While the writing was a little muddled and hard to follow, the storyline was (as usual with this subject) fascinating. The subject alone is really want kept me invested in the book.

This book was beautifully written and made Cathrine I a real human being. The pace of the book was a little hard to follow when the story went back and forth in time. The main character was intriguing to watch read. She was not a damsel in distress and it was refreshing to read about a protagonist who was strong and independent. This book motivated me to look into the other works of fiction about the Cathrine and the Russians.

I'm attempting to clean out my netgalley list of books. I initially didn't recall reading this book, but after I read the summary, I not only read it but purchased it along with the next book by this author. I loved this book, as I am a fan of all Imperial Russian history. I plan on rereading and giving a more in depth review on instagram and facebook.

This was a wonderful historical novel about a part of Russian history I was not very familiar with. I enjoyed that the characters were lively and interesting as people and were not just static historical figures with no real life on the pages. I got a little of the vibes of Heather Morris's books, particularly Cilka's Journey, mixed with a little of the TV show Reign. This was a good mix of historical, political, and dramatic. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a captivating historical drama, Russian stories, or stories of overcoming a very rough life to survive.

I found this book to be unusually cruel and beautiful. Like it was morbidly graphic in it's descriptions of violence, illness and sex. I don't know if I loved it.

"Tsarina" by Ellen Alpsten is a rich and enthralling historical novel that brings to life the captivating story of Catherine Alexeyevna, the woman who would eventually become Russia's first female ruler. Set against the backdrop of the opulent and treacherous world of Imperial Russia, Alpsten weaves a tale of ambition, ruthlessness, and passion that captivates from the very beginning.

The author's vivid prose immerses readers in the sumptuous courts of St. Petersburg and the intricate political intrigues of the time. Catherine's journey from poverty to power is depicted with a keen understanding of her complex motivations and the challenges she faces. The book's exploration of her relationships, particularly with Peter the Great, is both sensuous and intense, adding depth to the characters.

Alpsten's meticulous attention to historical detail enhances the authenticity of the narrative, transporting readers to a time of lavish feasts, religious rites, and the lurking dangers within the Russian court. The tension and uncertainty that surround Catherine's efforts to secure her position and outmaneuver her enemies create a gripping and suspenseful atmosphere that keeps the pages turning.

While the novel's grand scope and intricate portrayal of Imperial Russia is commendable, at times the pacing might feel slightly uneven as it shifts between moments of opulence and darker, more intense scenes. Nonetheless, Alpsten's skill in crafting a vivid historical tapestry remains evident.

"Tsarina" is a captivating debut that captures the essence of a remarkable woman's rise to power, painting a vivid portrait of a tumultuous period in Russian history. Ellen Alpsten's ability to blend history and fiction in such a compelling manner makes this novel a worthy read for fans of historical fiction and anyone intrigued by the fascinating world of Imperial Russia.

Taken from her family and forced into work after a run in with generals, Catherine is abused and forced to run away. She ends up on the church doorstep and just as life starts to look up… it all comes crashing back down. Until she runs into Tsar Peter in a Russian war camp.

This novel really put into perspective the trials and tribulations of simply being a woman in this time period.

TW: SA, Rape, Miscarriage, Stillborn birth are just a few that were triggering for myself. I’m sure there were more I missed.

From what I could tell, this novel was pretty in line with history. Some things seemed to be out of order but I may have been looking at the wrong thing or if not, I’m sure it was done to create a better flow of the story. It was very hard to be a woman in these times. The Tsar/kings could do as they pleased but the Tsarina/Queens were to remain loyal.

A great read that looks at the history of Catherine I and how she transformed the Russian empire. Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've been wanting to learn more about Catherine's story, but I don't think this is the right book for me. The narrative wasn't a fit for what I was hoping to read. However, given the glowing reviews for this book, I'm sure it will be a much stronger fit for other readers.

Fascinating read about a peasant woman’s drive for power during a period of Russian history that was anything but kind to women, especially peasant women. I knew next to nothing about Russian history prior to reading this book, but Ellen Alpsten created such an engaging story that I found myself Googling information about Peter the Great and Russian monarchy throughout the story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction and strong women characters. Thanks to #NetGalley and #St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest opinion.

While the history behind this book was very interesting I found the storytelling just a bit gratuitous and overly dramatic. I am no prude and enjoy a good sex scene where it makes sense but here there were many and all either over-the-top, mind blowing sex or sexual assault. I know it was not an all sunshine and rainbows. period of history but it was a lot. The cruelty of Peter was a lot.

I did appreciate the cast of characters in the beginning of the book because there are a lot of characters.

If Russian History is your thing, this book is available now.

Ooooooo I liked this book! Like is not strong enough actually thank you to the author ( what an outstanding debut!), the publishers, and NG for this copy of the book in exchange for my review. I loved this book so much that if I lost my place at work I would just start the entire chapter over because I didn’t mind listening to it again. Or I’d fall asleep after working 12 hours and just jump back three chapters and again, just listen to it again. I actually do not know much at all about Russia and its history unless it’s Catherine or Nicky and Alex. So this book has me researching for more books. I have a veritable book stopper on Peter so there’s a start. Definitely this book is an inspiration to me. Most definitely! Great work!

1.5 "overwrought, inconsistent, gratuitous" stars !!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy. I am providing my honest review. This was released November 2020.

Whew...I am very glad that this book is finished. I only completed this work as a way to understand this novel's prose and structure and why it almost completely did not work for me.

