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The Fabergé Secret
New York Times bestselling author Charles Belfoure takes readers on a breathless journey from the gilded ballrooms of Imperial Russia to the grim violence of the pogroms, in his latest thrilling historical adventure. St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can't forget what he's seen. Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar's regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2020
77 people are currently reading
1175 people want to read
About the author
Charles Belfoure
11 books565 followersCharles Belfoure is the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Architect, House of Thieves and The Fallen Architect. An architect by profession, he graduated from the Pratt Institute and Columbia University, and he taught at Pratt as well as Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. His area of specialty is historic preservation. In addition to his historical fiction, Belfoure is also the award-winning author of several architectural histories, and has been a freelance writer for The Baltimore Sun and The New York Times. He lives in Westminster, Maryland.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
October 5, 2020
Russia’s social, political and cultural history is always a fascinating subject, and although fictional, The Fabergé Secret paints a truly vivid picture, bringing this particular period in history very much to life.
St Petersburg, Russia, 1903 - and our main protagonist Prince Dimitri Markhov, a friend and confidante of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra is about to have his whole way of life brought in to question. His marriage to Princess Lara ( a flirtatious, materialistic, mean and spiteful woman) is really nothing but a sham. She has her lovers and so does Dimitri.
Dimitri is unusual among the nobility, in that he’s a trained architect of much renown, but he is still very much a royalist, that is, until he witnesses the after effects of a pogrom - the destruction of homes and belongings within the Jewish community, he feels heartbroken seeing those who have been brutally beaten - and of course the many dead, including very young children. He can’t believe that people could be treated in such a brutal manner, and begins to question his friend Tsar Nicholas’s role as ruler.
After meeting Doctor Katya Golitsyn at a royal ball, he finds a kindred spirit, someone who is just as horrified as he is, about the denial by the ruling classes of the poverty that ordinary Russians have to endure, and of the persecution of the Jews.
Dimitri and Katya become besotted with each other, and soon start a relationship. Their hatred of Russian oppression though, is what takes their relationship to another level. Their determination to take an active part in order to stop it, is extremely dangerous, not to mention the fact that Dimitri will be betraying Tsar Nicholas, and that will be a real dilemma for him, but he can no longer stand by and watch people being treated in this way.
The Fabergé Secret takes us from the sumptuous settings and vulgar displays of wealth in the Imperial Court, to the peasants living in dire poverty, who endured extremely bad working conditions. These went hand in hand with unfairly high taxes, and gnawing hunger, and then we’re made to bear witness to the terrifying pogroms, the descriptions of which make me ashamed of man’s inhumanity to man.
With a compelling plot - one that gives us a real sense of events leading up to the political and social Russian revolution, a protagonist who has a true sense of morality, and a cast of interesting ( though not always likeable) characters, this is a genuinely engaging read. A shout out for the cover too, it’s really beautiful.
*My thanks to Severn House for my ARC, for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
St Petersburg, Russia, 1903 - and our main protagonist Prince Dimitri Markhov, a friend and confidante of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra is about to have his whole way of life brought in to question. His marriage to Princess Lara ( a flirtatious, materialistic, mean and spiteful woman) is really nothing but a sham. She has her lovers and so does Dimitri.
Dimitri is unusual among the nobility, in that he’s a trained architect of much renown, but he is still very much a royalist, that is, until he witnesses the after effects of a pogrom - the destruction of homes and belongings within the Jewish community, he feels heartbroken seeing those who have been brutally beaten - and of course the many dead, including very young children. He can’t believe that people could be treated in such a brutal manner, and begins to question his friend Tsar Nicholas’s role as ruler.
After meeting Doctor Katya Golitsyn at a royal ball, he finds a kindred spirit, someone who is just as horrified as he is, about the denial by the ruling classes of the poverty that ordinary Russians have to endure, and of the persecution of the Jews.
Dimitri and Katya become besotted with each other, and soon start a relationship. Their hatred of Russian oppression though, is what takes their relationship to another level. Their determination to take an active part in order to stop it, is extremely dangerous, not to mention the fact that Dimitri will be betraying Tsar Nicholas, and that will be a real dilemma for him, but he can no longer stand by and watch people being treated in this way.
The Fabergé Secret takes us from the sumptuous settings and vulgar displays of wealth in the Imperial Court, to the peasants living in dire poverty, who endured extremely bad working conditions. These went hand in hand with unfairly high taxes, and gnawing hunger, and then we’re made to bear witness to the terrifying pogroms, the descriptions of which make me ashamed of man’s inhumanity to man.
With a compelling plot - one that gives us a real sense of events leading up to the political and social Russian revolution, a protagonist who has a true sense of morality, and a cast of interesting ( though not always likeable) characters, this is a genuinely engaging read. A shout out for the cover too, it’s really beautiful.
