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Children in the City of Czars
Orphaned in 2000, the Lebedev siblings are alone in the underbelly of the most beautiful city in the world, St. Petersburg. Fedya is nearly thirteen and tries his best to keep the trio together but fails. He surrenders his two sisters to the orphanage system and joins a ring of thieves. It's not long before the gang has a run-in with the Russian mafia and Fedya becomes the focal point of a madman's revenge, and a race across Russia into Latvia. His sister, Elena, is brutally bullied at the orphanage and almost loses her life, while their youngest sister, Irina, is illegally adopted out of the country. Despite the circumstances, the three maintain a quixotic hope that they will reunite one day. Whom can they trust? Possibly, no one.
291 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2023
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2394 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 10, 2023
This was an engaging story of 3 Russian orphans. The characters were so well developed. I am looking forward to the next book to continue my " journey" with them!
January 5, 2024
I'm an aunt to adopted children, so I was especially looking forward to this book about Russian orphans. This is the story of a family of three siblings left to fend for themselves in a Russia that's been thrown into total chaos. Although Fedya, the oldest sibling, had promised his mother to keep them together he eventually had to surrender his sisters to the "system," hoping they'd be cared for better than he could. Elena suffered terribly in the institution until she made a friend with a sympathetic social worker. Irishka, only three, was sent to a different facility from her sister where she was able to get through her days because of a protective cat. Fedya became involved in crime, murder, theft, and prostitution. At times, I couldn't believe the children, especially Fedya, survived the situations they were forced into. It's a tough story to follow due to the ugliness of Russia in the 1990's. Be prepared for some gut-wrenching scenes in the book. There will be a sequel for which I am glad. I like these kids and I want to see what happens to them.
November 6, 2023
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, life became even more difficult for the little people. It was hard to find food or money, and as so often sadly is, the ones who suffered the most were the most vulnerable, especially children. Our story opens in the city of St. Petersburg, with a family of three children, recently orphaned with the death of their mother. The oldest child makes the difficult decision to turn his sisters over to the system of Children’s Homes, that should keep them alive, even if they are split up. Though the children suffer through terrible, heartbreaking situations, they never give up hoping that they will be reunited. This is the first book in a series, so there are unanswered questions that will be addressed in the sequel.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, life became even more difficult for the little people. It was hard to find food or money, and as so often sadly is, the ones who suffered the most were the most vulnerable, especially children. Our story opens in the city of St. Petersburg, with a family of three children, recently orphaned with the death of their mother. The oldest child makes the difficult decision to turn his sisters over to the system of Children’s Homes, that should keep them alive, even if they are split up. Though the children suffer through terrible, heartbreaking situations, they never give up hoping that they will be reunited. This is the first book in a series, so there are unanswered questions that will be addressed in the sequel.
November 11, 2023
A brother determined to keep his sisters safe in a crumbling Russian government.
Fedya is a young boy living in St. Petersburg, Russia in a time of despair and hopelessness. He attempts to protect his sisters , Elena and Irishka, by turning them over to social services who places them in an orphanage for potential adoption. Fedya's involvement in a street gang brings him into contact with dangerous people from the Russian mafia. He becomes involved with a prostitute attempting to escape her former life. Fedya is determined to find his uncle who might be able to keep his promise to his mother to keep the family together.
Children of the Czars is an insightful look of children struggling to survive in St. Petersburg, Russia under Yeltsin's administration. Fedya's struggle to be the big brother and protect his younger sisters is an admirable trait for a boy who is a child himself. I found my self encouraging Fedya not to give up in spite of the abuse and betrayal from people he thought he could trust in this gripping novel.
Irmargde Brown develops relatable characters throughout the story. I highly recommend this book for is authors personal touch and taking readers to St. Petersburg in a time where children experienced despair but also hope that things will get better.
Fedya is a young boy living in St. Petersburg, Russia in a time of despair and hopelessness. He attempts to protect his sisters , Elena and Irishka, by turning them over to social services who places them in an orphanage for potential adoption. Fedya's involvement in a street gang brings him into contact with dangerous people from the Russian mafia. He becomes involved with a prostitute attempting to escape her former life. Fedya is determined to find his uncle who might be able to keep his promise to his mother to keep the family together.
Children of the Czars is an insightful look of children struggling to survive in St. Petersburg, Russia under Yeltsin's administration. Fedya's struggle to be the big brother and protect his younger sisters is an admirable trait for a boy who is a child himself. I found my self encouraging Fedya not to give up in spite of the abuse and betrayal from people he thought he could trust in this gripping novel.
Irmargde Brown develops relatable characters throughout the story. I highly recommend this book for is authors personal touch and taking readers to St. Petersburg in a time where children experienced despair but also hope that things will get better.
November 29, 2023
Wow, what a book. It was a very engaging story about 3 orphans in Russia. Their travels took them around the Baltic states and you never knew who they would come across and what would happen. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) in exchange for a review. This touched upon my own heritage slightly as my father was from Tallinn. The characters were loveable and you were looking for things to get better as you read about their adventures. I enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it to others. I gave it a 5 star rating.
