I did not finish this book, as I found it difficult to read. The writing just did not "flow" for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me- I typically dive into royal historical fiction pretty easily. However, this felt very repetitive and for much of it, had nothing to do with the Tsar/royals. It was also incredibly graphic at several points, which made it very difficult to read for me.

A beautiful historical drama! The characters were well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

I have not really read anything about this Russian royal and was interested right away by her story.

Marta is from Poland, then a part of Russia, and from a poor background, so she has to do what she can to survive even if that means the worst. She makes choices that no doubt gave her sleepless nights and she was also a victim of other people's cruelty.
Then she meets Peter, the Czar. He is young and full of lust and need for adventure. At first their time together is lovely and romantic but then struggles begin as he is always with other women and does not try to hide it. His cruelty towards his son is appalling and Peter, in my opinion is a mad man and how Catherine ( a.k.a Marta ) can still love him is shocking. While a long read, it sucked me in and I could not put it down! .

“Tsarina” spans decades of Catherine I’s life, following her journey from a young servant to Peter the Great’s wife. Ellen Alpsten covers so much ground in her fictional account of the ruler’s life, humanizing the empress.

Does Alpsten take some liberties with history for a more dramatic impact at the beginning? Sure, but it pays off with a wildly entertaining, soapy novel. And full disclosure, my main frame of reference for this time period is scrolling through Wikipedia in between episodes of Hulu’s “The Great” (which, side note, is a really funny series that I absolutely recommend!), so I am more than okay with some creativity to liven things up.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I went into it thinking it would be a completely non-fiction biography of Catherine. So this fictional account threw me for a few pages, but it was definitely enjoyable. It added such life to Catherine in a way that I think would have been more difficult in a typical biography. In the end, “Tsarina” covered so much of Catherine’s life in a really digestible fashion. And Alpsten deserves major credit for clearly describing and separating each character named “Peter” (aka half the men in Catherine’s life).

From her days as Marta, the young servant, all the way to Catherine I, the empress of Russia, Alpsten shows how the woman grew into her role and did what she had to do to maintain her status. It’s atmospheric and tosses you into her life immediately. The book starts off so strong with Marta’s story and does get a bit repetitive in the latter half of the book as Catherine spends most of her time pregnant. However, I was already so invested in the novel that, looking back, it didn’t bother me as much – Alpsten follows her life with historical accuracy. And as a waring, there were a lot of (at times) gratuitous rape and assault scenes that I skimmed through.

I would love to read Alpsten’s take on Catherine the Great to see the next generation of Russian rulers. I think she could really have some fun with Catherine II’s upbringing as a princess, her hate-filled relationship with Peter and her eventual coup. Alpsten’s writing style would shine with Russia’s well-known, longest-running female empress.

Overall, “Tsarina” is an incredibly entertaining take on Catherine I’s life. I knew almost nothing about the ruler before this and it was such a fascinating read.

This historical novel of Russia began in 1699 and covered the next 25 or so years in Eastern Europe, including Russian wars with Sweden and Turkey. Our author begins with the harshness and hopelessness of peasant life in this feudal society. Our Tsarina who became the wife of Peter the Great and later, Catherine the Great, was born as one of these dregs of society.

Studying medieval history, even in college, one skims over the particulars of life in the lowest echelons and in the harshest societies. The brutality and lawlessness of the times – especially in Russia – was well depicted in this book. Even though gory and graphic, I did not have the feeling that these descriptions were in any way gratuitous nor merely seeking sensationalism. It was what it was. The descriptions actually reminded me of the harshness of life portrayed in “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett – again, not gratuitous, just describing the life of the times.

Personally, I was disappointed not to learn more of Catherine’s reign as the book begins with Peter’s death and Catherine’s underhanded plan to usurp the throne. The bulk of the very long book is taken up with Catherine’s journey from being sold, as a child (11 years old, I think), to being used, escaping and eventually capturing the eye and the heart of Peter, the Great. We follow this couple into various battles, through 12 pregnancies (with few surviving children) and finally into actual, legal marriage before Peter dies.

I’m not sure what could be left out as the novel encompasses so much history and really not all that many years, but it tends to feel too long. Maps would have helped a lot. Perhaps maps will be included in the hardback version.