*My thanks to Severn House for my ARC, for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
June 25, 2021
Russia’s social, political and cultural history is always a fascinating subject, and although fictional, The Fabergé Secret paints a truly vivid picture, bringing this particular period in history very much to life.
St Petersburg, Russia, 1903 - and our main protagonist Prince Dimitri Markhov, a friend and confidante of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra is about to have his whole way of life brought in to question. His marriage to Princess Lara ( a flirtatious, materialistic, mean and spiteful woman) is really nothing but a sham. She has her lovers and so does Dimitri.
Dimitri is unusual among the nobility, in that he’s a trained architect of much renown, but he is still very much a royalist, that is, until he witnesses the after effects of a pogrom - the destruction of homes and belongings within the Jewish community, he feels heartbroken seeing those who have been brutally beaten - and of course the many dead, including very young children. He can’t believe that people could be treated in such a brutal manner, and begins to question his friend Tsar Nicholas’s role as ruler.
After meeting Doctor Katya Golitsyn at a royal ball, he finds a kindred spirit, someone who is just as horrified as he is, about the denial by the ruling classes of the poverty that ordinary Russians have to endure, and of the persecution of the Jews.
Dimitri and Katya become besotted with each other, and soon start a relationship. Their hatred of Russian oppression though, is what takes their relationship to another level. Their determination to take an active part in order to stop it, is extremely dangerous, not to mention the fact that Dimitri will be betraying Tsar Nicholas, and that will be a real dilemma for him, but he can no longer stand by and watch people being treated in this way.
The Fabergé Secret takes us from the sumptuous settings and vulgar displays of wealth in the Imperial Court, to the peasants living in dire poverty, who endured extremely bad working conditions. These went hand in hand with unfairly high taxes, and gnawing hunger, and then we’re made to bear witness to the terrifying pogroms, the descriptions of which make me ashamed of man’s inhumanity to man.
With a compelling plot - one that gives us a real sense of events leading up to the political and social Russian revolution, a protagonist who has a true sense of morality, and a cast of interesting ( though not always likeable) characters, this is a genuinely engaging read. A shout out for the cover too, it’s really beautiful.
St Petersburg, Russia, 1903 - and our main protagonist Prince Dimitri Markhov, a friend and confidante of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra is about to have his whole way of life brought in to question. His marriage to Princess Lara ( a flirtatious, materialistic, mean and spiteful woman) is really nothing but a sham. She has her lovers and so does Dimitri.
Dimitri is unusual among the nobility, in that he’s a trained architect of much renown, but he is still very much a royalist, that is, until he witnesses the after effects of a pogrom - the destruction of homes and belongings within the Jewish community, he feels heartbroken seeing those who have been brutally beaten - and of course the many dead, including very young children. He can’t believe that people could be treated in such a brutal manner, and begins to question his friend Tsar Nicholas’s role as ruler.
After meeting Doctor Katya Golitsyn at a royal ball, he finds a kindred spirit, someone who is just as horrified as he is, about the denial by the ruling classes of the poverty that ordinary Russians have to endure, and of the persecution of the Jews.
Dimitri and Katya become besotted with each other, and soon start a relationship. Their hatred of Russian oppression though, is what takes their relationship to another level. Their determination to take an active part in order to stop it, is extremely dangerous, not to mention the fact that Dimitri will be betraying Tsar Nicholas, and that will be a real dilemma for him, but he can no longer stand by and watch people being treated in this way.
The Fabergé Secret takes us from the sumptuous settings and vulgar displays of wealth in the Imperial Court, to the peasants living in dire poverty, who endured extremely bad working conditions. These went hand in hand with unfairly high taxes, and gnawing hunger, and then we’re made to bear witness to the terrifying pogroms, the descriptions of which make me ashamed of man’s inhumanity to man.
With a compelling plot - one that gives us a real sense of events leading up to the political and social Russian revolution, a protagonist who has a true sense of morality, and a cast of interesting ( though not always likeable) characters, this is a genuinely engaging read. A shout out for the cover too, it’s really beautiful.
July 4, 2021
Sometimes I enjoy stories, such as this one, with fictional characters set against a rich, historical background with real-life people as secondary characters (think blockbuster movie "Titanic".)
We have architect, Prince Dmitri Markhov, married to Princess Lara (a "delightful" piece of work!) and his lover, Dr. Katya Golitsyn. Because of Katya, Dmitri becomes torn between his close friendship with Tsar Nicholas II and his family (even as he learns how Nicholas vehemently hates the Jews and blames them for inciting revolution), and his newfound awareness of the plight that Russian Jews and peasants face through abhorrent injustices.
