Political intrigue abounds....fans of historical fiction based on real people will devour this rich repast.” –Booklist
"Alpsten’s gifts at laying on evocative period detail and engendering empathy for her characters will keep the pages turning." Publishers Weekly
Praise for Tsarina:
“Astonishing...the ultimate Cinderella story.” —Daisy Goodwin, bestselling author of The Fortune Hunter
"A fascinating and extraordinary ride." —Booklist (starred)
“Alpsten shines.” —Publishers Weekly
"As detailed as the jewels and enamel inlay on the creations of Faberge." —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife
“Masterfully researched and beautifully written.” —Nancy Goldstone, author of Rival Queens
“Intrigue, rivalry, and sumptuous decadence leap to vivid life.” —C.W. Gortner, author of The Romanov Empress
Game of Thrones without the dragons.” —Natasha Pulley, author of the international bestseller The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
“Tsarina should come with a health warning—once you start reading, it’s impossible to stop.” —Hannah Rothschild, bestselling author of House of Trelawney
"Alpsten's colourful narrative does full justice to [Catherine's] extraordinary career." —Sunday Times (UK)
"An entertaining romp through the endless intrigue, violence and debauchery of court life." —Mail on Sunday (UK)
"A vivid page-turner of a debut." —The Times (UK)
11/08/2021
Alpsten impresses with the second volume of her trilogy (following Tsarina), focusing on Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova, daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and Catherine I, who ruled Russia from 1741 until her death in 1762. An opening tease signals a grim tale of ruthless determination. In 1741, Elizabeth, 31, the only one of Peter’s 15 children still alive, must decide whether to claim the throne. Her quandary: she believes that doing so is her country’s only hope of avoiding foreign domination, but it would also displace her one-year-old cousin Ivan. Before she decides, Alpsten traces an arc from Elizabeth’s teen years to her assumption of power. That backstory presents the harsh choices her predecessors made; for example, her father personally executed his son Tsarevich Alexey, Elizabeth’s half brother, after Alexey became the leader of a movement opposed to the Tsar’s reforms aimed at modernizing the country. Elizabeth also experienced the loss of numerous loved ones, including both her parents, and a tumultuous romantic life, given that her preferences for a spouse were secondary to political considerations. While readers will know how the opening drama is resolved, Alpsten’s gifts at laying on evocative period detail and engendering empathy for her characters will keep the pages turning. This leaves the series nicely poised for the finale. (Mar.)