I’m most appreciative of this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Despite the over-the-top scandal-ridden nature of the book blurb, this is a serious and generally well-intentioned study of a lesser-known Russian empress whose life didn't need any hype at all to be novel-worthy.

Not much is known about the early life of Marta Skavronska, except that she came from a poor family in Livonia (modern-day Latvia and Estonia), then under Swedish control. After Russia's victory in the Great Northern War, Livonia became part of Peter the Great's empire. Marta became a laundry woman, the mistress of a Russian general, then of Peter the Great himself, who eventually married her and whom she succeeded on the throne for two years before her death.

This novel reads well and does a good job of filling in the many gaps in the historical record. Marta is a rounded, sympathetic center to the story. Best of all, it's nice to see an author moving away from the well-traveled terrain of the Romanovs and Catherine II to address that earlier, cataclysmic period of change that brought modern Russia into being.

I haven't read much Russian history, so this was a step into a new world for me. I loved getting to know these characters and read about a different perspective of the Romanov family. The book was a bit repetitive, and could have been shortened a bit, but overall was a good read!

Being of a Russian background, I was very interested in the premise of this book and very excited to read it. Unfortunately, the story just fell flat for me. The story felt very long and I had a hard time connecting to it. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Even though you know that this story was fiction the author made it feel like you were there and that it was real. I was hoping that the way it ended there would be another story.

If you love historical fiction you will love Tsarnia. Based on the rags to riches life of Catherine I. This book is well written, raw and brutal.

This brings back memories of Russian history in college. In the beginning of the book we learn Peter the Great is dying without an heir. The book goes on to tell the story of Peter and the life of Catherine Alexeyevna. Catherine starts out in poverty and this is the story of her life from about 9 years old.. Peter's life starts a little later in his life but the story is about his rule of the Russian empire. Peter was strong, savvy, a warrior, and ruthless. This is an interesting time in history with many battles and fights for land and titles.

This story is very intriguing and Ellen Alpsten did bring the story to life. However, I did feel the story read slow and could use some more editing. Catherine had 12 pregnancies which is probably true but anything done 12 times gets a bit repetitive so we could have skipped through them with a bit less detail. Many of them did not end well which was typical of the time. Catherine's early years were very interesting. Later in the book she was kept relevant for giving Peter the Great an heir to the throne.

I enjoyed the story. I do think things could be tightened up. I will give this 4 stars. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this book. #Netgalley # StMartingsPress #EllenAlpsten

If you like Russian history this book is for you. Not enough has been written about Catherine I and this book does justice to her life, the struggles to survive as Marta when she was young, and all the chaos with Peter. Definitely well written, will recommend.

WELL DONE ALPSTEN!

This is far beyond your typical historical book. It’s raw and deeply emotionally driven.

I have always been fascinated with the fall of the Romanov family, so it was nice to see before the typical Tsar books. This is about THE woman.

Peter the Great’s second one was a forced to be reckoned with. The book follows her life from the time she is a washerwoman to the time she rises to a power that was unheard of for women. Her transformation throughout each chapter is intoxicating.

The scenery is described vividly, but not overwhelming so. You can see each scene in your mind and that is huge to me as a reader. The feelings are written well enough that it is easy to understand the decisions the MC makes. You can see why her options may seem vast, yet they are crucial to her own survival.

This book shows the reality of what it was like to be a woman in those times. Each move that Catherine made changed from just a girl’s decision to something much more calculated. Exploring her grow as a political figure was phenomenal.

Highly recommend this book. I do want to mention some trigger warnings, for she did not have an easy start.

I can't recall when I've detested two characters as much as Peter and Catherine (fka Marta). He was a boorish, bloodthirsty, immature dictator. It was no wonder other leaders laughed at his ignorance and dodged his visits. His childish I-want-it-so-I-shall-have-it attitude is illustrated by his visit to Germany (?) when he admired a room entirely done in rare amber, their pride and joy - then boldly demanded it be dismantled by the owners and sent to St. Petersburg as a 'gift'.

Catherine was no better, a mediocre mother at best, and her entire focus was on hanging onto Peter. That she had a beautiful rival infected with smallpox pretty much says it all. She also made no attempt to educate herself or learn to read throughout her life.