Most interesting in this story is the utmost attention paid to detail during pre-Revolution Russia:
- the ratty living conditions that the peasants were subjected to
- the injuries and deaths the Jewish people sustained during violent pogroms
- Jewish and Russian Orthodox religious practices
- Nicholas and Alexandra's demeanor, lifestyle and their love for each other and their family
- the opulence and decadence of the Russian court, such as the gossip, the titillating behavior, the architecture, the fashions, the fine arts (ballet/opera/Tchaikovsky), and most importantly, the Faberge creations, especially the famed enamel and jewel-encrusted Easter eggs. In this novel, these eggs played a large, albeit fictitious, role during the pre-Revolution time period, where coded messages were hidden in these intricately-designed, delicate masterpieces.
A niggling issue for me was the continual mentioning about how "plain" Katya was (even by Katya herself!), even though she is a well-read, intelligent doctor. Only later, after Dmitri beds her, does he find her alluring with her beautiful cornflower-blue eyes. Please!
I highly recommend Googling "Faberge eggs" images to see for yourself these extraordinary, stunning works of art! Also, read/listen to this story if early 20th century Russia appeals to you!
Thank you, Annette, for bringing this wonderful story to my attention through your review!
We have architect, Prince Dmitri Markhov, married to Princess Lara (a "delightful" piece of work!) and his lover, Dr. Katya Golitsyn. Because of Katya, Dmitri becomes torn between his close friendship with Tsar Nicholas II and his family (even as he learns how Nicholas vehemently hates the Jews and blames them for inciting revolution), and his newfound awareness of the plight that Russian Jews and peasants face through abhorrent injustices.
Most interesting in this story is the utmost attention paid to detail during pre-Revolution Russia:
- the ratty living conditions that the peasants were subjected to
- the injuries and deaths the Jewish people sustained during violent pogroms
- Jewish and Russian Orthodox religious practices
- Nicholas and Alexandra's demeanor, lifestyle and their love for each other and their family
- the opulence and decadence of the Russian court, such as the gossip, the titillating behavior, the architecture, the fashions, the fine arts (ballet/opera/Tchaikovsky), and most importantly, the Faberge creations, especially the famed enamel and jewel-encrusted Easter eggs. In this novel, these eggs played a large, albeit fictitious, role during the pre-Revolution time period, where coded messages were hidden in these intricately-designed, delicate masterpieces.
A niggling issue for me was the continual mentioning about how "plain" Katya was (even by Katya herself!), even though she is a well-read, intelligent doctor. Only later, after Dmitri beds her, does he find her alluring with her beautiful cornflower-blue eyes. Please!
I highly recommend Googling "Faberge eggs" images to see for yourself these extraordinary, stunning works of art! Also, read/listen to this story if early 20th century Russia appeals to you!
Thank you, Annette, for bringing this wonderful story to my attention through your review!
September 24, 2020
This story brings the opulent life of Russian aristocracy. And the poor peasants being used as an argument to start pogroms against Jews. An argument of Jews taking advantage of simple peasants when lending money.
Imperial Russia, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov is an esteemed architect and engineer, always looking for new architectural challenges, which is explained by his upbringing. His father didn’t want him to “become the usual aristocratic wastrel,” thus when noticing Dimitri’s artistic talent, he encouraged it. The Tsar greatly admires his abilities, involving him in many projects. They become close friends.
One day, while passing through Kishniev, Dimitri notices a wagon full of dead bodies. And that image edged in his mind keeps resurfacing and worrying him. Why the pogrom against the Jews and why there was an attempt on Tsar’s life?
At a ball, Dimitri meets Katya, one of the first female doctors in Russia. He joins her for arts circle on Thursday nights, where the talk with time starts evolving around current political situation – the pogroms against the Jews ordered by Tsar.
Will Dimitri stay loyal to the Tsar or will he stand up for the oppressed?
The brutal history against the Jews is a sad part of this story, which needs to be told. So we don’t repeat the history. This story brings the Kishniev pogrom. Kishniev was the capital of Bessarabia province. “The province also happened to be in the Pale of Settlement, where all Jews in Russia were required to live.”
There is also a cultural part of this story. The famous jeweler of St Petersburg - Peter Carl Faberge is the official jeweler to the Imperial Court, who also sets the taste of St Petersburg society. There is a tradition of creating two Easter eggs each year: one for the Dowager Empress and one for the Tsarina. Each year’s Easter egg design is the most closely guarded secret in the Russian Empire. This year’s Faberge Easter egg is called the “Peter the Great Egg” - its outside detailing miniature painting of the Winter Palace outlined in little diamonds and inside holding a miniature gold statue of Peter the Great on a horse. This cultural part and the descriptions of the eggs are very enjoyable.
