When Grigory Rasputin's body is found in the frozen waters of the Neva, tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna immediately sends for his daughters Masha and Varya in the hopes that they have the same healing powers as their father. Masha, the eldest and most like Rasputin, is asked to take charge of the future tsar Alexei, a young boy who suffers from hemophilia and whose greatest challenge is to live to see the next day. However, Masha and Varya arrive just as the Romanov family have relinquished their titles, are swept away by Bolshevik soldiers and forced into house arrest, leaving them with more than enough time to question their fate. Aware that she does not possess the same healing powers as her father, Masha embarks on a 1001 Nights-esque journey with young Aloysha to distract him from the pain his disease inflicts and the thought that his family will soon meet their end.
I've been fascinated with Russian history as long as I can remember. My hopes to visit this vast landscape have grown stronger with each passing year. When I expressed excitement over TLC Book Tours offering this title, I found a copy in my mailbox a few weeks later. After having just finished John Boyne's (author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) The House of Special Purpose*, another novel taking a look at the tragic lives of the Romanov family, I was completely ready to dive into another title that looked at the same situation from a different light.
While Enchantments is completely fictional, the subject of the thoughts and feelings of the imperial family while prisoners in their own home is interesting. So little is known of their imprisonment (or has been entirely exaggerated since) as much of it was either destroyed by the family or those that opposed their position that Harrison had the opportunity to be really creative. Out of all the historical novels I've read on the subject, Harrison's novel seems the most realistic. Furthermore, Masha's tales for the young tsarevich explore everything from his parent's courtship, to the crowning of his father, to the sexual exploits of Rasputin in the hedonistic city of St. Petersburg. Exploring a budding sexuality, Masha and Aloysha slowly form an unlikely relationship that the audience will root for despite knowing the tragic outcome.
Beautifully detailed prose, the reader is swept up into the world of Russian society and into the freezing landscape of one of the last places the Romanovs would call home. If you enjoy historical fiction, or Russian history, or imaginative prose, Enchantments is the perfect title! My favorite TLC title to date, I will be recommending this one to everyone I know.
*Pub Date: April 2, 2013.
I received a copy of Enchantments from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review of the title.
Learn more here: Random House Reader's Circle http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/rc/
TLC is offering one lucky reader a chance to win a copy of Enchantments!
*open to US/Canada only
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I've also always been fascinated with the Romanovs and this book sounds great. Have you read "The Kitchen Boy" by Robert Alexander? That's another enjoyable read about the Romanovs.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for hosting the giveaway. Fingers crossed I win!
Renee,
DeleteI haven't read Kitchen Boy but read another of his. I can't remember the title at the moment but don't remember enjoying it as much as these two. I've heard that Kitchen Boy is actually a lot better than the one I read so perhaps I'll give it a go sometime. I'm actually looking forward to picking up a copy of Massie's biography of Nikolay and Alexandra. I read his on Catherine the Great recently and LOVED it! Good luck!
You liked this more than I did.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was beautifully written but too meandering and lacking in pace/urgency.
Sam, I actually thought of your review and reread your post prior to starting the novel! I would agree that the pacing is rather slow and does sometimes get a bit confusing. BUT. I really enjoyed the way it was written because I felt it was so different and more whimsical than any other historical fiction I had read before. I also enjoyed the pacing because the last book I read on the topic (The House of Special Purpose) had its own pacing issues but raced ahead, far too soon and just left a sour taste in my mouth. I'll get to that when I publish the review.
DeleteAlso interested in the romantic.loved massies book
ReplyDeleteOoo! Now I'm really looking forward to getting a copy of that biography! Good luck!
DeleteAn endlessly fascinating era. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLiz,
DeleteIt really is and this one brings it to life. Good luck!
hmmm I'm definitely interested, but if it's a slower read might be one I would need to read other books on the side. I do enjoy reading historical fiction (kinda of a newer genre to me). Thanks for the review and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLaura,
DeleteIt's definitely something you could juggle with other books. I'm a weirdo and have a strict one book at a time rule (it's more like I can't bring myself to read more than one). But it's totally doable with this one because the pacing is slower. Good luck!
This looks like an interesting read. I love cultural and historical fiction. Russia is not a country I have read about yet for my Around the World in 80 books reading challenge. I appreciate the opportunity to win a copy! Thanks, visiting from the In The Woods book club discussion :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over! I'm excited about following along with the In the Woods discussions! I hope you love it.
DeleteWinning this would be perfect! Good luck, Tanya!
I was going to ask if you'd read The Kitchen Boy but I see you've already answered that question. ;) I'm also fascinated by the Romanov family, what a tragedy!
ReplyDeleteI may or may not read that one.
DeleteIt really is such a tragedy and I think the fact that they were so isolated is what makes everyone so fascinated.
This sounds like quite the interesting historical novel! I love learning about historical events through fiction. Great review.
ReplyDeleteI liked this one too. I liked how there was a sense of magic throughout, but it was still devastatingly realistic.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really interesting. I'm trying to make a point to read more books set in times and/or cultures other than my own.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really fascinating. Great review - you've got me interested!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to go one day! It is just the most amazing place, especially St. Petersburg. When I was there I thought it was the most beautiful city I had ever seen, and that hasn't changed even with all the other places I've seen since. And OMG the history! It's like hot chocolate chip cookies for history lovers! :--)
ReplyDeleteI too am fascinated with Russian history - I can't get enough of it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.