Did you grow up loving the Disney movie Anastasia?
Do you love the classic story of the Romanovs?
Were you always fascinated by their life and glamour?
I did.
I do.
& I was.
The Romanov family of Russia was always one of my favorite topics and stories growing up. I watched the movies and read any books that I could get my hands on. [see the end of this blog for my three favorite books on the Romanovs]
When the title ROMANOV came across my screen during research for upcoming YA novels for work , I WAS FLOORED! I knew I wanted it not only on my personal bookshelf, but also on my library shelf!
I didn’t think it was something that could be possible. Turning a non-fiction topic into something that would be heartfelt and something that could still bewitch your heart just like the original Disney movie; but Nadine Brandes did it flawlessly.
Just like with Hocus Pocus: The Sequel, I was very worried about them turning one of my favorite Disney movies into a Young Adult Fictional novel. However this novel, melted my heart from the very beginning. The novel begins with all of the true facts of the Romanov family. Their capture, the guards who came to love them, and the theory of the escape of Anastasia. It is a proven fact that Alexei and Anastasia’s bodies were found in a separate grave than the rest of the family. This is where the brilliant imagination of Nadine Brandes comes into play. Her spin on the beloved story is spellbinding!
All of the little fictional details that are added to the story line make the rest of the book seems like it could be real. The old story meshing with the new story are the most riveting parts of this book. The added character of Zash has to be one of the greatest plot twists I have seen in a Romanov book thus far. The story gets a romantic twist with the love that begins to unfold between the stubborn, untrusting Nastya and the hiding, misguiding Bolshevik guard Zash.
Brandes ends the book on an open-ended note. Not quite finishing the story, but bringing the book to a complete end. To me this means, that if the book were left to be a standalone novel, it would be perfectly fine. However, leaving enough mystery that if she wanted to extent the story she could fully do that without the book feeling pushed or forced. I think that is something that is very hard to do as an author and she did it wonderfully.
I have to clap and say well done to a wonderful author, who took a classic piece and made it even more magical.
Check out my three favorite books about the Romanovs:
2. The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry, 2004
3. The Romanovs: Ruling Russia 1613-1917 by Lindsey Hughes, 2009
What are some other summer novels that you are excited about this summer?
Let me know in the comments below!
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