This story is very informative with an elaborate plot. The protagonist of aristocratic blood, who is not expected to be working, has a skill and a life of substance. He lives the life of privilege, but his eyes open to the hardships of peasants and pogroms against Jews. He goes through personal turmoil while the country is going through a revolution. Will he be part of the revolution?
Interesting drawn-characters infused with social standards and expectations. Brilliantly executed plot, which is fast paced. And attention-grabbing narrative that moves the story forward swiftly. Thus, making it an engrossing read.
P.S. Kudos to the cover designers for the very beautiful and original book cover.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Imperial Russia, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov is an esteemed architect and engineer, always looking for new architectural challenges, which is explained by his upbringing. His father didn’t want him to “become the usual aristocratic wastrel,” thus when noticing Dimitri’s artistic talent, he encouraged it. The Tsar greatly admires his abilities, involving him in many projects. They become close friends.
One day, while passing through Kishniev, Dimitri notices a wagon full of dead bodies. And that image edged in his mind keeps resurfacing and worrying him. Why the pogrom against the Jews and why there was an attempt on Tsar’s life?
At a ball, Dimitri meets Katya, one of the first female doctors in Russia. He joins her for arts circle on Thursday nights, where the talk with time starts evolving around current political situation – the pogroms against the Jews ordered by Tsar.
Will Dimitri stay loyal to the Tsar or will he stand up for the oppressed?
The brutal history against the Jews is a sad part of this story, which needs to be told. So we don’t repeat the history. This story brings the Kishniev pogrom. Kishniev was the capital of Bessarabia province. “The province also happened to be in the Pale of Settlement, where all Jews in Russia were required to live.”
There is also a cultural part of this story. The famous jeweler of St Petersburg - Peter Carl Faberge is the official jeweler to the Imperial Court, who also sets the taste of St Petersburg society. There is a tradition of creating two Easter eggs each year: one for the Dowager Empress and one for the Tsarina. Each year’s Easter egg design is the most closely guarded secret in the Russian Empire. This year’s Faberge Easter egg is called the “Peter the Great Egg” - its outside detailing miniature painting of the Winter Palace outlined in little diamonds and inside holding a miniature gold statue of Peter the Great on a horse. This cultural part and the descriptions of the eggs are very enjoyable.
This story is very informative with an elaborate plot. The protagonist of aristocratic blood, who is not expected to be working, has a skill and a life of substance. He lives the life of privilege, but his eyes open to the hardships of peasants and pogroms against Jews. He goes through personal turmoil while the country is going through a revolution. Will he be part of the revolution?
Interesting drawn-characters infused with social standards and expectations. Brilliantly executed plot, which is fast paced. And attention-grabbing narrative that moves the story forward swiftly. Thus, making it an engrossing read.
P.S. Kudos to the cover designers for the very beautiful and original book cover.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2022
In 1903 St Petersburg, Prince Dimitri Markhov is an architect and friend of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Tsarina Alexandra. Dimitri is married to Princess Lara, but they have a loveless and extremely open marriage. When Dimitri meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn they are both immediately smitten. Dimitri starts to attend Katya’s art circle where Dimitri learns, amazingly for the first time, that non-nobles aren’t treated all that well in Russia. At the same time, the Tsar’s environment has been infiltrated by revolution sympathizers who exchange coded messages by hiding them in some of the Tsar’s collection of Fabergé eggs.
The descriptions of the Fabergé eggs were fascinating with their elaborate interiors. My only exposure to them has been from photographs (although I did see some of the exteriors when I briefly worked in an office building that housed a small collection of the eggs). However, that is a problem with the book; there is a lot of description. Every room, dress, hairstyle, menu, etc. is described in excruciating detail. Everything is explained, to the extent that I felt talked down to. If you don’t know the meaning of “challah” that’s why dictionaries were invented. Especially in the beginning, the book had a lot of info dumps. We are also told, rather than shown, what people are feeling.
This is an historical romance that is pretty light on the history. I don’t know a lot about the Russian Revolution, but it felt like the author used “The Russian Revolution for Dummies” as his source material, and the treatment of history was very simplistic. A lot more attention was paid to making the rooms seem realistic than the actions of the characters. Did princes suddenly flip and join the Revolution? Would Katya really bring her married prince home to have dinner with her family? I’m not convinced. Oh well, so long as love survives there is no need to worry about the messy details of a revolution. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
The descriptions of the Fabergé eggs were fascinating with their elaborate interiors. My only exposure to them has been from photographs (although I did see some of the exteriors when I briefly worked in an office building that housed a small collection of the eggs). However, that is a problem with the book; there is a lot of description. Every room, dress, hairstyle, menu, etc. is described in excruciating detail. Everything is explained, to the extent that I felt talked down to. If you don’t know the meaning of “challah” that’s why dictionaries were invented. Especially in the beginning, the book had a lot of info dumps. We are also told, rather than shown, what people are feeling.
