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The Last Grand Duchess
This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
375 people are currently reading
12008 people want to read
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April 4, 2022
About the book: “This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.”
Many of us are familiar with Tsar Nicholas II, the last Romanov to rule Russia. This is the family’s story through his oldest daughter, Olga’s, narration. I’ve read a book about the Tsarina, as well as a few about Anastasia, so this was a new perspective, and it felt new in a great way.
As unrest builds all around Russia, Olga is happy with her life with her family living and staying close to the palace with her three sisters. Her mother has health troubles, and her brother, Alexei, has a secret the family is hiding. Rasputin is a priest close to Olga’s mother, one who brings incredible controversy to the ruling family.
War arrives and Olga and her sisters are now nurses assisting with the wounded. Tensions mount even further and a revolution is on its way.
Bryn Turnbull has a gift for bringing her characters to life. We all know how the tragedy ends, and the journey there was heartbreaking and sensitively told after this intimate look at a devoted family. The author’s note helps delineate fact from fiction and displays the tremendous amount of research that went into writing this novel. I cannot wait to pick up The Woman Before Wallis now and look forward to Turnbull’s next book.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Many of us are familiar with Tsar Nicholas II, the last Romanov to rule Russia. This is the family’s story through his oldest daughter, Olga’s, narration. I’ve read a book about the Tsarina, as well as a few about Anastasia, so this was a new perspective, and it felt new in a great way.
As unrest builds all around Russia, Olga is happy with her life with her family living and staying close to the palace with her three sisters. Her mother has health troubles, and her brother, Alexei, has a secret the family is hiding. Rasputin is a priest close to Olga’s mother, one who brings incredible controversy to the ruling family.
War arrives and Olga and her sisters are now nurses assisting with the wounded. Tensions mount even further and a revolution is on its way.
Bryn Turnbull has a gift for bringing her characters to life. We all know how the tragedy ends, and the journey there was heartbreaking and sensitively told after this intimate look at a devoted family. The author’s note helps delineate fact from fiction and displays the tremendous amount of research that went into writing this novel. I cannot wait to pick up The Woman Before Wallis now and look forward to Turnbull’s next book.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
February 12, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Those who have been reading my reviews for a few years know that I love history and one of my favourite subjects is the family of Tsar Nicholas II. Or more particularly his four daughters! The Last Grand Duchess is the story we know but through the eyes of eldest daughter Olga. This is a great protagonist to have because as the eldest daughter in the family, Olga would serve as a confidant to both her parents as well as interacting with many of her family members. As the novel bounces back and forth from the final year of the Romanov family's life to events of the past, I felt deeply immersed once again in this particular historical period.
Bryn Turbull really humanizes each member of the Romanov family and throughout the novel, it is always that sense of tragic irony even as the narrative begins, we all know how it will end. I absolutely loved the author's note which is absolutely rich with details, further reading suggestions, and a glossary.
Publication Date 08/02/22
Goodreads review published 11/02/22
#TheLastGrandDuchess #NetGalley
Other Romonav sister books I have enjoyed
I Was Anastasia
5 stars
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Secret Wife 3.5 stars
My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Those who have been reading my reviews for a few years know that I love history and one of my favourite subjects is the family of Tsar Nicholas II. Or more particularly his four daughters! The Last Grand Duchess is the story we know but through the eyes of eldest daughter Olga. This is a great protagonist to have because as the eldest daughter in the family, Olga would serve as a confidant to both her parents as well as interacting with many of her family members. As the novel bounces back and forth from the final year of the Romanov family's life to events of the past, I felt deeply immersed once again in this particular historical period.
Bryn Turbull really humanizes each member of the Romanov family and throughout the novel, it is always that sense of tragic irony even as the narrative begins, we all know how it will end. I absolutely loved the author's note which is absolutely rich with details, further reading suggestions, and a glossary.
Publication Date 08/02/22
Goodreads review published 11/02/22
#TheLastGrandDuchess #NetGalley
Other Romonav sister books I have enjoyed
I Was Anastasia
5 stars My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Secret Wife 3.5 stars My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 12, 2022
I'd read another historical fiction book by the author which I enjoyed so I figured why not give The Last Grand Duchess a shot. I only knew the very basics of the Romanov family and my desire to learn more is really what drove my interest in the book.
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov is the eldest daughter of the last Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia. Her parents have sheltered their children from Russian society as they do not want it known their son, Alexei, has a serious medical condition. Father Grigori Rasputin is a frequent visitor at Alexander Palace and has developed a particularly close relationship with Olga's mother. Occasionally, Olga and her sister, Tatiana are allowed to attend functions and gatherings among the ultra wealthy and privileged set. But with Russia going to war, their lives are on a collision course with tragedy.
You can tell the writer did lots of research on the Romanov family as well as Russian history and the Author's Note at the end provides great insight into her writing process. A few things were changed for storyline purposes but they were minor in my opinion and didn't significantly alter the history.
On an emotional level the story did not hit me in any way which is somewhat surprising given the family's fate. It doesn't mean I didn't have a high interest in the story, just more I felt detached from the characters. It's a fascinating piece of history and for that reason it was a good read for me.
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov is the eldest daughter of the last Tsar, Nicholas II of Russia. Her parents have sheltered their children from Russian society as they do not want it known their son, Alexei, has a serious medical condition. Father Grigori Rasputin is a frequent visitor at Alexander Palace and has developed a particularly close relationship with Olga's mother. Occasionally, Olga and her sister, Tatiana are allowed to attend functions and gatherings among the ultra wealthy and privileged set. But with Russia going to war, their lives are on a collision course with tragedy.
You can tell the writer did lots of research on the Romanov family as well as Russian history and the Author's Note at the end provides great insight into her writing process. A few things were changed for storyline purposes but they were minor in my opinion and didn't significantly alter the history.
On an emotional level the story did not hit me in any way which is somewhat surprising given the family's fate. It doesn't mean I didn't have a high interest in the story, just more I felt detached from the characters. It's a fascinating piece of history and for that reason it was a good read for me.
June 1, 2023
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov is the eldest daughter of Nicholas II.
Nicholas abdicates his throne causing danger to his family.
This is the story of the Romanov’s told by Olga.
Olga and her sisters and her young brother led a very sheltered life.
Alexandra and Nicholas always feared that someone would find out about Alexei’s medical condition They were kept in seclusion moving from place to place for safety. Meanwhile Alexei was being treated by the controversial Grigori Rasputin.
Bryan Turnbull did amazing job in research and portraying the royal family.
This book is set in two time lines before the revolution and after.
You get a sense of how conflicted Olga was as being the oldest sibling.
She saw first hand the relationship of her parents and the decisions that we made. She tried to persuade her father to escape.
This family stayed together through thick and thin. Olga told her father she would never marry if she had to leave her country and family.
I loved seeing how Olga and her sister pursued nursing to care for the wounded during World War I.
