Wow! This was a thicky-thick book, but it was an awesome story!

Tsarina is a historical fiction story about Catherine I of Russia. It was a dark, beautifully written book with descriptions that made me feel like I was right there. Catherine was an incredible, smart, amazing woman and I really enjoyed reading about her! I thought that the author did a wonderful job bringing Catherine and her story to life!

Content Warning: There is descriptive detail of rape.

Overall, I found this book to be an insightful, enjoyable story about a woman in history that I knew very little about. I enjoyed the story and writing!

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

History is not sugar-coated here, and there are many instances of rape, physical abuse, and murder. Women are treated as property, and Marta is sold once (almost twice) to others and also given as a gift as if she is an ornament or concubine. One of Marta's companions commits suicide because she cannot handle the rape and murder of her children anymore. Dwarves are treated as pets and less than human, and you see them beaten for displeasing the tsar. There are also Moors that are owned by the tsar, and they are made to stand out in the freezing Russian cold just so their dark skin can glisten next to the ice. Each noble is given land with a number of "souls" on it, and these souls are basically slaves. Body parts are removed when workers try to escape, and on a third escape attempt they are killed. And yet, Peter has a slave that he "treats like family" and sends to Paris to get an education.

One anachronism that bothered me is that in a list of vendors living in Russia in 1725, the author mentions welders. Welding as we know it didn't exist until the 1800s, even though rudimentary blacksmith-style welding of materials did exist before then. Since blacksmiths were listed in the same sentence, I can only assume that this was meant to mean modern welding. I double checked with both Google and my husband, who is a welder. Will the average person catch this or even think about it? Probably not. But it did ruin the historical value of that chapter for me because it seemed so out of place.

Tsar Peter (also known as Peter the Great) is a very unlikeable character that seesaws from a vulnerable, child-like man to a violent and abusive ruler. It's hard to understand sometimes why Marta/Catherine stays with him, other than fear of what will happen if she leaves. Peter becomes increasingly unhinged throughout the book, making even his closest friends and family afraid of him.

If even half the events of this book are true, Marta had such a hard life. She starts to become as cold and ruthless as Peter as the years go by. Her fear of losing her status drive her to manipulate people and ruin lives. Peter and Catherine start to compete for who can do the most horrible things — she disfigures a woman pregnant with Peter‘a child and leaves her to die; he retaliates by torturing and killing her lover and having the man’s preserved head displayed on Catherine’s nightstand.

The novel covers so much ground and so much in terms of time that it's a slog to get through it at times. There are chapters where the action slows and it feels as if time and my interest waned as well. The rape and violence also make it a hard book to read. All in all, I'm left with a glad feeling that I didn't live in eighteenth-century Russia.

Give this book to fans of epic historical sagas who are not squeamish. Readers looking for a book with a strong female character may not enjoy this title, as Marta exists at the whims of the men around her despite her courage.

Thank you NetGallery and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this free electronic advanced readers’ copy of Tsarina! The following review contains my honest opinions.
I love historical fiction, especially stories that focus on the lives of women, and this story does not disappoint! Catherine the First of Russia is a fascinating character. Ellen Alpsten has done a beautiful job with character development. I especially love that I could see how Catherine might have fallen in love with Peter, but also how Peter might have been feared. I do feel that not enough time is spent in developing Catherine’s daughter Elizabeth.
The flow of the story is good but at times the transition in time is awkward. Also I felt the ending was a little lacking, although, I was very entertained at the shift in perspective. I really admire that Ellen Alpsten ambitiously covered almost the entire life of Empress Catherine the First.
In my opinion, the best historical fiction authors include within their author’s note at what points they deviated from historical record to build their story. I felt one paragraph within the acknowledgments to be insufficient,
Ellen Alpsten has told a captivating story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Historical Fiction takes place in 1700s about Catherine I of Russia. (Wife to Peter The Great) While a little interesting to read on the historical side, sections of the book were difficult for me to read due to repeated scenes of sexual violence, incest, and too much graphic violence, which, I felt, were not necessary and disrupted the flow of the book. Very lengthy book and I skipped through a lot of the unpleasant scenes and the long drawn out sections. Disappointing that this book just did nothing for me whatsoever.
3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan books for the opportunity to read Tsarina. I enjoy reading historical fiction and I have been looking to expand into other countries to learn more. I have very little education of Russian history prior to the 1800s and this was definitely a fascinating time in Russian history as I had no idea there was a Catherine I who ruled Russia in her own way. Ms. Alpstein's storyline has encouraged me to reach out and pick up some more books to broaden my knowledge of Russian history.

