Book Review: Romanov by Nadine Brandes|Did Anastasia Romanova die without avenging her family?

Blurb (as on 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.

Anastasia Romanova is supposed to be dead. Her entire family was shot without a trial by the Bolsheviks, and that is an important historical event in Russia. But behind these multiple murders lies a world of treachery, misunderstanding and countless manipulations.

Anastasia or Nastya is a brave and mischievous girl. When her family is put to exile, she shows immense strength, love, and dedication towards her family and later succumbs to death by shooting. But what is Nastya lived long enough to avenge her family? and what if certain forbidden magic was her companion?

“No amount of age, pride, or maturity could stop me from loving my papa with the heart of a little girl.”

‘Romanov’ is a brilliant and refreshing take on this popular historic event. The author combines some vulnerable characters, unsettling scenarios and just the right amount of magic and companionship. I fell in love with this family who was considered traitors, because they are so kind, compassionate and dedicated to serving Russia.

Anastasia’s bond with her family and her siblings and her love for Zash have been explored with perfection, thereby giving us characters that will stay with us long after the book is over.

I might have been slightly disappointed by the ending, but that doesn’t change the fact that the writing was quite exceptional. It is necessarily a character-driven plot and a great one at that.

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