Providing insight into a time when Russia was a world power, this is the story of Catherine. She is a woman who came from nothing to becoming the Empress of Russia. But as other sweeping historical fiction has shown, it is difficult to write a book like this without becoming monotonous.

Not gonna lie: when I requested this book, I thought it was about Catherine the Great. I quickly realized it was not and still thoroughly enjoyed it. Historical Russian fiction focusing on someone other than the Romanovs was unique, interesting, and -albeit depressing- a breath of fresh hair. There’s a lot of war and a lot of childbirth... honestly, lots of stuff that was sort of repetitive and I tended to skim. Her impoverished early days are horrifying and sad. The way women were treated at this time in history is pretty disturbing, but this book has a great take on a mostly un-talked-about time period and a historical leader that isn’t often looked at so closely. I felt a kinship to Catherine I, which I wouldn’t probably have discovered otherwise. I’d definitely recommend this to any fans of historical fictions - specifically Russian history.

Interesting period but lengthy & too much detail🙄

The life story of Peter the Great's second wife, raised from poverty and obscurity and Peter's partner during his creation of Saint Petersburg and attempts to make Russia a great Western power, was a compelling basis for a story. It's obvious that the author did painstaking research in her effort to recreate Caterina and Peter's world. Caterina/Marta's journey from contented but poor and illiterate serf's daughter to palace seems incredible. I found her life before Peter the most interesting part of the book. Once the story moves to her time with the Tsar it became more about him, his ambition, lust and cruelty than about Caterina. In fact, after the big climax of Peter the Great's death, the story ends quickly without much coverage of her years ruling Russia on her own.

I think that the book was way too long and bogged down by endless description that dominated instead of the action. And the action there was seemed to concentrate on cruelty, torture and violence. Too much harsh reality for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Catherine the Great rose from poor and humble beginnings and managed to become the wife of Peter the Great in Russia. I was very interested in Peter’s efforts to make Russia a more refined, cultural and respected nation, on par with major European countries. One of the ways he did this was to build St. Petersburg on what was formerly a swamp. Victory over the Swedes gave Russia access to the Baltic Sea, a key strategy for them. I was fortunate to visit St. Petersburg last year, so I was interested to hear of it’s beginnings and the building of Catherine Palace, Alexander Palace and Peterhof. The Russian court in 1725 was wild, violent and drunk. Catherine delivered 13 children and only 2 reached adulthood. Peter suffered from syphilis and did unspeakable things to his family and citizens. This book is fiction but heavily based on fact and well-researched.

Reading Ellen Alpsten's historical epic was like reading a Phillipa Gregory novel set in Russia. This book has all the soapy drama and political/interpersonal machinations that Gregory is known for; only the setting is different. I have long been interested in Russia's Romanov dynasty, and I enjoyed reading this fictional account of Peter the Great through the eyes of his second wife, Catherine I. Peter was a truly horrible person, at least from the perspective of this novel. He was barbarous, arrogant, unfaithful, and terrifying in so many respects. But that's what makes him interesting, I suppose.

Catherine's life story begins in her early, formative years. We watch her go from the peasantry to the aristocracy, and suffer through rape and heartbreak on her climb to power. At times the book succumbs to sensationalism. Since I only have a surface level knowledge of these historical figures, I'm not sure how many liberties the author took with their lives, and I can only hope that the reality was a little more nuanced and subdued than the drama contained in these pages. All the same, the excess is what makes the book interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Tsarina tells the story of Peter the Great’s second wife, born of very humble beginnings and a former washerwoman. Marta, renamed Catherine Alexeyevna by Peter, ultimately became the Empress of Russia. Her life was never easy, 12 pregnancies with only 3 daughters that lived past the age of 1. Imagine losing so many babies, especially the few males that Peter was so determined to have. Threatened by Peter’s constant stream of mistresses as well as by his son from his first marriage, she used her intellect to weave through the constant roadblocks. My heart broke reading the graphic description of her lover, Wilhelm’s, gruesome death. Also when reading about Alexey’s torture and death.
Women were merely pawns and treated as possessions by the men in power during Peter the Great’s reign. In this respect Catherine fared well, even after being raped by looting soldiers. She was rescued by a man who became her life long friend, then was taken by his superior, who also became a friend, and finally caught the eye and heart of a Peter. Catherine earned their respect and support by treating them all with kindness and compassion. I cannot imagine living during that time, especially in brutally cold Russia. Interesting reading about how Saint Petersburg was built as well as reading about the other famous palaces I have read about in other books. It was also interesting to read of the battles between Sweden and Russia.
The disparity between those in power and the poor souls starving throughout Russia was chilling, although expected. Alpsten pointed out several times that the money spent for Catherine’s crown for example would have fed so many for a very long time.
I can’t help but think that Peter’s syphilis caused him to have the rages he had and contributed to the loss of so many of his babies.
Altogether an interesting portrayal of a woman who overcame so many obstacles and tragedies in her life. 3 1/2 stars.
Many thanks to Ellen Alpsten, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an ARC of this soon to be published book.