This is a compelling story told in the eyes of Olga. We all know the ending of this horrific tragedy. I was pleased that Bryan Turnbull did not write about the ending in the book, instead she told the details in her notes.
Nicholas abdicates his throne causing danger to his family.
This is the story of the Romanov’s told by Olga.
Olga and her sisters and her young brother led a very sheltered life.
Alexandra and Nicholas always feared that someone would find out about Alexei’s medical condition They were kept in seclusion moving from place to place for safety. Meanwhile Alexei was being treated by the controversial Grigori Rasputin.
Bryan Turnbull did amazing job in research and portraying the royal family.
This book is set in two time lines before the revolution and after.
You get a sense of how conflicted Olga was as being the oldest sibling.
She saw first hand the relationship of her parents and the decisions that we made. She tried to persuade her father to escape.
This family stayed together through thick and thin. Olga told her father she would never marry if she had to leave her country and family.
I loved seeing how Olga and her sister pursued nursing to care for the wounded during World War I.
This is a compelling story told in the eyes of Olga. We all know the ending of this horrific tragedy. I was pleased that Bryan Turnbull did not write about the ending in the book, instead she told the details in her notes.
March 29, 2023
I've got a lot of thoughts and none of them are very good.
When I first picked up The Last Grand Duchess, I was so excited. I love studying anything Russian-related, but I have a special place in my heart for the last Romanovs' story. I have dedicated so much of my time to giving their story back to them, to telling it like it really happened. Too often the story of the last Imperial family is often clouded by the legend of Anastasia's survival or the Bolshevik propaganda of the day or even in altering the story to fit modern political agendas, and I have a problem with this. Because does anyone really know the real story?
So when I saw a new novel was being released about the Romanovs and about Olga (the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II) specifically, I was hooked. I should've known better to have such high hopes, but I was sucked in nonetheless.
I have so many complaints that I could not possibly cover them all in this review, so I'm just gonna focus on my biggest problems. Beginning with the one fallout every single recent historical fiction release I've read has done: modernize E V E R Y T H I N G. Excuse me, but why on God's green earth does Olga Romanova sound like a twenty-first-century American??? This is early twentieth-century Russia for crying out loud! Honey, you need to chill. There are two very important things to remember when writing about any of the Romanov children that most writers, scholars, and historians alike tend to forget. They were (1) deeply devoted Christians and (2) grew up in a very sheltered lifestyle. This means they are not going to think, respond, and act like any modern American teenager I know which is exactly how Olga acted for most of the chapters about her younger years.
And in truth, I find this offensive. Because those two facts about the children are always the first things I relate to them with. Because my faith is the most important thing about my life. I love Jesus more than anything, more than even my own life, and I also grew up in a very sheltered home. Olga complains all the time about never getting to "see the world" and "do things" and "live life." And the entire time I'm over here like, you know what, neither did I! But spending your life complaining about it, is annoying. Toughen up, face your problems, and make the best out of maybe not-so-ideal situations.
But anyways, these two important facts affected everything about my life, and it's not too crazy to say it affected everything about the Romanov children's lives as well. This is why when the guards of the Ipatiev House met the Grand Duchesses, they described them as being innocent and childlike. What happens to be the case from an outsider looking in, people tend to perceive this as meaning the Grand Duchesses (and really anyone who has grown up in a similar lifestyle) are ignorant of the world and missing out on "life." People tend to pity them because oh, poor girls, they didn't get to do a bunch of crazy and stupid things that most teenagers do. I'm tired of this perception of the daughters, I'm tired of people criticizing their parents for sheltering them. It wasn't that the grand duchesses missed out on life. In truth, the Romanov children knew more about what it meant to live than anyone! They saw the true meaning of life. Which is not to live in the moment but to love, protect, and serve. They embodied it more than anyone I know.
Now onto the Christian part. All I have to say is, if you're going to write about my faith, do it right. Don't just go with what the modern, worldly perception of it is. It seemed to me that the author either didn't take the time to understand Christianity or didn't care. I find this offensive. There were just so many subtle remarks that clearly showed the author didn't have a clue what she was talking about when it comes to how Christians live and what they believe. If you were writing about any other religion, you would take the time to research what people in this religion actually believe so you can give them an authentic portrayal of how they view and interact with the world at large. (Or at least, you used to do this. It's hard to tell now what people do in 2023.) You don't just gloss it over. So why is it that with my faith it's different? It's because people think they can get by with it, and in truth, they can. And people like me have no choice but to roll our eyes, grit our teeth, and move on.
So long ramble aside, my biggest problem with the book is that Olga Romanova felt and sounded nothing like the real Olga Romanova. Her character in the book was so one-deminsional. It was nothing more than her fixation on her "duty" and her "title" and all the ways it messed up her love life. Listen, honey, you have a great privilege to be able to impact the lives around you, to serve your country in a huge way. I'm sorry if it's such an inconvenience for you, but quit whining and actually make a difference in the world!
Tatiana acted totally out of character in the book, and this was the most upsetting because she's always been my favorite GD. In real life, she was very reserved and shy. You could never guess what she was actually thinking or feeling, but in the book, she appears a lot more calm... and well, extroverted. She also would not have been likely to start conversing about her crushes as what happened in one scene because she often would hold back her feelings from even her diary entries! Much less, would she share them with Olga.
Honestly, the whole fixation on Rasputin was annoying. I get he played a huge role in the Romanovs' story, but if I wanted to read a book about all of Rasputin's problems, I would have. I came here for a book about Olga and her family. And continuous side conversations with other people about Rasputin's lack of popularity so to speak in Russia became exhausting and boring.
In conclusion, I really, really wanted to love this book so badly. But there were just too many frustrations I couldn't overlook. Most of the characters were frustrating, aggravating, and downright annoying. Even with all the historical alterations, it didn't fix the dull plotline. If it wasn't a book about the Romanovs, I would've DNF-ed it. If you want to read a book about the last Imperial family, read Romanov by Nadine Brandes. It may not be historically accurate, but at least you won't walk away hating all the characters.
Content warning: one use of pi***d, d**n, and f***. One of the soldiers makes a subtle mention that he knew "what he wanted to do with Olga." There is a mention of two female characters liking each other. Some of the descriptions of injuries the Russian WW1 soldiers had received were mildly graphic and could be sensitive to readers.
When I first picked up The Last Grand Duchess, I was so excited. I love studying anything Russian-related, but I have a special place in my heart for the last Romanovs' story. I have dedicated so much of my time to giving their story back to them, to telling it like it really happened. Too often the story of the last Imperial family is often clouded by the legend of Anastasia's survival or the Bolshevik propaganda of the day or even in altering the story to fit modern political agendas, and I have a problem with this. Because does anyone really know the real story?
So when I saw a new novel was being released about the Romanovs and about Olga (the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II) specifically, I was hooked. I should've known better to have such high hopes, but I was sucked in nonetheless.
