This book is nearly six years old and I still have not read it. While I hope that it was good, I do not have time to go back to it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC of this novel in 2019 in exchange for an honest review. My deepest apologies for my review being so egregiously late.

I tandem read a physical library copy of this book while listening to a library copy of the audiobook.

I knew of Anastasia from the heartbreaking and hilarious animated movie from my childhood. You know the one, with the haunting ‘Once Upon a December’ song that gets ingrained into your soul, and the little bat who famously said, “I’ll give her a ha, and a hiya, and a wooah, and I’ll kick her, sir.”

Despite this movie being a childhood favorite, as I got older I never looked further into the history of Anastasia. When this book popped up on Netgalley many years ago, I was excited by the prospect of learning more about this character that I had so deeply loved growing up. Fast forward to the present, and instead of excitement, I now felt an intense sense of anxiety at the prospect of reading Anastasia’s story, especially once I realized the book starts with her entire family still alive.

At first I could only read this book in short bursts, naturally stopping a page or two before tragedy struck, instinctively knowing I wasn’t ready to see Anastasia’s world torn apart. It wasn’t until my own world, and the external forces that had been heightening my own anxiety in January 2025, had crested, that I was able to sit down and read two thirds of the novel in one go.

I highly recommend the audiobook of this novel. While the writing is masterful, weaving history and fantasy together as if they were a recollection of actual historical events, the narrator should be credited for bringing the atmosphere of this story to life. They expertly added what I assume are Russian accents, and spoke the various languages written throughout this novel. It heightened Nastya’s story in ways I couldn’t have achieved on my own; stuck in my own head with my very American accent, stumbling my way over new-to-me words and phrases.

I had no idea going into this novel that it would feature two disabled characters. Both Nastya’s younger brother, and their mother, suffered from disabilities and chronic conditions that left them confined to their beds, or a wheelchair, more often than not. I appreciated the disabled representation, and the way both characters were portrayed realistically. Physically they were weaker than their peers, but mentally and emotionally they proved how incredibly strong they had become in the face of such physical adversity.

This story was incredibly touching and topical. The message of Nastya’s father, his unwavering ability to show love not only to his family, but also to his captors, was a deeply profound message and theme throughout this novel. While I won’t pretend to have a good grasp on the current politics in today’s Russia, I do believe the political themes that run throughout this novel, including the trials Nastya, her family, and the soldiers forced to oversee their imprisonment, are timeless and still extremely poignant in today’s political climate world wide.

This was a challenging novel to read. I can’t ascertain whether I believe this has a happily ever after, but it did end on an unmistakable feeling of hope for the future. There are so many beautiful messages and exploration of the human experience woven into Nastya’s story. It left me wondering what I would do in Nastya’s situation? In Zash’s? And above all, it made me ponder if I’m doing enough to send love out into the world, even if in the end the outcome results in unforetold tragedy.

Nadine Brandes's "Romanov" is a captivating blend of history and fantasy, offering readers an alternate ending to the tragic tale of the Romanov family. Seamlessly weaving together fact and fiction, Brandes imagines a world where magic intertwines with the events leading up to the Russian Revolution. Through the eyes of Grand Duchess Anastasia, readers embark on a journey of intrigue, danger, and resilience. With richly drawn characters and a spellbinding narrative, "Romanov" immerses readers in a world of secrets, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope. This gripping historical fantasy is sure to enchant fans of both history and magic alike.

I have to admit, I have a mild obsession with the Romanov family. And this read being a telling of Anastasia, it was just a brilliant read!
There are some areas of the story that are missing entirely, but following Nastya and her brother was such a treat. Their personalities and relationship with each other is so bittersweet, when you know they are to die very soon.

The idea of this book is fascinating and I'm glad I was given the chance to read it.

Interesting premise—an Anastasia retelling. Unfortunately, this book and the story was simply not for me. It had a slow start and I just had a hard time going through it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3,75 stars.

A very fun and fast paced read that combines historical facts and fiction with fantasy/paranormal elements. The author gives a good spin on the story based on true events whilst also writing down the essence and extremity of what went down with the Romanov family a long time ago.

It’s so tragic… And that essence is truly captured into this fictional story as well. I do think that the paranormal/fantasy elements weren’t even really necessary to add to the story; to me, it would’ve been a fantastic read already by just reading it as historical fiction, a historical re-telling. But the added fantasy elements do add something ‘more’ to it all which gives the author a chance to really make it her own and also maybe more interesting to more readers!

I definitely recommend picking this one up if you like historical fiction, re-tellings combined with some imagination and fantasy elements. Brandes’ writing style is very likeable I think; I really enjoyed it!

I don't know what made me request this book, because it's not my usual sort of thing at all. But I'm so glad I did! I'm totally not a historical fiction girlie, but I think the cover really appealed. Anyway, it slapped. Loved the perspective, I really felt like I was in her head and I learnt so much about a time and place that I didn't know much about. A really great time!