Following in the vein of the best of Russian literature, this is a symphony of suffering offset by the highs of life and love.
A fictionalized telling of the life of Russia's Catherine The Great, this book goes deep into the horrors that life in Russia was for pretty much every single living soul in the 18th century. Through Marta (later in life renamed Catherine by Tsar Peter I) we see every step in the hierarchy of lives and how quickly things can take a turn. Alpsten goes all-in when it comes to showcasing how little worth the poor had in Russia, seen merely as souls to be sold, traded or awarded by those in power. Through Marta, the reader gets a chance to experience life as a serf, a servant, a prisoner of war, a mistress to the most powerful man in Russia, a courtier, and an empress with no power.
Along the way, Alpsten also expertly displays the ostentatiousness of life at court and how fragile things were with a Tsar that was never satisfied and, quite honestly, more than a little crazy.
Alpsten truly breathes life into her Tsarina and even though it is hard to read at times, it's a delight to see her evolve and rise up to the challenges that life threw her way.
Definitely a read worthy of history buffs, drama fanatics, or anyone looking for a deep dive into history as seen through the lens of a strong woman.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early read.

I am always interested in reading history and historical fiction, and although I know little about Russia (and maybe because of that lack), I decided to read “Tsarina.” From the beginning, author Ellen Alpsten wove a fascinating story about Catherine Alexeyeva, a woman who rose from being a serf to becoming an empress and ruler of Russia.

The description captivated my attention in the early chapters, adding an extra layer that is sure to delight any reader. However, it is the history of Catherine (born Marta) that carried me through the book, a lifetime that seemed to attract more than her share of luck. As the book continued, Ms. Alpsten demonstrated how Catherine’s cleverness helped control some of the events in her life. One can also see a shift as Catherine slowly gives up her innocence as she relies more on her wit and subtle manipulation efforts.

The story reads like a good novel as Catherine moves from one crisis to the next. True to the book’s title, Catherine is the main character. While there are mentions of the military aspects of Russia and the influence of Peter on the Russian people, the focus is on Catherine. The author appears to have gone to great lengths to represent the era when the story takes place, and has included some of the torturous and barbaric acts performed as well as descriptive sex scenes. Despite the 480 page count, I found this book to move along fairly quickly. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.

I was really looking forward to this book because I'm interested in Russian history and I like historical fiction. I also studied Russian folklore so I love the details of a humble Russian home that seem straight out of a folktale. The whole family sleeping atop the oven, etc.

Then the brutal rapes began. All rapes are brutal, but these are on page, described in detail.

And there is no historical evidence for them, according to the sources I checked?

I will never understand why some people are obsessed with the "historical accuracy" of women being raped. What does it say about an author that she feels compelled to fill in the mysterious youth of Catherine I with rape? The absolute laziest tragic backstory ever. It just makes me angry.

For readers of historical fiction, this book opens the door to the Russia of Peter the Great in all its splendor and its brutality. It is the story of a peasant named Marta, who, through many trials and adventures, goes on to be the mistress of the Tsar Peter, his wife, and his crowned Empress. While she rises beyond her wildest dreams, she also has to make many difficult choices. She suffers through 12 pregnancies in the effort to give Peter a male heir. She gives Peter her love and support as he spirals out of control due to syphilis and probably mercury poisoning and becomes more and moral brutal and less sane.

This book does not try to sugarcoat the horrible living conditions for the vast majority of Russians of that time, nor does it attempt to mitigate the insatiable greed and treachery of the ruling classes. However Ms. Alpsten does provide a revealing picture of the loneliness and inability of aa absolute monarch to trust anyone in his life.

Peter the Great was a man of many strengths and many flaws. His dreams for a westernized Russia are what came to be associated with his memory. When he died and Marta, then Empress Catherine became ruler, the Russian people both mourned and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ms. Alpsten deep research and her storytelling ability make this a must read for historical fiction lovers.