I have so many complaints that I could not possibly cover them all in this review, so I'm just gonna focus on my biggest problems. Beginning with the one fallout every single recent historical fiction release I've read has done: modernize E V E R Y T H I N G. Excuse me, but why on God's green earth does Olga Romanova sound like a twenty-first-century American??? This is early twentieth-century Russia for crying out loud! Honey, you need to chill. There are two very important things to remember when writing about any of the Romanov children that most writers, scholars, and historians alike tend to forget. They were (1) deeply devoted Christians and (2) grew up in a very sheltered lifestyle. This means they are not going to think, respond, and act like any modern American teenager I know which is exactly how Olga acted for most of the chapters about her younger years.
And in truth, I find this offensive. Because those two facts about the children are always the first things I relate to them with. Because my faith is the most important thing about my life. I love Jesus more than anything, more than even my own life, and I also grew up in a very sheltered home. Olga complains all the time about never getting to "see the world" and "do things" and "live life." And the entire time I'm over here like, you know what, neither did I! But spending your life complaining about it, is annoying. Toughen up, face your problems, and make the best out of maybe not-so-ideal situations.
But anyways, these two important facts affected everything about my life, and it's not too crazy to say it affected everything about the Romanov children's lives as well. This is why when the guards of the Ipatiev House met the Grand Duchesses, they described them as being innocent and childlike. What happens to be the case from an outsider looking in, people tend to perceive this as meaning the Grand Duchesses (and really anyone who has grown up in a similar lifestyle) are ignorant of the world and missing out on "life." People tend to pity them because oh, poor girls, they didn't get to do a bunch of crazy and stupid things that most teenagers do. I'm tired of this perception of the daughters, I'm tired of people criticizing their parents for sheltering them. It wasn't that the grand duchesses missed out on life. In truth, the Romanov children knew more about what it meant to live than anyone! They saw the true meaning of life. Which is not to live in the moment but to love, protect, and serve. They embodied it more than anyone I know.
Now onto the Christian part. All I have to say is, if you're going to write about my faith, do it right. Don't just go with what the modern, worldly perception of it is. It seemed to me that the author either didn't take the time to understand Christianity or didn't care. I find this offensive. There were just so many subtle remarks that clearly showed the author didn't have a clue what she was talking about when it comes to how Christians live and what they believe. If you were writing about any other religion, you would take the time to research what people in this religion actually believe so you can give them an authentic portrayal of how they view and interact with the world at large. (Or at least, you used to do this. It's hard to tell now what people do in 2023.) You don't just gloss it over. So why is it that with my faith it's different? It's because people think they can get by with it, and in truth, they can. And people like me have no choice but to roll our eyes, grit our teeth, and move on.
So long ramble aside, my biggest problem with the book is that Olga Romanova felt and sounded nothing like the real Olga Romanova. Her character in the book was so one-deminsional. It was nothing more than her fixation on her "duty" and her "title" and all the ways it messed up her love life. Listen, honey, you have a great privilege to be able to impact the lives around you, to serve your country in a huge way. I'm sorry if it's such an inconvenience for you, but quit whining and actually make a difference in the world!
Tatiana acted totally out of character in the book, and this was the most upsetting because she's always been my favorite GD. In real life, she was very reserved and shy. You could never guess what she was actually thinking or feeling, but in the book, she appears a lot more calm... and well, extroverted. She also would not have been likely to start conversing about her crushes as what happened in one scene because she often would hold back her feelings from even her diary entries! Much less, would she share them with Olga.
Honestly, the whole fixation on Rasputin was annoying. I get he played a huge role in the Romanovs' story, but if I wanted to read a book about all of Rasputin's problems, I would have. I came here for a book about Olga and her family. And continuous side conversations with other people about Rasputin's lack of popularity so to speak in Russia became exhausting and boring.
In conclusion, I really, really wanted to love this book so badly. But there were just too many frustrations I couldn't overlook. Most of the characters were frustrating, aggravating, and downright annoying. Even with all the historical alterations, it didn't fix the dull plotline. If it wasn't a book about the Romanovs, I would've DNF-ed it. If you want to read a book about the last Imperial family, read Romanov by Nadine Brandes. It may not be historically accurate, but at least you won't walk away hating all the characters.
Content warning: one use of pi***d, d**n, and f***. One of the soldiers makes a subtle mention that he knew "what he wanted to do with Olga." There is a mention of two female characters liking each other. Some of the descriptions of injuries the Russian WW1 soldiers had received were mildly graphic and could be sensitive to readers.
February 23, 2022
I haven't read much about the Romanov family, but I am now vastly intrigued after reading the Last Grand Duchess. This fictional story recounts the real life of the Duchess Olga, the daughter of the last Russian Tsar Nicolas and the Empress Alexandra.
The story is told from about 1913-1918, a time in which the European world was frought with war and change. After the Tsar's abdication everything transformed for the family. There is a long period of time in which the family is in captivity only enjoying the world when their aunt throws her lavish parties. These are the golden opportunities Olga gets to mingle with young men for whom she falls hopelessly in love.
Olga and her three sisters help volunteer during war time, and this is such a new and interesting take on always assuming a Duchess is waited on hand and foot. The inner dealing of their world are heartbreaking, especially in that Olga comes to learn that her own parents aren't always forthright in their decision making. The generalizations about the Romanov's seemed to be lifted while seeing things through the eyes of Olga.
Bryn Turnbull did a wonderful job humanizing the family, their love for one another, their failures and struggles. The story also seemed to be well researched, attention to all the details of the time period. Turnbull's writing was lavishly expressive, creating a lovely connection to her well-crafted prose.
I've always been interested in Russian history, and this book was a wonderful introduction to many more books on the history of the Romanov's. 4/5 stars.
The story is told from about 1913-1918, a time in which the European world was frought with war and change. After the Tsar's abdication everything transformed for the family. There is a long period of time in which the family is in captivity only enjoying the world when their aunt throws her lavish parties. These are the golden opportunities Olga gets to mingle with young men for whom she falls hopelessly in love.
Olga and her three sisters help volunteer during war time, and this is such a new and interesting take on always assuming a Duchess is waited on hand and foot. The inner dealing of their world are heartbreaking, especially in that Olga comes to learn that her own parents aren't always forthright in their decision making. The generalizations about the Romanov's seemed to be lifted while seeing things through the eyes of Olga.
Bryn Turnbull did a wonderful job humanizing the family, their love for one another, their failures and struggles. The story also seemed to be well researched, attention to all the details of the time period. Turnbull's writing was lavishly expressive, creating a lovely connection to her well-crafted prose.
I've always been interested in Russian history, and this book was a wonderful introduction to many more books on the history of the Romanov's. 4/5 stars.
October 3, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a DRC of this book!
Y'all. This is the Romanov book I have been WAITING for. I read just about any Romanov book I can get my hands on (fiction and non-fiction), so I was excited to see a book with Olga as the main character. Most Romanov historical fictions focus on Anastasia (the most well-known of the Romanov sisters due to the controversy around the pretenders). Olga has long been my favorite of the Romanov sisters, and this is the first time I've seen a novel portray her in a way I think is accurate.
