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The Lost Crown

by Sarah Miller (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 584 ratings · 149 reviews

Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Like the fingers on a hand--first headstrong Olga; then Tatiana, the tallest; Maria the most hopeful for a ring; and Anastasia, the smallest. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, grand duchesses living a life steeped in tradition and privilege. They are each on the brink of starting their own lives, at the mercy of royal matchma...more

Hardcover, 448 pages

Published June 14th 2011 by Atheneum

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Mar 13, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historical-fiction, ya-children

And here I am, continuing on my Russian fiction journey and I am loving it. I love how many books have or are coming out about Russia. This is a historical fiction book told from the point of view of the four daughters of the last Tsar of Russia: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. It's been awhile since I've read any books or watched anything about the Romanovs and I had forgotten how long they had to wait to find out their destiny. For some reason, I had it in my head that they were taken awa...more And here I am, continuing on my Russian fiction journey and I am loving it. I love how many books have or are coming out about Russia. This is a historical fiction book told from the point of view of the four daughters of the last Tsar of Russia: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. It's been awhile since I've read any books or watched anything about the Romanovs and I had forgotten how long they had to wait to find out their destiny. For some reason, I had it in my head that they were taken away from the palace and met their end not long after. In reality, the family was moved from the capital to Ekaterinburg, a coal town in the middle of Russia, where they were basically guarded until the end. I can't imagine just having to wait like that. At least in Miller's book, some of the sisters are still keeping diaries and one of them comments how boring her diary has become as they're not allowed to do anything.

This was definitely one of those historical fiction books that is now going to plant the seed in my head that I need to start reading more about the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution.

I know that the Russians were upset with Tsar Nicholas and his family because they felt like they were really struggling when the family was not at all. However, the two older sisters helped out as nurses to help the wounded military personnel. And the two younger sisters hoped to help out as nurses someday. I thought it was kind of cool that they had gotten training in something like that.

Miller does a great job of pulling you into the story. I think that it was especially effective to tell the story from the point of view of the different sisters as they have really different points of view and things that they are thinking about or worried about. Miller does a good job of keeping all of the voices distinct and separate, which can be really difficult to do sometimes.

Bottom line: This is a great young adult historical fiction that really transcends just being a young adult book.(less)

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Jul 16, 2011 Jenny Q added it

Setting this aside for later at page 146, but not because this is bad. On the contrary, the writing is lovely and so are the Romanov princesses. At first I was wary of four sisters' POVs, but I was impressed with Miller's ability to give distinct voices to each girl, while at the same time showing how similar they were, and how much they loved each other. They are so sweet, and they try so hard to face the war, and the revolution, and imprisonment with dignity and grace. What happens to them jus...more

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May 22, 2011 Samita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Not quite four stars. The book is told from Tatiana, Olga, Maria and Anastasia's POV, sounds lovely no? It wasn't, it's hard to keep track of who is who (also going back and fort to the beginning of the chapter on my nook is not easy for my clumsy fingers), truly the only one that really reads differently is Anastasia's because her POV reads ~younger~ Multiple POVs are always tricky, and it does come in handy near the second half of the book.