Riveting! I could not put this book down!
This is a unique look at the life of Catherine the Great that covers her very full life; from her early poverty as a serf, to being sold as a menial servant, to her fascinating rise to become one of the most famous female leaders in history. Her life with Peter The Great lifted Marta (Catherine) To heights of power and luxury that she would never have imagined as a poor child. This is no staid read - it is a novel that rings with both historical accuracy as well as a sense of “stranger-than-fiction”.

If books were rated as movies are I would rate this as a PG for sections of sexual explicitness.

Hearty thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this as an ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this riveting, fascinating book!

As someone somewhat personally affected by Peter's reforms (my ancestors were Old Believers that fled Russia because of them) it was really interesting to read about "the other side". Well, it was a true delight to read about Martha, her adventures and battles and the building of Saint Petersburg and Modern Russia. Splendid representation, compelling on every level. One of my all-time favorites historical fiction novels for sure. To be closely compared to Harem by Colin Falconer.
This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Reader’s Copy of Tsarina, a debut novel by Ellen Alpsten from NetGalley. I love reading about the Romanovs but wasn’t familiar with Empress Catherine I, second wife of Peter the Great of Russia. I was totally captivated by this book. I couldn’t put it down. It was hard to imagine that this woman started life as an illegitimate serf and rose to become Tsarina in her own right. I loved learning about her life and since I’ve visited Russia, I enjoyed reading about Peter’s vision in building all the landmarks in Saint Petersburg I visited, turning it from a marshland into a thriving city. But Catherine’s journey was the heart of the story. She withstood adversity and all odds and had the strength to prevail. High recommended.

I found much to like in this fictionalized presentation of the life of Catherine I (born Marta, a serf) but some scenes just went on too long and were too graphic - and I love graphic novels. While I loved the detail in building of St. Petersburg and the churches, etc. and the depiction of the depravity of the Russian court at this time, I found some of the scenes of the depravity overly long and drawn-out so they almost became repellant. However, I enjoyed finding out more about Catherine I, especially since I've been to Russia several times and visited many of the places described in this novel. The first part of the novel was exciting and showed vividly what the fate of a woman, especially that of a serf, was like at that time in Russia. However, I would have liked to have known more about how Catherine I ruled once she became Tsarina and that part was swiftly covered in a few paragraphs. All we know is the people loved her (who wouldn't after the reign of Peter the Great) but not really why. Perhaps there was not as much historically accurate texts to rely on for her reign? If you like historical fiction laced with bodice-ripping scenes and scenes depicting the true savagery of the Russian court at this time, this is the book for you. If you prefer a tamer rendering of history, you might look for something else.

I was sent my copy by the publisher in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I found this book very interesting. Like many other people I have always read about British royalty and monarchies but very rarely about other countries. I have read some of Tolstoy's stories but that is more modern times. It was very interesting to hear about Russia and the neighboring countries in the 1700's. It is a part of history I didn't know much about and found it fascinating.

The story had intrigue, romance, history, violence - pretty much anything you could want from a story. It was a definite page turner and I love when I finish a book and have to go down the internet rabbit hole to learn more about the topic.

This book tell the story of Marta/Catherine Alexeyevna who rose from nowhere to meet Tsar Peter, and become his wife’s most trusted companion. This was a fast paced and well researched novel that I mostly enjoyed. For me however the repeated scenes of sexual violence were not necessary and indeed they spoilt what was an excellent and well written story.

The life of Catherine Alexeyevna (1684-1727) is very well documented from the time that she lived with Ernst Glick and family. Ellen Alpsten exposes Marta/Catherine’s struggles as a young maiden trying to survive in poverty and and takes you through her journey to meeting the Tsar Peter and becoming his wife and most trusted companion. You feel her emotions as she maneuvers herself through relationships with courtiers, politics, war and childbirth. Very well written and an interesting perspective on Russian royal history.

