3.5 stars. This is a light historical fiction piece about the Danish Princess Dagmar who became Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. I enjoyed the earlier parts of the book about the reigns of Alexander II and Alexander III as it was an interesting period of Romanov history (especially with the knowledge of the dynasty's impending downfall). But as the book moved to Nicholas II, revolution, and royal exile, Maria became a less sympathetic character, especially with Gortner's portrayal of Maria's daughter-in-law Alexandra in a strongly negative and flat manner. By the end of the book it is difficult to feel anything for the royal characters worrying about their hidden jewels when millions of citizens were facing political upheaval, displacement, starvation, and civil war -- it is the personal moments (such as Maria's final meeting with Nicholas) that are most worthy of readers' attention.

Beautifully written and full of history! I enjoyed this book so much. There were so many tense moments!! I would read some and then go look up historical facts and pictures. Thank you Random House Publishing, NetGalley and C.W. Gortner for such a wonderful book!!

This is a well written, vivid story that completely transports you back to the period of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna and the rule of her son, Nicholas II.

I loved the setting for the story, it is glamorous, the courts are described in brilliant detail and I loved the contrast between that and the problems that were going on in the country as the Russian Empire became more and more turbulent as it went in to its decline. I loved the characterisation and Maria is a fantastic character and it is only fitting I believe that she got to have her story told.

I have read a few of this authors books now and he has a fantastic writing style that brings history to life – 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon!

This lovely historical novel is the story of Dagmar, called Minnie, a teenager from an improvished line of Royals in Denmark. She seemed doomed to a second or third place in history, but she rose to become an Empress of Russia through her marriage to Alexander III and she became the Mother of the last Tzar of Russia, Nicholas. She lived in splendor and in hiding and depravation. Both were vividly described by the author.

More importantly for me, the author brought to live all the various members of the Russian royal family. So often they are not as clearly delineated, one from another, and they simlply become a mass of humanity. This time the characters were real, with real foibles and strengths.

The Empress is shown as a daughter, wife, and mother. She is loved and honored, and sometimes used by those in power, but through her strength of character she proves that even from behind the throne, a woman can rule. I liked Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, Minnie. Thank you, C. W. Gortner for making her come alive for me.

Last week, July 17th, was the 100th year anniversary of the Imperial family's murder. The Empress was not with the family during their imprisonment, so she escaped their fate. In Grotner's novel we learn of her later years as she tried to find her place in the world after the Russian Revolution.

This is a must read if you like good historical fiction about the Romanov's. Now svailable online and at major outlets. I received an advance reading copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I am deeply intrigued by all things Russian history, particularly that of the Romanov family. This book was a very interesting perspective into their life, told from the point of view of Minnie, mother to the last emperor of Russia. I found this story fascinating, as it was rather detailed about the history going on in the background. I was very happy that this book also featured a lot of the family's personal life, and that it followed Minnie from very early on. It also gave more history from after the ultimate demise of the Romanov family. If you are at all interested in Russian history or the Romanov dynasty, I would highly recommend this book.

Another fabulous read by CW Gortner he once again brings the royals to life, I love that he writes about ones you don’t normally hear about and I really enjoyed learning more about the Empress “Minnie”.
Gortner does not hold back with his feelings for Tsaritsa Alexandra as Minnie is her mother in law they did not get a long at all and Gortner truly makes us feel what Minnie does. This was a different look at the last Tsar, his upbringing and how marrying Alexandra changed the landscape of Russia. Also more about his brothers and sisters than I knew before.

I found Minnie fascinating she really was a great Empress and I feel way ahead of her time if her son would have listened to her who knows how things may have worked out?

Katharine McEwan’s narration was great and she played the emotions very very well!

I have always been fascinated by Russian history so this book grabbed me right away and the 17 hour audiobook flew by and all of a sudden its 1916 and things are going downhill fast! Even though you know how things happen there are still surprises and palace intrigue to keep you interested.

If you are a fan of the Romanovs or historical fiction in general give this one a go you won’t be disappointed!

5 Stars

Minnie has always believed in marrying for love and not for a political alliance. The day comes when Minnie meets Nicholas, the tsarevich of Russia. She immediately falls in love with him. However, her romance is short-lived when Nicholas dies. On his deathbed, Nicholas wishes for Minnie to marry his brutish brother, Alexander. Because Minnie’s fiance dies, she is seen as a widow and no longer a suitable candidate for eligible princes. Minnie is forced to confront the choice of no longer marrying for love but for comfort and stability. With the urging of her mother and Nicholas’s wish, she accepts Alexander’s proposal.

