I
loved this listen on Audible. It was recommended by a friend from my book club
and did not disappoint. It's a version of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale but
set in pre-revolutionary Russia. Three fascinating heroines work separately and
then together to beat incredible odds. One is a poor, moneylender’s daughter
who takes over her father’s business with unexpected, life-threatening results.
The second is a poor servant from an abusive, poverty-stricken home. The third
is a highborn princess destined to be Czarina. How the author interweaves their
stories is skillful and absorbing. There are definitely magical elements to
this story but it is underlaid with realistic, strong female characters.
Naomi
Novik is a gifted writer. I was totally involved in the story and could barely
put it down. My only criticism was one I read of in a previous review before
listening. There are numerous narrators and often the voices are quite similar.
It sometimes takes a moment to understand who is talking. This may not be a
problem in the written form but could be easily remedied here by just saying
the character's name before they begin their narration.
Highly
Recommend.
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