This is an historical romance that is pretty light on the history. I don’t know a lot about the Russian Revolution, but it felt like the author used “The Russian Revolution for Dummies” as his source material, and the treatment of history was very simplistic. A lot more attention was paid to making the rooms seem realistic than the actions of the characters. Did princes suddenly flip and join the Revolution? Would Katya really bring her married prince home to have dinner with her family? I’m not convinced. Oh well, so long as love survives there is no need to worry about the messy details of a revolution. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
July 3, 2021
The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure set in 1903 Imperial Russia at the time of the Japanese war, revolution, and Romanov problem with Jews.
(Queen Victoria I. grandmother) House of Romanov
I I
Alexandra (1872-1918) ________ Nicholas II (1868-1918)
I
Olga Tatiana Maria Anastasia Alexei
This is the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II is under the pressure of revolutionary actions and blaming the Jews for that.
The story focused on Prince Dimitri Markhov (royal architect) and his beautiful wife, Princess Lara who are close friends of the imperial family. Lara and Dimitri were no longer in love, and their marriage was for appearance. So when Dimitri meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn (one of a few female doctors), they both found each other similar opinions and interests; Dimitri starts to understand and help the revolution movement.
This is the story of love, friendship, betrayal, royal family, Russian people, fabergé eggs, and jewels. Sometimes was hard to follow narration, but overall was an interesting book with a surprising ending. I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure in exchange for an honest review.
Published Date 29 Jun 2021
My review on 22 Jun 2021
(Queen Victoria I. grandmother) House of Romanov
I I
Alexandra (1872-1918) ________ Nicholas II (1868-1918)
I
Olga Tatiana Maria Anastasia Alexei
This is the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II is under the pressure of revolutionary actions and blaming the Jews for that.
The story focused on Prince Dimitri Markhov (royal architect) and his beautiful wife, Princess Lara who are close friends of the imperial family. Lara and Dimitri were no longer in love, and their marriage was for appearance. So when Dimitri meets Doctor Katya Golitsyn (one of a few female doctors), they both found each other similar opinions and interests; Dimitri starts to understand and help the revolution movement.
This is the story of love, friendship, betrayal, royal family, Russian people, fabergé eggs, and jewels. Sometimes was hard to follow narration, but overall was an interesting book with a surprising ending. I enjoyed it!
Thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure in exchange for an honest review.
Published Date 29 Jun 2021
My review on 22 Jun 2021
July 27, 2021
I didn’t much like Balfoure’s ‘The Fallen Architect’ but the title of this book attracted me.
What a mistake!
Half way through the book nothing happened.
There was some inane dialogue and detailed descriptions of the obscene ostentatious gowns and jewels.
The word that comes to mind to describe this book is VAPID! It was not worth my time.
What a mistake!
Half way through the book nothing happened.
There was some inane dialogue and detailed descriptions of the obscene ostentatious gowns and jewels.
The word that comes to mind to describe this book is VAPID! It was not worth my time.
December 12, 2020
The opulence and the decadence of the Romanov dynasty are brought to life in this novel, set in the early 20th Century in Russia. The author contrasts this masterfully with the poverty and hopelessness of the peasants along with the abuse of the Jewish citizens. Rather than attempting to rectify some of the innate problems of the working class, the Romanovs blamed the Jews for all the problems and perpetrated the pograms.
The author Charles Belfoure, an architect himself, describes the architectural splendor of various palaces in vivid detail. He also painted exquisite mental pictures of the Faberge eggs and other artworks. Oftentimes in the midst of this novel, I felt that I was there, in the palace, with a personal guide describing the most intricate nuances of art.
The story, itself, is set during the reign of Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. The stage is being set for the revolution and the reader is privy to the quest for a better life. In this book, the quest was for a constitution that would provide rights for all the people. As we know, that wasn’t the way things turned out for the peasants.
This novel encompassed a lot of history and is well worth a read. I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I heartily recommend The Faberge Secret.
The author Charles Belfoure, an architect himself, describes the architectural splendor of various palaces in vivid detail. He also painted exquisite mental pictures of the Faberge eggs and other artworks. Oftentimes in the midst of this novel, I felt that I was there, in the palace, with a personal guide describing the most intricate nuances of art.
The story, itself, is set during the reign of Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. The stage is being set for the revolution and the reader is privy to the quest for a better life. In this book, the quest was for a constitution that would provide rights for all the people. As we know, that wasn’t the way things turned out for the peasants.
This novel encompassed a lot of history and is well worth a read. I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I heartily recommend The Faberge Secret.
October 19, 2020
As so many other European people, I just love Russian culture, music, paintings, literature, history and especially the beautiful language. I visited the country; read books about its history and I’m even trying to learn the language. So, it is no wonder the title of this book attracted me, and the blurb sounded interesting.
