Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Title: Romanov

Author: Nadine Brandes

Publication Date: 7th May 2019

Pages: 352

Genre: Historical Fiction

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As soon as I noticed this book I fell in love with the synopsis, I've always been fascinated by the Romanovs and this is the first retelling I've found. The perfect blend between historical fiction and fantasy.

Nadine Brandes is a fabulous storyteller, adding magic in an otherwise heartbreaking story. I was hooked from the very first chapter. The story follows Anastasia as she is confronted with difficult decisions while in exile, we are introduced to the Romanov family while they're kept as hostages by the Bolsheviks. Nastya needs to overcome the stress and monotony while trying to find a way to save her family.

If you're looking for historical accuracy, this is not it. You'll find some historical facts mixed heavily with the author imaginative as she is trying to make you share the feelings of all the characters.
After this magnificent introduction to Brandes prose I had to run and get one of her other books, Fawkes, I'm loving it so far, review to come. 

Top Ten Tuesday: NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS I READ IN 2018

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to  That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018.

2018 was a busy year for me, I struggled to read 50 books and not every book was amazing, but there's a few authors that I'm glad to have on my list today. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for their books:

★★★★★

   Who was your favorite author of 2018?

Review Brightly Woven

Title: Brightly Woven

Author: Alexandra Bracke

Publication Date: March 23, 2010

Publisher: Egmont

Pages: 357

ISBN: 160684038X

The day the rains came was like any other, blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness....
Just as the rains come after ten long, dry years, a young wizard, Wayland North, appears, to whisk Sydelle Mirabil away from her desert village. North needs an assistant, and Sydelle is eager to see the country - and to join him on his quest to stop the war that surely will destroy her home. But North has secrets - about himself, about why he chose Sydelle, about his real reasons for the journey. What does he want from her? And why does North's sworn enemy seem fascinated by Sydelle himself? Through a journey that spans a country, magic and hard-won romance are woven together with precision and brilliant design by a first-time novelist.

I’ve had this book waiting on my bookshelf for years, and let me tell you something: don’t make the same mistake. If you have it waiting around, pick it up, if you don’t have it and you love Fantasy you need to get it. Loved reading every page, it made me laugh, it made me swoon and it made me wonder.

I’ve been on a reading slump for the past few months and it was easy to get lost in this story. Brightly Woven did not take long to get me interested, it’s unlike any other book related to Magic, witches and wizards, that I’ve come across in all the years I’ve been reading.

It’s been 10 years since it last rained on Sydelle Miribel’s village, her small town of Cliffton is all she’s ever known, that is until a young stranger arrives and her world turns upside down, they need to stop a war before it’s too late. There’s magic and there’s romance without the romance taking the main focus. I enjoyed getting to know Sydelle and her brave disposition and Wayland North with his humor and imperfect personality.

Overall It left me wishing there was a sequel, I want to go back to the amazing imaginary world that Alexandra Bracken was able to portray.