Written by Jess Magee
“I have a story I was meant to live. And not even you can unwrite it.”
Romanov is Nadine Brandes’, author of the best-selling Fawkes, newest release and it is based on the well-known story of the real-life royal Romanov family in early modern Russia. Brandes’ take on the tale looks into the highly contested fates of Anastasia and Alexei Romanov, the young prince and princess of the dynasty. It picks up from the family’s exile whilst waiting to be tried and likely executed, with Anastasia trying desperately to survive with the use of smuggled magic and the help of a man who is meant to be her enemy.
Now, I knew from the beginning worldbuilding would be a tricky one for Nadine to really utilise. Since the family were under house arrest in exile, it is difficult to paint an exciting and fast-paced story in the same four walls where they had to ask permission to just open a window. But for the first few chapters, it was a struggle to stay with the story. It felt like a very rigid timetable every day and, honestly felt a bit monotonous. As you get further into the book and the pace doesn’t seem to grow, you start to worry. “Right, I have around 200 pages left. Is anything actually going to happen.” Although the book does pick up nearing the end, it seems to go from 0-100. Trying to keep up became more and more difficult, with the need to look back to see if I missed something becoming more frequent.
I have to say, from a history nerd standpoint, I had quite a few problems with this book. I was so excited to pick this up as I studied Russian history, which focused on the Romanovs, during my degree. But, there are some areas of the story that are missing entirely. One major problem was the point in which the book starts. By starting at the exile of the family, you miss major plot points that give you a greater insight into this highly debated and turbulent story. You miss major events such as abdication of Anastasia’s father, the Tsar, or the revolution, which is utilised during the novel, would be able to add some contextual knowledge for the reader whilst also giving a bigger picture of big players such as her family and the armies threatening to execute them. If there was much more of an explanation into why he had to leave and why they were wanted dead, it would give readers a chance to make their own minds up on the choice of fate for the family and how they got here.
However, Nastya and her brother really shone as characters throughout the novel. Their individual personalities and relationship with each other even to leave you with a tear in your eye knowing that they could be set to die in the very near future. Nastya’s warm and empathetic personality shines throughout and you really feel her sense of desperation to save the ones she loves, going above and beyond and risking everything to do so. Her brother is equally as kind, but the showcase of his illness (which the real Alexei did have) and his persistence to overcome it really made your heart yearn for his freedom and safety. His willingness to never give up on himself and his family gives you a new view on life and how to handle yours and those around you.
One character relationship there is a slight problem surrounding is between Nastya and Zash. Although, the forbidden lovers is a very popular premise to a book, that is the problem itself. It has been used time and time again. The relationship felt very forced and like she was trying to convince herself she was in love with her guard. If developed more, it could’ve worked but it felt more like a side piece picked from a to do list of ‘how to make a popular YA novel.’
Overall, the idea of the book is fascinating. I believe it deserved the hype it was given in this respect and am glad so many people were excited about history and such a highly debated theory in the past. Saying that, the novel begins to hurt itself as it presses on. The slowness of the beginning means the pace increasing to an eye watering point, and the point chosen to pick up the story leaves not enough room to develop the historical background of the situation. If the book was not based on a real and well-known family, I think it could’ve been amazing and one of the best books of the year. However, it is always a struggle giving your own view of the personality of these people and time period. Although the characters are shining part of this book, it is a struggle with the weaving of magic in the story to compare to the Romanov family without feeling slightly underwhelmed.
Romanov is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The history books say I died.
They don’t know the half of it.
Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.
Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .
That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.