Title: Tsarina
Author: Ellen Alpsten
Genre: Historical
Rating: 4 out of 5

St. Petersburg, 1725. Peter the Great lies dying in his magnificent Winter Palace. The weakness and treachery of his only son has driven his father to an appalling act of cruelty and left the empire without an heir. Russia risks falling into chaos. Into the void steps the woman who has been by his side for decades: his second wife, Catherine Alexeyevna, as ambitious, ruthless and passionate as Peter himself.

Born into devastating poverty, Catherine used her extraordinary beauty and shrewd intelligence to ingratiate herself with Peter’s powerful generals, finally seducing the Tsar himself. But even amongst the splendor and opulence of her new life—the lavish feasts, glittering jewels, and candle-lit hours in Peter’s bedchamber—she knows the peril of her position. Peter’s attentions are fickle and his rages powerful; his first wife is condemned to a prison cell, her lover impaled alive in Red Square. And now Catherine faces the ultimate test: can she keep the Tsar’s death a secret as she plays a lethal game to destroy her enemies and take the Crown for herself?

From the sensuous pleasures of a decadent aristocracy, to the incense-filled rites of the Orthodox Church and the terror of Peter’s torture chambers, the intoxicating and dangerous world of Imperial Russia is brought to vivid life. Tsarina is the story of one remarkable woman whose bid for power would transform the Russian Empire.

This was a solid read, and the characters and setting were well-done and believable, but…these people were horrible. Seriously. Catherine rose from nothing to be the most powerful woman in the country, but the things these people do to each other and their ideas of entertainment are horrible. Believable, sadly, but horrible.

Most of the book tells Catherine’s story from the time she left her family, her struggles amidst the horrors of war, how she met Peter and their relationship. The blurb makes it sound like most of the book is about Catherine’s struggle to take the crown, but that’s only a very small portion. She’s a fascinating woman, but the cruelty of her and her world made this a tough book to read.

Ellen Alpsten was born in Kenya Tsarina is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live on 11/11.)

Tsarina was beautifully written novel. I actually took my time with it, it is not a book you binge read to be honest, it goes into details and it is very descriptive to the point where you need to take the occasional break but it is done beautifully nonetheless.

Sure, I suppose some creative liberties have been taken, a bit hard not to, but what I had the hardest time with was the length and the smutness? I don't mind it at all, but this leaning more into the historical aspect and yet the delivery turned out more of a romance novel, which again I don't have an issue with, I did however started with with a different mindset.

Overall, it was a slow read, with breaks in between but oh so interesting and rich in its writing.

I was really looking forward to this book. I like historical fiction and knew next to nothing about Catherine but I had to DNF at 25%.

The story opens with the death of Peter and Catherine taking over the throne. After that we go back to her beginnings when she was a serf. It is a hard, hard life and she is sold to Vasilly who rapes her repeatedly until she kills him. After that it was just more rape, rape, sex, murder, torture, rape, torture and I couldn't continue. Way too many triggers for me.

Catherine, or Marta, didn't feel like a real person to me, just someone that was victimized over and over again so I just didn't care. The writing seemed flat so I didn't even get a sense of place. Perhaps without the drawn out descriptions of the rapes and sex or the rugs in Sheremetov's tent the book would have been readable for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book.

I love historical fiction and I've always been fascinated by this period of Russian history, so Tsarina sounded perfect for me. Ultimately, I could not finish it. What I did read was well written and seemed well researched, so I can definitely see a lot of readers loving this book, but it was just too graphic for me. It might even be a book that I'd enjoy in a time where life wasn't so heavy, and I may pick up a copy in the future.

Compelling historical rendition

Emerson once said, "All history is biography," and this book is the perfect embodiment of that idea. Based on real-life persons and actual events, this story goes beyond the historical records to bring to life to some of history's most intriguing people.

Catherine is, first and foremost, a sympathetic character, one with whom women will readily identify. She proves to be stronger than her circumstances, braving each hardship and tragedy with the grace and determination that ultimately solidified her place in history. I enjoyed the writing style and the attention to detail. Since I usually read pure fiction, I'm accustomed to less angst and more HEAs, but I do enjoy seeing history come alive even when that story was not all happiness and serenity.

