Eva Stachniak is giving a session at this fall’s Kingston WritersFest and I hadn’t read anything by her so off I trotted to the library to pick up this book. I’m glad I did- I’ve spent the past two days wrapped up in tales of imperial intrigue in Catherine the great’s ascent in Russia.
Historical fiction can drag as the reader is brought into the necessary details of the time, but this story is told through the eyes of a bookbinder’s daughter and as such is immediately relatable. She becomes a palace spy and her acute reports of activities at court and the beliefs and iconography of that time make the story rich.
As the time comes up to the death of the Empress, the tale takes on a thriller-like pace. Threads of loyalty are stretched, secrets revealed, danger abounds. It all makes for a fun read.
As a Canadian, well familiar with winter scenery, it was good to read about the prettiness of Russian winters - often winter is described as hellish but in this book the beauty becomes part of the character of the book. Stachniak includes descriptions of smells and tastes and the feel of fabrics so well you can imagine yourself at court.

Enjoyable, evocative, and intriguing as well. ( )

I had never read anything(besides straight history books in school) on Catherine the Great, I was looking forward to this book, but it fell short for me

The sub-title should say (view spoiler) Neither one of these would have turned me away from reading the book-I was just expecting more Catherine I guess. The first 1/3 of the book was interesting, but then (OK I know this sounds crass, but it's what I felt) I just kept waiting for The Empress Elizabeth to die! The last few chapters kept me interested enough to want to read the 2nd installment if it fits somewhere in a challenge.

My interest in the entire Russian Saga was peaked and I will be looking for more books that cover this age.

Not a stellar read for me, but not a bust either ( )

I really enjoyed this book. Was a page turner from start to finish. Although it says it is a Novel of Catherine the Great - it really was more about the fictional character, Varvara, a polish royal maid servant who ends up becoming close to her. So we "learn" about Catherine through Varvara (Barbara). It is an intriguing story and although it seems a bit rushed at the end, I cannot complain for a book that I bought for a $1.00 at the Dollar Tree. A great read. ( )

Catherine the Great, Russia, historical fiction, romance, espionage ( )

3 1/2 stars. Interesting, believable, and well-researched, but it rambled in some places. Some of the excess should've been edited out. ( )