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grandma2019's review
4.0
This book is very detailed as far as the history involved, which I enjoy. The story is very interesting. This is my second time reading this series, which I don't typically do. Some readers may find the historical information tedious, but it is important to help understand the plot and the events happening.
bethgiven's review
2.0
This book started out slowly. A “prologue” of inconsequential details is included to try to cover the history of Russia from its primative days up to the mid-nineteenth century, but instead of just plowing through the information the authors would write about fictional characters during three or four different time periods. They would only be featured for two or three pages; then it was on to the next era. It was ridiculous — and unnecessary. History lessons were later included in the book through one of the characters (tutoring the two girls in the story) so I felt like the introduction was melodramatic and pointless.
It took awhile to shake the melodramatic feel. The book was well-written — almost TOO well-written considering its simplistic plot. The first few chapters were weighed down with inconsequential detail just to tell us that peasant girl, Anna, was leaving her home and dear family (she is especially close to her religious father, Yevno, and forward-thinking brother, Paul) to serve at the home of Prince Viktor Fedorcenko. It’s not even until page 103 that we even meet the other main character of the story, Princess Katrina Fedorcenko, Viktor’s headstrong daughter.
I’m not sure why I stuck with the book. Perhaps because I didn’t have any other reading material when I started, and by the time I finished the introduction I didn’t want all of that to have been for naught. Also, the chapters are unbelievably short (often just two or three pages long), so the “just one more chapter” approach took me far into the book.
That said, I really did begin to enjoy the book midway through. The characters were all likable in their own way (with the possible exception of Yevno, Anna’s father, who I keep imagining as the guy from Fiddler on the Roof … and maybe I never forgave him for dragging out the boring first four chapters of the book).
The book ended awkwardly; it had “too be continued” written all over it. I’ll have to go hunt down the next volume before I can figure out whether Anna accepts a marriage proposal. Bah!
It took awhile to shake the melodramatic feel. The book was well-written — almost TOO well-written considering its simplistic plot. The first few chapters were weighed down with inconsequential detail just to tell us that peasant girl, Anna, was leaving her home and dear family (she is especially close to her religious father, Yevno, and forward-thinking brother, Paul) to serve at the home of Prince Viktor Fedorcenko. It’s not even until page 103 that we even meet the other main character of the story, Princess Katrina Fedorcenko, Viktor’s headstrong daughter.
I’m not sure why I stuck with the book. Perhaps because I didn’t have any other reading material when I started, and by the time I finished the introduction I didn’t want all of that to have been for naught. Also, the chapters are unbelievably short (often just two or three pages long), so the “just one more chapter” approach took me far into the book.
That said, I really did begin to enjoy the book midway through. The characters were all likable in their own way (with the possible exception of Yevno, Anna’s father, who I keep imagining as the guy from Fiddler on the Roof … and maybe I never forgave him for dragging out the boring first four chapters of the book).
The book ended awkwardly; it had “too be continued” written all over it. I’ll have to go hunt down the next volume before I can figure out whether Anna accepts a marriage proposal. Bah!
ebgould's review
5.0
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.
srs1978's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
marsha1268's review
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
erinhosthisaw's review
3.0
Interesting Russian history.
Well-written, but a bit cheesy.
Christian fiction.
Well-written, but a bit cheesy.
Christian fiction.
evamadera1's review
1.0
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.
tepidgirlsummer's review
3.0
Sometimes I read Christian fiction. But really only if it involves Russians or Amish people.
This series was okay. I mostly liked it because I'm such a Slavophile. I didn't like the sixth book as much as the others. I also wasn't a fan of the fact that it was basically a constant shitstorm raining down upon one family. Seriously, after a while it's just like, How many more things can possibly go wrong in your lives?
This series was okay. I mostly liked it because I'm such a Slavophile. I didn't like the sixth book as much as the others. I also wasn't a fan of the fact that it was basically a constant shitstorm raining down upon one family. Seriously, after a while it's just like, How many more things can possibly go wrong in your lives?
elliefaye071012's review against another edition
4.0
Great characters and fascinating setting. Just enough historical information to be interesting, but not boring.