Tsarina is the epitome of a rags to riches story in a neglected corner of Russian history. The detail that Alpsten has instilled in this book is absolutely phenomenal and the overall writing is utterly brilliant. A fantastic read for anyone interested in historical fiction!

It's safe to say that there are lots of helpful reviews out there already from readers smarter than I. This book was released over 15 years ago. So I'll just recommend this to historical fiction fans.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

When teaching Russian history, I remind my students of a traditional Russian saying, "No matter how oppressed a Russian man is, there is always one more oppressed than him--his wife." This saying rings so true in the historical novel Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten, Revolving around the life of Catherine I and her rise to power, the tale reveals the brutality and harshness of life for women during the reign of Peter the Great. Tsarina rips away any romantic sentimentality of noble life and provides a gritty look at the life of the first Russian Empress.

The author's ruthless story of the life of Catherine I strips away all the glamour and shows the brutal existence most Slavic women endured. Marta, Catherine's given name, suffers indignity and hardship as she tries to survive, stumbling from one personal disaster after another. Her path to power is strewn with heartbreak and disaster. Torn from her family and sold into slavery, Marta endures rape, starvation, unending cold, and violence. Only through the kindness of a pastor, does Marta find refuge but her peaceful life shatters during the war. After another stream of disasters, Marta ends up in the encampment of Peter the Great's officers, serving as a companion and sexual play toy. Her life takes a dramatic turn once Peter makes her his mistress. Even then, her life reflects the lives of all women of her time, endless pregnancies and loss and the reality of how easily disposable they were.

As a professor of Russian history and Women's History, this novel held a special interest for me. I hesitated to read it because of the often romanticized nature of historical novels based on women. Often the female characters fall into a pattern of glamorous romantic fluff and engage in bad female behavior. Too many times, the female protagonist is typically cast as a victim in need of male rescue. That is not the case with Tsarina. Alpsten does a great job capturing the unbridled ruthlessness of life in the turn of the 18th century Russia, a land that was harsh and cold and mean. For women, life is even colder and meaner. The constant assault on their femininity and sexuality show how unfair and unbalanced life was. Peter's incessant warfare only exacerbated the turmoil and dislocation of its people, especially women. Marta, refusing to be a victim, seizes her life in both hands and fights for survival at every turn. One aches for the hardships Marta endures from her childhood to her death. Marta's plight is not a lone tale of woe and heartbreak. Her struggles paint a dismal place in history not just for her but for most females.. The women in Alpsten's world do not have a Cinderella rags to riches story. They suffer poverty, rape, domestic violence, prostitution, hunger, adultery, alcoholism, constant pregnancy and high infant/mother mortality. Loss is a constant companion for Marta and the others in her world. Their tenuous hold on life shows how expendable women were in history.

Alpsten's story rings with historical accuracy concerning key events and details. .While Tsarina is a novel, the historical events are skillfully blended into the narrative. The author recounts many of the key moments of Peter's reign and the cruel effects on his subjects. Alpsten writes her tale assuming the reader knows the basic outline of this era of Russian history. While some events such as the building of St. Petersburg and Peter's trip west are fairly well known, some of the smaller events may confuse readers. Not everyone will know who the Livonians were, or the importance of Charles XII of Sweden. For those not steeped in Eastern European history, they may find themselves a little lost at times with the story line.

Tsarina fills a void in novelized world of Russian nobility. The life of Catherine I is often lost in the pantheon of those who reigned before and after her. The dramatic and dynamic lives of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, the Empress Elizabeth, and many of the other Romanov rulers dwarfs the tale of Peter's mistress and wife. But Alpsten's Tsarina brings to life a tale of a tough woman who fought to survive and thrive. Serving at the side of Peter for many years, Marta struggles with her tightrope existence in the court at St. Petersburg. Even after she becomes Empress in her own right, Catherine fights off constant attempts to undermine her rule. While little is remembered of her reign, Catherine's legacy of toughness, grit, and determination will be encased the reign of her daughter, Elizabeth. Catherine may have only reigned for two years but she blazed a path for a woman to rule over the largest empire in the world, Empress Elizabeth of Russia.

