The Tsarina's Daughter

Somehow I missed the first novel “Tsarina” by Ellen Alpsten. Thankfully, I didn’t need to read it before enjoying Tsarina’s Daughter but I do intend to go back and fill in some of the history for myself by reading the first book. Tsarina’s Daughter is a fascinating story about Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and Tsarina Catherine l. Elizabeth is a spoiled heir who wants for nothing. She is soon to marry King Louis XV of France. But then her father dies, her brother is executed, and her mother takes the throne of Russia and Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger. This is a story of survival, betrayal, power, love, loss, deception and perseverance. You will get a glimpse into the Russian Empire, Russian folklore, and Russian history all tied into the beautiful and interesting life of Catherine the Great and her family.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

I had read Tsarina earlier this year and learnt about Catherine I or Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya .. it was an informative read and this second book “The Tsarina’s Daughter is no less!! At the same time, one doesn’t need to read the first book to enjoy the second one, unless one prefers chronology!
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“In your end lies your beginning. No man shall disappoint you as a woman will. An Angel will speak to you. The lightest load will be your greatest burden.” Prophecy of the Golosov Ravine
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This book is about Elizabeth Petrovna, second eldest daughter of Tsar, Peter the Great and Tsarina Catherine I. She is a beautiful and spoilt princess and is looking forward to getting married to King Louis XV of France and be the Queen in Versailles. When her mother, the Tsarina dies .. Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down! She is surrounded by enemies and threats and had to find ways to survive. This story is about love, survival, loss, politics, court drama, deceit, passion, power struggle.
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The book is written well and the descriptions are vivid. I found the story engaging and gripping and had a hard time putting down the book. Thank God, for the long weekend .. I was able to finish the book.
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Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an Advance Reader Copy.
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The Tsarina’s daughter by Ellen Alpsten. Wow, what a truly remarkable story about some truly remarkable people!! Peter the Great, the Grand Tsar of Russia, dies unexpectedly without nominating a male heir to inherit the throne. Who will now inherit the Empire of All Russias? Read The Tsarina's Daughter to find out..

The massive novel over 500 pages, (not a difficult read though), transports you to 18th century Russia through the rising and falling fortunes of the various successors to Peter the Great as his daughter Elizabeth Romanova tries to realise her legacy. Filled with court intrigue and interminable plots, suspense, romance, greed and betrayals, the story is bound to enthrall you. I loved not just the main protagonist but several other characters who fight for and against Elizabeth's rise to rule the Great Russian Empire. Her journey from a pampered and spoilt teenage Princess to becoming the Tsarina of all Russias, against all odds will grip you till the very end. I also learnt a lot about the history of Russia, its diplomatic and political environment at the time.

You will thoroughly enjoy this story if you are a fan of the Philippa Gregory novels about the English royal courts. While much has been written about the last Romanovs to rule Russia and the Russian Revolution, I haven't earlier found much historical fiction about the early Russian Tsars (and Tsarinas!). This book is definitely for you if you are looking for a lucid narrative of their lives and times. The author’s earlier novel Tsarina deals with the story of Elizabeth’s mother, Catherine I and the events preceding this book. However there is no compulsion to read the books in sequence, this book holds its own as a stand-alone novel.

This one had me reading late into the wee hours and I’m really hoping there is going to be a Part 3 soon. Thank you @NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advance reader copy

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The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten is a historical novel centered around Russia as the country enters a challenging time when Peter The Great (the reigning Tsar) wants his country to be more modern in education, style, clothes, etc. For too long, Russia had been considered a backwoods country with uneducated peasants and workers. As you can imagine, this change to a more contemporary way of life was not sanctioned by the ruling class, who wanted to keep their money, homes, and way of life that discouraged upward mobility. This story is primarily about the Tsarevna Elizabeth, who ascends to heights in the nobility typically reserved for men only. When Peter The Great dies without a living son/heir, Elizabeth begins her eventual rise to the throne. Like all royal households, the back alley deals, treasonous plots, and power grabs make for dangerous times for those of royal blood. The story also weaves a bit of the Russian fables and fairytales. You have to pay attention because there are a lot of characters to keep track of in the story. As a student of history, I enjoyed the Tsarevna’s growth in character and grit to become a Russian ruler leading her country into a more modern future. She would rule Russia for many years. The Tsarevna Elizabeth was one of a kind with Catherine The Great to follow. I love a good story about strong women. A bonus...the cover is lovely. #murder #politics #royalty #womensfiction #historicalfiction #Russia @netgalley @stmartinspress
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. Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book which was delightful.

