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The Witches of St. Petersburg
The Witches of St. Petersburg: A Novel | Imogen Edwards-Jones
Inspired by real characters, this transporting historical fiction debut spins the fascinating story of two princesses in the Romanov court who practiced black magic, befriended the Tsarina, and invited Rasputin into their livesforever changing the course of Russian history. As daughters of the impoverished King of Montenegro, Militza and Stana must fulfill their duty to their father and leave their beloved home for St. Petersburg to be married into senior positions in the Romanov court. For their new alliances to the Russian nobility will help secure the future of the sisters native country. Immediately, Militza and Stana feel like outcasts as the aristocracy shuns them for their provincial ways and for dabbling in the occult. Undeterred, the sisters become resolved to make their mark by falling in with the lonely, depressed Tsarina Alexandra, whoas an Anglo-Germanis also an outsider and is not fully accepted by members of the court. After numerous failed attempts to precipitate the birth of a son and heir, the Tsarina is desperate and decides to place her faith in the sisters expertise with black magic. Promising the Tsarina that they will be able to secure an heir for the Russian dynasty, Militza and Stana hold sances and experiment with rituals and spells. Gurus, clairvoyants, holy fools, and charlatans all try their luck. The closer they become to the Tsarina and the royal family, the more their statusand poweris elevated. But when the sisters invoke a spiritual shaman, who goes by the name of Rasputin, the die is cast. For they have not only irrevocably sealed their own fatesbut also that of Russia itself. Brimming with black magic, sex and intrigue, The Witches of St. Petersburg is an exquisite historical fiction debut novel filled with lush historical details from the Romanov era.
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

In this tweaking of history, two Montenegrin princesses who have married into the Romanov circle also sometimes practice witchcraft. They use this to bring Rasputin to St Petersburg to help the czarina and themselves. I really liked this one, which is great on audio.

47 likes1 stack add
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sparrowssavvy
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Pickpick

I really whipped through the first three hundred pages of this and loved it. I still enjoyed the last one hundred and fifty pages but it was a bit more slow for me. It was a great topic and such an interesting period in history.

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Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures
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Thank you so much @MaleficentBookDragon for the fantastic #basicwitchswap box!! I am very much looking forward to trying out some of these candle spells and absolutely love the broom pen (everyone will be so jealous at work tomorrow). 🖤🕸💜

Meaw_catlady Blessed Samhain!! Lovey treasures!! 🖤🎃🧡 5y
MaleficentBookDragon Yay! I'm so glad you are happy with everything. It was so fun shopping for you. 5y
42 likes2 comments
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Reagan
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Prologue: someone cuts Rasputin‘s toenails and puts the clippings in a box.

😐

You have my attention.

Ericalambbrown 😂🤣🖤 Oh, you must let us know how this goes and if you are glad you continued on. 🖤🤣😂 5y
Megabooks Oh dear!! 5y
Caroline2 😂 stacked!! Not sure what that says about me....! 😬 5y
Librarybelle I‘m with @Caroline2 on this...I‘m highly intrigued and now want to read the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 5y
Reagan @Ericalambbrown @Megabooks @Caroline2 @Librarybelle I almost returned this to the library unread and then decided to read the first 50 pages and see what I thought. I‘m glad I kept it! What an insane start. 5y
34 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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LittleMummyMe
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Pickpick

A good book if your interested in the Russian era of the last Tzar and Rasputin.
Some parts of the book are in quite a bit gross and the descriptions of sex with rasputin are both more graphic than I was expecting and kinda stomach churning.
A bit long winded at times and a few too many typos left in the book.

Slajaunie Thanks for the heads up. That means I will not be reading this book. 5y
LeeRHarry You have summed up exactly how I feel about this book! I need to pick it up from the library when I get back home to finish it as I like the sense of place - that is what is keeping me going. 5y
LittleMummyMe It's an interesting book. I found some scenes a bit long winded, some wonderful and some stomach churning. But I guess that depicts life, it would definitely depict life in that era...people wielding power over others and superstitions defining people's decisions. 5y
LittleMummyMe @LeeRHarry let me know what you think once you've finished it. 5y
LittleMummyMe Truly though...Rasputin...🤢🤮 but I guess that's exactly how the writer wants you to feel about him. He's the villain after all. 5y
17 likes5 comments
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readingjedi
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Mehso-so

I thought this was going to be more "literary" than it was - though, having read a fair few lukewarm reviews, I'm not sure why. I found it to be considerably less than the sum of its parts ... a lot of promise that goes largely & disappointingly unrealized. The writing is superficial, the characters shallow, the plot manages to be both over-long & insubstantial, the narrative repetitive. For me, the historical period... cont. in comments

readingjedi ...which is what attracted me to this novel, isn't authentically evoked. Some of the dialogue seems anachronistic and the historical details seem a little off. I felt no emotional connection to the sisters of the title & never fully understood their motivations. It is not without entertainment value but just slightly disappointing/uninspiring. 5y
Crazeedi You have stated everything I felt about this book too! It was so disappointing, I actually did not finish 5y
Itchyfeetreader This is an excellent review .. 5y
batsy I was tempted by this and thought it would be fun light read but now I'll pass 🙂 5y
87 likes4 comments
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readingjedi
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Starting this one this evening. With thanks to #netgalley for this book.

