Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten. It published November 10, 2020.
Wow! What a sweeping novel! I feel like I experienced Catherine's life with her and what a life she led! I didn't want to put this down. I have read quite a few books about the Romanov family, both fiction and non-fiction, and this one will fit in perfectly with it's book siblings on the shelf!
I will say you need a strong stomach for this book, as there are a lot of, LOT, of triggers. This book doesn't shy away from anything. I found the sex, and sexual assault to be too detailed for my sensitivity, but I know that doesn't trigger others as much as me. There's also quite a bit of violence and gore, as one would expect of a Tsar from this time frame. There's also a lot of war. And syphilis.
Aside from those triggers, this is a sweeping novel that makes me want to know all the things about Catherine!

If you know even the smallest bit about me, you know I’m Royal Family obsessed. And I don’t just mean the British royal family. I’m also really into learning about the Russian Royal Family’s.

Catherine I of Russia is one of the ones I don’t know much about. Other than some rumors I’ve heard, my knowledge has always been limited. But Alpsten’s historical fiction was really well researched! It started off kinda slow cause of her life but it didn’t stay that way for long. I found myself not doing anything else but sitting on the couch with this one.

If you like historical fiction, I recommend this one. If you like learning about the Russian RF, I recommend this one. If you like entertaining books about royal people, I recommend it.

It is 1725 and Peter the Great is dying. He doesn’t want his son to be his heir and is writing out a decree to announce the next ruler of Russia. Fate has other plans when he dies without finishing the sentence. In steps his second wife, Catherine Alexeyevna. Catherine may be ambitious and ruthless in her maturity, but she wasn’t always that way. She was born into poverty and had to overcome many challenges on her way into the good graces of the Tsar himself. She knows that as a woman, her role in any home is on shaky ground, but with Peter’s attention constantly roving, Catherine has had plenty of practice designing schemes to get what she wants.

Tsarina is a historical fiction story that is not for the faint of heart. The events described are violent and sensual and readers won’t know which is coming next. Although the violence of war and the graphic nature of violence against women during this time are understandable, I did not like how Alpsten took every opportunity to graphically describe sex scenes in the middle of an otherwise appropriate storyline. I didn’t care that the characters were having sex; it was the details of the acts that were not needed in this novel. Tsarina is a good historical fiction story with a different spin on the backstory of Catherine Alexeyevna.

TSARINA • Ellen Alpsten • ⭐️⭐️💫 {rounded down}

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brief Synopsis: Before there was Catherine the Great, there was Catherine Alexeyevna: the first woman to rule Russia in her own right. This debut novel is the story of her rise to power: from her start as Marta, a peasant girl sold by her own family without a second thought, to when she was christened Catherine Alexeyevna, the influential wife of Tsar Peter the Great.

What I love about this book is how true to history it is, especially because this story showcases a pivotal period of Russian history that tends to be glazed over. We all know about Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, but very few can claim much knowledge about Russia's first Catherine. Alpsten took a few liberties to fill in history's gaps (as to be expected, if not hoped for!), but she kept the essence of Catherine Alexeyevna's life as it has been recorded in the history books — laying bare all the strength, scandal and intrigue that Catherine Alexeyevna’s story has to offer.

My lower rating for this book derives from my inability to engage with this story. For someone as crazy about the Tsars as I am, I expected to be a lot more into it. Instead, I felt myself slogging through the pages at times.

I believe the main catalyst for this came from expectations. Had the book been marketed differently, I may have gone in with different expectations and enjoyed the book for what it was. Catherine's story is interesting in its own right, but I feel as though Alpsten did nothing to enhance it. Had this book been meant to be a nonfiction expose of Catherine's Alexeyevna's life, that would have been fine. But as a work of fiction meant to grip a multitude of readers? Eh.

TL;DR: While I applaud the research that no doubt went into writing this book, the experience I had with this book fell flat likely because I was anticipating something different when I first began the book.

I loved this book! Filled with passion, intrigue, and gorgeous descriptions of 18th century Russia. Catherine Alexeyevna’s rise to power in a court dominated by cutthroat men was truly inspiring. This book is an excellent fall read. Author Ellen Alpsten participated in a blog tour for my blog (link below) and I shared this on all social media accounts.