October 15, 2023
The hard hitting story of three orphans trying to survive in a world gone mad and where everyone but family could be the enemy.
November 22, 2023
Children in the City of Czars by Irmgarde Brown is a raw, dark, harrowing, multi-layered and difficult story to read but oh, how rewarding! Left orphaned in 1990s St. Petersburg in the post-Soviet era and in dire straits, teenager Fedya turns in his two unsuspecting younger sisters, Elena and Irishka to Social Services in hopes of a better life for them while he (barely) survives on the streets. The story details life from the three perspectives as well as other characters they encounter. What they endure is severe and horrendous but they all hold out for hope of reuniting one day. Their emotions are very real and crushing yet they cling to to gossamer threads of hope.
The writing is beautifully painful and poignant. It frequently cut like a knife. I could feel the desperation of the children as they navigated their new worlds. It seemed to them that adults were always the winners and they had no chance. Though there were some improvements to the wealthy in that time, so many were left to struggle on their own and they did things they wouldn't have otherwise even contemplated.
If you seek original writing and content which will challenge your mind and heart, add this to your list. Be aware there are vivid graphic details and violence. Sometimes I shuddered and my skin crawled, especially knowing this sort of thing was/is reality in many areas of the world. Important and sobering information can be difficult to learn about..
My sincere thank you to Serey/Jones Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this riveting and heartbreaking novel..
The writing is beautifully painful and poignant. It frequently cut like a knife. I could feel the desperation of the children as they navigated their new worlds. It seemed to them that adults were always the winners and they had no chance. Though there were some improvements to the wealthy in that time, so many were left to struggle on their own and they did things they wouldn't have otherwise even contemplated.
If you seek original writing and content which will challenge your mind and heart, add this to your list. Be aware there are vivid graphic details and violence. Sometimes I shuddered and my skin crawled, especially knowing this sort of thing was/is reality in many areas of the world. Important and sobering information can be difficult to learn about..
My sincere thank you to Serey/Jones Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this riveting and heartbreaking novel..
December 3, 2023
I love learning about other cultures through literature. This book is the story of three orphans in Russia in 2000, how they became orphans, and what happened to them afterwards. It’s a fascinating story - quite the page turner. I recommend this read for those interested in a riveting story set in Russia.
NetGalley
NetGalley
December 21, 2023
An adventure from the very first line. A tale about three siblings whose lives become turned upside down. The brother who will do everything to reunite his family. As someone who is family to and married to an orphan, some scenes were difficult to read as all I could imagine these events happening to my husband or family. The writing sets the scene for a descriptive and intriguing story that will have readers on the edge of the seats to crying; many times I said “no way” or “oh my gosh”. I was on the edge of my seat during the last 15% of the story as all the characters began to intertwine.
I am thrilled and ready for the next book. I need to know what has happened to the youngest sibling and what will Fedya and Elena do to get her back!
I am thrilled and ready for the next book. I need to know what has happened to the youngest sibling and what will Fedya and Elena do to get her back!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2023
I could not put this book down! It consumed me! What a story of love and resilience! I am now looking forward to reading Swan Out of Water! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! 😍❤️
October 27, 2023
An interesting story outlying how harsh life was in St Petersbourg in 2000 . Particularly, children were victims of poverty, leading to smaller or bigger crimes and a perilous life. This novel is more a thriller, with characters a bit too predictable involved in too predictable situations for me. Tension did not let down though, but I could guess a part of the ending. The conclusion was unfortunately a cliffhanger, I wonder whether a second book is planned.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
September 18, 2023
It isn’t often I throw superlatives around, but I think it is fair to describe this book as something of an epic – and it is very, very good. Nor is it common for me to be crying out for a sequel, but having reached the end of this, I would love to see one, to see characters reunited. I’ll try not to spoil anything; suffice to say that the premise concerns three young, orphaned siblings, although beyond a certain point the readers only get to follow two of them. The end is left perfectly poised for the third to come back into the narrative, and I for one would love to see it.
This book is superb and Irmgarde Brown is an excellent author. Admittedly, some of the formatting was a little distracting at times, but most won’t read with the same critical eye as me – and all the better for them, because it would be a very unfortunate excuse not to enjoy everything this book has to offer. It is also at times a little difficult to follow some of the characters, as their names change contextually, which takes some getting used to, though (actually very helpfully, as it turns out), Irmgarde does provide a glossary in this respect. The book is an insight and allegory into post-Glasnost Soviet Union, and how the State handled protecting vulnerable children; as you might imagine it is very bleak, with some horrific subject matter, including child trafficking, pornography and prostitution – although Irmgarde resists the urge, thankfully and admirably, to point the finger at any real state corruption, which is doing its best to cope with a growing social problem as the Union begins its slow and gradual separation. Some of it brings to mind a little the stories of Dickens, in which adults are portrayed as either misguided, out of their depth or utterly villainous. The kids themselves are no fools, though, and Fedya himself becomes something of an Artful Dodger, guilt-stricken for abandoning his sister, and toughened by his own deeply unsettling experiences. The book’s second act builds tension nicely, as a tense, suspenseful plotline unfolds, and some incredibly heinous people emerge.
