The Last Romanov

February 6, 2012
It is 1991 and Darya Borodina Spiridova is 104 years old. The world of imperial Russia—and the finest days of her life—are long gone. Then a letter from the Russian Nobility Association, a persistent circle of monarchists, arrives at her dilapidated Russian palace, summoning her to a meeting where they propose to fill the void left by communism by reinstating the monarchy. Darya is plunged back into her life in the Romanov court, where she was aunt to czarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, heir apparent to the throne of Russia, who she believes survived and for whom she has spent her life searching. Now, with the Romanov grave discovered sans Alexei’s remains, she must travel to meet a claimant to the throne, whom she believes to be her beloved Alexei. However, her host, Grand Duchess Sophia Sheremetev, demands to hear the story of her opulent youth in the Russian court and its subsequent collapse, before revealing the identity of the possible heir. Through this last act of memory, Darya purges her survivor guilt and regret over her lost family and the long life she has spent trying to find Alexei. Mossanen’s magical tale recasts familiar material in a modern light and injects pathos into a historic tragedy. Agent: Anna Ghosh, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

March 1, 2012

In her third novel, Mossanen (Harem; Courtesan) plays up the mysticism that surrounded the Russian imperial court in its final, fateful years. Darya Borodina, a healer and a rumored witch, narrates the tale of a privileged family besieged by politics and revolution. As a friend of the royal family, Darya sets powerful forces in motion when she introduces Rasputin to Empress Alexandra as a possible savior for her ailing son. After surviving the Russian Revolution and the assassination of the royal family, Darya spends the following decades searching for the heir to the throne, Prince Alexis, who she believes was not killed with his family. VERDICT Mossanen gives new life to the familiar Romanov legend with this vividly imagined retelling of historical events. While perhaps too fantastical (no supernaturals, just a wee bit of healing magic) for traditional historical fiction readers, this novel is a good crossover title to recommend to fantasy readers with an interest in magical realism.--Cathy Lantz, Morton Coll. Lib., Cicero, IL

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2012
Mossanen's sweeping novel focuses on the life and memories of Darya Borodina Spiridova, a Russian orphan brought into the fold of the imperial family. Serving as a caretaker for the young czar Nicholas, she witnessed the height of the Romanov dynasty and the tragedy that befell the family at the hands of the dastardly Rasputin. Now as an old woman, she is tasked with the opportunity to find the lost heir to the Romanov throne and bring prosperity back to the troubled nation. With a plot that ranges from the early twentieth century to the years of perestroika and glasnost, The Last Romanov is an ambitious work. Mossanen peppers her prose with detailed images of palatial opulence and aristocratic indulgence, and the mystical, imaginative plot is grounded in historical fact. A story of redemption, history, and aristocratic intrigue, the novel is reminiscent of Gregory Maguire's and Robin Maxwell's work. For historical-fiction fans and lovers of the mysterious days of the Romanov Empire, this is an indulgent, romantic, and impassioned read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)