Wild, seductive and intoxicating! Wow, what a story. Fans of Outlander will love this.

In one woman’s story of survival, from poverty to prosperity, from the frozen tundra to the throne, Marta’s journey in becoming Catherine I of Russia seems almost too incredible to be true.

I loved this book because of its roller coaster ride extremes. Marta begins her journey as a happy but unwanted child in a struggling family. Her circumstances are worsened after being sold to an abusive master, but she doesn’t hit rock bottom until she is forced to flee and is left penniless in a snowstorm. Her luck slowly turns around after some hard work, a bit of luck and the kindness of a few strangers. It’s with their help that she begins to rise in station, eventually landing herself in the lap of luxury and into the company of Peter the Great.

Colorful examples of friction and contrast continued throughout this storyline. There were fiery tempers and freezing glares, passionate alliances and bitter endings for lovers, friends and enemies. The descriptions of war-torn landscapes and resurrected cities made the time period come alive, as did the lavish palace parties where vodka, jewelry and jealousy flowed like fountains. Both love and disease, safety and danger filled every page of Tsarina making it an incredible read.

This book is not for the faint at heart, but if you love historical fiction with some grit, then you will love Tsarina.

#HappyPubDay to Ellen Alpsten for her debut novel “Tsarina”📚🎉
A big Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book.
I have always found the history of royal monarchies completely fascinating. So I thoroughly enjoyed reading this brilliantly written, enthralling saga. Historical fiction truly has the ability to carry you away to another time period. Tsarina without exception is transportive. An intense, lavish and graphically detailed story that follows a young Polish girl, Marta who is born into a cruel and disastrous life of poverty, then sold into servitude by her family.

She is an extraordinarily beautiful, highly intelligent and cunning young girl fighting for survival in Russia during the 18th century when times were dark and volatile. Though she never learned to read or write Marta is able use all of her abilities to stop at nothing to rise above her station of serfdom/servitude in life. She reaches the highest echelons of nobility becoming Catherine Alexeyevna. Ultimately rising to be the Tsarina the second wife of Peter the Great and upon her husband’s death Empress of Russia Catherine I. If you love historical fiction you will definitely want to read this riveting, sweeping and totally engrossing novel.
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Book Synopsis: Before there was Catherine the Great, there was Catherine Alexeyevna: the first woman to rule Russia in her own right. Ellen Alpsten's rich, sweeping debut novel is the story of her rise to power.

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.

I’m not going to lie, I am a huge sucker for royal stories… I think, for me, royal history a world where my love of history and pop culture collide and I’m just so weirdly enthralled by the glamour, the politics, and the tragedy of it all. So, I was obviously super excited to finally get my hands on Ellen Alpsten’s Tsarina!

Tsarina is the story of Catherine Alexeyvana, a beautiful and brilliant woman, born into serfdom and poverty, who charmed and strategized her way into the Imperial Court of Russia, and became the second wife of Peter the Great and Tsarina. But with Peter on his death bed, Catherine must fight for her life and seize the crown for herself… before someone else does.

Tsarina is the best kind of classic historical fiction that feels like a hyper-real and personal deep-dive into the life of a real historical figure. I loved that it focused on a lesser known, but incredibly important Russian historical figure, rather than a rehashing of more popular stories like Catherine the Great’s reign or the Romanov’s tragic end.

This book is such a uniquely captivating read, you can’t help but be sucked into Catherine’s story - it almost reminded me of a (very) adult version of the Royal Diaries books that I obsessed over as a kid!

Tsarina also inspired me to research Catherine the First, so I learned a lot too - did you know that Catherine was the first woman to rule Imperial Russia and paved the way for future Empresses after her, like her granddaughter-in-law Catherine the Great?!

At nearly 500 pages, Tsarina is quite an undertaking… but for fans of historical fiction, especially historical fiction based on real-life royals, this book is such a treat and is truly something to savor.

I highly recommend this book to fans of Wolf Hall, The Other Boleyn Girl, and anyone else who loved Royal Diaries books as a kid.

Tsarina is a historical fiction book about the life of Catherine 1 in Russia. It was fascinating reading about her rise from a peasant to the 2nd wife of Peter the Great to ruler of Russia when he passed. This was a tough read for me however due to all the sex and swearing. If you love romance novels this will be right up your alley.

A huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine was not always Catherine. She was born Marta – penniless, but beautiful and resourceful. She leveraged her assets and her cunning into an extravagant life as the wife of Tsar Peter.

She sacrifices her youth and beauty to a world conscribed by his petty cruelties, her youth to an endless cycle of childbearing. She is marginalized and victimized by her husband. He tries to relegate her to the fringes of palace life, inconsequential and forgotten.

But Marta, now known as Catherine, is nothing if not resilient. She has been forging alliances of her own. When Peter dies, she accomplishes the inconceivable. She launches a successful coup, disinheriting the heirs to the throne. She is declared empress of all Russia.

Catherine the Great’s origin story is one of survival against incredible odds. It is a story of re-invention and unwavering determination. If you are fascinated by stories of political intrigue and strong women, I highly recommend immersing yourself in this elaborate tapestry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of "Tsarina."

This novel tells the story of Catherine Alexeyevna, the first woman to rule Russia in her own right. Ellen Alpsten's debut novel is the story of her rise to power.

As a lover of historical fiction I was immediately intrigued by the plot as I am not to familiar with Russian history. "Tsarina" transports readers to the growing Russia under Peter the Great, who was Catherine's husband. We see Catherine rise from her humble beginnings as a serf to the highest power in the land.

While this is a work of fiction it does make you think about how the real Catherine must have felt at the various stages of her. She faced many personal tragedies as well as triumphs. Catherine is certainly an intriguing person. I thought this book was well written and enjoyable. The author certainly did her research into the era. Her descriptive words really do transport the reader to this foreign court. This is definitely one for historical fiction fans to check out!

Tsarina is a fictionalized account of the life of Catherine I of Russia, who became the second wife of Peter the Great and, ultimately, sole ruler of Russia upon Peter's death. She comes from poverty and rises to the status of Empress only to find that nobility is marked with equal violence and sadness. A rags to riches story with too much sex and swearing. It read like an erotica in lieu of a historical fiction.
Received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ellen Alpsten for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

What do you know about Russian Imperial history? I hope you know Peter The Great, the tsar of all the Russians, as he transformed Russia and lead the way to progress. I hope you heard about Ekaterina The Second who facilitated the change in Russian aristocracy and freed its mind. Have you heard about Ekaterina The First, the German washer-maid who became a Tsarina of all the Russians? I guess not. Then pick up Tsarina.
It is a cruel story about survival, betrayal, broken families and war. At the same time it is a beautiful story about compassion, loyalty and love. Ellen Alpsten managed to tell you a fiction story based on the truth of my history. It was hard to read (trigger warning- rape, child death, substance abuse, cruelty) but it is my history. It is well known that Peter The Great in all his greatness was cruel man, may be because he could, may be because of the cruelties he experienced as a boy. People in power in Russia are usually cruel as they don’t know how to hold the power if not with fear. Ekaterina (or Marta as she was born) had a special power to hold off Peter’s anger and managed to transfer it to different direction. She was a strong willed women because of her hard life. Her journey is fascinating and truly amazing.

I loved how characters were slowly and smoothly developed in every page. The research that’d been done to write Tsarina is enormous. You read one book, but it feels like you read 20!

I enjoyed reading Tsarina though it was overwhelming. It left my heart bleeding for my people. Please pick it up, it is worth every page and every tear.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let me begin with one of the biggest reasons I am giving five stars to this debut novel, the writing. The writing is exceptional! The reader immediately plunges into this world that is nothing like our own in the current day, yet the writing allows us to vividly imagine ourselves there during these events. Our senses are able to bear witness to the sights, sounds, smells, moods, emotions, and textures of this eventful book.

The entire time I was reading, I felt as if I were experiencing everything alongside the protagonist, Marta. I could feel her despair, fear, anger, hope, and most of all, her strength. Marta is one of the strongest protagonists I’ve read in a very long time, if not ever. Her resilience and determination to survive are beyond measure. The horrors and abuse she survived were intense and often difficult to read. But at the same time, I could not stop reading. Parts of the story felt as though it were feeding a part of myself that I didn’t know needed to read this.