Minnie and Alexander do not love each other at first. Gradually, they begin to find endearing qualities in each other and form a loving relationship. They have many children. However, Minnie’s role as a wife, mother, and empress is not completely happy. Outside the palace walls, there are rebels who are determined to bring the Romanov family down. She survives a few assassination attempts.

When her husband dies at the age of forty-nine, the Russian throne is in the hands of Minnie’s eldest son Nicholas II. Nicholas II is unprepared to rule. Nicholas relies on Minnie to help him run the state. However, he is eventually influenced by his wife Alexandra. Minnie and Alexandra do not get along and have different beliefs. Minnie is forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the gradual fall of the Romanov dynasty.

I thought that Maria Feodorovna was a fleshed-out character. She goes through many transformations. When we first meet her, she is a naive, idealistic, and romantic princess of Denmark. When her first love dies, she is a woman who marries for security and a political alliance. When she marries Alexander and becomes his empress, all she wants to do is have fun. She loves to gossip with her best friend, Miechen, and dance all night. When her son takes the throne, she witnesses many court traditions that she has always upheld being broken. Minnie sees the decline of the dynasty and does everything she can to save it.

Minnie does have her flaws. She is very judgemental, especially when it comes to Alexandra. She can be cruel to her daughter-in-law. She has no sympathy for her. She refuses to give Alexandra the crown jewels that befits her right as empress. She always has a bad word to say about her so that it strains Minnie’s relationship with her children who sympathize with Alexandra.

I thought that the author did a great job in portraying Minnie’s and Alexandra’s relationship. They are very different. They have different personalities, beliefs, and goals. Alexandra is timid and shy. She wants to have a quiet life outside the Romanov court. Minnie is confident and thrives within the imperial court. Alexandra thinks that Minnie is an overbearing mother-in-law. However, Minnie abounds to the rules of the Russian court. She believes that she earns the position as the First Premier Lady in Russia because she is the senior female and is the woman with the most experience. Alexandra is deeply religious and believes that Rasputin is a powerful magical healer. Minnie does not have that kind of faith and thinks Rasputin is a conman. They also have different political beliefs. Minnie disapproves when Alexandra interferes in politics and believes that these decisions may bring about the dynasty’s fall.

The Romanov Empress is about a woman who attempts to maintain tradition within the Russian imperial court. She must learn to cope as her children break away from these traditions that she grew up on in order to form their own happiness. Minnie must also bear the tragic fate of witnessing the end of the Romanovs. Minnie is a survivor. At the end of the novel, it is clear that Minnie loves her country. Everything she does is for Russia, and she was unwilling to leave it behind.

Overall, The Romanov Empress does a superb job in making Maria Feodorovna come alive. The writing is very eloquent and elegant. Mr. Gortner also breathes new life into the Russian imperial court with all their customs and traditions. I also thought that he did a great job in portraying the mindset of the Romanovs. There were times in The Romanov Empress where I thought some parts were rushed. Because it was a big book and Minnie had a long life, I could understand why Mr. Gortner rushed these parts in order to speed the plot along. Still, after reading The Romanov Empress Mr. Gortner proves that he is the king of historical fiction! This novel is a sumptuous feast for historical fiction lovers that you do not want to miss and easily one of the top novels of 2018! The Romanov Empress is perfect for those who love books about one woman who stood solid in the midst of chaos and tragedy.

As someone who reads a lot of historical fiction and has a particular interest in Russian history, I absolutely inhaled every page of this book! It covers all the drama leading up to the Russian Revolution from an intimate family perspective. Only this family happens to be the Tsar's.

Maria "Minnie" Feodorovna, mother of the last Tsar, Nicolas II, provides the focal point of the novel. This is her multi-generational story, spanning the years from 1864 to 1920. It begins with Dagmar (her birth name) as a teenager. A Danish princess (and sister to Alexandra who becomes the wife of England's Edward VII), Minnie becomes engaged to the Russian heir Nicholas, who dies shortly before they are to be married. Instead, Minnie marries her dead fiance's younger brother, who eventually becomes Tsar Alexander III and they go on to have six children.

