#theiceswan #netgalley

I usually love historical fiction books, but this one just couldn't grab my attention and I couldn't finish it.

For the past 15 years., I've been interested in Russian history. I'm especially fascinated with the period of time from 1917 - 1923, the time when Tsar Nicholas was murdered and Russia was propelled from a monarchical government to communism. I've read many fiction and nonfiction books on this topic, delving into the mindset of the leaders at the time and how their actions had devastating long-term effects on the Russian people. Because of this, I was excited to read this book and get another insight into the life of a Russian during this time period. (The story is fictional, but based on facts that are accurate.)

This is the story of Svetlana, a princess in the Russian court. Fearing for her life, she flees Russia with her mother and sister and heads to Russia. They have very little money, and only a few jewels sewn into their corsets, which Svetlana guards carefully, hoping that she can sell them to get enough money to buy food. They seek shelter in the cold, damp basement of an old church, sharing the cramped space with many other Russian emigres. Svetlana knows that they aren't safe even in Paris, since the Bolsheviks are hunting down and killing anyone associated with Tsar Nicholas and the royal court. Yet Svetlana is strong willed and determined to keep her sister and mother safe, even if it means living in harsh conditions.

Svetlana meets Wynn, a Scottish surgeon who is in Paris to treat injured soldiers from the war. Even though she's initially unfriendly and cautious, he's intrigued not only by her beauty, but her fortitude during a very difficult time. When he learns how dire her circumstances are, he offers a marriage of convenience, giving her a chance to flee Paris and live on his estate in Scotland, where she's less likely to be found by the Bolsheviks.

The author did a wonderful job of portraying the harsh reality of life for a Russian emigre who feared for her life, and had to adjust to new circumstances just to survive. I grew to admire Svetlana for her ability to overcome even the most difficult situations. I also loved the quiet kindness and gentleness of Wynn, and the way he helped Svetlana and her family.

I believe that a knowledge of history can help us avoid the mistakes we've made in the past. And historical fiction takes the dry facts and turns them into the reality of the time for the people who lived it. That's why I highly recommend this book. It gives us a peek into a time that many of us can't even fathom. Definitely pick up this book! It will be difficult to put down.

Thank you for approving me of this eARC. I adored historical romance so this was right up my alley. The story opens up with readers wanting to find out more and captivated me in with the setting!

Enticing characters are a key factor to any books' success. Both of the main characters in this book are utterly enchanting in their own way. They each provide a point of view regarding WWI unique to their situations. Svetlana puts on a brave face when she must fill a role that was never intended for her. She exhibits courage, strength, and determination as she struggles to meet the needs of her ever demanding mother amidst overwhelming odds. Wynn enjoys his life as a surgeon and always attempts to push the limits of medicine. He too must face challenges as his work ethics are questioned and his family responsibilities pose a threat to his career choice. When Svetlana and Wynn meet the two set in motion a wonderfully endearing romance. Ciesielski wrote their relationship into existence with equal amounts of wit, insecurity, and seduction. The author did a wonderful job at providing historical content about both Russian emigres in Paris and the evolution of medicine due to war.

I received an advance copy of this title via NetGalley.

I was attracted by the romance during war time theme of this book. I enjoyed the love connection between the main characters and watching Svetlana grow in her relationship. She suffered so much and closed herself off as she fought to care for her family, very noble of her. Watching her grow into herself as a loving and caring woman who wants to help others was very enjoyable. Her battle with protecting her heart is one I’m sure we all face. It was very intriguing to read about the battles she faced and the hardships she had to overcome in Paris. I felt like I was there with her during the story. Great writing that kept me wanting to know what will happen next. This was an easy book to get into but didn’t require me work to understand the story. I recommend this book to those who enjoy love stories and main characters battling their own emotions as they grow to their full potential. Thank you for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Review has also been posted to Goodreads and will be added to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and my Instagram review account after its release.

“After meeting you, it’s a good thing I specialize in heart troubles. I feel I’m about to loose mine.”

The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski tells the story of a Russian princess and her family who have fled the Russian Revolution and are hiding in Paris. Princess Svetlana Dalsky is rescued by Duke Wynn MacCallan who also happens to be a surgeon. They both have a lot to overcome but their feelings for each other grow through the adversity of their circumstances.

This was overall a really fun read. The banter between Svetlana and Wynn was fantastic and though the romance was slow burn, it wasn’t ever boring. It was interesting to read the historical elements of the story as well, especially about the life of a surgeon in the UK during this time period. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes historical romance and I give it 4 stars.

It is 1917 in Petrograd. Princess Dalsky just wants to be incognito with her mother and sister. They were luck to escape with their lives. Now they are hiding out in the crowded basement of a church. All they want is a safe, clean place to hide until her father and brother come to rescue them.
A great story. Entertaining and interesting.

