2.5 stars

This book follows two main characters: Ella, the sister of Alexandra (the last Tsarina of Russia); Ella was married to another high-ranking Russian royal; and Pavel, a peasant who becomes a revolutionary. Pavel’s wife is killed early in the revolution, and he becomes involved enough to help take the life of Ella’s husband.

I might not have that exactly right. I listened to the audio and missed much of it. It just didn’t hold my interest most of the time. I did appreciate two different people doing each character. I also liked the person narrating Pavel has a Russian accent. I don’t think I knew anything about Ella before. I did find it interesting that she later created a nunnery. I shouldn’t have been surprised at the end, but I was. ( )

It was okay. I liked the description of both sides of the revolution: Romanovs and the people. The interpretation of both I thought was done really well. Since you hear/read about how the citizens suffered it was nice to compare places in the hierarchy. I thought it lacked connection between the two main characters. The end fell a little flat as well. ( )

This book told the tale of the Russian Revolution from two opposing views - a princess of the royal family and a revolutionary. While almost every page brought impending danger and stark loss of life, it also managed to insert true humanity. The terrible miscommunications and misunderstandings between the classes are brought clearly to the reader making each new event that much more saddening. Well written and concise recounting of actual people and times. ( )

This book was not as interesting as it could have been. I didn't mind that the story shifted viewpoints from the Grand Duchess to the poor revolutionist. The contrasting viewpoints were the most interesting part of the book. I think I'm in the minority here, but I preferred Pavel's storyline more. There was more action to his story, where Ella's storyline dragged a lot for me. She spent most of the story whining about her life with the Grand Duke, until she had her "epiphany". Then she became a "saint" who didn't want to be called a saint, but really wanted to be a martyr to her cause. The only time I cared about her was when Pavel was describing her at the end of the story. I have read that this is not Alexander's best work so I'll probably try another one. ( )

The title of this book is a little misleading.  It implies that the book is only about the Grand Duchess Elizavyeta Feodorovna (Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, 1864-1918), granddaugher of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and older sister to Tsaritsa Alexandra, wife of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II.

"Ella," as she was known within her family (Nicholas and Alexandra were "Nicky" and "Alicky"), alternates chapters with a fictional character named Pavel.  He is a peasant who has come to Saint Petersburg with his bride in 1904.  She is killed in a originally-peaceful protest, and Pavel, wanting revenge, becomes a revolutionary.

In this way the reader sees both sides of this 1904-1918 period of unrest in Russia.  Pavel moves to Moscow and is involved in the assassination of Ella's husband, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, in 1905.  In 1908, the childless Ella sells off much of her wealth, becomes a Russian Orthodox nun, and founds the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow.  They do good works caring for the sick and poor, but eventually Ella is arrested and eventually killed.  Pavel, having witnessed some of her good works, requests to be one of her guards, and is involved in her death.  The story is framed with Pavel imprisoned in Siberia in 1936, awaiting his own death, and telling his story to an imprisoned priest.

It was quite interesting to learn in author Robert Alexander's afterword that Ella was canonized as New Martyr Saint Elizabeth by the Russian Orthodox church in 1981 and 1992.  I had not heard of the Grand Duchess before reading this book, which uses the facts of her life as its base.

I'd be interested in reading Alexander's (real name Robert D. Zimmerman) other two books in his House of Romanov trilogy - or even better, listening to the audiobooks.  Polish-born Stefan Rudnicki has a wonderful deep, gravelly voice that was perfect for the peasant Pavel, while veteran narrator and director Gabrielle de Cuir brings her personal distinction and flare for languages to the voice of Ella (who could speak English, German, French, and Russian).

© Amanda Pape - 2014

[The audiobook, and a print copy for reference, were borrowed from and returned to my local public library. A variation of this review also appears on Bookin' It.] ( )