For those who may not be as historically informed, Olga is the oldest daughter of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his controversial wife, Alexandra. She grows up cloistered in the family's many palaces, partly due to her mother's rejection of high society (and their rejection of her) and because her family is hiding a terrible secret- her younger brother, and the only heir to the throne, is a hemophiliac and is unlikely to survive long enough to rule. The only one who can help the heir when he is ill is a mysterious holy man, Rasputin, who Alexandra comes to rely on for more than just his healing powers. But Rasputin is a dark force, Nicholas and Alexandra are unfit to rule, and Russia is on the edge of a precipice.
This novel takes place in two times, going back and forth between the years leading up to the Revolution and the years following the Revolution leading up to the family's execution. It was an interesting format- most books on this topic are chronological. Formatting the book like this allows the foreshadowing and Olga's own growth to really show.
The reason I loved this book so much is because it is the first that I think portrays the Romanovs fairly. Most tend to romanticize Nicholas and Alexandra, who were TERRIBLE rulers. They made horrible decisions, both before and after the revolution. Their decisions trapped their children, first in a gilded palace prison, and later in the imprisonment that would lead to their deaths. At the same time, they were humans who loved their family. Olga is angry and frustrated with her parents, while still loving them and forgiving them because they are her parents. Historians also believe that, out of all of the Romanov siblings, Olga understood the most the danger that the family was in. This is also demonstrated well in this book.
Overall, a beautifully written historical fiction about one of history's tragical figures. Well-researched and wonderfully written, I'd recommend this to any historical fiction fan.
Y'all. This is the Romanov book I have been WAITING for. I read just about any Romanov book I can get my hands on (fiction and non-fiction), so I was excited to see a book with Olga as the main character. Most Romanov historical fictions focus on Anastasia (the most well-known of the Romanov sisters due to the controversy around the pretenders). Olga has long been my favorite of the Romanov sisters, and this is the first time I've seen a novel portray her in a way I think is accurate.
For those who may not be as historically informed, Olga is the oldest daughter of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his controversial wife, Alexandra. She grows up cloistered in the family's many palaces, partly due to her mother's rejection of high society (and their rejection of her) and because her family is hiding a terrible secret- her younger brother, and the only heir to the throne, is a hemophiliac and is unlikely to survive long enough to rule. The only one who can help the heir when he is ill is a mysterious holy man, Rasputin, who Alexandra comes to rely on for more than just his healing powers. But Rasputin is a dark force, Nicholas and Alexandra are unfit to rule, and Russia is on the edge of a precipice.
This novel takes place in two times, going back and forth between the years leading up to the Revolution and the years following the Revolution leading up to the family's execution. It was an interesting format- most books on this topic are chronological. Formatting the book like this allows the foreshadowing and Olga's own growth to really show.
The reason I loved this book so much is because it is the first that I think portrays the Romanovs fairly. Most tend to romanticize Nicholas and Alexandra, who were TERRIBLE rulers. They made horrible decisions, both before and after the revolution. Their decisions trapped their children, first in a gilded palace prison, and later in the imprisonment that would lead to their deaths. At the same time, they were humans who loved their family. Olga is angry and frustrated with her parents, while still loving them and forgiving them because they are her parents. Historians also believe that, out of all of the Romanov siblings, Olga understood the most the danger that the family was in. This is also demonstrated well in this book.
Overall, a beautifully written historical fiction about one of history's tragical figures. Well-researched and wonderfully written, I'd recommend this to any historical fiction fan.
August 25, 2022
Somehow innocent and sweet, as told through Olga's eyes, even though we all know the treacherous and horrifying end. Interesting and captivating. And so sad - of course it is. Definitely worth a read.
An interesting look at the last days of the Romanovs, told through the eyes of their oldest daughter, Olga.
Heavily reliant on historical research, and based in part on Olga's own diary, which somehow survived the slaughter of the family.
Olga is rather innocent and naive. We see the sad tale through her eyes, as if through a veil. She tells us what happens, but we don't really know what is going on behind the scenes. Innuendos and hints, but no real understanding.
As a young woman, with a romantic nature, we live the days before and after, through Olga's romances and her work as a war nurse.
The ending is subtle, and apt. And they are gone to the mists of time.
An interesting look at the last days of the Romanovs, told through the eyes of their oldest daughter, Olga.
Heavily reliant on historical research, and based in part on Olga's own diary, which somehow survived the slaughter of the family.
Olga is rather innocent and naive. We see the sad tale through her eyes, as if through a veil. She tells us what happens, but we don't really know what is going on behind the scenes. Innuendos and hints, but no real understanding.
As a young woman, with a romantic nature, we live the days before and after, through Olga's romances and her work as a war nurse.
The ending is subtle, and apt. And they are gone to the mists of time.
December 1, 2021
THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS is a masterful work of historical fiction. It is no small feat to capture the life of a young girl in one of the most doomed households in history, while also conveying the complexity of revolutionary politics behind that sad fact. Just as movingly, Turnbull depicts the fault lines of human frailty in all families, as well as the strong bonds of emotion and sacrifice that underpin them. A clear-eyed, compassionate, and heartrending story that skillfully uses fiction to further our understanding of the Romanov dynasty, its fascinating players, and its tragic end.
February 22, 2022
Thank you to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with an ARC of The Last Grand Duchess in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
I have to confess I started The Last Grand Duchess with apprehension. After having read Turnbull’s other novel, The Woman Before Wallis, I also had a certain amount of bias. I struggled through the first and worried that I would do so through The Last Grand Duchess.
Well, my hunch proved correct. It’s unfortunate, because the prospect of reading a story about a rather lesser known Romanov daughter excited me.
I am fascinated by the Romanov legend and periodically I read whatever I can find about their lives and tragic deaths, mostly focusing on Anastasia.
The Details
The story begins with a seven-page long dramatis personae, including rather lengthy explantations of who is who. I understand that it can get confusing when characters have the same name, but starting a story with seven pages of information dump on a reader is rather discouraging.
When I think of the Romanovs, two main facts always pop first into my mind. One: The mystery (now solved) about Anastasia’s possible survival. Two: Alexei’s hemophilia.
So, why would a story that is supposed to centre around the oldest Romanov daughter begin with a scene clearly focusing on Alexei’s condition?
This draws the attention in the wrong direction. Now I’m thinking more of Alexei than poor Olga.
It’s very frustrating, since we are already dealing with a very patriarchal subject matter. Throughout history the man has always been more important when it comes to inheriting power, money and freedom.
The Last Grand Duchess is suppose to give the first born daughter a chance to shine; a voice so to speak. She is clearly overseen and not considered important enough except for helping raise her sibling. Yet, even in this story she plays the second fiddle right from the start.
I saw someone else describe the story as disjointed and I have to agree. I felt the same about Turnbull’s other novel and the same is true for The Last Grant Duchess.