So why o why is this a DNF for me? I have no problem with the complicated Russian names and do know something about the history. However, this story is all tell and no show. In the first pages of the book, there were already enough names named to fill a small telephone book. Much as I prefer characters to slowly come alive by reading their words, by seeing their reactions, I just felt my interest waning after reading sentences like “After years of loveless marriage, Dimitri had to admit that he was still dazzled by his wife’s incredible beauty’.
This book may hold an interesting story, the way it’s being told is just not for me. I’ll just have to console myself with looking at the many pictures I made during my visit to the Fabergé museum 😉.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
So why o why is this a DNF for me? I have no problem with the complicated Russian names and do know something about the history. However, this story is all tell and no show. In the first pages of the book, there were already enough names named to fill a small telephone book. Much as I prefer characters to slowly come alive by reading their words, by seeing their reactions, I just felt my interest waning after reading sentences like “After years of loveless marriage, Dimitri had to admit that he was still dazzled by his wife’s incredible beauty’.
This book may hold an interesting story, the way it’s being told is just not for me. I’ll just have to console myself with looking at the many pictures I made during my visit to the Fabergé museum 😉.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
May 30, 2021
The Fabergé eggs that the Tsars of Russia cherished as art , were more than art in this novel. They became a means of hidden communication. While I was reading, it occurred to me that too many people had access to these eggs. I don't know why none of the characters seemed to realize this.
I did find the protagonist, Dmitri, very sympathetic. Some readers might not find it credible that he didn't share so many of the prejudices of his class. He did seem pretty modern in his outlook. Yet I felt that he was believably exposed to differing perspectives.
The high level conspiracy behind the anti-Jewish pogroms revealed in this novel seemed so similar to the current white supremacist conspiracy to attack Black communities. Both conspiracies seem so culturally insidious, but neither are inevitable. I'd like to think that over time there will be so many more people like Dmitri that racist conspiracies will no longer be viable.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
I did find the protagonist, Dmitri, very sympathetic. Some readers might not find it credible that he didn't share so many of the prejudices of his class. He did seem pretty modern in his outlook. Yet I felt that he was believably exposed to differing perspectives.
The high level conspiracy behind the anti-Jewish pogroms revealed in this novel seemed so similar to the current white supremacist conspiracy to attack Black communities. Both conspiracies seem so culturally insidious, but neither are inevitable. I'd like to think that over time there will be so many more people like Dmitri that racist conspiracies will no longer be viable.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
November 23, 2020
Prince Dimitri Markhov, an aristocrat and architect, lives a life of luxury in St. Petersburg in 1903. His close friendship with Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra insure a life in the Imperial Court cocooned from the plight of Russia's common people. After witnessing the death and destruction brought on by a pogrom, he is faced with the choice of doing nothing or working to end Russian oppression. I was fascinated by this insider's look into the Imperial Court, the architectural descriptions and the incredible journey from design to creation of the famous Faberge Eggs. The total disconnect between the Tsar's view of his people and their actual lives reminded me of political situations in today's society. I highly recommend this glimpse into the turbulent history of Imperial Russia!
December 4, 2020
Fairly entertaining and a fast read but straining a bit credulity
January 6, 2021
Prince Dimitri Markhov is one of the closest companions of tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. He’s an architect, which makes him one of the few aristocrats with a real job, while his wife Lara likes nothing more than to gossip and meet with her lovers. When Dimitri meets the young doctor Katya at a ball and she takes him to a few art meetings, he discovers that the situation of the peasants in Russia is worse than his friend the tsar wants him te believe. Jews are killed in pogroms, while children sleep in dirty houses and the war with Japan is draining the imperial coffins. Slowly, Dimitri starts to doubt his aristocratic friends and joins the revolutionary cause.
I was happy to be approved for this book of a new to me author because of its beautiful cover (gorgeous, isn’t it?) and interesting setting. I always enjoy books that take place in Russia under the tsars. I can’t really explain why, I just find the Romanovs an interesting dynasty.
But when I started reading I was afraid this would be too much a love story as the blurb suggests. But luckily, I enjoyed the story no less. There are enough elements to like. The novel is written in short chapters from different perspective which kept the pace up.
Dimitri’s character is in constant conflict between his friendship with the imperial couple and his new views on Russia and the need for change. There are also some interesting side characters such as the baron, Lara and of course Nicholas and Alexandra. Their struggle with the sickness of their son touched my heart.
The ending was perhaps a bit too perfect for my liking but I understand the author’s choice. As Dimitri Markhov apparantly isn’t based on a real person, this was the perfect way to write him out of what happens next.
I hadn’t heard of the jeweller Fabergé and his famous imperial eggs before. I loved the descriptions of the eggs, and all other cultural references to Tolstoj and Tchaikovsky in the story. I hope to one day marvel at a Fabergé egg in real life.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher to provide me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Prince Dimitri Markhov is een aristocraat en beste vriend van tsar Nicholaas II en zijn vrouw Alexandra. In tegenstelling tot zijn frivole vrouw Lara, die enkel geeft om roddels en haar pleziertjes met andere mannen, heeft Dimitri wel een job als architect. In Rusland worden ondertussen Joden aangevallen tijdens pogroms, dreigt er een mislukte oorlog met Japan en roepen de boeren en rebellen om een constitutionele monarchie. Wanneer Dimitri de jonge dokter Katya ontmoet en zij hem meeneemt naar een groep kunstliefhebbers verandert zijn blik op Nicholaas voor altijd.
The faberge secret neemt ons mee naar pre-revolutie Rusland en geeft een mooie inkijk in het leven van de tsaar en de aristocratie. Tegelijk voel je het ongenoegen van het volk groeien. De tweestrijd waarin Dimitri terecht komt wordt zo meteen heel symbolisch.
Het verhaal is bij mijn weten maar heel losjes gebaseerd op de realiteit (ik miste een historisch noot op het einde) en ik ben niet zeker of Dimitri een bestaand persoon is geweest.
En dan neem je er een aantal zaken wel bij. De snelle romance en de geheime groepering met hun aanslagen waren wat losjes.
Maar ik ben door dit boek gevlogen. Het is vlot geschreven met hele korte hoofdstukken vanuit verschillende personen. Mijn favoriet format. Ik had gewoon even nood aan dit soort 'licht' boek.
Ik kende de kunstenaar Faberge niet, maar ben heel blij dat ik zijn werk heb leren kennen door dit boek en hoop de eitjes ooit eens in het echt te mogen bewonderen.
Bedankt aan de uitgever en Netgalley voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
I was happy to be approved for this book of a new to me author because of its beautiful cover (gorgeous, isn’t it?) and interesting setting. I always enjoy books that take place in Russia under the tsars. I can’t really explain why, I just find the Romanovs an interesting dynasty.
But when I started reading I was afraid this would be too much a love story as the blurb suggests. But luckily, I enjoyed the story no less. There are enough elements to like. The novel is written in short chapters from different perspective which kept the pace up.
Dimitri’s character is in constant conflict between his friendship with the imperial couple and his new views on Russia and the need for change. There are also some interesting side characters such as the baron, Lara and of course Nicholas and Alexandra. Their struggle with the sickness of their son touched my heart.
The ending was perhaps a bit too perfect for my liking but I understand the author’s choice. As Dimitri Markhov apparantly isn’t based on a real person, this was the perfect way to write him out of what happens next.
I hadn’t heard of the jeweller Fabergé and his famous imperial eggs before. I loved the descriptions of the eggs, and all other cultural references to Tolstoj and Tchaikovsky in the story. I hope to one day marvel at a Fabergé egg in real life.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher to provide me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Prince Dimitri Markhov is een aristocraat en beste vriend van tsar Nicholaas II en zijn vrouw Alexandra. In tegenstelling tot zijn frivole vrouw Lara, die enkel geeft om roddels en haar pleziertjes met andere mannen, heeft Dimitri wel een job als architect. In Rusland worden ondertussen Joden aangevallen tijdens pogroms, dreigt er een mislukte oorlog met Japan en roepen de boeren en rebellen om een constitutionele monarchie. Wanneer Dimitri de jonge dokter Katya ontmoet en zij hem meeneemt naar een groep kunstliefhebbers verandert zijn blik op Nicholaas voor altijd.
The faberge secret neemt ons mee naar pre-revolutie Rusland en geeft een mooie inkijk in het leven van de tsaar en de aristocratie. Tegelijk voel je het ongenoegen van het volk groeien. De tweestrijd waarin Dimitri terecht komt wordt zo meteen heel symbolisch.
Het verhaal is bij mijn weten maar heel losjes gebaseerd op de realiteit (ik miste een historisch noot op het einde) en ik ben niet zeker of Dimitri een bestaand persoon is geweest.
En dan neem je er een aantal zaken wel bij. De snelle romance en de geheime groepering met hun aanslagen waren wat losjes.
Maar ik ben door dit boek gevlogen. Het is vlot geschreven met hele korte hoofdstukken vanuit verschillende personen. Mijn favoriet format. Ik had gewoon even nood aan dit soort 'licht' boek.
Ik kende de kunstenaar Faberge niet, maar ben heel blij dat ik zijn werk heb leren kennen door dit boek en hoop de eitjes ooit eens in het echt te mogen bewonderen.