This is a must-read book for anyone interested in Russian history, especially during the highly-charged days of the tsars. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Tsarina is the story of Catherine I of Russia. It tells of her story of working her way up from poverty to marrying the Tsar. Considering that most historical fiction books, and many popular history books, focus on the Romanovs this is a refreshing time period to read about involving the history of Russia. Sadly, that shift of focus to another time is the best thing about this book.
Much of this book is filled with superfluous details. When a reader is only one-third of the way through the book at chapter 30 there are way too many things that should have been edited out. And many of those extras are things that are uncomfortable to read. And while description is important, no one needs to read the detailed descriptions of rape, or other sexual encounters. Multiple pages on the sexual exploits of a pair of sisters, some of which were with each other have no purpose in this book, it is filler fluff and unnecessary besides being uncomfortable to read.
I am disappointed with this book. So disappointed that I could not finish it. It was a weighted burden to open the book each time I went to read because I knew that I would be reading heavy subject matter that did not even matter to the full spectrum of the story being told. This had the potential to be something great. A kickstarter to a new fascination of another historical era, however, it fell flat. This is not a book that I will recommend to anyone, even the most ardent of Russian history buffs.

Fans of Russian literature will fall in love with Ellen Alpsten's 'Tsarina.' Reminiscent of Robert K. Massie's 'Nicholas and Alexandra.' 'the plot differs with a fiercely determined protagonist as she transitions from serf to Empress Catherine the Great. Although Alpsten's novel is penned in historical fiction, the author shares a love of Russian history with her readers.

Marta grew up poor but well-loved until a fateful swim changed her life. Forced to tread water, she often felt like she was swimming without clear direction. Striving to stay alive, Marta became a tour de force aligning with powerful leaders while speaking her mind.

During a time period where women were seen as pawns in a chess games, Marta threw down the gauntlet embracing her royal circumstances by delivering a 'check mate.' Will the country embrace a female leader or Catherine's ruling remain without a throne?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. There were graphic scenes throughout the book yet I was swept away by the story. I don't condone all of Catherine's actions but I was rooting for her. In order to survive, she took charge of her fate.

Reading the novel during this tumultuous time, Catherine's steely determination will resonate with readers. Living through the pandemic and pending election, we need to control our destinies.

Absolutely enthralling historical story of the rise of Marta; Catherine the Empress of all Russia. Wife of Peter the Great. From humble beginnings she is sold to a Prince of the court after the village she lived in was raised. She is then “given” to Czar Peter as a gift. So much of her life is touch and go in this court of crazy celebrations, ruthless wars and profligate womanizing. It is through her ability to separate Peter the man from Peter the Czar that is her salvation. She loves him unconditionally, suffers through 12 pregnancies and cleverly saves the lives of Peter’s closes confidants when he flys into a rage. He is lucky to have her by his side and in part knows this. Her accomplishments are many though she could not read or write. Often referred to that “washer woman” though out Europe she stands strong. Be aware that Peter’s court engages in hedonistic sexual behavior and some scenes are quite graphic. But historically actuate. Thank you to Netgally and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel for an honest review. History buffs will love the exciting journey the author takes you on!

I have to start off by saying that I love historical fiction. Lately, most of my reading are stories based around WWII. all with strong women. So this was a very nice change from a history perspective. My knowledge of Tsar Peter the Great and that era has been virtually nil.

Wow, this is truly the rags to riches story of a washmaiden being sold and eventually rising to power along with that of Tsar Peter the Great. Marta had always had that ability to read people especially men. She used that ability work her way into being needed regardless of the situation and brutality of the times.

I highly recommend this book for those who like historical fiction and strong women. It would be a great book club book and would love to see the author and/or editor include discussion questions as part of the publication.

Thank you, Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had such high hopes for this book. I really love Russian history and I was excited to learn about another figure especially one with Peter the Great. Well the hopes I had were dashed very quickly. There seemed nothing positive to take of Catherine's life. Heck I am surprised she even lived through it. She was raped twice in just the parts that I read and the author just had to go into detail upon detail. She was sold continuously between people and treated terribly. I get that surf life is terrible but we didn't need such a dissertation and description of EVERYTHING, right down to the river bank and the reed that grew around it.

The run on paragraphs also killed the reading ease. The paragraph would last a page and a half! So much description and internal thoughts that conversation was lost in the sauce.

The supporting cast was also not sorted out so the reader could tell the difference between them. Catherine even lacked development, you couldn't even relate to her because she seemed so flat and had no emotions about what was happening to her. There are lots of descriptions of orgies and debauchery, but heck that was the Russians for you back then. That didn't seem to bother me.

I could not finish. I made it to 35% and called it a day. I hate that I did that but I just couldn't take it especially the present to the flashback to the present. Got lost and really never got on track after that.

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.