111 likes7 stack adds
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StayCurious
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#wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB #russians An interesting historical fiction about two sisters who try to move up in the Russian court by befriending the Tsarina and introducing her to some guy named Rasputin...not sure if he‘s important to Russian history or anything 😉

Crazeedi I started this one, and then just couldn't finish, I love Russian history but this just didnt do it for me 5y
Cinfhen Great photo!!! Book sounds good so I‘m surprised by the low Litsy rating 🤷‍♀️ 5y
StayCurious @Cinfhen I‘m not very far into it so I‘m not sure yet. I‘m worried it will be depressing. 5y
54 likes3 comments
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Shemac77
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Panpan

Nope. Not my cup of tea. I couldn‘t have cared less about these characters had I tried.

valeriegeary But at least you got a good photo out of it! 🤗 6y
51 likes1 comment
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Shemac77
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This book is draaaaaaaging. Another few more chapters and then I‘m bailing. I‘ve given up having to finish a book. Not enough time and too many books!

Cathythoughts Oh yes , I know the feeling .... 6y
Buechersuechtling Completely the right attitude if you ask me. 6y
45 likes2 comments
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Shemac77
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Afternoon reading with wine.

IndyHannaJones I'm feeling this 6y
Cathythoughts Nice sunlight ✨ 6y
Shemac77 It was beautiful! @Cathythoughts 6y
49 likes3 comments
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Shemac77
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Post night shift reading in the sunshine. Finally, spring is here.

44 likes1 stack add
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Shemac77
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Evening reading before bed.

Buechersuechtling This sounds interesting. 😃 Let us know if it‘s good. 6y
Cathythoughts Great cover 👍🏻♥️ 6y
55 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Crazeedi
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Bailedbailed

Just can't get into this book right now, I'm finding the story not in keeping with my concept of what the story is trying to convey. I can't say it's awful, it's just not something I care to continue reading.
@Lynnsoprano @Melissa_J you might find it something you like but it's a meh to me right now

Nute I almost purchased this book yesterday because the cover was so pretty. I had it in my hand and then I decided to check some reviews on Goodreads. It looks like it's not working for a lot of readers. Usually I try to still make an uninfluenced decision, but yesterday I was on a strict allowance for book purchases so I put it back. It's still on my mind. I'll be interested in your opinion when you get back to reading it. 6y
Crazeedi @Nute I really thought I would get into it. I read several chapters, and it just wasn't working. The premise is a bit strange, maybe it's the writing, maybe it's just me. If I try again I will definitely post my thoughts (edited) 6y
Lynnsoprano We have the 60-page rule in our house: if we can‘t get into it in 60 pages, it‘s probably not going to be worth the effort. As my husband says, life is too short to read books you don‘t like. 6y
78 likes3 comments
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Crazeedi
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Since this has to be returned in 5 days, I'll read it next I guess. Several other books are calling my name too, it's so hard to decide!!!

Melissa_J I just bought this one but have heard nothing about it. I hope you like it 😬 6y
Crazeedi @Melissa_J I'll be posting my thoughts when done! 6y
Lynnsoprano That looks really interesting! 6y
Crazeedi @Lynnsoprano I'll let you know, not sure yet! 6y
73 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Bookalong
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Pickpick

🌟🌟🌟.5/5
For this dark and magical read full of Romanov history!
This book is available January 22nd. It started off slow and I almost dnf it but I stayed the course and it picked up. I don't read a ton of historical fiction and I don't think this particular time in history really does it for me. But the writing was really good and I enjoyed the characters in it. And the supernatural elements.
#bookreview #bookblogger #bookblog #booklover

monalyisha OoOoOOo... 6y
monalyisha It definitely does not have great reviews, though. Bummer! 6y
Bookalong @monalyisha oh no?! I havent read any reviews for it. I just didnt find this time period particularly interesting. And it was definitely too long. 6y
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SailorMoon Hi there! I am really into the Romanov historical period, so I am wondering... is this book faithful to their history? If so, I might look it up! Thx! 6y
Bookalong @SailorMoon I honestly dont know much about that point of history so i couldnt say. It did feel well researched, there was a lot of history included. 6y
SailorMoon @bookalong thanks, I'll read some reviews then! ;) 6y
19 likes7 comments
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TheSpineView
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#thebookinyourhand

1. "They hammered on the entrance to the palace, pounding with their fists."
2. 435
3. Buddhanasasanan
4. Militza
5. Blue
6. Historical Fiction
7. First = sharply Last = energy
8. White and red
9. I. E. J.
10. No
11. 2019
12. None

Kaye Wow. Look at that #3. What a long word ! 6y
Trashcanman Merry Christmas 6y
TheSpineView @Trashcanman Back at you!❤🎄 6y
59 likes4 comments
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Birdsong28
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This sounds interesting.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It does!!! Stacked!! 6y
GingerAntics That sounds great!!! No idea why, but I've always been interesting in the end of the Romanov period. 6y
Birdsong28 @GingerAntics I know what you mean have you tried 6y
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GingerAntics No, but I just added then to my TBR. 6y
33 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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TheSpineView
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Here is today's #bookmail. I have seen mixed reviews so I hope I like it.

ShelleyBooksie Cant wait for your review! 6y
61 likes3 stack adds1 comment