Anyhow, it's a great story and the author seems to ha...more

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May 16, 2013 Mikayla Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, I just finished this book and I am speechless. In the beginning I had to force myself to keep reading this book. I am so glad I did. It was very confusing and I didn’t know what the heck was happening for a good ¼ of the book. The main problem was the dates kept going forward in time then backward. Once I got further in they stayed normal. I still don’t understand what was exactly happening with those dates.
Anyway, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, are the daughters of the last Romanov t...more Wow, I just finished this book and I am speechless. In the beginning I had to force myself to keep reading this book. I am so glad I did. It was very confusing and I didn’t know what the heck was happening for a good ¼ of the book. The main problem was the dates kept going forward in time then backward. Once I got further in they stayed normal. I still don’t understand what was exactly happening with those dates.
Anyway, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, are the daughters of the last Romanov tsar. They prance around in massive gowns in all the latest European fashions, embellished with diamond, rubies and amethysts. Everywhere they walk they must carry themselves in the most ladylike fashion. Of course, they have been doing this kind of thing ever since they can remember. Personally, I don’t think I would mind being a grand duchess. I mean, if I could walk around in fancy dresses and have people kiss the ground I walk on that would be ok with me. It does have its down sides though. The girls never get to go anywhere without a bunch of guard crowded around them. They never really got to experience the things as a child that most of us take for granted.
Their fragile brother, Aleksie, the future tsar, is always being picked and pruned over. He has a disease that causes him to be very ill very often. The sisters are always nursing their brother back to health. They are very good at that sort of thing because they work as nurses at the lazeret, or infirmary. Some of this book is in Russian which also led to the confusion I discussed earlier. Not everything the duchesses have is embellished with glamour. They actually sleep on fold-out cots, and have since they were children. I guess in that aspect I’m more royalty than they are! All is going well until trouble hits.
World War I ignites across Europe, leaving their father, Nicholas’s II comfy throne in complete and utter chaos. He has to leave to direct the troops, and he is eventually forced to give up his title as tsar, hence the title of the book, The Lost Crown. That’s when things really go downhill for this royal family. Now, with no ruler the people become very angry, blaming the whole war on Nicholas II and his innocent family. They are shipped from house to house in secret, penning them up like animals.
They built a giant barrier around house and painted the windows. By this point, I don’t know how the duchesses could have hope for tomorrow. The older sisters and the wife of the tsar, confided in scripture and books to ease the pain, while the younger pair walked in circles in their yard, the one hour they got outside per day. They wouldn’t even let them open the windows!
Still, from the attempts of grenades and gunshots being fired at the house, and the deprivation of everyday needs, they seemed to be making it through. In fact the last entries in the book described their immense hope and faith for tomorrow. Finally, the men that said they were going to help them escape, led them into a dark basement. The family, along with their dog, sat as innocent as children. More men appeared, their hands behind their backs. In one motion, the evil man that had kept them locked up for so long ripped out a sheet of paper explaining their fate, sentence to death, in another motion…gunfire. Olga (the oldest sister), crosses herself, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and closes her eyes. The last line is, “where we go next, we go together.” I almost started to cry. They are such amazing girls, with such love and kindness. A very touching novel, they are truly together at last.

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Dec 10, 2012 Elizabeth G. added it

Shelves: quarter-2

The Lost Crown By Sarah Milller is a story about the 5 daughters of the Tsar of Russia starting in 1917 and ending in 1918. The life before the war is all the girls can dream about once their father in the middle of World War I gives up the thrown and they are considered prisoners.They are given a day to pack up their lives and are sent with no idea were they are going, far away. Their lives change considerably and their hopes waver. In the end devestating things happen, and for once no one coul...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Ax rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is part of my book report for school:
I enjoyed the book but I hated the ending. I won’t be a spoiler but it was down-right SAD!
But I was able to connect with some of the characters. Mostly, I connected with Olga. She’s the oldest of the princesses she’s also kind-of emotional. I’m the oldest in my family and I am also a little emotional. I connected with Tatiana too. She’s a leader.I’m also a leader. Anastasia and I; we’re both clowns. Maria is a sweetheart. I’m not much of a sweetheart bu...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: heady historical fiction fans

Shelves: tag-2012-13, ya-2011, young-adult

The Lost Crown is weighty historical fiction that chronicles the last few years of the Romanovs including the abdication of the Tsar and the subsequent house arrest of the entire royal entourage. The novel is told in the alternating voices of the four sisters, the Grand Duchesses.

I enjoyed the novel but I found that I lacked enough background information to really make sense of the events I was reading in a meaningful way and the stories told from the perspective of the four daughters were nece...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Savanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romanovs, historical-fiction

I often visit a Romanov forum, the Alexander Palace Time Machine, of which Sarah Miller is a member. Though I am not a member yet, I've often encountered Ms. Miller's comments and it's clear that she knows *a lot* about the Romanov family. So when I found she'd written a book about Nicholas II's four daughters, I knew I had to read it. I bought it immediately, and it was certainly worth it.

I knew what would happen to OTMA in the end. But I kept reading anyway because the book is well-written an...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Shelby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-love

This book was truly amazing and haunting at the same time. It took place during the Russian Revolution following the lives of the five Romanov children, Olga, Tatianna, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei.

This book was so sad, and, well, heart-wrenching. The characters seemed so real, probably because they were, and you knew that the story was true. There were pictures of the family in the back of the book, which was both awful and nice at the same time.

