I didn’t know I loved reimagined pasts until I read this. It tore at my own belief system and mixed history with the potential story it left behind. I just wanted a little more of an ending. 

It starts out very slowly. The plot is urgent from the jump, but the constant bickering and shallow “Communism will save us!” or “Tsarism is good!” debates are nonstop and grow tiresome because both characters are just repeating the same talking points about their ideologies which is just boring to read as neither girl says more than the same few quips over and over again. At about 45% the book really starts to pick up and becomes much more interesting to read.

Anna being THE Anastasia isn’t some great reveal. Anyone with even a fleeting grasp on Russian history can figure that out less than five pages in.

The ending also felt very rushed. I think another chapter would have helped. The story is an interesting one! The characters feel a little flat but their ordeal is compelling to read and you still are rooting for the main heroines even if their identities don’t feel particularly fleshed out. It’s a solid premise with genuinely harrowing action sequences. It’s hard not to get sucked in.

This was fun. I have a very intense niche interest in Anastasia and all things Romonov so this was a great find for me. I found the language a bit childish at times, which was especially jarring when coming from adult characters that are supposed to be threatening. In my opinion, this author’s strength is plot, world building, and character, and the artistry of the words is pretty lacking. That’s really what’s keeping me from a 5/5 stars. But, like I said, my niche interest was super fulfilled by this. As a kid, I did a ton of research about the real Anastasia, and was often annoyed at how inaccurate the animated movie was. So it was really cool to see someone take research I had done and use it to create a historically accurate narrative. Because really, how WOULD she have survived without help? The focus on her sisters, especially Masha, was really touching here. I always wished there was more of that in the movie and even the newer stage musical. Anna’s relationship to Evgenia was very sweet. Poor Anna needed a sister again. The best part: THIS BOOK PASSES THE BECHDEL TEST. An entire story revolving around two girls not talking about men! (Except the men trying to kill them. But they even have conversations unrelated to that!) love love love strong female friendships. Even got a platonic “I love you.” So sweet. 

I loved it. Would highly recommend to another history buff like myself.