Romanov

April 1, 2019
A fantasy that reimagines the fate of Anastasia Romanov and her family. It's 1918, and Nastya and her family are in exile in Tobolsk, Russia. With no clue as to what the family's fate will be, her Papa, the deposed Tsar Nikolai, gives Nastya the mission of finding the magical matryoshka doll created by Vasily Dochkin, "Russia's most respected and skilled spell master," which could save the family. The family is relocated to Ekaterinburg, and, throughout their confinement, Nastya's Papa stresses the importance of kindness and forgiving their captors. She commits to following his example by befriending one of the Bolshevik guards watching the family, Zash, a young man from an unspecified semi-nomadic Siberian ethnic group who has his own reasons for hating the Romanovs. As the Romanov family adjusts to their new life, Nastya and Zash grow closer even though they know only pain can come of their relationship. Then the unimaginable happens--and Nastya must find a way to save her family. Brandes' (Fawkes, 2018, etc.) accuracy in this retelling--the majority of the characters and events are true--and the bits of Russian sprinkled throughout are highlights. However, the second half of Nastya's story is a noticeable departure from the well-paced beginning; it feels almost like a separate story with a forced romance and a focus on Nastya's internal turmoil. A promising retelling that misses the magical mark. (author's notes, discussion questions) (Historical fantasy. 13-18)

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June 14, 2019

Gr 8 Up-The last days of the Romanovs are explored in this historical fantasy. During the Russian Civil War, the Romanovs are exiled to Siberia, awaiting trial, rescue, or death. Anastasia wants to assist her family in any way possible, so when her father asks her to protect a magical Matryoshka doll, she knows their survival depends on her success. However, the Bolsheviks also want the mysterious doll and its power for themselves. As the war between the Bolsheviks and the White Army gets closer to the family's prison, the hope of rescue is increased, but so is the fear of death. Complicating matters is the Romanovs' devotion to the Russian people and the need to protect their people over their own freedom. These stresses take their toll on Anastasia. All she wants is a simple life for her loved ones, but is that even possible? Brandes focuses on character development and makes the mysterious Romanovs much more relatable to readers. However, the world-building around the Russian Civil War is underdeveloped, which can be jarring when it is brought up in the text. The use of fantasy and magic is an interesting twist, but could have been developed more. However, the plot and character building provide a great entry point to readers new to historical fantasy. VERDICT Older fans of the animated film Anastasia will enjoy this story, as will fans of R.L. LaFevers, Evelyn Skye, and Lucy Worsley's YA novels. Place in the hands of readers new to the historical fantasy genre.-Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

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