Blog tour: The Romanov Brides

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Welcome to the blog tour for The Romanov Brides by Clare McHugh!

More about the book…

They were granddaughters of Queen Victoria and two of the most beautiful princesses in Europe. Princesses Alix and Ella were destined to wed well and wisely. But while their grandmother wants to join them to the English and German royal families, the sisters fall in love with Russia—and the Romanovs.

Defying the Queen’s dire warnings, Ella weds the tsar’s brother, Grand Duke Serge. Cultivated, aloof, and proud, Serge places his young wife on a pedestal for all to admire. Behind palace gates, Ella struggles to secure private happiness.

Alix, whisked away to Russia for Ella’s wedding, meets and captivates Nicky—heir apparent to the Russian throne. While loving him deeply, Alix hears a call of conscience, urging her to walk away.

Their fateful decisions to marry will lead to tragic consequences for not only themselves and their families, but for millions in Russia and around the globe.

The Romanov Brides is a moving and fascinating portrait of two bold and spirited royal sisters, and brings to vivid life imperial Russia—a dazzling, decadent world on the brink of disappearing forever. 

More about the author…

Clare McHugh is the author of A Most English Princess, a historical novel about the family of Queen Victoria, and The Romanov Brides.

A former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, McHugh graduated from Harvard College with a degree in European history.

She currently lives in London and in Amagansett, NY. 

My impressions…

Russia evokes different emotions in different people and, while I have mixed feelings about the country, I also find myself constantly fascinated by its history. Likewise, while I am unfamiliar with the details of the Romanov family history, I would have had to be living under a stone to not know their tragic fate.

It was therefore with great interest that I approached this novel, a clearly well researched example of historical fiction. Princesses Alix and Ella are at the heart of the story, and vivid descriptions of lavish settings make the world the two sisters inhabit come alive.

We all know what lies ahead in their future, but, as a reader, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the giddiness of their falling in love with men they were not supposed to fall for, despite any political or religious context to advise against it. An absorbing glimpse into the past, and beautifully written.

Three words to describe it. Evocative. Unputdownable. Fascinating.

Do I like the cover? Yes, it immediately caught my attention.

Have I read any other books by the same author? No, but I’d love to.

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