When I initially chose Red Mistress, I was anticipating a solid espionage story set in early 1900s Russia to vary up my string of historical fiction reads. What I ended up reading was much more. The story follows Nadia Shulkina across several decades where author, Elizabeth Blackwell, effectively portrays Nadia's character growth throughout the years. We first learn about Nadia's noble Russian family, the Shulkins, from her perspective as a child and progress through their challenges and losses throughout and after the main events of the Russian Revolution.

The book blurb gave me the perception that this story would be more of an espionage-thriller, but I honestly enjoyed the parts that demonstrated the Shulkin family dynamics and character growth Nadia went through best. I also enjoyed learning more about the Russian Revolution and, judging by the author's note, the portrayals of what life was like trying to survive during that time. My few criticisms come as I felt I was being 'told' versus 'showed' throughout the book and I could have done without the romantic relationship, though I know it was a key piece of how the story concludes for Nadia.

I loved this book!! It's great historical fiction, taking place during the Russian Revolution and into the early 1930's. Nadia Shulkin's nice but not overly wealthy life is upended when the peasants revolt and her entire life goes away: family, home, belongings, everything. She doesn't even get a ration card, as she is regarded as a "former person". But Nadia is tough and she works hard to survive, and not become a casualty. Then she becomes a somewhat unwilling spy, sent to England to root out possible enemies who might support the overthrow of the Russian government. While there she meets someone from her past and has to figure out how to fufill her mission and keep the little family she has left alive.

Red Mistress is a great book, and Nadia Shulkin is a multidimensional character who takes us with her on her life's journey. From her days in Russia, then France, and ultimately back to Russia we feel her pain, her inner conflict. I love historical fiction but it seems that much of the recent books are set during World War II; it was a pleasure read Red Mistress, in a different time and place.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union for an early reader copy, I really enjoyed it!

I had a hard time getting into this book. I love the time period and the subject matter. It just seemed to lose me in the very beginning. I tried to pick it back up, but couldn't seem to get into the story.

I appreciated that Red Mistress took a look at the Russian Revolution -- a time period I wasn't especially familiar with. If you like espionage stories, this would be a great book to check out. It was definitely a good book and well-written, however, I didn't find myself getting super into it or very invested in what was going to happen, so it took me a while to get through, despite its shorter length. I would say it's a good book and I would recommend it for someone looking for historical fiction centering around the Russian Revolution, but I didn't find it very memorable for myself.

This is a well written story that kept my attention to the end. With just a little bit of intrigue woven throughout, the story will carry you through a troubled era of Russian history. When the Tsar of Russia is disposed of, anyone connect to the royal family becomes a target. Then begin the wars, the starvation, desolation, and more across the land. Communism takes hold and there are worries about Germany's Hitler. Life for Nadia Shulkin changes in hours, several times in her life. Raised in a comfortable home, treated as a slave, losing both parents, marrying to help her brother, being sent to Paris as a spy, an affair, eventual imprisonment, and finally a new chance, Nadia has lived it all.
This is an excellent, well round look at a struggling Russia and the author does a good job of using different characters to portray different view points.
As I read this book, I was reminded of how quickly countries can change. And even though we wish future generations would take the past seriously, instead, history tends to repeat itself.

Such a great perspective and a great read!!! I love this period of history and the author had such vivid descriptions, you really felt like you were there!

Who is Nadia Shulkina? Who is Marie Duvall? Who is Nadia Semelkova? Who is Yulia Kishkina? Who is the Patriot? Who is the Red Mistress? And, finally, who is Nathalie Dubois?

I read this EARC courtesy of Lake Union & Net Galley. Pub date 07/21/20

It's rare to find a historical fiction that follows a historic timeline so well, and really captures what happened during that time period. From the end of the Tsarist reign to Stalin, you follow Nadia through ups and downs. With twists that you never saw coming! Amazing book!

Over the past few years, I've become a fan of historical fiction and while most books seem to focus on WW1 or WW2, Red Mistress takes us on a journey through the Russian Revolution. My ancestors are Russian, which made this story all the more poignant.

The story centers on Nadia, a young girl born into Russia’s aristocracy. Through a series of events during the Bolshevik Revolution, Nadia is forced to make a life-altering decision to save herself and her family and in turn, finds a way to reinvent herself.

Red Mistress is well-written with fully developed characters and storytelling that creates excellent visuals of Russian, Paris, and England. It’s a story full of love and loss, trust and deceit, hope and defeat, all sprinkled with a little espionage.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC

From the beginning of time women were used as spies to destroy empires. This is a story of one of these women. Its the beginning of the rise of communism.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So much of my beloved Historical Fiction these days is set during WWII England or France; while the stories are definitely worthy of telling, the topic can get a bit stale after a while. Elizabeth Blackwell's 'Red Mistress' is a breath of fresh air.

The writing is sharp, the action keeps a fairly steady pace throughout the book, and I felt deeply for the main character. Other than one slightly odd side-adventure during the MC's time in Paris that didn't go anywhere, the story was tightly plotted and kept me reading on far past a sensible time of night, right up to the very satisfying conclusion.

I both recommend this book and will be looking forward to whatever Elizabeth Blackwell has in store for me next.

This book was so good! The characters were so well rounded, you felt like you actually knew them! The plot was so good you didn't want the book to end!

Nadia Shulkina, the daughter of Russian aristocrat was looking forward to the summer of 1914. That was the last good summer before the Russian Revolution. 1917 was quite the opposite. The aristocracy was plundered, killed and executed on the spot. She stares in horror as her father is killed in front of her. Life changes for Nadia as she marries a Bolshevik and in the 1920's becomes a spy for the Russians in the 1920's. Sounds good, but not so much! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.