The author does not shy away from the difficult and horrific realities of humanity during this time. Those who were considered lower class were treated brutally and sold off to another as though they were objects. Women were part of this class of humans. Women were not viewed as worthy, often resulting in abuse and forced into slavery and/or unwanted marriages. That is where Tsarina shines. She knows all too well what men think of women, what they want, and how brutal the abuse can be. However, she has this internal strength that allows her to survive and find another path, whether it be as a servant or wife; she does not wish for much, but eventually gains more than she could have ever dreamed.

I highly recommend this book. You do not need to be a fan of historical fiction to appreciate and love what this book has to offer. The writing style, word choice, plot, pacing, and characters are areas where this story succeeds. It’s difficult to put down and impossible not to find yourself immersed in its pages. Her rise to power is an incredible journey, and I’m grateful to have read it.

There are some trigger warnings to be aware of: sexual violence and brutal rape, both on and off the page, abuse, marital affairs, depression, suicide, and failed pregnancies. Ellen Alpsten does not shy away from giving her readers an accurate account of what was happening, and that is worth its weight in gold! There is no way to tell this story without including the details and realities, and this is a story I will never forget.

Ellen Alpsten is now an auto-buy author for me. I will read everything she writes, again and again.

An elegant dive into Russian history. I am not always a fan of stories about Russia but Tsarina felt fresh and alive, dangerous and daring. What a lady- we know Catherine the Great so this was an amazing look into prior history! I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading similar stories in the future.

If you love Russian history, and historical fiction in general, this is a good one to read. The writing is amazing, raw and holds nothing back. This time in history was brutal, full of debauchery and selfishness. When you read this, you will feel it all. That being said, you definitely have to be in the right mindset to read this one as it is a slow read. For those with a sensitivity to rape and torture this isn't one I would recommend.

I appreciate NetGalley providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

"Being born as a girl is a punishment."

"See your power over men like a hand of cards; play them, to trump your life."

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I love historical fiction and Tsarina is historical fiction done right. From the very start we are enamored with this intelligent, beautiful girl who is born in the middle of nowhere little village to a family with nothing. She is treated as every girl of her time, handed off as a maid and a wife (both more than once). She is assaulted both physically and sexually multiple times. But through it all she maintains her strength and her will to have a better life. One where she is loved and respected and able to have her own free will. With each tragedy and atrocity she finds a way to finagle her way into a better position, all the way up to become the wife of the head of Russia at the time.

In this story, you see the harshness of life in the era: poverty, domestic violence, sexual assault, miscarraiges and constant war. The difference between the haves and have nots and those on the "right" side of the wars is laid bare. There is unbelievable torture and slavery that allows Peter to build his empire. You learn a lot about what it would have been like in the time and you will be awed by what this woman is able to accomplish. Marta is a woman who's owned by man after man for the duration of her life and yet she finds a way to make her fate her own. She starts her life by just trying to do her best to avoid ending up in a life she doesn't want and she becomes one of the most manipulative woman you could imagine as she becomes more adept at thriving. Her actions have left a lasting legacy on the history of Russia.

Fantastic piece of historical fiction! Alpsten delivers a jarring tale of rags to riches but doesn't romanticize the struggles endured by Catherine I. Not to be confused with Catherine the Great, Tsarina captures the life of Catherine I, in this riveting tale of politics, violence, and endurance. The author creates a multidimensional atmosphere by including rich detail related to the history and culture of Russia. Engaging and immersive; I didn't want to stop reading. This book will appeal to a wide range of audiences beyond lovers of historical fiction. Some themes of violence and rape. Thank you St Martin's for allowing me to review this ARC. all thoughts and opinions related to the novel are my own and unbiased.

This was a good read, although not a light read. A wonderful historical novel. Sometimes a bit too descriptive. A bit hard to read at times. The physical assaults were difficult to read. The writing was good, a little redundant at times. I would recommend the book to anyone looking for a read on Catherine Alexeyevna’s life from poverty to her play for power.
Thank you for the ARC St Martin’s Press and Net Galley.

Knowing little about Russian history - this book takes the story of Catherine I and breathes life and vivid detail in to a rather long and often violent story. Very entertaining, educational and highly descriptive ...