The dialogue does not match the age of the character, whose perspective the reader is supposed to see. The syntax is a lot more mature than the 12-year-old Olga, who is meant to be the protagonist. This makes it very difficult to establish a connection between the story and the reader.
The Verdict
Overall, The Last Grand Duchess is a bit of a disappointment for me. I must confess that Turnbull’s writing style is not my cup of tea.
I would suggest it to readers who loved her other novel.
December 19, 2021
The Last Grand Duchess is a sumptuous look into a tragedy that forever changed history. For a family oft depicted on a pedestal gilded in gold and near fantasy, this is a realistic view into a close knit family that was often stifling and overprotective and very out of step with the moving of the times. One can feel Olga pushing against her restraints yet unable to avoid her fate. Turnbull has done her research and her passion for the story is evident on each page. Brava.
May 5, 2023
royal reads project
March 21, 2022
This was a disappointing read and I really struggled to get through it. I felt that the book didn't focus as much on the historical side of things - not enough of the political and social aspect of that time period. I would have loved more of a build up to the revolution and the civil unrest due to the Tsar's ruling. But instead we got chapters on tea parties and crushes that Olga had and only a sentence here and there on the civil unrest.
I also think the dual timeline didn't work. It left the book choppy with no real build up.
I also think the dual timeline didn't work. It left the book choppy with no real build up.
April 29, 2022
The Last Grand Duchess was fascinating! I have such a huge love for Historical Fiction and definitely don't read enough of it.
What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't gruesome. The story was very much about the Romanov family, and didn't get into war scenes. If you know the story of the Romanov family, then you know how their story ends. While heartbreaking, I'm glad the author didn't go into any detail regarding this.
It was clear how much research went into writing this book. The characters were really well written, and the descriptions really gave a feel for the setting. I appreciated the list of characters at the beginning of the book.
I am thrilled to have another Canadian author to add to my list! Thanks so much to Harper Collins Canada for my gifted copy.
What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't gruesome. The story was very much about the Romanov family, and didn't get into war scenes. If you know the story of the Romanov family, then you know how their story ends. While heartbreaking, I'm glad the author didn't go into any detail regarding this.
It was clear how much research went into writing this book. The characters were really well written, and the descriptions really gave a feel for the setting. I appreciated the list of characters at the beginning of the book.
I am thrilled to have another Canadian author to add to my list! Thanks so much to Harper Collins Canada for my gifted copy.
February 3, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! Some people are passionate about the Brittish royalty, I am the same about the Russian royalty. What happened to the Romanov family in 1917 and 1918 is nothing short of a tragedy. I am sure many people will disagree with me but after reading many accounts of the Romanov family life and their last days, I have concluded that they were puppets in the hands of too many evil souls. THE LAST GRAND DUCHESS by Canadian author, Bryn Turnbull, is a good account of Grand Duchess Olga, the eldest daughter. I enjoyed the part about her work as a nurse at the Annexe. I had the pleasure to visit the Summer Palace a few years ago and saw where the tsarina established a hospital on the palace grounds. Having seen with my eyes their residence and the beautiful property make any books about this family more real. If you have not read historical novels about the Romanov family, this is a good one to pick up and read.
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January 10, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley Harlequin/MIRA for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was enjoyable but also kind of..... Boring. I'm sorry! I really, really wanted to love this because it's the type of book I'm constantly searching for but it just wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be and thus left me disappointed. I don't think the time jumping helped the novel, I think it would have been better off in a linear timeline. I didn't feel as connected to the family as I wanted to, and even Olga felt kind of far away from me at times. The writing was good and it kept my interest the whole time, so I'll definitely check out Turnbull's other novels.
This was enjoyable but also kind of..... Boring. I'm sorry! I really, really wanted to love this because it's the type of book I'm constantly searching for but it just wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be and thus left me disappointed. I don't think the time jumping helped the novel, I think it would have been better off in a linear timeline. I didn't feel as connected to the family as I wanted to, and even Olga felt kind of far away from me at times. The writing was good and it kept my interest the whole time, so I'll definitely check out Turnbull's other novels.
December 2, 2022
I recently picked up a free ARC of this book whilst I was a seasonal #IndigoEmployee. It goes on sale in February.
I really enjoy Russian history, and particularly that of the Revolution and the Romanovs! So I can really appreciate the amount of research that went into this book. It really showed throughout the book, and the author’s note at the end was also fascinating.
That being said, as a novel with this calibre of scope, I think it succeeded more as an accessible overview of the mid-later years of Olga’s life for the more casual historical fiction reader than the deeper dive into Olga Romanov that I was hoping to read. The book was written as a dual narrative, alternating between Olga’s life as Grand Duchess just prior to and into the early years of the Second World War, and her final months after the Romanovs have been stripped of their power. Structurally, I’m not convinced this worked as while we all know the horrible ending to come, the earlier timeline felt very anticlimactic, and because of this I can’t be sure the purpose of the dual timeline apart from either trying something different or wanting to align with the bigger trend of dual narratives (often with dual protagonists) in popular historical fiction. Furthermore, it just made the time jumps between each timeline’s chapters feel that much more like something was missing. While each provided a decent and extremely well researched look into Olga’s life, much of the bigger events or development happened off page, creating distance from a number of important details as they were instead described in passing. All of this combined, I didn’t feel as much connection to Olga or her family as I would have liked, or to the story itself, which had the potential to be breathtaking.
Overall really, the problem might just be that I’ve read some incredible books that follow this period of time and my hopes exceeded what this book was trying to be, which was not a 500+ page character study (will accept recs though!). Despite these (very subjective) misgivings though, it was interesting and well written, the characters were likeable, I did learn a bit as I hoped to do, and I did enjoy the reading experience overall.
3.5 stars for me.
I really enjoy Russian history, and particularly that of the Revolution and the Romanovs! So I can really appreciate the amount of research that went into this book. It really showed throughout the book, and the author’s note at the end was also fascinating.
That being said, as a novel with this calibre of scope, I think it succeeded more as an accessible overview of the mid-later years of Olga’s life for the more casual historical fiction reader than the deeper dive into Olga Romanov that I was hoping to read. The book was written as a dual narrative, alternating between Olga’s life as Grand Duchess just prior to and into the early years of the Second World War, and her final months after the Romanovs have been stripped of their power. Structurally, I’m not convinced this worked as while we all know the horrible ending to come, the earlier timeline felt very anticlimactic, and because of this I can’t be sure the purpose of the dual timeline apart from either trying something different or wanting to align with the bigger trend of dual narratives (often with dual protagonists) in popular historical fiction. Furthermore, it just made the time jumps between each timeline’s chapters feel that much more like something was missing. While each provided a decent and extremely well researched look into Olga’s life, much of the bigger events or development happened off page, creating distance from a number of important details as they were instead described in passing. All of this combined, I didn’t feel as much connection to Olga or her family as I would have liked, or to the story itself, which had the potential to be breathtaking.