Loed this book. Nadine Brandes had me at Romanov. I will read almost any book about the family. So good!

So where to even begin??? I've been dying to read this ever since I saw that amazing cover and read the bio. I grew up watching the 20th Century Fox cartoon and found the music, the story, the mystery (everything really) enchanting.
Let me tell you, if you enjoy Russian history, royal scandals, and unsolved murders then this subject is up your ally. Anyway I said all that to say this: I had super high hopes for this book.

When the first mention of spells and spell masters appeared early on I wasn't exactly sure how to take it. I wasn't sure how the author intended to weave fantasy and magic elements through this tragic historical fiction. But the more I read, the more I liked it.
By the end of the book (well almost the end) I was whole-heartedly ready to accept this as a realistic possibility of what occurred that fateful night in 1918. I'm partly joking but at the same time it all fits. The fantasy and the historical accuracy blended so incredibly well. The storyline was obviously thought through.

While I'm on the subject, the accuracy was amazing. Of course there were some fictional aspects (characters, MAGIC) but I could definitely tell the author went above and beyond to make this story as true to life as humanly possible. The characters were real, the emotion was... well, emotional, The plot was so engrossing and the few twists and unexpected surprises kept me on the edge of my seat.
There were some great themes of loyalty to family, joy in the little thing, courage in the face of death, and forgiving enemies. I liked that there wasn't any foul language and the budding romance was kept squeaky clean.

In truth, there wasn't much I didn't like about this book. I fully enjoyed tagging along for the ride and I'm most definitely going to read more by this author!

A quaint piece of historical fantasy, although it was very slow going and the settings felt very static for a decent portion of the story

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

Great concept with a fantastic blend of history and fantasy.

Whilst YA, this didn't feel as full of tropes as YA can at times be. Enjoyed it very much - thank you.

Nadine has a clever way of sparking my interest in pieces of history that I’d never looked into before. I’d always known of the Russian royal family, and knew that Tsar Nicholas was cousins with King George V of England and that they had strikingly similar looks but never really knew their story. While being a fantasised version of events, Nadine’s Romanov is engaging and insightful, not to mention, how beautiful is the cover?
I’d definitely recommend giving Romanov a read, and then researching the family’s story for yourself, it’s a haunting tale.

As someone who loves reading anything to do about Anastasia Romanov. I really enjoyed this story and would most certainly reread this book.

Romanov brings us the February Revolution, or rather, its immediate aftermath and consequences, all through the eyes of young Nastya, better known as Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. Next to that we get magic and will-they-wont-they/enemies to potential lovers vibes. It's a lot and most of it is fun. Sadly I fell into the trap of already having strong feelings about this period of history and therefore I couldn't entirely follow where Nadine Brandes was leading. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the long delay.

I wouldn't really consider myself a Royalist. Growing up in the Netherlands, I had a fondness for our royal family but this was fuelled by the fact that it was very much clear they were just lucky, not somehow of "special blood" or anything. Queen Beatrix reminded me of my grandmother, from the way they dressed to their down-to-earthness, and I liked the idea of someone like my grandmother keeping an eye on the country, lending a hand to those in need, and representing us. Aside from her, however, royals don't really inspire anything in me. I have to admit, however, that the Romanovs hold a certain mystique even I cannot deny, from the various Anastasia's who have popped up over the decades to the decades-long mystery surrounding their murders. Because of this mystique I have actually read into them a bit. And, due to my own left/Socialist-leanings, the history of Russia has also always been interesting to me. My historical knowledge, however, has never before impeded me from having fun with historical fiction. Anastasia, the animated film, is a joy, even if it is fiction. So I went into Romanov assuming I was still able to separate fact from fiction and appreciate both on their own terms. Sadly, I was unable to.

Romanov begins during the Romanov family's exile in Tobolsk, which followed from the October Revolution. From there they are moved to Yekaterinburg, where they await their potential fate. But at least they are together, which is all Nastya has ever wanted. They are a loving family, who enjoys the outdoors and forgives each other their oddities. Led by the imperturbable and humble Nikolai, they try their best to find a way out of their situation. The way out may include the matryoshka doll he told Nastya to hide. It is a piece of magic, created by a great spell-master, which will reveal a spell whenever the Romanovs are in need. Having learnt the basics of magic from Rasputin, Nastya is determined to do whatever she can to help her family survive in the face of cruelty. As Romanov ticks towards the inevitable event of the Romanovs' murder, the novel also adds a romance subplot which is technically lovely and well-written, but felt a bit unnecessary to me. Equally I was really looking forward to the magic element of the story and it was the one that fell the most flat for me. In a technical sense, Romanov is a YA historical fiction/retelling. In a more personal sense, Romanov makes a lot of choices I simply couldn't quite follow. As I mentioned above, my own political leaning is more towards Socialism but even I am capable of admitting Communism has serious flaws. However, the way the book approaches this movement, the way it elevates and sanctifies the Romanov family, especially the previous Tsar, and the way it plays with the idea of the "Romanov blood", all hit me the wrong way.

