Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

Another great book in this series by this author. This books focuses on the daughter of the previous book and her family and personal struggles and ascent to the head of Russia. There is a lot in the book - romance, war, treachery. This makes for an interesting account of part of the history of the Romanov family in the 1700's.

You do not need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but I would recommend it.

I did not realize that this was a sequel, but it did not seem all that necessary to read the first book to understand this one. The descriptions in this book were stunning and really drew me in as a reader. I felt like I was actually there experiencing what was going on with the people. I loved the Russian history and how different people were portrayed. There were quite a few characters that took some time keeping track of, but it was worth it in the end.

I thought this was good but not great. It can be read as a stand-alone but I think that having the context of Tsarina really gives more to the story. The world of Russia is still a terrifying game of thrones, filled with opulence and snakes that will bite you without a moment’s notice.

I think these books have both been well researched. I thought the frankly dynamics in this story were more twisty (in a good way) where Elizabeth had to navigate familial relationships very acutely.

I am not sure I would want to learn more about this time in Russian history but it definitely is an intriguing picture of what life was like in the varying courts.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this novel!

The Tsarina's Daughter by Ellen Alpsten is the first book I've listed to/read by Ellen Alpsten. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, which is brilliantly narrated by Anna Krippa. Her Russian accent is beautiful; also, trying to read those Russian names? Forget about it! I felt totally immersed in the freezing Russian winters, palace life, love and the heartbreak of the Tsarina's daughter.

Tsarevna Elizabeth, born into the House of Romanov is the coddled daughter of Peter the Great and his wife Catherine I, who was once a serf. She and her sister Anna are extremely close and lived in the lap of luxury. Peter had big plans for his daughter Elizabeth: He planned for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule by his side in Versailles. But for royals, just not the rest of us, life doesn't always go as planned. Elizabeth receives a strange prophecy by an old crone/creature in the woods, and soon those prophecies begin to come true. Her beloved father Peter the Great dies, and Catherine I takes the throne. Trusted people of the Court become enemies and try to bend Catherine I to their will. When her mother dies, Elizabeth is not named heir, and her life becomes one of danger. She is strong, however, and soon overcomes being a victim and learns the rules of survival. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth must make a horrible decision; will the last part of the prophecy come true?

I had great interest in this book, as my paternal grandmother's family is from Russia and she was related to Tsar Nicholas II. Also, my husband and I, along with my parents, visited Russia a number of years ago; it was a fascinating and strange journey. The author apparently did a huge amount of research for this book and I was duly impressed. Elizabeth lived a life of great luxury and also dismal poverty, but she was a fighter. Things became very difficult for her after Peter the Great died, and her fortunes went up and down. This book is not for the faint of heart. People were punished in horrible ways; the torture of one of Elizabeth's lovers was gruesome, but such is the way of a lot of history. (Hope we've all learned something from that.) It was heartbreaking when Elizabeth lost her beloved sister. They had become estranged, but found each other once again before Anna died. The book began suspensefully in 1741 when Elizabeth staged a coup d’état to take the throne of All the Russias, and the infant emperor's fate was being decided. We then go back and see the events that led to that pivotal moment. I admit I was very confused with trying to keep track of who was who; the confusing Russian names didn't help. But I eventually just let that go and went along for the ride. I loved the afterword when we learn the fate of the true characters in the book; it was simply fascinating. I was very impressed by the narrator and would love to listen to more books which she narrates. I also want to go back and read Tsarina, Ms. Alpsten's previous book.

I received an ARC of this book/audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

In Tsarina my mind was opened up to a world I did not formerly know.  Immersive, tragic, and at times painful to read, I was expecting The Tsarina’s Daughter to bolster that same fire as its predecessor, but sadly it fell flat for me.

The Tsarina’s Daughter tells the tale of Elizabeth in her formative years, leading up to her becoming Tsarina herself.  Though I love learning more about Russian history, I felt like Elizabeth’s story dragged on, and I didn’t feel that same hunger to stay within the pages like I did with the first installment.  Honestly, I could’ve seen this story wrapped up much more quickly, and feel like this would’ve made this read more enjoyable. This is supposed to be a three-part series and I can’t help but wonder if Elizabeth’s life, including her reign, would’ve fit better in one novel.   It also doesn’t help that this time period is not one of my favorite era’s to study, which could have also contributed to my lack of luster.

I really wanted to love this novel, but it felt uninspired, with rote repetition, and a subject matter that really didn’t appeal to me.

The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten was a fascinating and intriguing historical fiction. The story was rich in details and I couldn’t seem to turn the pages fast enough. I was completely enthralled with this story. I highly recommend this story for any fans of historical fiction.

Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.

Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great of Russia, is a princess in a time of massive upheaval in The Tsarina’s Daughter. In an empire filled with danger, she is almost all on her own after her parents pass and she is constantly pushed aside in the choice for who should be the next tzar/tsarina, but she stays loyal to her Russia. I have some mixed feelings about this book, it took a long time for me to really get invested and some of the violence is so graphic I almost had to stop. But overall, I’m glad I pushed through. Elizabeth is so lonely, but she’s so resilient and powerful. She’s brave and I loved her journey finding love and finding strength to push forward. She never gives up. The tale is tragic, dark and harrowing, and there’s so much political intrigue. This isn’t my usual type of read but it was beautifully written and interesting!

I loved Tsarina and this book was a worthy follow-up. Alpsten does her research and finds a way to make even the most mundane historical moments interesting. I found the intricacies of royal life fascinating and Elizabeth's experiences were hard to believe even though they're real. The end of the book was somewhat abrupt and I hope that's because Alpsten has another coming our way!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

This second book of a three-book series focuses on the early life of Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I of Russia. While Elizabeth and her older sister seem to have their futures planned out, after their parents’ deaths, a host of political machinations keep Elizabeth out of power and often struggling for self-preservation. The book ends with her ascension to the throne, presumably setting us up for the third entry.

This book is slow at times, but worth reading. Its release is particularly timely with current world events. However, it gave me powerful cravings for snow and spiked chai. #TheTsarinasDaughter #NetGalley

THE TSARINA'S DAUGHTER takes you back in time to the world of Imperial 18th century Russia, where intrigues, lies and lives are always on the line and one must take one step at a time to maintain their heads.

I went into this knowing only basic details about Elizabeth Petrovna, and this book was a great introduction into her world and life. From the very start of the novel, lives are on the line and learning to navigate the tricky world of Russian politics has proven that it is not for everyone. Elizabeth tumbles and falls and rises with the turning of fate's wheel; loves are won and lost, power is gained and snatched away.

However, the book fell flat for me in a number of ways; although the timeline seemed straight, I would have wished for a more condensed and detailed work about this woman. I also don't know much about the real history of Elizabeth, as stated, but it also seems really far fetched in some points of the book. All-in-all, I would like to give it a rounded 3 stars from a 2.5. Worth a read if you like the era and have an interest in this era in Russian history.

It is nighttime, and Elizabeth Romanov stands in the nursery of her infant cousin the Tsar of All the Russias, contemplating her next move and all the events that brought her here.

Though the prequel Tsarina is on my TBR, this is my first taste of Alpsten's work. Luckily the work stands alone. And it was a fascinating read. I knew very little of the early Romanovs beyond that one of them picked his wife in what was basically a marriage cattle fair, which is probably not of much use. Anyway.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how vivid all the characters were. Elizabeth and those who surround her are well-sketched, and despite the large cast I was able to easily keep track of them. Her larger-than-life family members in particular were enthralling in their appearances on the page. The story is also an interesting one, with many twists and turns.

However, I did not quite enjoy the writing style, which jerks the reader around from scene to scene sometimes. All the little snippets made it difficult to stay immersed. Because of this too, the novel's pace is inconsistent, and it was exceedingly difficult to keep track of passing time in the story due to it. Also I did not enjoy the various romances between Lizenka and her suitors, as they all felt rushed in their progress. 

Ultimately an interesting and engaging read, and I am interested in the series as a whole, but I don't know that I would reread this book.

The Tsarina’s Daughter is masterfully researched and tells a fascinating story.

I did not know that this was the second book in a series before I read it, but this did not affect the storyline or my reading and understanding. Alpsten did an amazing job telling the story of Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova and the history of her family. I loved the drama, intrigue, and the history of Russia during this tumultuous time.

My favorite part of this story was following the growth of Elizabeth’s character from a very spoiled young lady to a woman of power who made sacrifices and delt with quite a bit of heartbreak.

I also cannot get over how Alpsten writes in such a visual and atmospheric way. From the very beginning I was fully transported into the story as I traveled through time and places with Elizabeth. Really, this is a story that fully comes to live through the characters and setting!

Overall, this story was a beautiful blend magic, tragedy, and history. All of this blended together to create a world that will capture any reader and drawn them in.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

The pacing for The Tsarina's Daughter was so slow. The sweeping saga will be the perfect book for those interested in this bit of Russian history. Unfortunately it was NOT for me.

I love historic fiction based on truth. This book is based on the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine, Tsarevna Elizabeth. An entitled, spoiled woman brought down quickly and brutally. The descriptions of the court and the politics of the time is so well written I read them twice. A truly beautiful book.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion in this review is solely my own.