Overall really, the problem might just be that I’ve read some incredible books that follow this period of time and my hopes exceeded what this book was trying to be, which was not a 500+ page character study (will accept recs though!). Despite these (very subjective) misgivings though, it was interesting and well written, the characters were likeable, I did learn a bit as I hoped to do, and I did enjoy the reading experience overall.
3.5 stars for me.
January 24, 2022
Beautiful and extremely well researched.
At first I found the split timeline narrative, where on chapter was set in 1914 and the next in 1917, frustrating and confusing, but after I got into the groove of reading it was really quite nice. Not only did it do an excellent job at contrasting the conditions that the family lives in, but it also meant that in part five when the chapters were in 1916 and 1918 respectively, they climaxed at the same time, making a lovely mirroring effect.
I would caution folks who are wanting to pick this up to do some research into the period first. I found that after finishing the section in Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book Romamovs: 1613-1918 the plot was a lot easier to follow. I don’t think that the cultural zeitgeist around the tragedy that is the Romanovs ending is quite enough to make the novel a relaxing experience.
My favourite part of the book was when, in 1915 after Russia had joined WWI, Olga and her sister worked in a hospital for officers. This part of their story was very reminiscent of Testament of Youth, one of my all time favourite books.
I think Turnbull has done a fabulous job bringing history to life in a very interesting way with this novel. I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in the time period and is looking for a new perspective on a great tragedy.
Big thanks to HarperCollins for early access to this book through my work #indigoemployee
At first I found the split timeline narrative, where on chapter was set in 1914 and the next in 1917, frustrating and confusing, but after I got into the groove of reading it was really quite nice. Not only did it do an excellent job at contrasting the conditions that the family lives in, but it also meant that in part five when the chapters were in 1916 and 1918 respectively, they climaxed at the same time, making a lovely mirroring effect.
I would caution folks who are wanting to pick this up to do some research into the period first. I found that after finishing the section in Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book Romamovs: 1613-1918 the plot was a lot easier to follow. I don’t think that the cultural zeitgeist around the tragedy that is the Romanovs ending is quite enough to make the novel a relaxing experience.
My favourite part of the book was when, in 1915 after Russia had joined WWI, Olga and her sister worked in a hospital for officers. This part of their story was very reminiscent of Testament of Youth, one of my all time favourite books.
I think Turnbull has done a fabulous job bringing history to life in a very interesting way with this novel. I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in the time period and is looking for a new perspective on a great tragedy.
Big thanks to HarperCollins for early access to this book through my work #indigoemployee
April 10, 2022
Not sure why I completed this book, I should have saved myself the time. I didn't care for it all, despite my general interest in the Romanovs. I really felt that it read like a YA book, in that there was no substance, no depth, it was very superficial. Not saying that there aren't amazing YA books out there, of course, but to pick up an adult fiction and check the spine numerous times to make sure I am not missing a YA sticker, doesn't bode well for a review! The main point of the novel was to humanize the Romanovs before the fall of Imperial Russia, and that was achieved, though I didn't end up caring about them in this book as much as I have after reading other books. I don't have much to recommend it...
December 2, 2023
To historia Olgi, najstarszej córki cara Mikołaja II. Mam wrażenie, że pozostałe siostry zostały przyćmione najmłodszą oraz następcą tronu i mało o nich wiadomo.
Książka składa się z pięciu części obrazujących poszczególne etapy i zmiany życiowe, i bazuje na dwóch liniach fabularnych, z których jedna zmierza do początku drugiej. Sam zabieg całkiem fajny, lubię takie urozmaicenia, ale nie podobało mi się, że skakaliśmy w czasie między każdym rozdziałem. Było to męczące i wolałabym, gdybyśmy naraz poznali więcej z danego wątku zanim przeskoczymy do drugiego.
Ale dzięki tej książce mamy wgląd w to jak wyglądało życie carskiej rodziny, nie zdawałam sobie sprawy, że córki były odizolowane od towarzystwa byle uchronić sekret chorowitego brata. Ale oczywiście jest to ubarwione. W tej historii zagłębiamy się w miłosne przygody Olgi i złamane serca. Obserwujemy jak wspomaga lud w czasie wojny i jakim silnym charakterem była obdarzona. Historia została oparta na pamiętnikach księżnej oraz na innych źródłach podanych w bibliografii.
Atutem tej książki jest też słowo od autorki, w którym rozjaśnia luki i zmiany fabularne wobec prawdziwej historii oraz daje nam jasno znać, że mimo wszechobecnego mitu - cała carska rodzina nie żyje.
Jeżeli ciekawią Cię losy dynastii Romanowów, to sięgnij po tę książkę, poza lekką powieścią oferuje na koniec garść informacji.
Ode mnie 7/10 ⭐
Współpraca barterowa z wydawcą.
Książka składa się z pięciu części obrazujących poszczególne etapy i zmiany życiowe, i bazuje na dwóch liniach fabularnych, z których jedna zmierza do początku drugiej. Sam zabieg całkiem fajny, lubię takie urozmaicenia, ale nie podobało mi się, że skakaliśmy w czasie między każdym rozdziałem. Było to męczące i wolałabym, gdybyśmy naraz poznali więcej z danego wątku zanim przeskoczymy do drugiego.
Ale dzięki tej książce mamy wgląd w to jak wyglądało życie carskiej rodziny, nie zdawałam sobie sprawy, że córki były odizolowane od towarzystwa byle uchronić sekret chorowitego brata. Ale oczywiście jest to ubarwione. W tej historii zagłębiamy się w miłosne przygody Olgi i złamane serca. Obserwujemy jak wspomaga lud w czasie wojny i jakim silnym charakterem była obdarzona. Historia została oparta na pamiętnikach księżnej oraz na innych źródłach podanych w bibliografii.
Atutem tej książki jest też słowo od autorki, w którym rozjaśnia luki i zmiany fabularne wobec prawdziwej historii oraz daje nam jasno znać, że mimo wszechobecnego mitu - cała carska rodzina nie żyje.
Jeżeli ciekawią Cię losy dynastii Romanowów, to sięgnij po tę książkę, poza lekką powieścią oferuje na koniec garść informacji.
Ode mnie 7/10 ⭐
Współpraca barterowa z wydawcą.
July 18, 2022
I've read worse, but . . . the research here is scuttled by Turnbull's blithe statement that she knows she has either embellished or even created certain aspects of Olga's life. The results are unsatisfactory as either a novel or a gateway into real understanding of the actual Olga Nikolaevna. If you know much about the real family, Turnbull is in trouble with her depictions of Nicholas II's sister Olga, to say nothing of the Tsar himself. Alexandra is a virtual cipher in the book, Anastasia is a caricature, Maria too blank a canvas and Tatiana is used mainly as a foil for Olga. I wound up getting progressively irritated. At one point Olga has a conversation with her father during captivity that it is impossible to imagine the real two having ever had. By all reports, Olga's "issues" were with her mother.