Many things Nadine Brandes does in Romanov were enjoyable. I liked her writing style and I think she had a real eye for taking a historical detail and bringing it to life. It is no easy task to take factual history and turn it into a living and breathing story again, and she does manage that. Nastya is a lovely main character, determined and loving and often insightful. I just wish this had been a fantasy novel rather than an attempt at telling a new tale about the Romanovs. Brandes mentions the mountains of research she did in order to write the book and I fully believe this in regards to the nature of their imprisonment. (Admittedly I did find all of this info on the relevant Wikipedia pages as well.) There is such a strong emotional bent to her take on the Romanov family, however, that I found it hard not to roll my eyes. While I fully believe that the family unit was strong and loved each other and that the book was written from the perspective of a loving daughter, it is quite simply not correct to pretend Nikolai was a great Tsar who didn't do anything wrong. I think Brandes was intending for a kind of naivety, perhaps, on Nastya's part, but it did not work for me. All the encounters between her and "the Bolsheviks" are marked by a combativeness which belies the very valid reasons for both the February Revolution and the later October Revolution. It was also only the latter which saw a Bolshevik take-over and which triggered the Russian Civil War, but this isn't apparent from the novel. I could go on, but it feels besides the point. Romanov is, at its core, a historical fiction novel which aspires to fantasy. It is a shame that the fantasy elements, which control the narrative in the last third of the novel, didn't really work for me and felt a bit like an afterthought. There is a certain responsibility to historical fiction writers, I believe, to present a nuanced view and this also felt like it was missing or needed another edit. However, I did have fun reading Romanov and I liked what the novel could have been.

While my rating may seem harsh, it is based solely on how I felt after reading the book. Romanov has many elements that work and Nadine Brandes writing is largely solid. Had I known less of the history it covers I perhaps would have enjoyed it more, or felt less disappointed in the choices made.

Normally, I'm not a fan of reading YA. I just find the characters too cloying and needy. But this book is not one of those tales. While I knew the bare bones of the story of Anastasia, I had never heard a perspective like this one. It was a mix of history with some magical realism thrown in, and it was an amazing blend. Sometimes an author can veer to heavily into the magic side of things that it takes you out of the story completely. That wasn't the case here. It was just enough to seem plausible without detracting from the overall tale. I definitely recommend this book to both teens and adults!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book just wasn't for me. I even got a copy from a book box and tried it again but just didn't enjoy it.

I am so mad at this book for so many reasons. I'm going to just list them.

1. The first 57% of it. I spend 57% of this book watching and waiting for this magic spell that will save her family to unlock and be used and when it all comes down to the line SHE DOESN'T EVEN USE IT. She's so impatient the entire first half of the book and yet when they finally start threatening her family's safety SHE DOES NOTHING.

2. Which brings me to my second point of why her father was like, "Let's put the weight of our future on a sixteen year old girl who's been uprooted and is now surrounded by enemies." Sir. Do you see the mental burden you've put on your child? Is that not a problem for you??

3. Her love interest is literally someone who stood on the opposing end of her family as part of the FIRING SQUAD to murder her and her family. Not only that, BUT HE'S THE ONE WHO SHOT HER. I get the growth and the change and the lessons at the end, but sir if you SHOT AT ME with the INTENT TO KILL, I would never decide that it'd be just COOL TO DATE YOU. WHAT!?

4. GUESS WHAT THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK IS ABOUT? More magic chasing. They're now looking for the best spell caster in the land. So more laser focus, more anxiety, more impatience, more waiting. This didn't feel like a story about Anastasia, but a story about fetch quests.

5. They finally find magic wizard AND HE IS BASICALLY IMMEDIATELY MURDERED. JUST. Sigh.

6. The end was cute and contained important lessons, but I don't think it was worth the rest of the book to get there to be honest.

All in all, this was not for me.

TW: death of parents, siblings, and friends; murder, violence, war, gun violence, injury detail, attempted suicide, blood, alcoholism, ableism, grief

Rep: Chronic Illness (hemophilia and migraines)

Plot: 1/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Pacing: 1/5
Overall: 2/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

The story of the Romanovs has been told many different ways (both in fiction and in non-fiction) from Disney-fication to history books, but this is a fantasy take that's never been done before. I will say though, I wish Rasputin hadn't been a good guy. While it takes quite a bit of suspension of disbelief to follow the story anyway, trying to consolidate this Rasputin with the one I've been told about was probably one of the biggest stretches the book asked me to make.