2021 Reading Challenge: A book with a family tree

The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna by C.W. Gortner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When most hear the name Romanov, most think Tsar Nicholas, his Wife Alexandra and their children, especially the mysterious Anastasia. But they were the last in a long line that as a Dynasty that ruled Russia.

As a child, Dagmar was an impoverished Princess of Denmark that had no aspirations to be more than that. Then suddenly her father became King of Denmark and she and her siblings have to marry to make political connections. Her sister weds the Prince of Wales, her one brother becomes King of Greece and, at the age of 19, she ends up wedding the heir to the Romanov Throne. With her Wedding she becomes Maria Feoderovna (Mary the Foreign Born) and becomes witness to many things. She fights to keep her family on track, raise her children (her eldest son eventually becoming Tsar Nicholas), protect Russia and serve the people.

If only most of her family had listened to her.

****

I won this book as an ARC from Goodreads, but didn't get around to reading it until 3 years after it was officially published. And let me tell you, I now wish I had read it when it arrived. I am pretty sure this is going to end up going into re-read rotation. I found the story compelling, the imagery enticing and the writing down right beautiful.

I fully intend to check out other novels by Mr. Gortner now.



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