It was very easy to connect to the siblings, espe...more

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Oct 25, 2011 J rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, high-school-fiction, middle-school-fiction

In fictional diary format, the 4 daughters of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia describe their lives before and after the Bolshevik Revolution. Their world of glamour and privilege becomes increasingly narrow and poor as revolutionary forces try to decide what to do with the royal family after toppling the throne. Author Miller presumes the reader has some background knowledge of the subject. The girls' references to their brother Aleksei's illnesses won't make sense if the reader doesn't know he had h...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Megan Hicks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical, read-in-2011

Meticulously and lovingly researched, it's hard not to respect the effort that went into The Lost Crown. However, I felt that the effort fell a bit flat.

The first problem with The Lost Crown is implicit in its premise. Because the reader knows that the Romanov family was murdered by Bolsheviks in July of 1918, it's hard to keep up much sense of suspense. This is made worse by the family's captivity. As many writing instructors will tell you, bored people are boring. Therefore, a bored, scared f...more Meticulously and lovingly researched, it's hard not to respect the effort that went into The Lost Crown. However, I felt that the effort fell a bit flat.

The first problem with The Lost Crown is implicit in its premise. Because the reader knows that the Romanov family was murdered by Bolsheviks in July of 1918, it's hard to keep up much sense of suspense. This is made worse by the family's captivity. As many writing instructors will tell you, bored people are boring. Therefore, a bored, scared family doesn't make for the most fascinating topic for a book.

Miller does her best to keep tensions high between family members and their captors. As the book is not dreadfully dull, she succeeds at making what could be a very boring affair interesting, at least. The pace is, at times, a bit plodding and repetitive, but I have a hard time imagining the topic handled better as a novel.

Miller's biggest stumble, however, is in her decision to split the POV and give each of the Romanov daughters a chance to tell their story. The voices of the grand duchesses aren't very distinctive. In fact, even their personalities meld together a bit. With the constant switching between who is 'I,' it can be hard to keep track of what each sister is like. It takes a very, very long time for each of the young women to become their own person, and in the end, only Anastasia is a truly distinctive character. I believe the book would have been a stronger one had Miller chosen one sister and stuck with her POV.

Still, it's hard to disparage such a heart-felt, lovingly written book. Miller's compassion for the Romanovs is truly what makes the story work. Though to the reader may at times find them outrageously uninformed, it's also easy to settle into the general mindset of the family -- naive, sheltered, and unprepared for the changing world around them.

If you're looking for a page turner, The Lost Crown is probably not the best choice for you. However, if you are looking for a well-researched and entertaining introduction to this period in history, I can't think of a better novel.(less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Margo Tanenbaum rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: russia, royalty

Like so many other readers, I am fascinated by stories of doomed princesses. Sarah Miller’s new YA novel, The Lost Crown, about the last few years in the lives of the Romanovs of Russia, tells their story from the point of view of all four Grand Duchesses, the beautiful and privileged daughters of Czar Nicholas II. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, sometimes known as OTMA, each of them imbued with her own personality, narrate in alternating chapters how world war and revolution irrevocably ch...more Like so many other readers, I am fascinated by stories of doomed princesses. Sarah Miller’s new YA novel, The Lost Crown, about the last few years in the lives of the Romanovs of Russia, tells their story from the point of view of all four Grand Duchesses, the beautiful and privileged daughters of Czar Nicholas II. Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, sometimes known as OTMA, each of them imbued with her own personality, narrate in alternating chapters how world war and revolution irrevocably changed their lives, robbing them not only of their privileged status but eventually of their lives as well.

The book begins with the duchesses enjoying a glorious day on the imperial yacht, dancing, playing games, spoiling their lapdogs, and flirting with the handsome officers. Their happiness is only tainted by the illness of their young brother, Aleksei--perhaps the most famous hemophiliac in history. But soon they learn of the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Austria, and war breaks out all over Europe.

The whole family throws themselves into war work; the Czarina herself and the two oldest daughters, Olga and Tatiana, are trained to nurse by the Red Cross, and the younger girls visit the wounded to cheer the soldiers. The men are thrilled by the attention from the royal family, begging for photos and autographs. But as the war goes badly for the Russians, dissent begins to grow, erupting in revolution and the abdication of the czar. Soon the family is forced to leave their palace for house arrest in rural Tobolsk and finally imprisonment in Siberia, at Ekaterinburg, where their tale comes to its inevitably tragic and violent conclusion.