The opening line grabbed me: "The night burned red with the flames of revolution." J’nell Ciesielski’s latest is a vast, well-researched epic which brought to mind the famed disappearance of the princess Anastasia but with a much more favorable outcome. The novel takes readers on a terrifying flight from the palaces of a crumbling regime in Russia, to the heroic medical front of WWI and into the seedy underworld of France, and finally to reprieve on a regal estate in the highlands of Scotland. There was no telling where the story would turn next, which for me is a sure-fire way to keep me on edge and turning pages. I enjoyed the way the author delved into the thawing of the heroine’s heart and the hero refuses to be put off by her rebuffs. There was always the shadow of the past lurking, waiting to spring, even when things appeared safe and settled. Even the less likeable characters like the heroine’s own mother, added to the tension and conflict of the story.

If you enjoy dynamic romance seeped in rich history, and touching a number of aspects of WWI you might have missed, you’ll want to read The Ice Swan.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for a preview of the book. This is my own honest opinion.

The I e Swan is well written with a good plot concept, unfortunately this book did nothing for this reader. If you enjoy historical books it might appeal. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

The Ice Swan is a powerful and beautiful novel of exile, heartbreak, redemption, and love amid war.

Wynn is a hero who was at first glance quite ... Normal. Until I got further in the book and his strengths and his character showed that the author made a character who went deeper in ways that I loved seeing and made the words jump off of the pages even more.

Svetlana is a heroine I could instantly like and I felt her emotions as surly as if they were my own.

Ciesielski wove a story that charmed, delighted, and made me fall in love. I love every bit, the characters, the setting, the mystery and danger, and the romance.

And, I'll not spoil it by naming the character but there was one side character who I LOVED seeing more of even when I expected his part in the story was over.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The history is very interesting. I especially like the medical history in this story. Wynn is such a great character. He is intelligent, kind, protective, likes to tease and has a strong sense of duty. He sees a beautiful silver haired woman in obvious need of help but she gives him the slip. He vows to find her and help. Svetlana is a Russian princess who barely escaped Russia with her Mother and sister. They are hiding from the Bolsheviks who want to kill all Royalty. They find themselves in France in dire straits. The story that ensues is intriguing and beautifully written.

I believe this title has a double meaning... First and foremost, one of the two main characters, Svetlana, is a ballet dancer and part of the Russian royal family. But I believe the title also implies how she is in her demeanor toward the beginning of the novel toward the other main character, Wynn. Her character grows and changes toward Wynn and she eventually softens up to his jokes and playful and soft, protective manner. For this reason, I feel Svetlana's character becomes more likeable as the book progresses and it's fun to see her transformation of being a scared girl running from Russian Bolsheviks, to the woman that learns to trust the doctor.

I feel that this book is not only historical fiction, but I could even see and make a compelling argument for the way that Ms Ciesielski writes about the emotional growth of Svetlana, that this book could be considered a piece of Literary Fiction as well. This book has done a great job of revealing the changes in Svetlana in response to her varied surroundings in the novel You can see and feel that inner turmoil brewing inside of her, when she is responding to Wynn. I just really enjoyed this novel and I hope it does well when it is published. I have enjoyed Ms Ciesielski's other novels and I hope this one is prosperous as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like the Ice Swan has really reignited my love of historical fiction and reminded me why I love the genre so much. The time period of the Russian Revolution beginning and nearing the end of WWI was so immersive and really made me feel like I was learning and discovering a part of history I didn't know that much about.

This book really had the perfect blend of history and romance for me and I feel like they balanced each other out well. Wynn was such a charming and endearing character who had my heart from pretty much the first time we met him and Svetlana was just a wonderful heroine. She was flawed and it definitely took a while to melt the walls she had around herself, but that just made me want to root for her to succeed and find happiness even more. Her struggle to figure out who she was and could be in the future while dealing with so much tragedy and loss was emotional to read and really pulled on my heartstrings as the reader.

This is a slow burn of a romance and it had me flipping through the pages anxiously waiting for Wynn and Lana to figure out they were perfect for each other and find that happiness they deserved. The side characters and family members were also so well done and made the relationships feel so real.

This book had so many aspects I loved and I am so excited to read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

ICE SWAN

Ice Swan is a really nice relaxing fantasy escape. A Russian princess exiled during the Russian revolution, and a Scottish Marquis using his skills as a surgeon meet in Paris during WWI.

Her Serenity the Princess Swetlana Dmitrievna Dalsky and her mother Ana and sister Marina have escaped to Paris during the Russian Revolution. With nothing left but their jewelry to survive on, they fall in with Sheremetev, a leader in the Russian criminal element. As the owner of the White Bear Club, a gambling house for Russian immigrants, Sheremetev employs Swetlana as a dancer to help pay off her mother’s gambling debts.

While hiding from Bolsheviks, Swetlana injures her leg and is treated by WWI army surgeon, Wynn MacCallen, in a hotel that has been converted into a hospital to treat wounded soldiers. He is also a Scottish Marquise.

