thelexingtonbookie's review
4.0
Trigger Warning: This novel and review discuss the following: war, war crimes, robbery, assault, abuse, sexual abuse, kidnapping, death and murder.
I started Lilac Girls thinking that I had a week before I would get my audiobook copy of Lost Roses, only for it to come a week early! So, I read these in tandem, always making sure I was ahead in Lilac Girls just in case there were any spoilers in Lost Roses, the prequel.
The novel follows three main characters, just as it's sequel.
Just before WWI in 1914, Eliza and her friend Sofya are off to St. Petersburg, Russia. Sofya just had her baby boy Max, and the two were eagein the Russian high society. Sofya, cousin of the royal Romanov family, is eager to introduce Eliza Ferriday, a young Civil War Woollsey descendant of New York's high society. After six weeks, word gets around that there's a lot of unrest in the working classes, and a lot of disdain for the Czar and his family- which only adds to the disputes between communist Russia and Germany. Eliza decides to head back to the US before things get even more difficult, shortly thereafter finds that Germany is declaring war. She immediately regrets not bringing Sofya and her godson Max back with her, and finds herself in a state of worry over what will happen to them... until she finds that she has more to worry about in her own home.
Meanwhile, Sofya's Romanov relatives hire local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, after Varinka's mother predicts disaster for Sofya's son, Max. Varinka is a young woman with a complicated home situation- her mother is weak from illness, and so she has struck a deal with a devilish man named Tarus. Using this deal as blackmail for getting what he wants, he controls everything that happens to Varinka and her mother. However, when rebel bandits burglarize and hold the royal family hostage, Varinka sneaks out unnoticed with little Max, promising to shelter and keep him from harm. This only causes more issues with Tarus.
Yet again, Hall Kelly doesn't disappoint with her ability to weave together a story that spans a chaotic period of time in history. Not only does she talk about WWI, but she also goes into the Romanov family murder and war refugee crises. Yet again, we also find a hero in another Ferriday woman, Caroline's mother Eliza, as she provides for refugee Russian women.
In comparison to Lilac Girls, I have to say that Lost Roses was a little more predictable, and in listening to the audiobook, the narration was rather distracting from the story. Most of the time, I was curious about how the plot would play out- knowing that somehow, Varinka would meet Sofya and Eliza while returning Max- but there were moments where I found the narration a little dramatic for the moment. However, I still felt that Hall Kelly's writing was consistent with her debut novel; very informative and well researched in the historical contexts, but maintaining the focus on the character's personal stories and how the period's events influenced them.
If you enjoyed Lilac Girls, I think you will enjoy Lost Roses. If you enjoy any historical fiction, this is a great choice. However, I would certainly borrow or buy a physical copy of this novel and skip the audiobook.
I started Lilac Girls thinking that I had a week before I would get my audiobook copy of Lost Roses, only for it to come a week early! So, I read these in tandem, always making sure I was ahead in Lilac Girls just in case there were any spoilers in Lost Roses, the prequel.
The novel follows three main characters, just as it's sequel.
Just before WWI in 1914, Eliza and her friend Sofya are off to St. Petersburg, Russia. Sofya just had her baby boy Max, and the two were eagein the Russian high society. Sofya, cousin of the royal Romanov family, is eager to introduce Eliza Ferriday, a young Civil War Woollsey descendant of New York's high society. After six weeks, word gets around that there's a lot of unrest in the working classes, and a lot of disdain for the Czar and his family- which only adds to the disputes between communist Russia and Germany. Eliza decides to head back to the US before things get even more difficult, shortly thereafter finds that Germany is declaring war. She immediately regrets not bringing Sofya and her godson Max back with her, and finds herself in a state of worry over what will happen to them... until she finds that she has more to worry about in her own home.
Meanwhile, Sofya's Romanov relatives hire local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, after Varinka's mother predicts disaster for Sofya's son, Max. Varinka is a young woman with a complicated home situation- her mother is weak from illness, and so she has struck a deal with a devilish man named Tarus. Using this deal as blackmail for getting what he wants, he controls everything that happens to Varinka and her mother. However, when rebel bandits burglarize and hold the royal family hostage, Varinka sneaks out unnoticed with little Max, promising to shelter and keep him from harm. This only causes more issues with Tarus.
Yet again, Hall Kelly doesn't disappoint with her ability to weave together a story that spans a chaotic period of time in history. Not only does she talk about WWI, but she also goes into the Romanov family murder and war refugee crises. Yet again, we also find a hero in another Ferriday woman, Caroline's mother Eliza, as she provides for refugee Russian women.
In comparison to Lilac Girls, I have to say that Lost Roses was a little more predictable, and in listening to the audiobook, the narration was rather distracting from the story. Most of the time, I was curious about how the plot would play out- knowing that somehow, Varinka would meet Sofya and Eliza while returning Max- but there were moments where I found the narration a little dramatic for the moment. However, I still felt that Hall Kelly's writing was consistent with her debut novel; very informative and well researched in the historical contexts, but maintaining the focus on the character's personal stories and how the period's events influenced them.
If you enjoyed Lilac Girls, I think you will enjoy Lost Roses. If you enjoy any historical fiction, this is a great choice. However, I would certainly borrow or buy a physical copy of this novel and skip the audiobook.
bookie_rookie's review
3.0
2.5 ⭐️s. I wanted to like this book so much more because of Lilac Girls, but it honestly just didn’t match.
adfreads's review
5.0
I really enjoyed the first book of the series so I decided to read the second book. Overall this book me engaged and was hard to put down. Can’t wait to read the next one.
maria4445545's review
3.0
I tried reading this once before & couldn’t get into it at the time but this time around I “read” most of it via audiobook & reading combo & loved it! I enjoyed the subject matter as well as the different perspectives.
gr8reader's review
5.0
Martha Hall Kelly has a way of taking you along on these journeys, telling more than one story at once but in a way that you don't get confused. At times, you may want to read each storyline separately, but you don't. I found myself wondering what was happening in the lives of the 2 women whose story I was not reading about during a particular chapter. You may think you are able to predict what is going to happen and although you may predict a particular event, you have no clue of the details. After reading her 3 books, Hall Kelly has become a favorite author and I am looking forward to what she writes next. I also am a little sad to know that the Woolseys' story has ended. You do not have to read the books in the order they were written (which actually is in reversed chronological order). Also, each book stands alone in that you would not be confused in any way if you haven't read the other. Highly recommend.
laurendavis0615's review
5.0
Really, really loved reading this story. I was completely unfamiliar with what happened in Russia, so it was very insightful. The story lines were so well written and I thought they linked better than they did in Lilac Girls. It is a little disorienting to read a sequel that takes place before the first book. I will definitely be reading the third book next.
cmrubin88's review against another edition
5.0
The best
If you have any need to continue or renegade the characters from Lilac Girls this is a MUST. it’s a beautiful story with the same dynamic characters. The descriptive nature makes you feel like you’re in the journey and the dialogue is addictive.
If you have any need to continue or renegade the characters from Lilac Girls this is a MUST. it’s a beautiful story with the same dynamic characters. The descriptive nature makes you feel like you’re in the journey and the dialogue is addictive.
arieanna's review
3.0
Very slow first half, with perhaps not enough character depth. The story eventually builds enough character but remains slow.