As far as I can tell, Tsarina was well researched, and the writing was smooth. I was drawn on page by page, reading about this awful, awful couple.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and netgalley for the ARC.

What an incredible read. I read this thick book in one day. I've never known much about about the Great's second wife. Aplsten does a fantastic job of bringing her personality and voice to life. She lived a haggard life and learned to manipulate and soothing as necessary. There is lots of debauchery in the novel. Although historical fiction, I think readers will be surprised at how much detail is packed about customs, food, and cycle of Court life.

A historical novel on Tsar Peter II and Tsarina Catherine. It includes the wars with Sweden and building of Saint Petersburg. An interesting look at a pleasant, who does not know how to read or write becomes ruler of Russia. A book that reminds women how far we have in terms of education and ability. The book looks how Russia entered European politics..

Tsarina is a historical novel set during the reign of Peter the Great. Peter was the Russian Tsar who thru force of will and law tried to transform Russian society from an Asian perspective to a European prospective.

This story is told from the point of view of his mistress and later 2nd wife, Catherine Alexeyevna who starts life as a serf. She flees her life as a serf, she travels thru parts of what was Swedish controlled territory and gets caught up in the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia.

She works her way up from war captive to become the mistress of the Tsar of Russia, Peter. The book gives a strong sense of place and you feel that you are there in the wild and turbulent times while Russia fights Sweden and Catherine repeatedly pregnant has trouble producing a male heir.

As a historical novel, it is a good read. The only problem I had was the jumping back in forth from the present to the past. It was difficult sometimes to tell when the story was taking place. I would rate a 4 star out of 5 stars for this novel.

As a fan of Historical Fiction and Russian Naturalist literature, Tsarina was an easy draw for me. Technically, it isn't Russian Naturalism but it still has many of the elements of a good Russian novel that always grabbed my interest.

The novel is loosely based on the Russian Empress, or Tsarina, Catherine Alexeyevena Romanova, who gained her title and position by marrying the Tsar of Russia, Peter Alekseyevich Romanov. As with many works of Historical Fiction, facts from history are used, but they are played with to create something that only represents a smaller slice of history. In this case, Ellen Alpsten tries to use as many facts as she can while making an attempt to limit her creative input only to enhance the novel rather than do much in the way of changing history. Alpsten had plenty of facts to work with, but her choice of fictional aspects gives Tsarina life in a manner that allows us to find some sort of relationship or empathy with various characters that pure history alone often loses.

This is a rags to riches story for Catherine with lots of horrendous behavior by others in her life who reign any sort of power and cause suffering due to their actions. Peter himself was a psychotic leader who others feared, from peasants to other monarchs, as well as family members. There's also pity and caring towards others, mostly from some of the women. Also, Alpsten doesn't hold back when some of the characters exercise some rather bawdy behavior which might offend readers who prefer to have their literature a little more tempered. Personally, as disturbing as some of it was, I think it made it all more authentic. Sometimes one needs to have the details thrown right at them in all their guts and glory regardless of how disturbing some of them may be.

Considering that some of the novel went into territory that a lot of readers would not care to read and that some of those details weren't as important to the novel as the other portions, that would limit whom I would recommend this book to. As mentioned, I prefer to put up with some uncomfortableness if that's what it takes to get the author's message across. It's there for a reason and in the case of this novel, it's most often to make the reader have a better sense of the awfulness of particular actions. All in all, I very much enjoyed the book, even when I was brought to tears.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the eBook for a fair and honest review.

I had very little knowledge on the life of Catherine the Great before picking up this book, but I am glad I did. The book was very informative but at the same time, it was absolutely stunning from start to finish. The storytelling was absolutely engaging and breathtaking. It was no easy undertaking as it seemed fairly long, but from the moment I opened the kindle edition, I was transfixed!

The story follows Marta, who was a young peasant in Poland (I think.) She owned very few things and lived a hard life, but through a series of unfortunate circumstances, somehow ends up in the Russian camp where Tsar Peter eventually visits.
This story is one of perseverance, grit, and never allowing someone to make you feel that you are lesser human being based solely on your gender. She fought against all odds and made herself into something better, something more powerful. DEFINITELY read this book, I could not recommend it more.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.