The Witches of St. Petersburg

December 15, 2018
Two forgotten figures from the last days of Imperial Russia work their dark magic in this chilling historical fantasy from Edwards-Jones (Restaurant Babylon, 2013, etc.).Militza and Anastasia, known as "Stana," may be princesses, but their home country of Montenegro is embarrassingly impoverished. Fulfilling their duty as daughters, they each manage to marry high-ranking members of the Russian aristocracy but are still ridiculed by the wealthy St. Petersburg society for coming from a "feudal backwater." When Czar Nicholas II is crowned and the social hierarchy is up in the air, Militza seizes the opportunity to position herself and Stana close to the new czarina, Alexandra. Both sisters, Militza in particular, have an aptitude for black magic, and with the help of their unusual talents, they soon enjoy the power that comes from being Alexandra's closest friends. But when the long-awaited heir to the throne, Alexei, is born with hemophilia, the sisters must push their knowledge of the occult to its limits to find him a healer. One Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin is happy to answer their prayers, but he may turn out to be more than they bargained for. Covering almost 30 years of history, the book has spots that feel rushed and moments where one feels the characters getting lost in the sea of historical events and political context. But all the same, Edwards-Jones has done an impressive job of taking what was clearly extensive research and injecting it with narrative flair. Passing knowledge of the Russian Revolution will spoil the ending, but the court intrigue, mysterious black magic, and tense political drama keep the pages turning and the thrills coming.Sure to delight history buffs and dark fantasy lovers alike.

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December 1, 2018
In late imperial Russia, Militza and Stana, daughters of the impoverished king of Montenegro, marry powerful Russian nobles and proceed to work their way into the highest echelons of the tsar's court. Militza is ambitious and calculating, determined to win the favor of the tsar and tsarina at all costs. The lonely tsarina, desperate for a male heir, is convinced the sisters' practice of black magic is the solution to her woes, and they soon become favorites of the royal family. Eventually, Militza befriends Rasputin and introduces him to the tsarina, who quickly falls under his spell; it is only much later that Militza realizes the danger Rasputin poses to the entire monarchy and its way of life. Edwards-Jones' (Tuscany for Beginners, 2005) expert knowledge of the characters, politics, and customs of the time are on full display, although readers will likely wish for more context to the historical events. Nonetheless, in its best moments, this is a compelling read brimming with lush historical detail.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)