Release Date: 8th July 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Books
Pages: 464
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I was kindly sent a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

When they took everything from her, they didn’t count on her fighting to get it back…

Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and Catherine I, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the world’s loveliest Princess and the envy of the Russian empire. Insulated by luxury and as a woman free from the burden of statecraft, Elizabeth is seemingly born to pursue her passions.

However, a dark prophecy predicts her fate as inexorably twined with Russia. When her mother dies, Russia is torn, masks fall, and friends become foes. Elizabeth’s idyllic world is upended. By her twenties she is penniless and powerless, living under constant threat. As times change like quicksand, an all-consuming passion emboldens Elizabeth: she must decide whether to take up her role as Russia’s ruler and what she’s willing to do for her country – and for love.

Review

The Tsarina’s Daughter is the incredible new book from Ellen Alpsten, author of Tsarina. Having never read Tsarina I ended up reading both books back to back. I was just so engrossed in this story. Russian history isn’t something I know too much about but I was fascinated by the complex characters Alpsten has brought to life. The Tsarina’s Daughter follows the life of Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I. She is a beautiful young woman, the envy of all Russia and free to spend her time how she likes. When Elizabeth’s mother dies her world is turned upside down and she must learn to navigate the treacherous world she finds herself in.

The Tsarina’s Daughter is filled with beautiful writing and it’s one of those books that just completely sweeps you away. As mentioned I don’t know much about Russian history but it felt like an immense amount of detail and research has gone into this book and Alpsten has crafted some really brilliant characters. Despite knowing nothing everything was well explained and I never once got lost in all the characters and titles. I really enjoyed her writing style and her descriptions of the lavish court life lept off the page.

The story is full to the brim with political intrigue, with every man out for themselves. Alpsten depicts the treacherous life at court, where you never know who you can trust. The Tsarina’s Daughter is a really gripping read and if you’re a fan of historical fiction this is definitely one to try. Part of what intrigued me about these books is the quote from Daisy Goodwin saying ‘makes Game of Thrones look like a nursery rhyme.’ This definitely rings true and I think if you’re someone who reads a lot of fantasy books you’d love these ones too. While the two books are linked you can absolutely read The Tsarina’s Daughter as a standalone but you won’t regret picking up book one. If you’re looking for a book to keep you entertained on a long summer evening, definitely check this one out. I cannot wait to read more from Ellen Alpsten and these books have without a doubt rocketed on to my favourite historical fiction books.