But don’t be mistaken; I’ve no wish to paint this book as purely bleak and no more – it is so much more than that. It isn’t all dark and hopeless, but rather the contrary; I would say there are large servings of hope, and your faith in the growing competence of the two children who dominate this book is testimony to Irmgarde’s ability to craft layered characters; you root for them completely, and you begin to trust that they will outwit their situation. The theme doesn’t go full-on thriller nor dystopian bureaucracy, but there are sizeable helpings of both. Some of the violence is horrific, as is the abuse, but never exploitative or gratuitous for the reader. The politics are sprinkled liberally and with enough detail for this book to be a serious piece of writing, and the author has researched this aspect of the book very well; some of it is a revelation into a culture we don’t commonly see from the inside.
Children in the City of Czars is exceptionally well written – wordy, but didn’t feel long – and I was totally gripped, from start to finish. It’s fair to say that this is probably the best fiction book I’ve read in a little while, and if you like dark, progressively simmering suspense thrillers, with a heavy focus on geo-politics and life in a crumbling Soviet Union, I very strongly recommend it. And, in case Irmgarde isn’t considering it (which I’m sure she is), I would love to catch up with Irina.
This book is superb and Irmgarde Brown is an excellent author. Admittedly, some of the formatting was a little distracting at times, but most won’t read with the same critical eye as me – and all the better for them, because it would be a very unfortunate excuse not to enjoy everything this book has to offer. It is also at times a little difficult to follow some of the characters, as their names change contextually, which takes some getting used to, though (actually very helpfully, as it turns out), Irmgarde does provide a glossary in this respect. The book is an insight and allegory into post-Glasnost Soviet Union, and how the State handled protecting vulnerable children; as you might imagine it is very bleak, with some horrific subject matter, including child trafficking, pornography and prostitution – although Irmgarde resists the urge, thankfully and admirably, to point the finger at any real state corruption, which is doing its best to cope with a growing social problem as the Union begins its slow and gradual separation. Some of it brings to mind a little the stories of Dickens, in which adults are portrayed as either misguided, out of their depth or utterly villainous. The kids themselves are no fools, though, and Fedya himself becomes something of an Artful Dodger, guilt-stricken for abandoning his sister, and toughened by his own deeply unsettling experiences. The book’s second act builds tension nicely, as a tense, suspenseful plotline unfolds, and some incredibly heinous people emerge.
But don’t be mistaken; I’ve no wish to paint this book as purely bleak and no more – it is so much more than that. It isn’t all dark and hopeless, but rather the contrary; I would say there are large servings of hope, and your faith in the growing competence of the two children who dominate this book is testimony to Irmgarde’s ability to craft layered characters; you root for them completely, and you begin to trust that they will outwit their situation. The theme doesn’t go full-on thriller nor dystopian bureaucracy, but there are sizeable helpings of both. Some of the violence is horrific, as is the abuse, but never exploitative or gratuitous for the reader. The politics are sprinkled liberally and with enough detail for this book to be a serious piece of writing, and the author has researched this aspect of the book very well; some of it is a revelation into a culture we don’t commonly see from the inside.
Children in the City of Czars is exceptionally well written – wordy, but didn’t feel long – and I was totally gripped, from start to finish. It’s fair to say that this is probably the best fiction book I’ve read in a little while, and if you like dark, progressively simmering suspense thrillers, with a heavy focus on geo-politics and life in a crumbling Soviet Union, I very strongly recommend it. And, in case Irmgarde isn’t considering it (which I’m sure she is), I would love to catch up with Irina.
January 19, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.
What an amazing novel. It's not so much about politics, but the aftermath of ending a Communist regime to the lower class of citizens.
It's dark, really dark, but Irmgarde Brown succeeds in giving enough details for the reader to feel emotionally invested, but not enough to be disturbed. It's a fine line, and it's been balanced perfectly.
There are quite a few sexual assult, child abuse, bullying, and death/murder triggers, so read at your own risk .
What an amazing novel. It's not so much about politics, but the aftermath of ending a Communist regime to the lower class of citizens.
It's dark, really dark, but Irmgarde Brown succeeds in giving enough details for the reader to feel emotionally invested, but not enough to be disturbed. It's a fine line, and it's been balanced perfectly.
There are quite a few sexual assult, child abuse, bullying, and death/murder triggers, so read at your own risk .
March 20, 2024
This book is so compelling and well-written I had to purchase the ebook on Amazon so I can read it again. I'm assuming there will be a sequel, so I'll be following the author as well.
Both heartbreaking and hopeful, I would highly recommend this book
I received this book as an ARC through Goodreads Giveaways; this is my honest review...I really did love it!!
Both heartbreaking and hopeful, I would highly recommend this book
I received this book as an ARC through Goodreads Giveaways; this is my honest review...I really did love it!!
March 25, 2024
A difficult read regarding children (orphans and street) and their plight in the upheaval of Russia in the 1990’s and early 20’s. There are many possible triggers in this book; yet while it is a tough subject, it is a story of sibling’s love and hope for reconciliation. Difficult to put down, will stay in my head and heart for quite a while.
December 20, 2023
This was a very interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews