crey18's review against another edition
4.0
The downfall of the Czar and Czarina has always fascinated me, because they were the last hold-outs of great monarchs. This short novel didn't disappoint on palace intrigue or historical accuracy.
laurenmidna's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating - haunting. Historical fiction that felt like a memoir, the details were so visceral that I found myself googling to find what exactly was real and what was fabricated. Interesting plot twist at the end that made me rethink the whole novel. It is a slow burning story, but one that I’m so glad to have read.
lizpetretti's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kgshore22's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I am absolutely blown away. By no means did I expect this book to be so wonderful, especially considering that it’s genre, historical fiction, is not a favorite of mine or one that I frequent regularly. But… fictionally exploring the history of the Romanovs? I just couldn’t pass it up.
Like many of you, watching the movie Anastasia as a child (no matter how historically inaccurate it may be, one must admit, it is a great movie!) sparked an interest in me for this fascinating royal family who was so gruesomely murdered that fateful July in 1918. The Kitchen Boy so perfectly gave me a window into the culture surrounding the Romanovs and also each family member’s personality and background.
I particularly enjoyed the beautiful incorporation of the Russian language in a way that was still easy to understand, as well as the use of historical documents and facts (letters, names of people, circumstances, etc). The book was both incredibly accurate and well-researched while also having touches of fictional wonder, including the major plot twist at the end which had me flipping the pages (on my Kindle nonetheless) like a crazy person.
Highly recommend. 4.5 stars (I seriously debated giving it 5 but decided on 4.5 because, as other reviewers have mentioned, some of the book was a bit repetitive and drawn out… but I promise the end is worth it all!)
Like many of you, watching the movie Anastasia as a child (no matter how historically inaccurate it may be, one must admit, it is a great movie!) sparked an interest in me for this fascinating royal family who was so gruesomely murdered that fateful July in 1918. The Kitchen Boy so perfectly gave me a window into the culture surrounding the Romanovs and also each family member’s personality and background.
I particularly enjoyed the beautiful incorporation of the Russian language in a way that was still easy to understand, as well as the use of historical documents and facts (letters, names of people, circumstances, etc). The book was both incredibly accurate and well-researched while also having touches of fictional wonder, including the major plot twist at the end which had me flipping the pages (on my Kindle nonetheless) like a crazy person.
Highly recommend. 4.5 stars (I seriously debated giving it 5 but decided on 4.5 because, as other reviewers have mentioned, some of the book was a bit repetitive and drawn out… but I promise the end is worth it all!)
chelseela's review against another edition
2.0
The ending of this book was the best part and based on that ending, it should have been a completely different book.
bethberry18's review against another edition
3.0
Plot twist at the end! Liked the dual timeline but obviously this one was dark which isn’t my favorite.
mercedesjwood's review against another edition
5.0
I know that this is historical fiction, yet it is beautifully told, told in a believable way. I've always loved learning about the Romanovs, which lead me to read this novel. The pain and despair are so real, so vibrant. I recommend this book to all.
jsh626's review against another edition
4.0
Despite knowing the outcome (spoiler: THEY ALL DIE!!), the author managed to craft a story that was so suspenseful, I couldn't put this book down. The characters really came to life, and the historic details were fascinating. Of course, being historical fiction, the book takes some liberties, but my understanding is that the author was very accurate with his facts. All around a stunning little book.
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
4.0
When reading this I was questioning how much of it was true and I was very impressed by the accuracy of the documentation of the final few weeks of the Romanov family despite this being historical fiction. The plot twists kept me guessing until the very last page. I feel like that's a cliche thing to say but I truly was shocked by the unveiling at the end.