Miller works hard to create a distinct voice for each of the archduchesses, although I must admit that at the beginning I had trouble separating all but the youngest, Anastasia, who is portrayed as the impish jokester of the bunch. Her book is impeccably researched, with original source material including the diaries and correspondence of the four girls, much of it still available only in Russian, used by the author in her attempt to create a balanced portrayal of the historical events and to create sympathetic young women that contemporary girls would identify with.

Russian names, with the language’s extensive use of nicknames, can be confusing to English readers, and the author therefore includes a cast of characters list at the beginning of the novel, which includes formal names, nicknames, and descriptions of each character in the book, so that readers can keep everyone straight. Miller also includes a glossary of Russian words and phrases, which are scattered liberally throughout the text. A brief epilogue describes the horrific assassinations in the cellar in some detail, as well as the rumors of survival of one or more of the imperial children that persisted for years after the revolution. Back matter includes reproductions of both formal and informal photographs of the imperial family, an author’s note on her research, and an excellent bibliography, including on-line resources and films as well as an extensive selection of books on the Romanovs.
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Jun 18, 2011 Arabella Adrienne rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Lost Crown, a new novel by author Sarah Miller, is an excellent book of Romanov Russia. The book is about the world - famous Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicholaievna Romanov and her elder sisters, Olga, Tatiana and Maria. In alternating chapters narrated by each of the Grand Duchesses, Ms. Miller clearly brings alive the challenges and joys of being a daughter of the Tsar. Each character is very well formed, and different in their own ways - Olga the smart one, Tatiana the beautiful, Maria the s...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eng-580, read-in-2013, young-adult

Sarah Miller’s The Lost Crown imagines and beautifully recreates the experiences, perspectives, and relationships of Tsar Nicholas II’s daughters during the fall of Imperial Russia. As the daughters of Russia’s most revered and powerful man, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia lead idyllic, privileged lives that are full of faith, love, and comfort. Even when the fervor and fighting of World War I spreads to Russia, the girls are mostly sheltered from the problems and unrest between nations and...more Sarah Miller’s The Lost Crown imagines and beautifully recreates the experiences, perspectives, and relationships of Tsar Nicholas II’s daughters during the fall of Imperial Russia. As the daughters of Russia’s most revered and powerful man, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia lead idyllic, privileged lives that are full of faith, love, and comfort. Even when the fervor and fighting of World War I spreads to Russia, the girls are mostly sheltered from the problems and unrest between nations and within Russia. At first… Then rumors about the family, criticisms of the tsar, and voices of revolution begin to proliferate and gain power, leading to the Tsar’s abdication and the family’s imprisonment. The majority of the novel tells of the girls’ experiences at the various homes and buildings where they were kept (i.e. “protected” or imprisoned), of experiences both happy and terrifying that show the power of love, family, and faith as well as the cruel, complex reality of war and revenge. The Lost Crown concludes with an epilogue discussing the rumors, mysteries, and facts of the royal family’s assignation and burial, wrapping up the novel neatly and inviting the reader to investigate the history and the family more on his/her own.

The Lost Crown was much better than I anticipated. Someone recommended this to me, knowing I was looking for YA historical fiction, and so I decided to give it a try. I was a little worried when I received it, though. The front and back covers look like someone puked princess everywhere; everything on the cover is gold or ivory hued to match the pearls and lace decorating the front picture. The excerpt on the back made (and makes) me cringe worst of all: “There has never been such a summer! Since sailing from Peterhof, my sisters and I have spent all day on the sunny decks of our dear Standart, playing shuffleboard, roller-skating, dancing, and yes, sometimes flirting with the officers. Of course they kissed our hands when we climbed aboard, but only because we’re the tsar’s daughters.” I wasn’t so sure that this was the sort of historical novel I wanted to be reading or the sort of history in which I was interested. Thankfully, the book was much better—more interesting, engaging, and meaningful (to me)—than its cover. Miller does an amazing job capturing the voices and imagining the experiences and perspectives of Tsar Nicholas II’s daughters. I could have done with a little more action, revolutionary perspectives, and/or information of the socio-political situations in Russia; but, given the perspectives from which the story is told and unfolds, these “extras” might not be appropriate or accurate (in “real” life, the Duchesses presumably had limited exposure to and knowledge of the fighting and changes sweeping their country). On the other hand, the novel presents a unique and fresh picture of the tsar—certainly different than the “bloody tsar” depictions of my history books and classes. Regardless of his politics, the tsar in Miller’s account is a kind and lovable family man; he is given a humanity that Western history sometimes forgets or omits.