Wow, what a book! I was hooked from the beginning, though this title did take me some time to read. I decided to step away from it in favor of a work reading project, but it was so easy to come back to. And once I got to the 50% point, I was hooked and couldn't put this one down!

Elizabeth is the child of Peter the Great and Catherine I, the first Tsarina of Russia. She has led a life of both privilege and fear, and continued to do so until she eventually succeeded in a coupe and reigned as Tsarina. Her story was exciting with touches of Russian folklore. While Elizabeth had no children, Russia was like a child to her. She was a woman full of love for her romantic partners, her family line, and her country. Ellen Alpsten does a fantastic job of showing this character as someone who wasn't always likeable at times and had to do some terrible things to get to her position, but always believed in not shedding a drop of Russian blood.

I will say that I know next to nothing of Russian history. While you don't need to read Tsarina, the book about Elizabeth's mother Catherine I, to understand this title, everything I read in the first book came flooding back to be quickly. I loved Alpsten's interpretation of characters Catherine loved that Elizabeth either loved too or did not get along with. These people were complicated with varying motivations.

Elizabeth isn't always likeable, but I feel she was loveable in her passion for her people and her country. I also really enjoyed the romance aspects of this story. Elizabeth's belief that she would never have children after a Leshy spirit told her this as a child did not stop her from falling in love many times over and experiencing what joys of life she could.

Overall, this was a wonderful read. I am so thankful to have received an eARC and physical ARC in exchange for my honest review and to have been a part of this blog tour.

I absolutely loved this novel. If there's a historical fiction account of Russian royalty, I've read it. My lifelong fascination with Russian culture began with the 1997 film Anastasia and has never wavered since (including many years of university studying the nation). I knew all about the history of Tsarina Elizabeth coming into reading this book (more about her reign than her rise I'll admit) but knowing the ending only made this story more interesting and harrowing.

I loved the addition of the Leshy prophecy which fits so well with the folklore and culture of the place and adds a bit of magic to the whole affair. Alpsten doesn't shy away from the less magical bits though. The Russian court was a brutal place to be for most of history and the decades of Elizabeth's early life where tumultuous and full of change beginning with the ascension of her father Peter the Great. There are points when you'll be uncomfortable but that's true to how it was.

What I appreciate so much is the humanness of the characterization of Elizabeth. She can be hotheaded and impulsive (and she pays a high price for it) but also calculating and cool. She experiences a true ton of loss early in life and watching her wrangle with that was entertaining and heartbreaking. Her love for Russia really carries her through. It was her North Star and her conviction was inspiring.

This is historical fiction at its best. The facts are there and they're expanded on to create a story that's rich with emotion and feeling, truly bringing the past to life. I absolutely loved it and am so happy to add it to my list of Russian royalty novels. The acknowledgements at the end made it sound like there may be a third in the series from Alpsten (Catherine maybe? Oh my goodness please??) so I'll be anxiously waiting for news on that. Highly recommend this one!


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

So I dunno what it was about this book, I could just not get into it. And I. Sorry I couldn't because I was so looking forward to this one. The story line with it's plethora of characters was just too much to keep track of for me. Also it was just a little too slow at the beginning and I had trouble following along because my mind kept wandering while I was reading. I can see why the author left an index of characters but for me it was too much to flip to this as there were so many to keep track of, what can I say this reader is lazy. Also the length I felt could have been condensed more. But that's just my opinion. I just didnt jive with this one. I'm sorry.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second in the series, but I read this as a standalone. This sweeping historical fiction tale takes us back in time to when the Romanovs ruled Russia. You’ve heard of Peter the Great, this is the story of his daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s circumstances changed several times, from the privileged upbringing as Peter’s daughter to being ostracized and cast out of favor because her parents weren’t married when she was born. She was threatened several times that she’d be sent to a convent for a life of misery.

You never know who to trust at court and there are several regime changes. There’s all the opulence of the court contrasted with the poverty and pain of the people of Russia. There’s even a little magical realism in this one with several prophecies for Elizabeth and her sister.

This is an intriguing historical, steeped in toxic Court politics, about a little known Romanov, Tsarevna Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine I.

The novel opens on a dilemma for Elizabeth Petrovna Romanova, the only surviving child of Tsar Peter's fifteen offspring. She must choose between taking the throne herself (through the deposition of her adored one-year-old cousin Ivan) or being banished to die in a convent or Siberia.

The story moves back and forth in time to reveal the ups and downs of Lizenka's fortunes, and what led to this.

I enjoyed this one. It was a different take on Russian history as well get a look a Russian Grand Duchess that isn't Anastasia or one of her sisters. Though it's a still a Romanov. And it's almost as dark as the Romanov story we know. this one had me staying up late into the night because I had to know what happened. And how the story was going to end.