This is a historical fiction biography of Russia's Catherine...the tsarina...Peter the Great's second wife.

For me this book was a disaster albeit at times educational and occasionally entertaining. I want to be clear that this was far from the worst of historical fictions that I attempted but all the heavy flaws combined with my pretty constant exasperation prevent this novel from even getting to two star quality.

The book combines poorly done romantic melodrama with quasi historical fiction with very self-important chick lit overtones. This is extremely jarring and rings very false to my reading ears.

Catherine's personality psychology is extremely inconsistent and superficial. I did not believe at all in this author's interpretation of her temperament or life choices.

There is way too much slapstick violence and gratuitous sex that feels extremely cheap. The emotions seem false, overwrought and vacillate frequently.

The writer is very talented in being able to bring in tastes, smells and sights of the times and for me this was probably the only redeeming quality to this book.

Really this is a one star book that I am giving an extra half star because I wanted to finish despite my mostly very poor reading experience.

I do own the sequel but will not be moving forward in this series.

WHEW! What a saga. Thank you, Netgalley, for letting me lose some days of my life to this story, which leaves few things to the imagination (other than perhaps the clothing). It is not a novel for the faint of heart, I'll just leave it at that.

I didn't know a lot about Peter the Great or this period of Russia's history prior to reading Tsarina, but because I'm that person I did a lot of side research while reading this in order to have a more factual basis for the novel (though clearly not to the depth this author had). I do love me a good piece of period fiction, and this was, in my opinion, an exquisite one.

I enjoyed this immensely.

A beautiful story of the rise of Catherine, the heiress to one of the greatest thrones in all of history. Starting at her dismal childhood, Catherine constantly rises above. She mets her match in Peter, the Tsar of all Russias. With him she rises to new heights, but also new lows.

A very great book, full of great historical facts and fiction, all exceptionally blended to be a great story. I heartily recommend this book!

It was a great read. A little slow (for me) at the beginning, but it has a nice pace and the plot is thrilling and engaging. It's a book I've found myself drawn to ever since the first time I read it, and that I recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction, political thrillers, and strong female characters in their reads.

This book makes me want to drink vodka and wear fur.

Seriously.

I loved the descriptive writing, the historical tidbits, and the emotional depth of the writing. I knew nothing of this particular Russian Catherine before I read this, and although I know this is fiction, I felt transported to another place and time. Yes, it's a chunker of a book, but so very worth it.

If you have a desire to wear a furry hat and watch the winter snow while plotting to scrape your way to the top of an empire, read this book.

I listened to this on audio. The synopsis was interesting and I thought I would like it. At times I did. But it was long. There were times when I lost interest. Also, pretty graphic sex in places.

While it was an interesting topic and might appeal to those who are super interested in Russian history, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to those who have just a small interest in the topic.

I loved this book—what an epic historical depiction! While the rape elements were challenging, I didn’t find them to be gratuitous or excessive. We’re dealing with historical fiction, not fantasy here, and the situations seemed true to life, if a bit challenging. Mostly I loved watching how Catherine navigated the court and Peter’s moods. I’ve read Sebastian Sebag Montefiore’s The Romanovs, and the entire lot lived lives of excess and violent emotion. I can’t wait to read the sequel and see how Elizabeth fares!

I admittedly know nothing about Russian history ... or at least I didn't before reading Ellen Alpsten's debut novel Tsarina, which tells the story of Catherine I, unlikely Empress of Russia. Thus this biographical fiction novel served as my primer to Russia's violent, bloody past. Often compared to Game of Thrones (minus the dragons and White Walkers), Tsarina is a compelling tale of power, strife, and lust.

I chose this book, and rightfully so, for the prompt "A book that intimidates you," in a reading challenge that I am participating in, as it comes in at nearly 500 pages and is about a person in history that I had never heard of before picking up this novel. I was surprised to learn that Catherine, who became Empress Regnant of Russia after her husband Peter I's death, was not born a princess who was wed to the Russian Tsar through an arranged marriage, but rather was a child of serfdom and poverty. How did an unassuming girl who was born into nothing rise to be the highest ranked woman of Russia? Read Tsarina to find out!

Catherine I's life story is actually quite incredible, and I was fascinated to learn how she used her wit, wiles, and womanhood to seduce the Russian Tsar and secure her place by his side. Catherine, born as Marta, found herself passed from family to family, and later from man to man, after losing her parents at a young age to the plague. Her upbringing was one fraught with struggle and sacrifice. She experienced injustice and violence early on and learned how to survive as a woman in a man's world. Catherine was a rather unlikeable, indulgent woman who was not above using her body to gain favors and position in the wilds of Russia, but she was admirable in her ability to not only survive, but ascend the throne as Empress in her own right. And who is to say how differently any of us were to live our lives if we were born in her shoes?

Even though I was initially intimidated by Tsarina's length, I found Alpsten's writing easy to consume and digest. She makes the history of Imperial Russia's first woman ruler accessible to those of us who know little of it. Aplsten's novel, however, is exhaustive, and I feel that some supporting plot lines could have been left out with little consequence. Readers should also note that this book contains many graphic scenes of sex (including several instances of rape) and violence. I can't help but feel that Alpsten was accurate, however, in her depictions, as history is filled with unsavory acts committed in the pursuit of power and pleasure.

Read the engaging and informative Tsarina if you are interested in seeing one of Russia's lesser known rulers brought to life.