Miller’s novel is not difficult to read, but it can drag at times and would be hard to get through in one or two sittings. While it is interesting, The Lost Crown is not exactly a gripping page turner. However, if a class did have time to dedicate to this book, it could be used in conjunction with or as a supplement to history lessons or courses on twentieth-century Russia/USSR, on World War One and its aftermath, and a handful of other historical and political topics. I also think it would be fun and instructive to have students create a similar sort of fictional memoir (albeit on a much smaller scale) for which they would research and recreate the experiences and perspectives of another historical figure or family. I remember doing assignments like this for history and literature classes when I was younger, and thanks to these projects, I know at least a bit of history (though still shamefully little); these projects inspired me to research thoroughly and to think critically and creatively about otherwise “boring” topics.

There are some Russian terms scattered throughout the novel, but there is also a brief glossary translating these for the reader. More difficult to keep track of are the numerous Russian names and (long) nicknames. Although there is a “Cast of Characters” list in the front of the book that maps out characters’ nicknames and relations to one another, keeping everyone straight still might prove tedious for some readers. To get the most out of this book, the reader should have some knowledge of (or ability to comprehend) the political structures, systemic issues and changes, and “sides” related to the fall of Imperial Russia. Thus, The Lost Crown might be best suited for teens with more history and reading experience—probably high-school students.
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Jul 19, 2012 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: history-and-historical-fiction

Very mixed feelings on this book. Overall I would probably give it a 2.75.

For starters, I do admit that I love anything remotely related to historical fiction and have always been fascinated with the story of the four Romanov sisters. Their story is a tragic, if well-documented one and I think the historical possibility of the survival of one or two of the family members makes their story that much more alluring.

However, I found this story to be a bit stale. I feel as though anyone who has ever...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Linda Cat added it

Originally posted to: www.books4hearts.com

The Lost Crown was a fascinating novel. I love historical fiction, especially when it's about a period that I might not have known much about before going into the novel. I didn't know THAT much about Imperial Russia, so this book was very interesting and fresh for me.

The settings were ornate and as the points of view alternated things became different. An interesting point about this novel is that for every chapter the point of view is from a different...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Cari rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teenagers, Fans of historical fiction

Recommended to Cari by: Goodreads

Shelves: 2012, good-historical-fiction, ya, best-of-2012

This book was terrific! I really enjoyed it! This would have to be one of the best historical fiction books I have read all year. By being a great historical fiction, I mean:

1) Containing accurate historical facts, and
2) Tying it in with fiction and making is super interesting.
3) - I learned stuff I didn't know before!

I like how, at different parts of the book, when not a lot of things were really happening (really, what are you expected to do while under house arrest and guarded every second of...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Thebookbutterfly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, library, breaks-my-heart, protags-i-admire, real-issues, multi-pov, reviewed

I feel odd rating this book because it is a story of people who actually existed, and if the storyline was anticlimactic it wasn't the author's fault or if some of the characters didn't do much it was because when they were alive they just DIDN'T DO MUCH~ and so I'm giving it four stars to be fair to that and because I actually enjoyed it (but it also wasn't the best book I've ever read).

The story is split between the four grand duchesses: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. Their voices blurre...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Shainna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: russia, young-adult, romanov

Despite the confusion of Tatiana's bulldog being named either Ortino or Ortipo, I'm glad I read it. (Being a Russian language student, I understand the confusion between the spelling.) It was surprisingly accurate compared to most of the Romanov stuff I've read (fiction, that is) which was an extremely pleasant surprise. One reason I'd taken so long to actually read this was that I couldn't stand the thought of the historical inaccuracy. The alternating viewpoint was not that difficult to follow...more

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May 30, 2011 Alison (AlisonCanRead) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrenyalit

I have been fascinated by the doomed Romanov children for years. I think it's because they took so many photos of themselves. The photos make the imperial family in their pretty dresses and sailor suit with the occasional smile (unusual in pictures of that era) make them look approachable and real. It makes their ending seem even more horrible.

The Lost Crown covers the last four years of the imperial family's life. It starts out at the beginning of World War I, when things are basically fine, w...more I have been fascinated by the doomed Romanov children for years. I think it's because they took so many photos of themselves. The photos make the imperial family in their pretty dresses and sailor suit with the occasional smile (unusual in pictures of that era) make them look approachable and real. It makes their ending seem even more horrible.