With the background settings of Paris during WWI, the Russian Revolution, and ultimately Thornhill Castle in Glasgow Scotland, Ice Swan is both relaxing and exciting in its presentation. A light bit of history helps to make it feel grounded, while the romance has a believable and likable YA fairytale quality to it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I would like to thank NetGalley, J’Nell Ciesielski, and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read another J'nell Ciesielski book. I think The Ice Swan is her best one yet. It is a book with depth. A slow burn romance that does not bore. This one was on the longer side (my preference) and it is well worth every page. The plot was so well planned out. Readers go from Russia to Paris and beyond. There is a lot of character development in this book. I glanced at several reviews before I began reading and noticed some readers struggled with Svetlana. How can one like a main character that is so aloof? Be patient my fellow readers, you will love her by the end. I think this book will be a favorite of 2021 for me. I am repeating myself, but this was a really well thought out book.
I have one complaint though, and it's the back cover of the book. It spoils about half the novel and stole much of the anticipation I would have had otherwise. If you haven't read it already, don't. Just know this is an excellent historical fiction/romance novel about a Russian princess who is forced to flee during the Russian Revolution. While in Paris, Wynn (a medical doctor) helps save this damsel in distress. That's really all you need to know. Enjoy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The riveting prologue of J’nell Ciesielski’s latest historical romance novel drew me in immediately and what followed kept me turning page after page with its compelling drama, danger, and romance. The heroine’s nickname of the Ice Swan seemed most appropriate as Svetlana’s personality and back story unfolded, while the hero, Wynn, was a dedicated and enthusiastic surgeon, handsome and swoon-worthy in his interactions with Svetlana.

The harrowing tales of emigres fleeing Russia to settle in Paris were eye-opening while the ever-present threat to Svetlana and her family kept me wholly absorbed in this story. Another interesting aspect was that the setting occurred mostly in two different places, Paris and then Scotland. This did not in any way detract from the novel but in fact, enhanced it as the main themes were seamlessly continued in a different location, with danger and romance remaining a part of Wynn and Svetlana’s lives across the English Channel, along with issues of loss and trust.

This is a wholesome historical drama that will keep the reader captivated and eagerly turning pages to find out how the couple works through their conflicts to forge a new path together. Enjoyed this enthralling novel with its highly satisfying conclusion!

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and the publisher as part of Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed here are my own.

I haven't read a lot of WWI books out there with this unique Russian element, so I was interested in this book. And the cover certainly caught my eye. However, the book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The pace was much slower than I anticipated, which made it a bit challenging for me to stay engaged. I thought it'd pick up, but it never really did. Then, at times, it felt like the author was trying to go in too many different directions, which led to some confusion. Too much thrown in at one time.

The characters were well drawn, for the most part, but I never fully connected with them. The romance angle isn't overpowering, which I enjoyed. The dialogue seemed a bit unrealistic, and perhaps poorly translated, at times.

I've enjoyed other books by this author, but this one just didn't work for me.

"A beautifully addictive fiction." I enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely be recommending this to my friends. The plot is medium paced. The character build is quite alluring. A perfect adventurous read for fiction lovers.

What a great book! It kept me on my toes and constantly guessing what would happen next! This is a new author for me and will definitely look for more!

This author has had a pretty good record with me so far and I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read, but sadly this one was a complete miss for me.
I was intrigued by the setting, there aren’t a lot of WWI books out there, the unique Russian element, and the cover certainly catches the eye. It had a lot going for it and I wanted to love it but there was just a lot of things that didn’t click for me.
The story started kinda slow with not much happening, but I honestly didn’t really mind that and thought it was just gonna be a slow burn type of story. But then all h-e-double toothpick broke loose and there was so much going on that it felt like the author couldn’t decide which plot to use and just used them all. First they were running from the Russian Bolsheviks, then the mother gambled her way into debt with a Russian mobster who then tried to force the girl to marry him which causes the guy to play the hero and marry her instead. Now we’re in Scotland and there’s all this drama about whether the guy is going to do his duty to his title or be a surgeon and add in being investigated due to a surgery he performed and having his medical license be potentially revoked. Also an old flame of the girl’s shows up causing issues there. And wrap it up with the Russians suddenly popping back into the picture with a kidnapping and impending execution. I literally didn’t know what we were supposed to care about from moment to moment. Also there were a lot of time jumps that weren’t clearly marked and I had to do a double take to realize it was weeks not days after the last scene.
The characters weren’t bad but they also didn’t have a lot to recommend them. The girl was kind of cold and mean and the guy was basically just besotted with her beauty and the challenge she presented because she wouldn’t give him the time of day. I love marriage of convenience stories but this one didn’t really make sense because there was absolutely not logical reason for the guy to get ma hi rried except for the fact that he though she was pretty. The romance was pretty non-existent except for a few moments but those were immediately ruined by one of them acting like an idiot or one of the plot dramas messing things up.
My other big problem was the way all the Russian people who spoke English (except the heroine) spoke without any proper grammar making them sound like a poorly scripted Native American in a low budget western movie. They were supposed to be all intimidating but they sounded like they hadn’t passed kindergarten. I know there are things lost in translation when speaking a second language but there’s ways to included slip ups in their speech without making their every line incorrectly said. As a reader it repeatedly took me out of the story.
I honestly almost quit reading so many times but just decided to press on which probably wasn’t the best choice. The story had good bones to it but it needed the chaotic plot toned down and the romance elements turned up.