Romanov

by Nadine Brandes

  But it was a life together. A life anew. And we were finally ready.

  As we crossed the lawn, Zash held out his hand for mine.

  I stared at it for a long moment, seeing not just the calluses or the strength or the earth in the creases, but instead seeing all the promises it held. Healing. Forgiveness. A shared story. The promise of walking through life with someone who knew my bloodied past. A hand willing to touch the skin of a Romanov and feel only joy.

  So I allowed Zash to take my hand—no, I gave him my hand. Willingly. Hopefully. And with no plans of ever letting go.

  Author’s Note

  Phew! We made it! I know this book was drastically different from the movie we all love and quote, so I want to thank you first and foremost for letting me take you on a new journey down the actual paths of history.

  When drafting this manuscript, I could only tackle it for a couple of hours at a time because the true story was too heavy for my soul. But as I explored the depth of character of the Romanov family, their kindness, and the true caring they had for their people, I grew thankful I got to discover their story on such a level. And I’m even more thankful I get to share it with you.

  I wanted to tell Anastasia’s story—the true, historical tale of what she went through at the end of her family line, and then the fictional story of how I think she might have lived after that horrible night of July 16–17, 1918. Knowing her upbringing under a caring father and a devoted family, I think she would have struggled with forgiveness, but her desire to live a joyous and impish life would have won out in the end. She really was nicknamed shvibzik and, yes, she really pulled pranks all the time and performed silly plays.

  Having spent part of my childhood in Alaska, studying the Russian language, growing up with Russians in my home since before I can remember, and then traveling to Russia several times, I always hoped I’d have a chance to pen a story that would honor the Russian history and the people I have come to love who live there.

  So with that, let’s jump into fact and fiction.

  What’s True

  So much research went into this book—particularly the first half—that I would never be able to list all the things that are true in this story, but I’ll touch on a few:

  The Romanov family was transferred from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg for exile, and it was an extremely trying time. But they drew strength from their faith and from their relationships as a family. The order for their executions was carried out by Yurovsky and they were given no trial.

  For almost ninety years, people suspected that Anastasia and Alexei could have survived. In 2007, their bodies were discovered in a separate grave near the rest of the family. I like to think that Nastya and Alexei went on to live out new adventures and were eventually buried with their family, as Zash promised they would be.

  The attempted rescue mission from the White Army officer actually happened, but many historians suspect that it was a ploy by the Bolsheviks to catch the Romanovs in the act of escaping. Ex-Tsar Nikolai truly did call it off for the safety of their captors.

  Ivan Skorokhodov was a real person. He and Maria shared an attraction, and we don’t know what happened to him. He was caught with Maria and some say he could have been sent to prison. Others suspect he was shot. There’s no known answer. But, in a way, it brings me comfort knowing Maria did have that source of joy during her time of exile.

  Rasputin was also a real person and played a huge role—though unintentional—in the revolution of the Russian people. His relationship with the tsarina and the Romanov family is, to this day, still analyzed by historians. Unfortunately, the Romanovs’ leaning toward constant secrecy did them very few favors.

  Yakov Yurovsky was a watchmaker and a Bolshevik commandant when the Romanovs were killed. Though he had no role in Tobolsk (that was a stretch on my part), he was Avdeev’s replacement commandant after the episode with Maria and Ivan. Yurovsky went on to live several years after the Romanovs’ deaths and was loyal to the Soviet Union.

  Oh, and finally: Joy the spaniel really existed and survived the execution of her masters.

  What’s Stretched

  Zash is a fictional character, but the turmoil in his heart as a Bolshevik represents what many of the Bolshevik guards went through. The Romanov family befriended so many that the guards on duty were replaced again and again to keep them from growing too sympathetic. (And yes, they really did build the Romanovs a swing.) Though Zash is a creation of my imagination, the seminomadic people inhabiting Siberia are not. When the Romanov children saw people wearing reindeer skin and representing the east side of their country, they found it intriguing because they had not been educated thoroughly regarding the population of their country. They had always wanted to know their people on a deeper level, and I wanted to capture that desire through Zash’s backstory and relationship with Nastya.

  Vasily Dochkin is actually Vasily Zvyozdochkin—but the last name was just too much of a mouthful to make it all the way into the book, so I shortened it. (You’re welcome.) He is the first known maker of the Matryoshka doll, and that’s about all we know about him. To my knowledge he had no relation with the Romanov family, nor did he live in a little old cabin in the woods. I like to imagine that he would have been secreted away, making spells to save his tsar and his country. I loved giving him a bit of story woven with magic in Romanov.

  The Romanov sisters did not shave their heads due to the lice infestation but instead due to a bout with measles a year prior. I fiddled with those dates and combined the two events.

