Romanov. The name of the last Russian monarchs is known around the world, the story of the slaughter of the royal family told and re-told. The discovery of the mass grave and the missing bodies of Princess Anastasia, Nastya, and Prince Alexei have sparked hope over the years that they perhaps escaped the mass execution, living full lives away from the brutality of the Bolsheviks and the oppressive Soviet regime. Nadine Brandes combines history and magic to imagine what might have been . . . if there were magic in our world.
“Romanov” by Nadine Brandes looks at what life in exile was like for the Romanov family, their bond, their faith, and the impact they had on their guards. It explores themes of what loving your enemies looks like, what it really means to forgive, and what it looks like to maintain hope in the face of impossible situations. Brandes does an excellent job of holding true to actual history, in spite of her addition of magic to the story, and does not shy away from the tragedies and darkness that permeates the history of the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution. But, in the midst of it, she showcases the joy the Romanovs chose to hold on to and sprinkles moments of humor to lighten the unrelenting realities of the story. Though it is not an easy read, emotionally speaking, it is a rewarding one. I encourage you to read it, discover the courage and faith that accompanied the Romanov’s in their last days and dream about what might have been.
Click here or on the link below to find where “Romanov” is available for purchase. And if you don’t have the funds, try requesting it through your local library!
Happy reading, and keep magic in the mundane!
Comments