2013 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2023 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing, amazing, amazing. The second book in this series so so heart wrenching, intense, and full of the horrors of war. It’s a tough book to stomach but there’s so much hope in it for our Tatiana and Alexander and their reunion. I love it so much.

Esperei 1 ano e dois meses para ler a continuação de um dos melhores livros que li em 2013. E para quê? Para descobrir que a editora decidiu retirar a última parte (uma das partes essenciais, pelo que ouvi dizer) e só a colocar no próximo livro (que, graças a Deus é publicado ainda este ano - espero eu). As minhas dúvidas agora são: porque é que fizeram isso? Atraso na tradução? Suspense? Mais dinheiro no próximo livro? Não sei, mas vamos descobrir. Agora voltando ao livro em si.

Neste livro encontramos Tatiana já com o seu filho nos braços, mas separada do amor da sua vida, Alexander. Um na Rússia e outro nos Estados Unidos. Vemos a luta interior da Tatiana em continuar a procura de Alexander ou seguir em frente. Felizmente a procura por Alexander ganhou. Mas, na minha opinião, o objectivo principal deste livro é conhecer um pouco melhor o passado do misterioso Alexander. E penso que o ficamos a conhecer melhor do que ninguém.

Existiram certas alturas em que parei a leitura por estar um pouco aborrecida, mas sempre cai em mim e iniciei-a de novo. Mesmo com partes mais lentas este livro emocionou-me e quando acabou fiquei um pouco triste. Agora é esperar pelo próximo e último volume (snif snif).

A escrita de Paullina Simons continua super fluída e viciante. Tem descrições quanto baste e diálogos em igual medida. A introdução de novas personagens foi uma mais valia porque veio dar ar fresco à narrativa. Não se baseou unicamente em Tatiana e Alexander. Gostei também de ver a evolução do pequeno tesouro que os dois criaram.

Aguardo ansiosamente pelo próximo volume e espero não ficar desiludida com o fim desta maravilhosa história.
Recomendo.

Esta trilogía empezó maravillosa aunque en lo personal fue bajando su calidad de historia.

A Universe of Heartbreaking, Poetic Stars



"Once upon a time, young girls met young boys when the moon was full and the nights were dark, when there was a fire and singing and joking, when there was wine and taffeta and dancing, when the music was loud and the laughing, too, when one pair of eyes stared at another, and the girl's chest swelled and the boy came up close, and suddenly she looked up, he looked down and ...

Once there was first love."

What do you do … how do you go on … when your one true love is lost?

Give Up?
Move On?
Keep Faith?

"In Alexander's life there was one thread that could not be broken by death, by distance, by time, by war. Could not be broken. As long as I am in the world, she said with her breath and her body, as long as I am, you are permanent, soldier.
And he believed."


Soul shattering. The only way to describe this gorgeous sequel.
Our characters, Tatiana and Alexander are separated by distance, by war, by death. Their struggles while physically opposite, are emotionally and spiritually one. The heart ache and devastation seem never ending. How can two souls endure? How can two hearts beat strong? How can two people possibly survive? When everything they are is gone?

"I will make you insane, her memory screamed ... On the outside you will walk and smile as if indeed you are a normal woman, but on the inside you will twist and burn on the stake, I will never free you, you will never be free."

With multiple timelines and character pov's Paullina Simons is able to create a connection that has her reader gasping for more. Near impossible to put this book down ... long even, after it's ended.

Alexander's past is revealed and relived. Life changing moments are remembered. Tatiana works and lives in the now. The future is contemplated.

Despite all of the sorrow, pain, suffering, fear, regret and longing ... Despite lies, war and death ... Love will conquer all.



"There is one moment, a moment in eternity. Before we find out the truth about one another. That simple moment is the one that propels us through life - what we felt like at the very edge of our future, standing over the abyss, before we knew for sure we loved. Before we know for sure we loved forever."


I cannot give this book, this series or Paullina Simons enough praise. I am forever changed for having read this beautiful work of art, which to me felt just like an extension of the first. I know the third book will be no exception. I look forward to more storytelling from this amazing author, who has stolen my heart <3

This was so amazing I can’t even think of anything to say through my TEARS! It was a bit slow in the middle and I got a bit frustrated at times which is why it’s not 5 stars!

4 stars.

At long last, I am FINALLY finished Tatiana and Alexander.

Although this took me just under a month to read, it was not because I didn't enjoy it. I have been very fatigued my life really just consisted of me doing schoolwork or being asleep #Iamsofun.

I actually really enjoyed this book for the most part, though not nearly as much as The Bronze Horseman. I know I have said it before, but my goodness I find Russian history fascinating. What was really cool about reading this was that I was simultaneously learning about the same era of history in my Modern class.

There was one part of this story that took my cold, cold heart and just broke it. I just sat there for a moment after it happened REELING at what I had read. To anyone who has read this, I think you would know what I am talking about. Ah, I still have not processed it.

I find Tatiana to be a very strong, inspiring female character... when not around Alexander. I think Alexander treats her too delicately sometimes, instead of like his equal. I understand that those gender roles are somewhat contextual, but there were some lines where I was like "did I really just read that?" This slightly problematic element was present in The Bronze Horseman as well and I am interested to see whether it shows up in The Summer Garden.

A character I hope to see again in the next instalment in the series is Vikki. I don't know what to say about her except that she is great and a lovely addition to Tatiana and Alexander's story.

Sorry for the incredibly disjointed review - I think the reason behind it is just because I read it over such a long period of time.

Sooo book 2... I really felt that there were chunks of book one and two that were unnecessary and these two could have been combined. Again is this 5 Stars no but I couldn’t life my life while reading this book! I literally hung on every word.

One thing I don’t like about historical fiction is when it creeps way too far into the fiction and becomes unrealistic. Searching and finding Alexander.... unrealistic, but we will play along. Helping Alexander escape from a POW camp hours before he is to be sent back to the USSR AND taking down a pack of soviets searching for their prisoner with only a back pack of ammunition. Uhhhh never in real life ever.

Still yet I’m glad it happened cause I enjoyed seeing the story continue.

The sweeping saga of Tatiana and Alexander continues, as they face life torn apart with *spoiler alert* Tatiana starting a new life in America and Alexander struggling across Poland and Germany in a penal battalion of the Red Army.

I initially found this book frustrating, as it goes over a lot of the events from the first book again, even exploring Alexander’s early life which I found I already had enough of a grasp of to not cover in more detail. However, after awhile, and in retrospect, I actually think I enjoyed this book more than the Bronze Horseman. There was a lot more focus on Alexander directly in battle and on the war itself which I found fascinating. There was still plenty of lovelorn yearning, but at least this time there was a concrete and believable reason as to why they couldn’t be together.

I’ve been thoroughly advised to avoid the next book if I want to end this series on a good note, and having already anticipated the content which based on reviews is correct (PTSD Alexander returns to his asshole ways and Tatiana acts like a doormat), this is where I end my journey with Tatiana, Alexander and war-torn Europe.

THIS BOOK! It was almost exhausting to read, but well worth it. It was beautifully written, however many events in this book were tragic, and hurt my heart. The characters are just put through so much, at some points I even thought TOO much. Though I did not enjoy this book as much as the first, it was definitely a solid sequel that did not disappoint.

Good, though not as good as the first book. I felt it spent too much time looking back and not enough moving forward (until the last 10% which was no less than thrilling). And look, I know he's been through a lot and all, but you have to admit Alexander is kind of an ass.