June 2019 Book Club: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

The Book

Our pick for June 2019 is Romanov by Nadine Brandes, which was released on May 7, 2019. 

Why did we pick this book?

We chose to read Romanov because we both are interested in Russian history and culture. The cute movie we watched as kids was fun, but we longed for a more historically accurate version of the story (yes, we know Anastasia didn’t survive!)

This version of Anastasia’s story follows history to a certain point and then take a creative approach to her life by adding magical realism.

What is it about?

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanova’s father, Tsar Nikolai II, abdicated the throne. Her parents, three sisters and brother were moved to Tobolsk, a town in Siberia, to live as prisoners. Nastya hoped for her family to be free and live out the rest of their lives in a small village as common people.

However, the longer they remain in captive, that seems more unlikely. Her brother Alexei has hemophilia and is growing weaker by the day, her mother’s headaches have gotten worse and morale is low. The family is eventually moved to Ekaterinburg, a city west of Tobolsk. The house is small, the guards are meaner and the family has less freedom.

Nastya’s only hope comes from her Matryoshka doll, said by her father to have magical powers. She needs the magic of a spell master, but most have been killed by the Bolsheviks. Her spirits lift as she becomes close to a Bolshevik guard, Zash, who she cannot figure out.

Her feelings for him grow more complicated when he’s on one side of a firing squad and Nastya is on the other. Follow Nastya in this fantasy adaption of the Romanov family’s story, as she tries to save her family, while dreaming of a future with Zash. 

What other Young Adult book has the author written?

Brandes has written Fawkes and the Out of Time series.