The Lost Crown covers the last four years of the imperial family's life. It starts out at the beginning of World War I, when things are basically fine, with just an undercurrent of problems to come. The imperial children have a charmed, happy life, marred only by Aleksei's hemophilia.

The book is told from the alternating perspectives of the four girls: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia. The author does a good job to give each character unique personalities, but having four voices going through basically the same things does make the book a bit confusing.

It is easy to forget that the girls were in their late teens and early twenties during this time period. Throughout the book, they seem much younger than their actual ages. They've been so sheltered throughout their lives, that they are more children than young women. They keep this naivete even as things go increasingly sour. While it seems odd that people of their age would be so immature, I am guessing this may be fairly realistic. They really were kept very sheltered.

I was surprised the book was as long as it was. The author did a good job of switching things up, showing things from different points of view, having events move steadily forward, but I still think you easily could have docked 50-100 pages. That being said, I was impressed with how she managed to add plot and drama to the girls' lives in captivity when every day was really more of the same.

The main problem with this book can't be helped. It is Depressing, with a capital "D." Not because the author makes it that way, but because it's reality. I became attached to these characters throughout the book. They were sweet, innocent, and loved Russia. But I knew there would be no happy ending. No last minute hero coming to rescue them. And I desperately wanted that. They lived every day completely ignorant that it was one day closer to their last - and I knew going in when that last day would be. I was very impressed with the book's ending. She wrote the Romanov's deaths in a way that was simple and poignant. It brought some closure to an otherwise horrible tragedy.

The Lost Crown is a great book for anyone interested in the Romanov family. It's not a super-speedy read and it is very depressing, but it is consistently interesting and sweet.

Rating: 3.5 / 5(less)

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May 29, 2012 Ashley W rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, nook-book, summer-reading

Wow...this book was very, very emotional. It chronicles the last four years of the Romanov's lives, and I spent most the book dreading the ending that I knew was coming. I absolutely fell in love with this book and the four sisters who narrated it. As I got further and further into it, I felt like I was there, experiencing everything they went through: the start of WWI, the months Olga and Tatiana spend as Red Cross nurses, the measles, and the house arrests in their palace, Tobolsk, and finally...more Wow...this book was very, very emotional. It chronicles the last four years of the Romanov's lives, and I spent most the book dreading the ending that I knew was coming. I absolutely fell in love with this book and the four sisters who narrated it. As I got further and further into it, I felt like I was there, experiencing everything they went through: the start of WWI, the months Olga and Tatiana spend as Red Cross nurses, the measles, and the house arrests in their palace, Tobolsk, and finally the Ipatiev house in Ekaterinberg.

Sarah Miller gave each of the four grand duchesses their own distinct6 voices and personalities. Olga, the oldest, was the headstrong daughter, but she was also a worrywart. Being an oldest child myself, I understand her need to hide important yet scary things from Maria, Anastasia, Aleksei, and in some cases, even Tatiana. (view spoiler)

Tatiana, the second eldest, was given the nickname "Governess" because she was strict and forever scolding them. She was also notedly the most elegant and beautiful of the sisters, but that didn't stop her from speaking her mind whenever the time warranted.

Marie was amazing, and so adorable. She was relatable because she was just so nice to everyone, even her captors, and always tried to have a kind word for everyone. All of the deaths were gruesome but hers bothered me the most. Her kindness shone through their adversity and she proves to be a role model.

My favorite character was Anastasia. She was seriously a hilarious character and I can only imagine the mischief she caused her older sisters. Being the youngest, she was the family clown, but she had her angsty moments as well. After all, the chapters where she worries about how she could still be funny when she felt she had no reason to laugh are some of the strongest in the novel.

This books is definitely a masterpiece and it fed my growing appetite for novels about the last days of Imperial Russia. I so wished the book could end in a different way, but unfortunately, it doesn't in history. It's at times like these, when I read about atrocious crimes like what happened to the Romanovs, when I hate that I love history and historical fiction.

Nicholas, Alexandra, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Aleksei, you will always be remembered, and I hope you are resting in peace.(less)

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Aug 13, 2011 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found the beginning of this book particularly slow. I was pleased when after about 150-200 pages (possibly less) it improved drastically and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the middle and end of this book and thought it was gripping and interesting. I enjoy historical fiction. This sort of topic is one I've never read of before and this book has made me want to read loads more on it.