As simple characters in a novel they don't work either. None of them have enough depth to hold a reader's attention without their status as the Imperial Family. Turnbull's style is flat, and the structure of the book such that it becomes a chore after awhile to keep times/locations completely clear.
Turnbull uses Helen Azar's translation of the diaries of the real girl. If you are interested in the subject matter, that is a good place to start. If you are interested in a literary treatment, try Sarah Miller's excellent The Lost Crown. The Last Grand Duchess, who was, in fact Olga Alexandrovna and not her niece, is ultimately unsatisfying.
Recommended if you need to read absolutely everything in the Imperial Family genre. And yeah. There is a genre.
As simple characters in a novel they don't work either. None of them have enough depth to hold a reader's attention without their status as the Imperial Family. Turnbull's style is flat, and the structure of the book such that it becomes a chore after awhile to keep times/locations completely clear.
Turnbull uses Helen Azar's translation of the diaries of the real girl. If you are interested in the subject matter, that is a good place to start. If you are interested in a literary treatment, try Sarah Miller's excellent The Lost Crown. The Last Grand Duchess, who was, in fact Olga Alexandrovna and not her niece, is ultimately unsatisfying.
Recommended if you need to read absolutely everything in the Imperial Family genre. And yeah. There is a genre.
January 8, 2022
The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull is a touching historical fiction.
The story is told by Olga Romanov, who is the first daughter of the last Tsar. I have read several books about the Romanovs, and they mostly focus on the very famous Anastasia, this book however is about Olga which is my most favorite of the Romanov sisters. Olga and her sisters had a sheltered and secluded life due to their mother’s rejection of high society.
Olga also has a brother with a secret illness that results in him not being able to live enough to rule.
The story has a dual timeline, with a magnificent look into a tragedy that changed history.
I loved that this book was mostly about Olga, her feelings for Pravel and how she took her role as the eldest daughter seriously, and how she showed her devotion to Russians when she attended the wounded Russian Soldiers.
This is a well-researched and masterfully written historical fiction and if you like stories about the Romanovs this is a book you will definitely enjoy reading.
The story is told by Olga Romanov, who is the first daughter of the last Tsar. I have read several books about the Romanovs, and they mostly focus on the very famous Anastasia, this book however is about Olga which is my most favorite of the Romanov sisters. Olga and her sisters had a sheltered and secluded life due to their mother’s rejection of high society.
Olga also has a brother with a secret illness that results in him not being able to live enough to rule.
The story has a dual timeline, with a magnificent look into a tragedy that changed history.
I loved that this book was mostly about Olga, her feelings for Pravel and how she took her role as the eldest daughter seriously, and how she showed her devotion to Russians when she attended the wounded Russian Soldiers.
This is a well-researched and masterfully written historical fiction and if you like stories about the Romanovs this is a book you will definitely enjoy reading.
April 6, 2022
I was not a fan of this book at all. The author straight up went to Wikipedia and used her imagination to fill in the blanks but it still came off bland. The Wikipedia of the the last Tsar and his family is way more interesting than this book. It probably doesn't help that everyone knows their sad story. Very disappointing read.
September 4, 2022
3.5 ⭐️for me. For any reader interested in the Romanov family it was a good read. There are so many Anastasia books out there it was refreshing to have a different perspective. But I found this book lacked clear direction, except for the inevitable conclusion.
February 10, 2022
The history of the Romanovs, the last Royal Russian Family, is so fascinating, but heartbreaking. Usually, either the youngest daughter Anastasia, Alexei, the sickly brother who would never become Tsar, or even the mystical priest Rasputin steal the show. But The Last Grand Duchess, tells the story of Olga Nikolaevna, the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra.
Olga was raised in opulence but terribly isolated, especially after her father’s abdication. She had a strong sense of loyalty, but she longed for love. She had to endure many heartbreaks and much uncertainty, but she still volunteered as a Red Cross nurse during the Great War and tried to understand the political atmosphere.
The overthrow of the Romanov Dynasty and the eventual collapse of Imperial Russia is humanized as the Grand Duchess Olga and her family take center stage in this beautifully written narrative.
There is no happy- ever- after here, but it is a story of a family devoted to one another. They were real people, with hopes and dreams, not just names in a history book.
Reading the Author’s Notes, you will realize 1). how well-researched this book is, but 2). how Bryn Turnbull has taken a tragic event in history and has masterfully woven it into a portrait of a woman cut down in her prime.
Thank you for @_mira_books_ @harpercollins and @brynturnbullwrites for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.
Olga was raised in opulence but terribly isolated, especially after her father’s abdication. She had a strong sense of loyalty, but she longed for love. She had to endure many heartbreaks and much uncertainty, but she still volunteered as a Red Cross nurse during the Great War and tried to understand the political atmosphere.
The overthrow of the Romanov Dynasty and the eventual collapse of Imperial Russia is humanized as the Grand Duchess Olga and her family take center stage in this beautifully written narrative.
There is no happy- ever- after here, but it is a story of a family devoted to one another. They were real people, with hopes and dreams, not just names in a history book.
Reading the Author’s Notes, you will realize 1). how well-researched this book is, but 2). how Bryn Turnbull has taken a tragic event in history and has masterfully woven it into a portrait of a woman cut down in her prime.
Thank you for @_mira_books_ @harpercollins and @brynturnbullwrites for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.
April 18, 2025
The Last Grand Duchess paints an interesting picture of the last few years of Olga Romanov, the oldest daughter of Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia.
It was hard for me to get into this book for several reasons, mostly because I knew Olga's fate and that my love of a happy ending would undoubtedly fall short. I also found the jumping back and forth between 1916 and 1918 sometimes difficult to follow (especially when only reading a few chapters at time), though I'm sure the author's reasoning was to help distract from the inevitable tragic ending. For anyone that's read any books with Russian characters, the repeated names and complicated familial ties can make it hard to keep characters straight, though I think Turnbull did a stellar job of describing characters so well, that it certainly helped.
The author's ability to humanize Olga and her family, and show them exactly as that -- a tight knit, loving family -- made their tragic fate that much more shocking, and well, tragic. In her author's note, Turnbull admits that she didn't include a lot of the atrocities that occurred under Nicholas II's rule, and tended to focus on painting him as a father, rather than an imposing political figure. That being said, I do think she did a great job of highlighting both Nicholas and Alexandra's imperfections and bad decisions that led to their inevitable downfall and the revolution.
All in all, the fascination around the Romanov's set the stage for an interesting story, and Turnbull did a great job of weaving together a fictional account of the eldest daughter of the last tsar of Russia.
It was hard for me to get into this book for several reasons, mostly because I knew Olga's fate and that my love of a happy ending would undoubtedly fall short. I also found the jumping back and forth between 1916 and 1918 sometimes difficult to follow (especially when only reading a few chapters at time), though I'm sure the author's reasoning was to help distract from the inevitable tragic ending. For anyone that's read any books with Russian characters, the repeated names and complicated familial ties can make it hard to keep characters straight, though I think Turnbull did a stellar job of describing characters so well, that it certainly helped.