  If you want to do your own digging and learn about the Romanov family, I recommend reading any book on the Romanov family written by Helen Rappaport. I spent most of my time scouring the pages of The Romanov Sisters and The Last Days of the Romanovs.

  Discussion Questions

  Nastya spends a lot of time in this book struggling with forgiveness. What do you understand forgiveness to mean?

  Zash became a Bolshevik to help protect his babushka (Vira). How far would you go to protect those you love? And what do you think about his decision to join the Bolsheviks?

  Nastya seeks to understand why Zash thinks and acts the way he does. Do you think it’s important to strive to understand an opposing perspective? How do you go about doing so?

  Zash has a moment when he thinks it will be better to take his own life than to live with what he’s done. What do you think that would accomplish? Do you think that is ever the right answer? Why or why not?

  Nastya had the chance to erase her memories and to erase her hurt. Have you ever wished you could do that? If so, why does it sound appealing? What might the repercussions be?

  Why do you think Nastya chose not to use the memory spell in the end?

  At the end of the book, the war is still raging. No one knows when it will end or who will win, but they are able to still live their lives. Do you ever struggle with focusing on your day-to-day when the bigger picture of your culture is caught up in unresolved issues?

  The Romanov family had very strong values and this affected their ability to hope and forgive. Which values can you identify and how do you think those empowered the family?

  Acknowledgments

  No story is written—or lived—alone. My writing journey is filled with soul friends and supporters who have cheered me through the bogs and over the mountains. Here are only some (of the thousands) of thank-yous I wish I could give in person every day of my life:

  Always first is the One who saves me daily and brings purpose to my life and writing: Iisus. I’ve experienced the power of your hope and forgiveness. Life, writing, breathing . . . is nothing without you. Thank you for creating my storytelling mind.

  Mister Ninja: my one love. My fellow adventurer. The one who is always encouraging me to go tell stories and who takes me out to dinner to celebrate every completed draft, edit, and milestone. Thank you will never be enough.

  My agent, Steve Laube: you are my hero. Truly.

  My fantasti
c publishing team: Amanda Bostic: for answering my constant questions and for hailing a cab like a boss in New York so we could get to BookCon. Becky Monds: for keeping me sane and encouraged while I tried to meet deadlines through morning sickness, and for all your passion for history and the Romanovs. Kristen Ingebretson and Jeff Miller: for the mind-blowing cover. I’m speechless every time I look at it. Julee Schwarzburg and Jodi Hughes: for helping get this story squeaky clean. Paul, Allison, Matt, Savannah, and the rest of the TN crew: for all the marketing, brainstorming, and support you show my books. ♥

  To my papa: for taking me on my first trip to Russia, teaching me to be a traveler, and then cheering me on through the many trips afterward. To my sweet mom: for delighting in every little step I take with this publishing journey. To Melanie: for calling me before every nerve-wracking bookish event, Binsk for always reading early drafts, and Liza for giving my books as gifts to strangers. I love you all dearly.

  To my YA sisters: Mary Weber: you cry with me and rejoice with me and I truly don’t know how I’d navigate this writing journey without our voxes. Sara Ella: for putting this idea in my head way back at ACFW . . . and fangirling when I told you I was going to write it. You’re my favorite fairy-tale princess.

  Ashley Townsend: you have no idea how precious all our 2018 adventures were. The boba tea, silent discos, and spontaneous Disney trips . . . you’ve been a listening ear through every step of this writing journey. I thank God for you. Karen Ball: you always hear my heart and believe in the journey behind each story I pen.

  My beta readers, Ashley and Rosalie: for reading this book on such a tight deadline, even while hospitalized, and giving me some of the most helpful feedback ever. To Katie Grace, Tricia Mingerink, Stephanie Warner, Lindsay Franklin, S. D. Grimm, Emilie Hendryx, and all my other dear author friends who seem to live and breathe encouragement my way.

  To my family in Russia: for the many visits, lessons in Russian, meals of borscht and pelmeni, and hours of fellowship. I thank God every time I think of you. You are constant joy and eternal family. Thank you for the trip to St. Petersburg and the tour of the Alexander Palace grounds. I will never forget standing where Anastasia stood, jotting down notes so I could tell her story.

  To my Ninjas: for sending me Oreos even when I went silent trying to meet these deadlines. Thank you for your constant excitement and encouragement. (Hidden Ninja hint: sometimes ninjas need to look backward to move forward.) To the Mitchtams: my writing community and word warriors forever. Thank you OYANers, Enclave Authors, Biola family, and CCH students for being my people. And thank you, Brandes family, for always understanding when my deadlines fall on holidays.