#reading #books #bookstagram #book #booksofinstagram #booklovers #bookish #lindaleereads2021 #mmdbookclub #idratherbereading #readinglife #mmdsummerreading @modernmrsdarcy #October 🎃

Tsarina was the first novel I experienced by Ellen Alpsten and it was very highly recommended by me to my friends who love historical fiction. The story of Catherine the I was remarkable. At the end of Tsarina, we got a glimpse of her 2nd living daughter, Elizabeth. In The Tsarina's Daughter, we get Elizabeth's story. Although much of the story covers what we had already read in Tsarina, it is from Elizabeth's perspective so we gain the depth that sets up this novel once Catherine the I passes and the Russian monarchy is once again turned upside down.

I'm not sure there is a more captivating monarchy than the line that built Russia. Nothing is conventional. Nothing is traditional. Each ruler makes their own rules. It's entirely fascinating and Elizabeth of Russia is no exception. She rules for 21 years.

This one is not to be missed.

Ellen Alpsten's The Tsarina's Daughter is the story of the daughter of Tsar Peter the Great and his wife Catherine. Catherine the Great herself is a fascinating character and the historical take on the women who preceded her in Russian history is no less exciting. The Russian court is full or intrigue and the novel takes you through all the twists and turns.

I will say if you are not familiar with Russian history and naming conventions you may have a hard time following some of the characters in the novel, but the character list at the beginning of the book will be very useful.

The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten is an excellent historical fiction novel that presents a spotlight on the fascinating and complex Elizabeth Petrovna, The Empress of Russia. I loved this!

I have been fascinated not just by Russian History, but also the Romanov dynasty, so obviously I was drawn to this novel. I also am a huge fan of Ms. Alpsten and truly enjoyed the first book in this series, Tsarina, so this book was a must have for me.

This book was even better then its predecessor. Elizabeth, the daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great was a force to be reckoned with. In a time that was socially and politically volatile, demeaning to women, and just a time and place of unrest, Elizabeth fought for every ounce of power and control. She was a fighter because she had to be. Far from perfect, she still had her strengths and furthered many of the plans and goals of advancement and enlightenment that her father, Peter the Great, began. This novel gave us fictionalized view of this fabulous woman.

It has it all: history, drama, passion, love, betrayal, sacrifice, intrigue, mystery, and so much more. What a jam-packed novel that kept me on edge from beginning to end. I recommend this to anyone fascinated with not just Russian history, but historical fiction in general.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Griffin/Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

When I saw this book I was so excited. I loved The Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten and I had to read this one. I was not disappointed this book was excellent. I never knew much about Elizabeth and I thourghly enjoyed learning about her life. Ms. Alpsten paints pictures with words that makes you feel like you're actually there. If you're a fan of historical fiction this book is a must read! I'm so glad she will be writing another book. I can't wait to read it!

The second book in this series by Ellen Alpsten was even better than the first, Tsarina. I didn’t think is was possible to surpass the historical lessons and intricate details from Tsarina but Ellen Aplsten has exceeded all expectations I had for this book. The Tsarina’s Daughter follows the life of Elizabeth daughter of Peter the Great and his wife Catherine. Elizabeth has to learn who is her friend and who is her enemy as the throne in Russia goes through upheaval after Peter the Great dies. This is a fascinating look at the royal family of Russia. I could not stop reading until I got to the end. Thank you so much to #netgalley, the publisher, and author for my requested ARC.

Ellen Alpsten is quickly becoming a favorite author and historical fiction a favorite genre. I absolutely adore the story of Tsarevna Elizabeth and her struggle through the dangerous terrain of the Russian Imperial Court!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading The Tsarina's Daughter!

Ellen Alpsten has done it again! First she brought us the glittering rise of Catherine I, and she returns to the Romanovs with the story of her daughter, Tsarina Elizabeth I. Elizabeth, the "Princess of Poltava", sees her star starting to descend after her father, Peter the Great, passes away. Witness her fortitude as she deals with the grasping of Menshikov, the jealousy of her nephew, and being shunted aside time and time again. This is a grand tale of the tsarevna's survival, rise to (and fall from) the role of tsesarevna, and finally, seizing her destiny. If you enjoy strong women and early Romanov history, I highly recommend this book!

Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great and Catherine has an idyllic childhood. She is surrounded by luxury and family. She dreams of marrying King Louis XV of France, and ruling as Queen. When her father dies the Russian line of succession is thrown into chaos and she finds her fortunes reversed. Now she is dependent on the goodwill of those around her.