The author's ability to humanize Olga and her family, and show them exactly as that -- a tight knit, loving family -- made their tragic fate that much more shocking, and well, tragic. In her author's note, Turnbull admits that she didn't include a lot of the atrocities that occurred under Nicholas II's rule, and tended to focus on painting him as a father, rather than an imposing political figure. That being said, I do think she did a great job of highlighting both Nicholas and Alexandra's imperfections and bad decisions that led to their inevitable downfall and the revolution.
All in all, the fascination around the Romanov's set the stage for an interesting story, and Turnbull did a great job of weaving together a fictional account of the eldest daughter of the last tsar of Russia.
March 28, 2022
I confess I have a soft spot for historical fiction about the last Romanov family and the end of the Tsarist regime. Who didn't fall in love with the animated Anastasia movie??
In this newest book, Canadian author Bryn Turnbull shifts the focus from Anastasia to her older sister Olga. It was nice seeing the end of the Romanovs from her perspective and how her brother's illness ended up affecting her marriage prospects.
I was also impressed with how Olga served as a nurse during WWI and how given the chance to escape with a friend/love interest, she chose to stay behind and die with her family. The Canadian connection at the end of the book was unexpected and a neat piece of history to read about too.
Great on audio narrated by Mary Jane Wells and definitely recommended for fans of books like The Romanov sisters or I was Anastasia.
In this newest book, Canadian author Bryn Turnbull shifts the focus from Anastasia to her older sister Olga. It was nice seeing the end of the Romanovs from her perspective and how her brother's illness ended up affecting her marriage prospects.
I was also impressed with how Olga served as a nurse during WWI and how given the chance to escape with a friend/love interest, she chose to stay behind and die with her family. The Canadian connection at the end of the book was unexpected and a neat piece of history to read about too.
Great on audio narrated by Mary Jane Wells and definitely recommended for fans of books like The Romanov sisters or I was Anastasia.
February 28, 2024
serce w kawałkach, ból, płacz i rozpacz.
February 8, 2022
Thanks #NetGalley @HarlequinBooks @HTPBooks for my complimentary eARC of #TheLastGrandDuchess upon my request. All opinions are my own.
The Last Grand Duchess is the story of Olga Romanov and the Romanov family in their last years. We hear about Olga’s sheltered life living with her parents and siblings. Often present is Grigori Rasputin, a controversial priest and friend of the tsarina. As Olga divides her time between suitors, home, elegant ballrooms, and hospitals, she and the family face increasing danger from political unrest and home confinement.
Readers who enjoy Russian history will appreciate the historical details, well-drawn characters, and excellent writing. This was an interesting reading experience because I felt I guarded against becoming too attached to this tragic family because I know their future. I enjoyed the many vivid details the author used to portray their life and the dangerous circumstances.
The Ending (***Spoilers***): I’m grateful that the author relayed the ending in the broadest of terms without graphic details (you can read those on Wikipedia). Fear of a graphic ending need not discourage you from reading this story. It’s handled as delicately as possible and stops short of the actual execution.
I enjoy a story with complicated family dynamics. Olga and her sisters were extremely loyal to their closeknit family as they face betrayal, poor decisions by parents, pressure from extended family, a controversial family friend, a sickly brother, political unrest, house arrest, and romance.
I enthusiasticly recommend The Last Grand Duchess for fans of well-researched and well-written historical fiction and for those who are fascinated with the Romanov family and Russian history.
***contains spoilers***
Content Consideration: a family under house arrest, a murder, graphic hospital scenes, a family fearing their execution
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
The Last Grand Duchess is the story of Olga Romanov and the Romanov family in their last years. We hear about Olga’s sheltered life living with her parents and siblings. Often present is Grigori Rasputin, a controversial priest and friend of the tsarina. As Olga divides her time between suitors, home, elegant ballrooms, and hospitals, she and the family face increasing danger from political unrest and home confinement.
Readers who enjoy Russian history will appreciate the historical details, well-drawn characters, and excellent writing. This was an interesting reading experience because I felt I guarded against becoming too attached to this tragic family because I know their future. I enjoyed the many vivid details the author used to portray their life and the dangerous circumstances.
The Ending (***Spoilers***): I’m grateful that the author relayed the ending in the broadest of terms without graphic details (you can read those on Wikipedia). Fear of a graphic ending need not discourage you from reading this story. It’s handled as delicately as possible and stops short of the actual execution.
I enjoy a story with complicated family dynamics. Olga and her sisters were extremely loyal to their closeknit family as they face betrayal, poor decisions by parents, pressure from extended family, a controversial family friend, a sickly brother, political unrest, house arrest, and romance.
I enthusiasticly recommend The Last Grand Duchess for fans of well-researched and well-written historical fiction and for those who are fascinated with the Romanov family and Russian history.
***contains spoilers***
Content Consideration: a family under house arrest, a murder, graphic hospital scenes, a family fearing their execution
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher for a book tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Last Grand Duchess
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, Russian history, the Romanovs
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, death, violence, gore, religion, romance, mass death implied)
Explanation of Above: The book is about the endtimes of the last ruling Russian Tsar, so there is mentions of death, a murder shown, and grief. Their mass death is implied at the end and the gore is very very slight. The book also mentions violence. The book focuses on Olga’s romance and feelings with a Russian soldier. The book also focuses a lot on the religious aspects of the family and Rasputin.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The book did well to present the barebone facts and to show how the Russian princesses lives were before their tragic end. The topic is a special interest of mine and I liked reading about it. The characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also enjoyed seeing Anastasia from a different perspective as most books about this time period are from her viewpoint.
However, I found the book incredibly dull and boring. The book didn’t really grab my attention and I found it hard to continue reading it. The book was also so confusing with jumping back and forth between time periods and places. The book would have probably been better chronologically and better developed story and plot wise.
Verdict: It was ok, but not a fave.
Book: The Last Grand Duchess
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, Russian history, the Romanovs
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, death, violence, gore, religion, romance, mass death implied)
Explanation of Above: The book is about the endtimes of the last ruling Russian Tsar, so there is mentions of death, a murder shown, and grief. Their mass death is implied at the end and the gore is very very slight. The book also mentions violence. The book focuses on Olga’s romance and feelings with a Russian soldier. The book also focuses a lot on the religious aspects of the family and Rasputin.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
At turns glittering and harrowing, The Last Grand Duchess is story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it’s the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything—including their lives.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The book did well to present the barebone facts and to show how the Russian princesses lives were before their tragic end. The topic is a special interest of mine and I liked reading about it. The characters were well developed and the world building was well done. I also enjoyed seeing Anastasia from a different perspective as most books about this time period are from her viewpoint.
However, I found the book incredibly dull and boring. The book didn’t really grab my attention and I found it hard to continue reading it. The book was also so confusing with jumping back and forth between time periods and places. The book would have probably been better chronologically and better developed story and plot wise.
Verdict: It was ok, but not a fave.
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