  And of course, to every single reader and fan who gives my books a chance, who sends me fan art, fan mail, fan jewelry, all the fan things . . . I think your goal must be to keep me in tears and you’re doing spectacularly. And to all the amazing readers on Instagram/bookstagram who bring me joy and encouragement every single day. You are all so precious to me—whether my books are your thing or not. ;-)

  The bonds of our hearts . . .

  About the Author

  Photo by Emilie Hendryx from E. A. Creative Photography

  Nadine Brandes once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of Fawkes and the award-winning Out of Time series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she’s not busy writing novels about bold living, she’s adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. Nadine, her Auror husband, and their Halfling son are building a Tiny House on wheels. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

  * * *

  NadineBrandes.com

  Instagram: NadineBrandes

  YouTube: Nadine Brandes

  Twitter: @NadineBrandes

  Facebook: NadineBrandesAuthor

  Advance Praise for Romanov

  “Romanov will cast a spell on readers and immerse them in a history anyone would long to be a part of.”

  —Sasha Alsberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zenith: The Androma Saga

  “I am obsessed with this book! Romanov is a magical twist on history that will have Anastasia fans wishing for more. I loved every detail Brandes wrote—from the Romanovs’ daily life in Ipatiev House to the conflicted Bolshevik soldiers to the mysterious spell ink that Tsarevich Alexei desperately needed. If you love magic and Imperial Russia, you want Romanov on your shelf!”

  —Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown’s Game series and Circle of Shadows

  “If you think you know the story behind Anastasia Romanov, think again! What Brandes has done with this tale is exquisite. The perfect blend of history and fantasy, Romanov takes a deeper look at the days leading up to the family’s tragedy, while also exploring the possibilities behind the mysteries that have long intrigued history buffs everywhere. Brandes weaves a brilliant and intricate saga of love, loss, and the power of forgiveness. Prepare to have your breath stolen by this gorgeous novel of brilliant prose and epic enchantment.”

  —Sara Ella, award-winning author of the Unblemished Trilogy

  “Historical facts, along with captivating characters and quick dialogue, make for an extremely enjoyable novel. A great read for fans of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Fawkes brings new life to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.”

  —Shelf Awareness

  “Engrossing historical fantasy.”

  —Booklist

  “Set against the backdrop of the infamous Gunpowder Plot but with a paranormal parallel reflecting the real-life Protestant and Catholic conflicts of the day . . . A satisfying tale.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Allegorical promise and imaginative recasting . . .”

  —Kirkus

  “Brandes successfully blends magic into history . . . A recommended purchase.”

  —School Library Journal

  “Fawkes is the perfect mix of history and magic. I was up late in the night reading, waiting to get to the fifth of November to see how the plot would actually unfold, and it did not disappoint. An imaginative, colorful tale about choosing for yourself between what’s right and what others insist is the truth.”

  —Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of My Lady Jane

  “Hold on to your heart as this slow-burning adventure quickly escalates into an explosion of magic, love, and the truth about loyalty.”

  —Mary Weber, bestselling author of the Storm Siren Trilogy

  “A magical retelling of the seventeenth century’s famous Gunpowder Plot that will sweep you back in time . . . Deft and clever, Fawkes is a vibrant story about the search for truth and issues relevant to us, still, today.”

  —Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling author

  “Fawkes is a tale full of spiritual depth, tragedy, and hope. A beautifully written allegory for the magic of faith, with an achingly relatable hero who pulls you into his world heart and soul. A must-read for all fantasy fans!”

  —Lorie Langdon, author of Olivia Twist

  “A brilliant book that fulfills every expectation. Brandes turns seventeenth-century London into a magical place. I was captivated by the allegory of her magic system and how she blended that fantasy with history. I highly recommend this gripping and beautifully crafted book to all.”

  —Jill Williamson, Christy Award–winning author of By Darkness Hid and Captives

  Also by Nadine Brandes

  Fawkes

  Out of Time Series

  A Time to Die

  A Time to Speak

  A Time to Rise

  Copyright

  © 2019 by Nadine Brandes

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher
.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978-1-4041-1165-3 (custom edition)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Brandes, Nadine, 1986- author.

  Title: Romanov / Nadine Brandes.

  Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2019] | Summary:

  Anastasia "Nastya" Romanov must choose between using the ancient spell her father, the exiled tsar, trusted her to keep safe, or trust Zash, a handsome Bolshevik soldier.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018060690 | ISBN 9780785217244 (hardback)

  Subjects: LCSH: Anastasia, Grand Duchess, daughter of Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1901-1918--Fiction. | CYAC: Anastasia, Grand Duchess, daughter of Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1901-1918--Juvenile fiction. | Exiles--Fiction. | Kings, queens, rulers, etc.--Fiction. | Magic--Fiction. | Forgiveness--Fiction. | Soldiers--Fiction. | Soviet Union--History--Revolution, 1917-1921--Fiction.