This was a fascinating story! I only new a little about Peter the Great. I also knew his second wife was a serf and that's about it. This story was so engrossing I often stayed up late reading because I couldn't put it down. If you like history or historical fiction I highly recommend this book.

Ellen Alpsten's Tsarina is a well written and fascinating book about the lives of the Russian people during the reign of Peter the Great, from Peter himself and his Court to the poorest peasants. Packed with details about everyday life, this book took over my life from the first page. Thank you Ellen Alpsten for the journey back in time. Also thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tsarina, a novel about Peter the Great’s wife, Catherine, was alternately horrifying in its depiction of brutality and tedious in its monotonous descriptions of the Russian countryside, Moscow and St. Petersburg. The novel was set in the early 1700’s, when Peter the Great was fighting the King of Sweden to gain territory that would allow Russia to have a port for its growing navy that would be free from ice in the winter. The book focuses on “Marta,” (later named Catherine) who suffers multiple rapes, witnesses others being tortured, and is eventually discovered by Peter the Great, who falls in love with her. I almost quit this book at the 25% point, but forced myself to continue as I had received an ARC copy from NetGalley and felt duty bound to read the book in its entirety before offering a review. Unfortunately, I only made it to 55% before I finally gave up.

As mentioned previously there were horrific descriptions of multiple rapes, as well as creative forms of torture, followed by tedious passages describing what Marta/Catherine wore and ate, the parties she attended, long journeys by sled and horseback, as well as detailed descriptions of sex with Peter the Great which left nothing to the imagination. For the latter reason, the book read more like a “bodice ripper” as another reviewer described, rather than a true historical fiction novel. In conclusion, if you are seeking an interesting historical fiction novel, look elsewhere.

Tsarina by Ellen Apsten is an expansive tale of the events and culture of early 18th century Russia. It is excellent historical fiction, obviously well-researched with attention to detail that brings the settings to life. There is also enough passionate romance and intrigue to satisfy readers of those genres, also.
This novel chronicles the life of Catherine I of Russia, someone of whom I knew very little. Born out of wedlock as a serf in Livonia (Baltic states), Marta, as she was known, grew up in an area that was in turmoil, fought over and ruled at various times by powers like Sweden, Germany and Russia. War and hardship were familiar and frequent. We follow Marta’s journey from her childhood (late 1600s) through her teen years as a servant. Then, with this as background, the meat of the novel chronicles her meeting and subsequent romance and life with Tsar Peter the Great.
Told by Marta in the first person throughout, her energy, enthusiasm and resourcefulness are apparent. The times were extremely difficult for a woman and a serf, and Marta sustains herself by any means she can to survive and elevate herself to the consort of the Tsar Peter. In times when men ruled absolutely, she ultimately gained their respect.
This time in Eastern Europe apparently was very dark and, it seems, lagged behind the cultural advances of early 18th century Western Europe. The author includes the frequent disputes, killings, war crimes, palace intrigues and the abject poverty of the serfs. According to history books, Tsar Peter and Catherine began the process of modernizing Russian practices and education. Ironically, she remained illiterate all her life.
The author’s descriptive abilities are outstanding. I really liked the first person narrative of Marta/Catherine. It gave the whole story a liveliness and believability that this woman was really someone remarkable: a survivor, a passionate lover and supporter of her husband Peter the Great, and ultimately, an Empress.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A remarkable rags-to-riches story. Tsarina is the story of Catherine 1 of Russia., a fantastic political survivor Born a peasant, she never learned to read or write. She's noticed by Czar Peter the Great and becomes his mistress then his wife. She partied just as hard as Peter, and could drink most others under the table and had a huge appetite for life, which kept Peter's interest. She gave birth to 12 children, but only 2 survived to adulthood. This story chronicles tumultuous times when Peter dragged his backward country kicking and screaming into the (then) modern age. Russia was a very backward country. Peter was a progressive and had no problem brutally forcing the aristocracy to move to his newly built city of St. Petersburg, built at a staggering toll on human life in a swamp, as well as making them abandon old-fashioned customs of dress and living. When Peter dies at the age of 52, Elizabeth makes sure she takes the throne, the first time a woman has ruled Russia. There will be other Empresses that rule Russia, but she was the first and most improbable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.