Despite all their wealth, power, and opulent lifestyle, what works so well about this book is that this remains a family dealing with same internal difficulties common to most families; disputes over how to raise the kids, parents trying to control unacceptable behavior in their children, and worry about finding each child a suitable mate. But with that as a foundation, C. W. Gortner then layers in the struggle between autocratic rulers trying desperately to hold onto ancient power in a backward country that increasingly values more representative government. Whether to answer this struggle by tightening control or granting more freedom is at the heart of Romanov family history.

Minnie makes an interesting heroine. She wholeheartedly embraces Russia as her adopted country and grows to deeply love her husband. After she becomes a widow, she remains committed to the Romanov dynasty, but recognizes the need to address the deep suffering of the peasants in her country. Above all, she understands what it takes to honor the responsibility for governing and realizes early on that her son and daughter-in-law as woefully inept. Because instead of prioritizing their royal responsibilities and the escalating political climate of their country, both Nicolas II and his wife Alexandra remain totally fixated on each other and the health of their only son Alexei, who has inherited the deadly disease of hemophilia.

Minnie then becomes the reader's stand-in witness as Russia confronts repeated violent assassinations, the debacle of Rasputin, World War I, and finally, the Russian Revolution. With so much true historical drama to incorporate, it's a compelling read. And if, like me, you know the tragic end of the story, it is sometimes unsettling. I became fond of Minnie and so many of the other historical figures, I kept wanting to warn them all what was coming. But I guess that's exactly why this is such good historical fiction. Enjoy!

This book follows the life of the last beloved empress of Russia, Maria Feodorovna. It portrays her life from her early teenage years to the time of her death. This book covers the reign of Tsar Alexander II, Tsar Alexander III (Sasha, Maria's husband), and Tsar Nicholas II (her eldest son). It covers the political intrigue, marital and family issues, and the upheaval of Russia itself. From the tenuous reign of Tsar Alexander III, to the short, yet effective reign of Tsar Alexander III, and finally to the ill advised and mismanaged reign of Tsar Nicholas II, this book maps out the gradual decline of Russia into World War I and the Russian Revolution from Maria's (Minnie's) point of view. It also includes an extensive section at the end explaining the aftermath of the wars and their long term effects on the Romanov family and their descendants.
I thought this was a great view of Russian history through the eyes of a beloved empress who got caught up in her son's poor decisions. I learned so much and made connections I never had before in order to understand the larger and more detailed scope of the downfall of Russia's monarchy. This part of Russian history has always fascinated me, as it has many people. I never understood until now how incompetent Tsar Nicholas II was and how cruel and unreasonable Alexandra was. It was largely because of those two and their poor decisions that Lenin and his Communist revolutionaries were able to topple the monarchy. It broke my heart to read of Minnie's and the family's desperate attempts to advise Nicholas, yet he ignored them because of his unhinged wife, and because of that many of the Romanovs perished. I sympathized with Minnie and the heartbreak she had to endure her entire life because the author did such a great job in bringing her to life. I didn't care for the profanity, scarce though it was, and I didn't like the sexual content because I prefer it when authors keep the bedroom door closed. I know the author covered a great deal of material, but it was hard for me to keep track of some of the more distant family members, and it was a little hard for me to get through the book at times because of the tragic and depressing nature of the subject material. In spite of those things, I learned so much and I highly recommend this book to those who love history and want to learn more about the Romanovs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

To read any story by C. W. Gortner is to immerse oneself into the complex and opulent world he painstakingly creates. I can't even begin to imagine the hours it took to research the material for this amazing story. But I can tell you that it was worth every minute because the story is filled with not just details and history of the family but also of the country not many of us know.

If you ever read and loved "War and Piece" then this story is definitely for you. You'll find that this story is as much as exciting and poignant as the other.

The Romanov Empress is well written, fast paced and truly enjoyable to read.

Melanie for b2b

(will go live on 7/26/2018)

It was refreshing to read a book about a Romanov Empress that did not focus on the last Romanov family. Rather, this is a story of the last tzar’s mother Maria Fyodorovna. We follow her as a young girl moving from Denmark to Russia to marry the tzar’s heir. Overall, this is a fictionalized account of Maria Fyodorovna’s life. So it is by no means serious historical fiction. Those who prefer well-researched and more comprehensive accounts of historical events will be disappointed. This is more of a light-weight loose historical retelling with many dramatized sections.

I read an advanced reader’s copy and it did have a lot of inaccuracies in the use of Russian patronymics and in one place a proverb was written in a very bad Russian. These are the kinds of details that irk me as a reader and show the author’s carelessness with research. If he takes so little care with the language, one can only assume that historical facts are probably just as muddled. I hope these were corrected in the final published version, but I did not check.

