Reviews

This was an interesting book. I didn't know much about the Anastasia prior to reading it. It was also written in an interesting timeline, chronologically with Anastasia, and backwards in time with the older Anna. It was a little confusing at first, but once I got used to it I found it interesting. Overall I felt it was well written and entertaining.

lindamarieaustin110159's review against another edition

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3.0

I have always been intrigued by the Romanov family, so I was drawn to this title. To Lawhon’s credit a great deal of research formed the framework behind this book. It is truly a fascinating tale. However, I found it difficult to follow with the constant shifting backwards of the date causing Anna Anderson’s narrative to be presented in the reverse order from which it occurred. I understand why it is written in this manner, but believe that at least parts of this could have been presented more chronologically. In my opinion, this would have made it easier to follow and understand the who’s who of some of the characters.

As this story opens in 1970, a woman claiming to be the Russian grand duchess, Anastasia Romanov, is living in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has struggled her entire adult life to establish herself as deserving of the vast inheritance left by Nicolas II, Emperor of Russia. However, she has been unable to prove her identity as his daughter. In order to keep a roof over her head she has married a man she didn’t love and through the years past has relied on the kindness and curiosity of well-to-do strangers to take her in. She has also spent time in hospitals and mental institutions, as doctors struggled to determine the cause of the scars covering much of her body and the reason she would try to take her life by jumping from the Bendlerstrasse Bridge in Berlin.

jahcoffman's review against another edition

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4.0

I was fully engrossed in the story and loved the character progression. I really struggled with the jumbled timeline. The author's note explained her process for the flow of the story which was fairly satisfying based on the novel's ending pages.

cat_macdermott45's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

bethie73's review against another edition

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4.0

This book had a very interesting structure that alternated back and forth in time. It was difficult to dive in at first, but then I began to really like the way it was presented -- the structure was a great way to keep the mystery going through the whole book. I have been fascinated by the story of Anastasia and the Romanovs since I was a kid, and I think this book treated them with respect but also a reality that made the story much more believable. Of course children growing up in the royal household of the Emperor of Russia would be naive and entitled!

rhiii_w's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

let me tell you. LET ME TELL YOU. to preface, i am already sad because

the guy i’m seeing is moving to a different state and we like each other so much and i just know this is not the end but I AM SAD

but i am fucking rapt with emotion finishing this.

finished this 1.5 hrs into my 3 hour flight to adelaide and just had to fucking sit there and contemplate it. THE AUTHOR JUST. she fuckin bait and switched me. all of us. fucuuuuucjkkk

not only has the story of the romanovs fascinated me as a child, but to experience the full weight of their story, as an adult…

once you get used to the timeline it’s so good but similar to other readers i was almost skim reading the anna chapters. the anastasia chapters are where it’s at. so tragic holy fuck

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