are so many tasty, flavorful sandwiches with crusty French bread, sharp cheddar, butter lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, Dijon, aioli, and freshly carved meat for you non vegetarians out there (yeah, it's lunchtime and I'm hungry!). As for actual bad books, there have been a few doozies this past year that would've made TCATC read like a Man-Booker Prize recipient (The Beautiful American comes to mind. Now there's a Very Bad Book for ya). There are just too many great books out there to spend time on a milquetoast one. PASS!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2018
The first part of this book was hard to get into but I had a feeling that if I persevered in reading the wordy groundwork Russian history and short stories in the beginning that the story would be work itself into a great story. I was right. Once I hit the middle of the book, it started to draw me in and make me not want to put the book down!
There is a short story in the beginning, I should warn, that is kind of traumatic—a young man watches his father get mauled by a bear. I skipped around this story because I am not one to love the gory details of traumatic events, although even then, I probably read too much. If you're not sensitive to those sorts of things, it should be fine. It didn't necessarily add that much to the rest of the book except for maybe one or twice, a bear is mentioned in the rest of the book. In my opinion, it's fine to skip.
There was one kiss, with especially one of the people involved remembering and dwelling upon that kiss quite a bit. I wasn't into reading through all the remembrances and fantasies regarding the kiss.
Several gory descriptions of war. A few mentions of a man visiting his mistress, although not detailed. There is quite a bit about different religions and the different offshoots of Christianity and Catholicism as well as mentions of going to mass, lighting candles in prayer, and what sounds like a shrine or altar or something like that in the corner of one man's house where there is a picture of st. Nicolas.
Watching Katrina and Anna grow in their own ways was really neat. Despite their differences, I liked them both (although Katrina was a little harder to like in the beginning.) I enjoyed how the writers gave so many different point of views—all the way from the tsar himself to Katrina's mother to Paul, Anna's brother, and of course Katrina and Anna as well.
The parts detailing the events of war were not that interesting to me personally. I wanted to know what happened, but it was hard to connect each place into meaning something significant to me, someone who knows hardly anything about Russia. There is a map in the beginning of the book to help but so many places were mentioned that I didn't even try to keep up with but one or two. That, and well, it was hard enough keeping track of all the names, titles, and nicknames, since I usually don't read books that have long Russian names in them. I think I have everybody memorized now, but we'll have to see when I move to the next book in the series :)
Almost all the main characters were interesting to read about, although Yevno, Anna, Misha, and Sergei were probably my favorites. I have to say that one of my favorite moments involved Katrina's mother, Natalia, though, when she joined her daughter and Anna in volunteering at the hospital. She was not the type of lady to do something like that, but she bravely ventured into it and grew through it. Katrina also grew quite a bit in caring for the dying, and both of these things touched my heart.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
3.5 stars.
There is a short story in the beginning, I should warn, that is kind of traumatic—a young man watches his father get mauled by a bear. I skipped around this story because I am not one to love the gory details of traumatic events, although even then, I probably read too much. If you're not sensitive to those sorts of things, it should be fine. It didn't necessarily add that much to the rest of the book except for maybe one or twice, a bear is mentioned in the rest of the book. In my opinion, it's fine to skip.
There was one kiss, with especially one of the people involved remembering and dwelling upon that kiss quite a bit. I wasn't into reading through all the remembrances and fantasies regarding the kiss.
Several gory descriptions of war. A few mentions of a man visiting his mistress, although not detailed. There is quite a bit about different religions and the different offshoots of Christianity and Catholicism as well as mentions of going to mass, lighting candles in prayer, and what sounds like a shrine or altar or something like that in the corner of one man's house where there is a picture of st. Nicolas.
Watching Katrina and Anna grow in their own ways was really neat. Despite their differences, I liked them both (although Katrina was a little harder to like in the beginning.) I enjoyed how the writers gave so many different point of views—all the way from the tsar himself to Katrina's mother to Paul, Anna's brother, and of course Katrina and Anna as well.
The parts detailing the events of war were not that interesting to me personally. I wanted to know what happened, but it was hard to connect each place into meaning something significant to me, someone who knows hardly anything about Russia. There is a map in the beginning of the book to help but so many places were mentioned that I didn't even try to keep up with but one or two. That, and well, it was hard enough keeping track of all the names, titles, and nicknames, since I usually don't read books that have long Russian names in them. I think I have everybody memorized now, but we'll have to see when I move to the next book in the series :)
Almost all the main characters were interesting to read about, although Yevno, Anna, Misha, and Sergei were probably my favorites. I have to say that one of my favorite moments involved Katrina's mother, Natalia, though, when she joined her daughter and Anna in volunteering at the hospital. She was not the type of lady to do something like that, but she bravely ventured into it and grew through it. Katrina also grew quite a bit in caring for the dying, and both of these things touched my heart.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
3.5 stars.
February 5, 2018
I need the second book in the series asap, but it's night time and I can't walk to the library...*wails*
Who'd have thought that I'd find a Christian fiction series that is actually good?? Mind you, it's not perfect and in the first few chapters I was concerned that the Christian element would prove too heavy-handed and cheesy, but in the end I was impressed with how the author executed the it, especially given that the time period is mid to late eighteenth century Russia, where Christians were almost exclusively Russian Orthodox. The common error made by most writers of this sort of fiction is to write all the characters as though they are Modern American Evangelical Protestants, but here this unfortunate tendency is avoided.
The story follows the lives of a young Peasant girl, and the Russian princess she becomes personal maid to, as well as several members of their families. The cast of characters is diverse and engaging, as is the plot. Because it is a series of seven books, several plot points were introduced but never picked up again, so I hope the sequels follow up in a satisfactory manner.
One complaint I do have is the way Anna's romance is handled. I can ignore the fact that it's highly implausible, historically speaking, but I did feel a bit cheated with how little time was given to it. Come on, Anna is the central character and this is an over-four-hundred-page book! We go straight from "oh, I think they might like each other" to a proposal, with nothing in between. There is no excuse for such neglect of relationship development here.
Who'd have thought that I'd find a Christian fiction series that is actually good?? Mind you, it's not perfect and in the first few chapters I was concerned that the Christian element would prove too heavy-handed and cheesy, but in the end I was impressed with how the author executed the it, especially given that the time period is mid to late eighteenth century Russia, where Christians were almost exclusively Russian Orthodox. The common error made by most writers of this sort of fiction is to write all the characters as though they are Modern American Evangelical Protestants, but here this unfortunate tendency is avoided.
The story follows the lives of a young Peasant girl, and the Russian princess she becomes personal maid to, as well as several members of their families. The cast of characters is diverse and engaging, as is the plot. Because it is a series of seven books, several plot points were introduced but never picked up again, so I hope the sequels follow up in a satisfactory manner.
One complaint I do have is the way Anna's romance is handled. I can ignore the fact that it's highly implausible, historically speaking, but I did feel a bit cheated with how little time was given to it. Come on, Anna is the central character and this is an over-four-hundred-page book! We go straight from "oh, I think they might like each other" to a proposal, with nothing in between. There is no excuse for such neglect of relationship development here.
January 2, 2018
My Mum actually read this book when she was about my age, and so I was quite excited to read it! It’s quite a hunk of a book (410 pages) and it is chock full of history. Literally, sooooo much history. Which I find, as a history nerd, absolutely amazing!
It’s set before the Russian Revolution and details the lives of two very different girls, whose lives are entwined together in a fascinating story. This book takes you on a journey from humble peasant cottages to dazzling St. Petersburg ballrooms. It gives you a detailed look into the complex web that was Russian politics in 1876-78. It shows the personal lives of the fabulously rich royalty, as well as the peasants struggling to eke out a living from the land.