That said, I think the novel gives a very basic introduction to the life of the Russian imperial family, and those who enjoy historical drama, will undoubtedly like this novel. To me, it lacked historic authenticity and was overall a bit too shallow. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

If you are a fan of historical fiction or enjoy Phillipa Gregory's books, you'll want to read The Romanov Empress.

The Empress of the title is Maria, the mother of the ill-fated Tsar Nicholas of Russia. This novel is epic in scope and fascinating. I loved it and think you will too.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, but I did have a hard time keeping track of all the Romanov relatives! Everyone seemed to have a nickname and it was hard to keep track of who was who. I liked the first half of the book better than the last half; Minnie, as Tsarina Maria Feodorovna was called, was more likable when she was young and first married to Sasha, who became the tsar. When Sasha died and their son, Nicky became Tsar, Minnie became very domineering and just plain unlikable. It was an interesting look at the family like of the Russian Tsars.

There is SO much history in this novel and the author handles it deftly. The story moves along at a good pace. There are a lot of Nicholas and Alexanders in the Russian family, but the author keeps them all sorted out for you, and the family tree at the beginning of the book is a big help. Maria Feodorovna was eyewitness to some amazing events and upheavel, not just in Russian history, but European history. The narrative really helps you understand just how interconnected and related the royal houses of Europe were at such a pivotal time in history as WWI.I loved that this novel inspired so much additional reading online. The author really researched his subject well and this makes me want to read more of his works. If you love European history, I highly recommend this one.

As a big history lover, I was extremely excited to come upon this book. I was always interested in Romanovs downfall, and it was very interesting to hear about it from the point of view of the matriarch of the family herself.

The book is mainly focused on the life of Dagmar of Denmark, later known as Maria Feodorovna. The story begins with the wedding of her eldest sister, later the Queen of England, and ends with her exile from Russia more than 50 years later.

Although the book is set as Dagmar's biography, it contains many historical details about Romanov's reign and opens readers mind and welcomes them into the royal world of Russian's last emperors. I've learned many interesting details that I have not come upon in countless articles I've read about last Romanovs. Therefore I highly recommend this book to any historical fiction book lover.

While reading the story of Maria Feodorovna, I was quite taken aback by her character. Her strength, dedication to Russia and the house of Romanov, and ability to survive are just a few of many reasons that made me admire her.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for a free copy of this fascinating novel.

First line: “We should dress alike,” I said on that afternoon when life changed forever.

Summary: In the latest historical novel by C.W. Gortner, we get the story of Minnie, the mother of the last tsar of Russia. Minnie is a princess of Denmark and destined to marry for an alliance. That marriage is to the future tsar of Russia, Alexander III. However, when trouble strikes the country the new tsar and tsarina must find a way to navigate the changing political climate before the country revolts. When Alexander dies unexpectedly, leaving their inexperienced son, Nicholas as tsar, Minnie must try to guide him before they lose their country forever.

Highlights: I found Minnie to be a fascinating woman. I knew next to nothing about her other than what is portrayed in the movie, Anastasia. (She is the grandmother who is desperately searching to find out if her son, Nicholas, and his family survived the Russian Revolution). She sounds like a strong woman who had to try to survive in a very turbulent time. Russia has always been a country with struggles and that fact that she lived through them shows how smart she really was.

“I’d finally found the means to be useful to my adopted country, to give back to Russia something of what she’d given to me.”

It was difficult to keep track of all the relationships and marriages. I was constantly checking family trees and Wikipedia to figure out which character was which and how they played into the story of the Romanovs. Even knowing how the story ends, the Russian Revolution, I kept hoping for better for them.

Gortner does an amazing job of describing the opulence of the Romanov court. I would love to see the Winter Palace and St. Petersburg. There is so much history and culture in Russia. However, the riches and luxury that the tsar and his court lived in is hard to imagine. How can someone live like that? It just boggles the mind. It is easy to see why the peasants revolted. They were starving while the royal family drank champagne.

I remember when reading other novels about the Romanovs, that Alexandra was not very well liked. Gortner gives us a look into why. She seemed shy and anxious. But Minnie, as dowager empress with lots of experience with the Russian people, tried to teach her how to act and gain their respect. Their relationship was very volatile. It was sad to see how much dislike there was between the two women.

