Release Day ARC Review: Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick

Title: Tsarina Author: J. Nelle Patrick (the penname for Jackson Pearce) Published: February 27, 2014 Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: Natalya knows a secret.   A magical Faberge egg glows within the walls of Russia's Winter Palace. It holds a power rooted in the land and stolen from the mystics. A power that promises a life of love for her and Alexei Romanov. Power, that, in the right hands, can save her way of life.   But it's not in the right hands.

Happy Book Birthday to Tsarina! I was so fortunate to have an eARC of this book via Netgalley due mostly to my addiction to Twitter. So remember folks, it pays off to follow your favorite authors and spend a lot of time staring at your Twitter feed. This book is one of my most highly anticipated books of 2014. It combines lots of my favorite things: historical fiction, fantasy, Russia, the Bolshevik Revolution. The list goes on and on.

The book is categorized as a  historical fantasy but it felt much more like the former. The fantasy elements didn't come in much until the end of the books. And despite the fact that it was of major importance to the plot it felt like a minor part of the story. I would have liked to see a little more fantasy. It felt like much more of an adventure story than anything else. While there was a lot of travel montages, which I usually hate, in Tsarina it seemed to work. Maybe it was because I have always wanted to travel to the places they were going or maybe it was because  it seemed to fit the plot. The plot and pacing of this book was pretty great. It slowly builds to a crescendo that results in an epic conclusion full of plot twists and action. I was slightly annoyed at the completely wide open ending of a book I was sure was going to be a standalone. I'm trying to do a standalone challenge people, stop leaving doors open for sequels! GOSH!

What I loved about the book is I'm not sure if I want to cheer for the Romanovs or the Bolsheviks. My feelings on alternate history make it hard to want something different to happen. But it's also because that's the story that was written. This is a very turbulent time in Russian history and many of the Russian people weren't sure who to support. The book is very well researched and the author paints the picture of turmoil and indecision. As the story develops the main character Natalya gets a true taste of her beloved Russia. As a royal she's been very sheltered to what's going on outside that palace and the struggle many people are faced with, and she doesn't always like what she sees. The book explores this idea about right and wrong, power and privilege, and what is best for the people. It's a book not just about Natalya succeeding, it's about Russia succeeding. It's hard to pinpoint a clear villain of this story. Everyone is wants the power and to control Russia and everyone thinks they know what is best for the people. There is a lot of gray and uncertainty which causes the story to feel  much more deep and compelling.

In addition to a compelling plot with a deeper meaning, the book also has some fantastic characters. Natalya is spunky and determined to save her country and the boy she loves. She's a great protagonist and has an amazing character arc throughout the story. I also liked her best friend Emilia who initially seems vapid and self-centered but is incredibly smart and resourceful. She gets Natalya out of many a jam. I also liked Leo the Red who has kidnapped them and is using them to get what he wants. He is surly and gruff but he has strong convictions and cares about helping others. It makes him a really interesting character. There are also some interesting mystics who added some dramatic irony to the book, as the power of the Constellation egg is tied to their power as well as the power of the Romanovs. The book was full of characters that walked the fine line between good and evil and made me wonder if they were doing the right thing or not, which, as you know, I love.

Speaking of love I read this as part of my anti-love month so I feel like I have to mention the romance in the book. I did however feel kind of indifferent to it. I didn't feel like the book put a lot of focus on love. There were of course romantic elements and a bit of a love triangle. It didn't feel like insta-love but it also didn't feel like it was slow-burning either. I didn't focus on the romance even though it did feel like it represented a larger significance for the story.

On the whole I enjoyed Tsarina. I give it an 8 out of 10.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of modern Russian history, fans of historical fiction, and people who like adventure stories. I heard this book compared to A Great and Terrible Beauty, which is a book I really enjoyed. For me however, I found more comparisons to Shadow and Bone and the Grisha trilogy. If you are a fan of that series then check out Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick


If you've read Tsarina leave me a comment with your thoughts. If you haven't read it, then check it out and of course... HAPPY READING!

February TBR - Anti-Love Stories

February is the month of Valentine's Day where we celebrate love and romance. Because of this fact our stores are inundated with flowers, hearts, and chocolate. Television is full of sappy movies and shows about love. And everyone is thinking about romance. Now don't get me wrong, I love romance as much as the next person, but I also believe in the natural balance of the universe so I'm working to achieve dharma by reading books with complicated love stories. Maybe they have to fight against all odds to be with their love, maybe love makes their life more difficult, maybe they end up married to the person they don't love, or maybe they realize love isn't all it's cracked up to be. Is it weird that I'm excited about how depressing these books are going to be?

The Classic

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

How it Fits the Theme: The main character is expected to marry quickly but she wants to marry for love. Too bad the man she loves is cruel and dubious at best. I started this book years ago and then life (college) got in the way. I'm taking the opportunity to dust it off and finish it this month

  The Recent Adult Novel

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz

How it Fits the Theme: The title says it all.  This is a book that interweaves a bunch of anti-love stories together and is the best example of what I'm trying to read this month. I read The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao a long time ago and I love Junot Diaz's writing style so I'm excited to read another of his books.

 

 

The Standalones

Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick

How it Fits the Theme: After reading the description and with my knowledge of the history of this time period I can predict the ending and it fits, which is perfect because I got an ARC from Netgalley and it comes out at the end of the month. This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and it's going to take a lot of self-control not to start it immediately.

A Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

How it Fits the Theme: So maybe it doesn't. The reviews I've seen lead me to believe it's of a more traditional romance. I just really want to read it. I've heard great things from people who aren't even fans of historical fiction (which I am) so I am very much expecting to enjoy this book. 

 

The Series

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

How it Fits the Theme: I know there are some spectacularly enjoyable ships in this series but there are also a lot of we can't be together because we're too different kind of scenarios. Basically I'm making it work because I want to read this series. It comes very highly recommended and Cress comes out in just a few days!

What are you planning on reading in February? Have you read any of these books? Do they fit my theme of complicated love stories for the month? Leave me a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for the reviews and HAPPY READING!