Elizabeth was an interesting and dynamic character. She truly grew over the course of the book, and it was fascinating to watch. The book was well paced and unraveled in a dramatic and intense way. I would love to read more from this author. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

“The Tsarina’s Daughter,” by Ellen Alpsten, is the second in a trilogy about the Romanov family. Having never read the first book “Tsarina,” I was a bit hesitant - but this book stands on its own. I did like that Ms. Alpsten included a list of who-is-who in the beginning of the book, as I ended up consulting that (and, I’ll admit, online sources) to keep track of who was related to who and how others fit into the narrative. “The Tsarina’s Daughter” follows Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, as she lives her life, sometimes inching closer to being Tsarina - sometimes moving further down the line through court manipulations. Very nicely, it begins at the end and then goes back in time to give some back story as to how things evolved. This book has a lot of drama - there’s family drama all over the place, there’s foreign entanglements, there’s manipulations to rival the court of Nero (though not quite the Borgias), there’s broken promises, there’s even an appearance of some mysticism (a wood sprite and tarot) - but through it all, Elizabeth remains true to Russia and her idea of what “Mother Russia” means. At times this book felt like the pacing was sped up (more toward the end), but in general I found the pacing to be really well done. I will add “Tsarina” to my list of books to be read - and I look forward to the third book, which I hope is about Cathrine the Great (though possibly we have a bit of a look at Elizabeth’s rule too). If your knowledge of Russian rulers is, like mine, a bit lacking (or rusty), this book very nicely fills in the Peter the Great to Catherine the Great gap (or at least part of it). Four stars and a great roller coaster ride, with some crazy twists.

The gorgeous book cover was enough to draw me in when I saw it on NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel set in the cutthroat royal courts of early 18th century Russia. The Tsarina’s daughter is Elizaveta Petrova Romanova, called Lizchenka by her family and lovers. The story is fast-paced, driven by actual historical events and richly imagined private moments of family life. Alpsten has a gift for details. Her descriptions made me feel like I was there, from the food (too much sour cream) and the silkiness and luster of the ladies’ gowns, to the bleakness and ice of the Russian climate and the horrible poverty of its citizens who have the misfortune to live outside of the sumptuous court environment. This book has inspired me to learn more about the Russian empire. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advance e-galley in exchange for a candid review.

The Tsarina's Daughter is a great book by Ellen Alpsten. It is about Tsarevna Elizabeth of Russia, the daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great. I have always been fascinated by the Romanovs of Russian history and this historical really made me even more curious with this family. I loved learning more about Elizabeth and see her strength, determination, and bravery through life. I was not sure of her at first but she grew on me as she matured through the years. I thought it was a great book!

I am giving The Tsarina's Daughter a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for the readers who enjoy reading historical fiction based on real figures from the past. I will be most definitely looking for more historical novels by Ellen Alpsten in the future.

I received a paperback copy of The Tsarina's Daughter from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

"Ellen Alpsten's stunning novel, The Tsarina's Daughter, is the dramatic story of Elizabeth, daughter of Catherine I and Peter the Great, who ruled Russia during an extraordinary life marked by love, danger, passion and scandal.

Born into the House of Romanov to the all-powerful Peter the Great and his wife, Catherine, a former serf, beautiful Tsarevna Elizabeth is the envy of the Russian empire. She is insulated by luxury and spoiled by her father, who dreams for her to marry King Louis XV of France and rule in Versailles. But when a woodland creature gives her a Delphic prophecy, her life is turned upside down. Her volatile father suddenly dies, her only brother has been executed and her mother takes the throne of Russia.

As friends turn to foes in the dangerous atmosphere of the Court, the princess must fear for her freedom and her life. Fate deals her blow after blow, and even loving her becomes a crime that warrants cruel torture and capital punishment: Elizabeth matures from suffering victim to strong and savvy survivor. But only her true love and the burning passion they share finally help her become who she is. When the Imperial Crown is left to an infant Tsarevich, Elizabeth finds herself in mortal danger and must confront a terrible dilemma - seize the reins of power and harm an innocent child, or find herself following in the footsteps of her murdered brother.

Hidden behind a gorgeous, wildly decadent façade, the Russian Imperial Court is a viper’s den of intrigue and ambition. Only a woman possessed of boundless courage and cunning can prove herself worthy to sit on the throne of Peter the Great."

I am TOTALLY obsessed with the Russian Imperial Court!

This book is the second of a trilogy about the Russian aristocracy in the times of Tsar Peter the Great and his descendents who were collectively known as the House of Romanov. In this second novel which can be read as a standalone, Elizabeth is trying to find her path in life, specifically as it pertains to the royal court. There are those who support her as an heir to the throne, even though she is female, but others who seek to detract from her standing in order to gain power and status. As a child, she was given a harrowing prophecy by a menacing witch who she would remember throughout her life.. As Elizabeth ages, she finds each line of this prophecy coming to pass one-by-one that makes her fear for her future. This era in Russian history is popular in fiction, but I hadn't read too much about it. But I did enjoy traveling there into the ice and snow of harsh winters to see what became of Elizabeth through the years. I didn't want to spoil any outcomes by researching as I was reading, so I didn't know the details about how things played out in real life. But I can tell you that Elizabeth's journey took a sharply winding path that kept me reading into the night. There is a slight element of fantasy with the appearance of the witch, but it doesn't dominate the story except for providing the outline for the road Elizabeth travels to her ultimate fate. My advice is to take a chance and preorder your copy. Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read it early.. Pub date is March 15, 2022.