I had read this book because I saw the movie. I liked the book because of the story and the great illustrations. I thought the novel was pretty good. It was okay but not a favorite.
Soon after the release of the amazing 20th Century Fox animated movie I just had to buy this book and the soundtrack to the movie to listen to while reading it! Eventhough it is strictly "just for fun-fiction" it really launched my intrest in the Russian Imperial Family and the Russian Revolution which ended the 300 year rule of the Romanov family. There are still those who would like to believe the romantic stories that Anastasia (the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II) survived the massacre in 1918, at times including myself. This had led to many books and many speculations as to what really happened that summer night in Ekaterinburg so long ago. So if you would like to believe in a happier ending to the Anastasia story, this is a great book with beautiful pictures from the movie.