I devoured the book in about two days, unable to put it down due to the intriguing plot and captivating characters. I think that the immense amount of historical information in this book would probably be daunting to people who are not into history. But if you are, this is a book for you! This is definitely a solid 7* book, and I am recommending it for about ages 14+. And now I need to see if I can get my hands on the sequel! 😀
It’s set before the Russian Revolution and details the lives of two very different girls, whose lives are entwined together in a fascinating story. This book takes you on a journey from humble peasant cottages to dazzling St. Petersburg ballrooms. It gives you a detailed look into the complex web that was Russian politics in 1876-78. It shows the personal lives of the fabulously rich royalty, as well as the peasants struggling to eke out a living from the land.
I devoured the book in about two days, unable to put it down due to the intriguing plot and captivating characters. I think that the immense amount of historical information in this book would probably be daunting to people who are not into history. But if you are, this is a book for you! This is definitely a solid 7* book, and I am recommending it for about ages 14+. And now I need to see if I can get my hands on the sequel! 😀
January 2, 2018
This was very atmospheric. I felt that I was in Russia in the 1870s, getting lost with Anna in the corridors of the Winter Palace; experiencing the first adolescent crush with Princess Katrina; feeling the despair and uselessness of war with Prince Sergei; and feeling the simple faith of the peasant Yevno Burenin.
I liked Anna from the first; Katrina seemed a bit of a spoiled brat, but she improved with maturity.
Somehow, in my studies of history, I had overlooked (or more likely, never heard of) the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Yet the authors seem to be making the point that this relatively "minor" war between two "Asian" powers set up some of the alliances and conflicts that eventually led to World War I less than forty years later.
I liked Anna from the first; Katrina seemed a bit of a spoiled brat, but she improved with maturity.
Somehow, in my studies of history, I had overlooked (or more likely, never heard of) the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Yet the authors seem to be making the point that this relatively "minor" war between two "Asian" powers set up some of the alliances and conflicts that eventually led to World War I less than forty years later.
May 11, 2017
An excellent historical fiction story. The authors have evoked the atmosphere of Russia in a time of change, after the emancipation of the serfs and before the revolution. The Tsar is weak and is pulled in different directions by the various political factions. There is political unrest on one hand and a call for repression on the other. As an autocrat, his every decision effects millions of his subjects. Modern inventions hasten the changing thoughts and actions of many. Others are stuck in the past. Against this background the lives of both serfs and the nobility are intimately entwined. My only compliant is that it ends inconclusively, but as it is the first in a series the story continues. I would recommend this to historical fiction readers who have an interest in Russia.
July 23, 2018
It's interesting how much I liked this book because not much really happens. There's a ton of background, a ton of history, and a ton of conflict-building from backstory, plus a war, but not much in the way of plot advancement. I still liked it enough to keep going with the series, though. Also, it might not have been the best idea to read this right alongside War and Peace, though, because I kept getting my wars mixed up (W&P covers the war with France starting from about 1805; this book is set in the 1870s and the war with Turkey is going on). Also, there's one scene where the young officers imitate a crazy stunt that they read about in War and Peace, and reading that scene gave me serious deja vu.
August 3, 2017
I read this book many years ago as either a middle schooler or underclassman in high school. I adored the book and entire series then. This remembered adoration helped me make the decision to skip these books when reading through my collection four years ago. I read many books by both of these authors since then and gradually became aware of the glaringly obvious shortcomings of their authorship. These shortcomings infected every book I read by them. I had no hope that these books would survive a second read. As I supposed, they did not.
October 23, 2017
Well written and researched Russian historical fiction.
I enjoyed the story of Anna Burenin who is sent to work in the household of the Fedorcenko family. The Fedorcenkos are Russian royalty and Anna soon finds herself serving in the very upper echelons of the household.
Interwoven with the history of complex politics, war and rebellion, the novel is riveting.
There are 2 more novels in the series and I plan to read those as well.
I enjoyed the story of Anna Burenin who is sent to work in the household of the Fedorcenko family. The Fedorcenkos are Russian royalty and Anna soon finds herself serving in the very upper echelons of the household.
Interwoven with the history of complex politics, war and rebellion, the novel is riveting.
There are 2 more novels in the series and I plan to read those as well.
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