Throughout the novel I was thrilled to see how well the author brought the history to life. This is one of the best written historical novels I have read in a long time.

Lowlights: Do I have to have any lowlights? I think not. This book was great. Historical fiction is and always will be my favorite genre.

FYI: Perfect for readers of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir.

This is a tragic story narrated by Tsar Nicholas’ mother, Maria. She is a 19 year old Dutch princess when she marries Sasha, the Romanov Heir. When her husband dies and Nicholas becomes the Tsar, she desperately tries to guide him. Due to many various issues..one being Nicholas’ wife...the tragedy cannot be stopped

Maria is a character lost in history. I do not think I have read very much about her. However, she should not be forgotten. She was smart and tough.

Even though I knew how this story was going to end, I could not stop reading. The would’ve, could’ve, should’ves which follow this tsar, even before he was born, are astounding. From his grandfather, who released the serfs. He thought he was doing a good deed. He just did not understand the serfs had no education or skills. To his father, who refused to have a constitution or to even understand the rebels point of view. Nicholas inherited a mess of a country. He was just not strong enough or smart enough to make the right changes.

I have always been a fan of books set in Russia and this one is amazing. I can’t say enough about this book! C. W. Gortner hit it out of the park with this one! This story is so vivid, so well researched and so well written! Don’t miss this one!

A fascinating book on Russian History from 1862 to 1918 it’s told through an imagined account. This is the Romanov dynasty. A youn teen bride who becomes a matriarch and how she went from a poor princess to an opulent life. It’s a story of power, love, family, war and life. Beautifully, written and exquisitely visioned.

First, let me start by saying that as a fan of Russian history, I had heard of Maria Feodorovna, but knew very little about her. While this former empress was beloved in Russia for her glowing personality and dedication to her people, I thinks it is safe to say that she was often overshadowed by more controversial members of her family.  This novel is a great introduction to her fascinating life. It starts with her life in Denmark as a young princess and follows her to Russia where she learns to deal with the complexities of the Russian court, the Romanov family, and the beginnings of the Russian Revolution. We see her through countless turmoil as she worries for her husband and son and tries to guide them as they rule an increasingly divided country. Her life is full of drastic and dramatic changes and how she manages to handle each of them serves as a testament to her strength.

Not only did I become drawn in by her story but I loved the characters who inhabited it. I loved getting to know Maria Feodorovna. Not only is she a resilient, opinionated woman but she is considerate and aware. She is the one of the few members of the royal family who understands that change needs to occur in order to prevent anarchy. It was interesting to see three different Romanov reigns through her eyes and I really felt for her as she struggled to deal with her family’s unwillingness to see how their decisions were putting them in danger.

I was also swept up in the romance between her and Sasha. While their relationship was unexpected at first, thanks to circumstances that could only happen in a royal family, it was sweet to watch her grow to adore him. There was also her fun and complex realtionship with her sister-in-law, Miechen. They were a perfect example of strong female friendship as they supported each other through all the instability they experienced in their lifetimes while still maintaining a healthy competition for the position of Russia’s most prominent hostess.

The main problem I had with this book was that there was so much covered in too short of a book. Everything moved so fast, sometimes with years passing in a single chapter. I kept seeing little sparks of great stories that were started and hastily finished or long periods of time skimmed over. Because there was so little time to cover so much, I felt that some of the characters came off a little one-dimensional. While I understand what the author was trying to do, I can’t help but think this might have been better divided as a series.

Overall, I enjoyed following Maria Feodorovna through the immensely eventful life that she lived. I will definitely be picking up a biography on her soon so I can expand my knowledge on her story.

Minnie/Maria, a Danish princess who becomes the mother of the last Russian tsar, shares her memories.

Have you ever wondered what led to the downfall of the Romanov family in Russia? Then look no further! Ever since reading Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons years ago, I have been fascinated by stories set in Russia, and this one was no exception. While Tatiana focused on a poor Russian commoner, The Romanov Empress focused on the polar opposite, the ostentatiously rich lifestyle of the royal family. Told from the perspective of Anastasia's grandmother, Minnie (renamed Maria after she married a Romanov), I was spellbound by this story as it followed the Romanov family from the late 1860s, all the way to its tragic end in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution. Even though I knew it did not end well for Nicholas II and his family, I found myself hoping their story would end differently.

I would definitely recommend this for fans of strong female characters and Philippa Gregory, and I look forward to more from this author!

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: St. Petersburg, Russia