The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
centermemine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Torture, and War
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Confinement, and Suicide attempt
lindsayerin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: War, Gun violence, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Gore, Chronic illness, and Medical content
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, War, Ableism, Chronic illness, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
soph22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
rstegema's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I listened over audible, and the voice actor was incredible. The story had some aspects I was expecting and some that were a total surprise that only added to the allure for me.
The magical additions in the story drew everything together while still allowing the characters to grow and build relationships in powerful ways.
I really loved this book and would highly recommend it!
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Violence
ems_peach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Confinement
Moderate: War and Gun violence
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Different from the movie, Romanov offers a more magical journey filled with spells and adventure. However, it is also more historically accurate when one thinks about the true story of Anastasia and the Romanov Empire.
The story itself is medium paced and naturally picks up after the moment of tragedy. I would have given it 5 stars if it was a little faster and perhaps more adult. It is definitely a young-adult novel.
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, War, and Violence
Minor: Mental illness
lara_bk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Chronic illness, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
margueritestjust's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
That being said, the view of history itself is somewhat questionable. We're constantly told that Nicholas II was a wonderful leader, that everything being said about him and his wife is merely propaganda and....it just isn't. Obviously, it's from the point of view of his daughter, and she also doesn't have all of the pieces to the puzzle, but as good of a man he may have been, there's no doubt that he was a weak leader. That being said, I don't expect any book/story about the myth of Anastasia's survival to be historically accurate, and I've read quite a few of the non-fiction books on the matter. Her survival itself is already going to alter the historical canon as soon as it's written, and there are certain liberties authors take. Russian history is not my history, but I have researched it a great deal. It's handled quite clumsily at times, but if you can put aside that, then it's an alright book.
(Also I digress here but the cover? Is gorgeous. Beautiful. Has nothing to do with what actually happens in the story. My expectations were totally wrong.)
I enjoyed Anastasia and her family, their relationships was one of the best parts of the book. Well explored, and her relationships with her father, Maria, and Alexei in particular are very sweet.
Onto the relationship with Zash....sigh. First of all, I just have to say why does every adaptation of the myth of Anastasia need to give her a love interest? I've only read one book that hasn't given her one. Secondly....I feel like I have to sit down with them and just say to them, "Listen. You are not Dmitri. You will never be Dmitri."
Okay, I wanted to like them together. However, the setup to me is very difficult to swallow and the end of it felt a little contrived as well. Zash is a Bolshevik soldier, even if he's not really a Bolshevik (whatever that means), and that alone made it hard for me to get into him and Nastya working. I'm really just not into the enemies-to-lovers trope, and though this is kind of set up as a Romeo and Juliet situation, it just still didn't really work for me. Also I hesitate to say this, as I'm 100% not a Russian name expert but is Zash.....even a Russian name? Granted, he's mentioned to be from a semi-nomadic tribe (and that's about all we get about his background. Sigh. Literally the words "seminomadic tribe" in the text.), and they may not follow the same kind of Russian naming traditions as, say, the Imperial family, but he has no patrynomic or family name, and Zash (as far as I know) does not happen to even be a real name. It was...distracting.
The writing itself managed to propel us forward, even though nothing happens for the longest time. I'm unsure of how interesting the book would be to people who don't know the history of it as well as I do, but it's an enjoyable enough read. I have to criticize Brande's lack of sensory details, though some of it can be excused from the first person POV, but not all. Very little imagery for any of the senses, which was such a shame. I was also expecting more from the magic, as I've said before, but for me, it was still quite enjoyable. The plot was good and kept moving forward, and the characters and their bonds really made the book work. Particularly the familial ones - loved Nastya and Alexei and their "imagine this" game in particular.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Medical content
Minor: Animal death
Mentions of a suicide attempt that is almost carried out but isn't at the last moment.