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.