The way the author wrote it you really began to feel for the sisters and began to learn things about t...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Corey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, kindle

It is really hard for me to review this book... I had really mixed feelings on it.

This novel is told from the 4 Romanov daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia in the final years of their lives. Each chapter is told from a different daughter's perspective, not in any order, mostly at random. Knowing what is to come for these girls makes the book heartbreaking from the first chapter and increasingly so as you get to know and love these girls.

This story is well thought out and I loved how i...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Eun Kyung Jeon rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who have never known these four individuals' lives

There is nothing that seems untruthful about this tale - it is based on true story. Although I never knew about their live before as I ventured through each parts of The Lost Crown, my heart grieved for each tragedy starting with World War I to countless more that these four individuals had to face. But, the moment, when they shared a smile as sisters, was the only time when I was truthfully consoled. As the beginning of my review foreshadows, there are going to be many hardships that they had t...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookreviewcenter, youngadult

Recommended for gr. 7-up. I found the constantly changing point of view to be a bit confusing (the chapters are narrated by the Romanov daughters) although each chapter is headed by the narrator's name as well as the date and place. The cast of characters at the beginning was very helpful, as was a list of Russian words and phrases. Also included is an epilogue, author's notes, historical photographs, and websites and books for further reading.

Although fictional, this account of the Romanov fami...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Jessica Ross rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED this book. It's wonderfully written and takes you through the final days of Imperial Russia, told through the perspective of the Romanov children. It weaves history with humanity, leading up to the heartbreaking conclusion we all knew before turning the first page. How anyone could execute an entire family, including children, is beyond me. Then again, many war stories seem to come from a whole different world, difficult to believe. Because many of us have not lived through wa...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Faa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Faa by: Farah Ezlin

Romanov dinasty ended with violent. All the family members were killed in one room, their remains remained lost for centuries, until recently found and tested for DNA. Romanov is definitely a sad stories. One should put this in mind when he or she starts reading this book. As a person who love history, Romanov families is something familiar in my vocabulary. Therefore, I should have guess the violent ending.

The Lost Crown went into the depth of all the Romanov's mind between the turbulent years...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lately, I have been reading quite a few books that have to deal with war. I am happy that I can read and see different points of views of war. So many people are involved, there are so many stories to tell. This one, with the fours sisters, tells of their time in the war. These sisters, stick by each to other, helping out, even being nurses in the war.

Slowly these girls after being sheltered, start to see things differently. They of course were royalty, but I loved that they did not act like it....more

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Dec 22, 2011 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12-14, war, princess, sisters, russia, historical

Pros: The glossary is in the front of the book! So you know to go back and look!
Con: Anastasia's nickname "Svybzik" is not defined until the end of the book. I finally had to look it up, it was driving me nuts.
Pros: Each sister gets her own chapter to tell the story.
Cons: It is practically impossible to tell the 4 sisters apart. Their personalities come out in the story, but their dialog is completely undistinctive.
Pros: The book is well researched.
Cons: This research makes for a lot of plot exp...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Lillian rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie: I picked this book up from the library because it looked pretty. The sad thing is, I'm not even talking about the cover! (Although the cover was pretty.) The SPINE was what caught my attention. Okay. So. The Lost Crown. On one hand I was dreading the end because of what happens, but on the other I was just WANTING the book to end because I wanted to read something else. I know. I KNOW. It isn't because I didn't LIKE the story. It was just... I knew what was going to happen,...more

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The Regular Reader: The Lost Crown: A Novel of Romanov Russia	1	4	Jun 07, 2012 02:39pm
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About Sarah Miller

My friends would tell you I'm quirky, slightly obsessive, and rather irreverent. I majored in linguistics, minored in Russian, and was the undisputed fingerspelling champ in my ASL classes. I can also read Braille -- very, VERY slowly. A few of the things I like best: opera, sushi, daffodils, Walt Disney World, Eleanor Roosevelt, Chuao dark chocolate, I Love Lucy, Jeopardy, the Titanic, Bette Davi...more

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“I'll pretend, I tell myself. Pretending is safer than believing.” — 20 people liked it

“I cross myself and close my eyes. Where we go next, we go together.” — 14 people liked it

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