The Romanov Empress

A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna

By: C. W. Gortner

Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan

For readers of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir comes a dramatic novel of the beloved Empress Maria, the Danish princess who became the mother of the last Russian tsar.

“This epic tale is captivating and beautifully told.”—Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

Barely nineteen, Minnie knows that her station in life as a Danish princess is to leave her family and enter into a royal marriage—as her older sister Alix has done, moving to England to wed Queen Victoria’s eldest son. The winds of fortune bring Minnie to Russia, where she marries the Romanov heir, Alexander, and once he ascends the throne, becomes empress. When resistance to his reign strikes at the heart of her family and the tsar sets out to crush all who oppose him, Minnie—now called Maria—must tread a perilous path of compromise in a country she has come to love.

Her husband’s death leaves their son Nicholas as the inexperienced ruler of a deeply divided and crumbling empire. Determined to guide him to reforms that will bring Russia into the modern age, Maria faces implacable opposition from Nicholas’s strong-willed wife, Alexandra, whose fervor has led her into a disturbing relationship with a mystic named Rasputin. As the unstoppable wave of revolution rises anew to engulf Russia, Maria will face her most dangerous challenge and her greatest heartache.

From the opulent palaces of St. Petersburg and the intrigue-laced salons of the aristocracy to the World War I battlefields and the bloodied countryside occupied by the Bolsheviks, C. W. Gortner sweeps us into the anarchic fall of an empire and the complex, bold heart of the woman who tried to save it.

Praise for The Romanov Empress

“Timely . . . [Gortner’s] ability to weave what reads as a simple tale from such complex historical and familial storylines is impressive. . . . Maria’s life as a royal reads like a historical soap opera.”—USA Today

“Gortner, an experienced hand at recreating the unique aura of a particular time and place, will deftly sweep historical-fictions fans into this glamorous, turbulent, and ultimately tragic chapter in history.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Mesmerizing . . . This insightful first-person account of the downfall of the Romanov rule . . . is the powerful story of a mother trying to save her family and an aristocrat fighting to maintain rule in a country of rebellion.”—Publishers Weekly

“A twist on the tragic story you’ve heard many times before.”—Bustle

Authentic and beautifully written and narrated

A beautiful depiction of a history seldom written so beautifully. You will become totally enveloped in the characters in this incredible book.

One of My Favorites

I'm a huge C.W. Gortner Fan, and, like another reviewer, re-read this book at least once a year. Everything about it is superb - the story, the pitch-perfect narration, the way Gortner makes you care intensely about his characters and what will happen next. As a writer myself, I am just in awe of his craft. If you love historical fiction, this is a must for your library.

LOVED IT!!!!

Wonderfully narrated, could not stop listening. New perspective on the Romanov history, will listen to this one again!

Wow. so good! I learned so much!

I learned so much about this period of history in Russia. It was an amazing story, and I Can't believe that it's all true.I highly recommend it.

Mesmerizing

Wow, I cannot say enough good things about this book & performance, a historical novel that transports you back in time to empirical Russia and it’s fall. The narrator is perfect and really enhances the experience.