Bedankt aan de uitgever en Netgalley voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
September 20, 2020
FULL DISCLOSURE: I received early access to this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for writing an impartial review.
I had high expectations for this one since I love Russian history, particularly in the form of historical fiction. AND I have long been searching for a novel that paints a vivid image of Jews during the era of pogroms. Unfortunately, though both are addressed in this novel -- I felt the execution was a bit clumsy. A rating of 3.5 stars might be more accurate.
The novel begins at the turn of the 20th century, continuing through the next few years leading up to the Revolution of 1905. Tsar Nicolas II (a well-meaning but inept ruler) and his wife Alexandra have close relationships with their four daughters, but are desperate for a son and heir. Russian peasants live in abysmal conditions while the aristocracy enjoys unimaginable wealth and privilege. Would-be revolutionaries and the secret police are at war. And many in power, including the Tsar, blame the Jews for both revolutionary sentiments and violence.
Into this mix the author creates a character, Prince Dimitri Markhov, a member of the aristocracy who is also a close personal friend of the Tsar and his family. The novel centers on Markhov's story and his transition from enjoying his life of privilege to gaining a deep recognition of the widespread injustices and antisemitism that underpin the Tsar's regime. This involves Markhov wrestling with issues like friendship, loyalty, and love.
On the plus side, I do think the book does an admirable job of showing the societal gulf between rich and poor, including how out of touch the Tsar was with most of his people, their conditions, and their beliefs. The author successfully weaves in a number of assassination attempts against the Tsar as well as a number of other prominent historical events. And the book paints a sobering picture of Jewish life under the daily threat of pogroms -- one of the chief reasons so many Russian Jews emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, as my own grandparents did.
On the minus side, the author's efforts to include background information about the beliefs and treatment of Jews during this period was often awkward-- taking the form of stilted and unbelievable dialog between Jews and non-Jews. These exchanges simply didn't ring true.
I also never found myself emotionally involved with any of the characters. And I think that was because the book seemed to lack cohesion. At times it felt like a book telling Markhov's story. At other times the focus was more on peripheral characters who were revolutionary "plants" in the Tsar's inner circle. And sometimes, it seemed more like a story of the Tsar and his family. I felt this shifting around of the novel's point of view kept me at a distance.
I still recommend the book, particularly for those interested in the subject matter. It's a quick and engaging read. I just don't feel it was as good as it could have been.
I had high expectations for this one since I love Russian history, particularly in the form of historical fiction. AND I have long been searching for a novel that paints a vivid image of Jews during the era of pogroms. Unfortunately, though both are addressed in this novel -- I felt the execution was a bit clumsy. A rating of 3.5 stars might be more accurate.
The novel begins at the turn of the 20th century, continuing through the next few years leading up to the Revolution of 1905. Tsar Nicolas II (a well-meaning but inept ruler) and his wife Alexandra have close relationships with their four daughters, but are desperate for a son and heir. Russian peasants live in abysmal conditions while the aristocracy enjoys unimaginable wealth and privilege. Would-be revolutionaries and the secret police are at war. And many in power, including the Tsar, blame the Jews for both revolutionary sentiments and violence.
Into this mix the author creates a character, Prince Dimitri Markhov, a member of the aristocracy who is also a close personal friend of the Tsar and his family. The novel centers on Markhov's story and his transition from enjoying his life of privilege to gaining a deep recognition of the widespread injustices and antisemitism that underpin the Tsar's regime. This involves Markhov wrestling with issues like friendship, loyalty, and love.
On the plus side, I do think the book does an admirable job of showing the societal gulf between rich and poor, including how out of touch the Tsar was with most of his people, their conditions, and their beliefs. The author successfully weaves in a number of assassination attempts against the Tsar as well as a number of other prominent historical events. And the book paints a sobering picture of Jewish life under the daily threat of pogroms -- one of the chief reasons so many Russian Jews emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, as my own grandparents did.
On the minus side, the author's efforts to include background information about the beliefs and treatment of Jews during this period was often awkward-- taking the form of stilted and unbelievable dialog between Jews and non-Jews. These exchanges simply didn't ring true.
I also never found myself emotionally involved with any of the characters. And I think that was because the book seemed to lack cohesion. At times it felt like a book telling Markhov's story. At other times the focus was more on peripheral characters who were revolutionary "plants" in the Tsar's inner circle. And sometimes, it seemed more like a story of the Tsar and his family. I felt this shifting around of the novel's point of view kept me at a distance.
I still recommend the book, particularly for those interested in the subject matter. It's a quick and engaging read. I just don't feel it was as good as it could have been.
June 27, 2021
Thank you NetGalley, Charles Belfoure, and Severn House Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
*Sigh*
I was so excited to jump into The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure. The premise sounded promising! It was the second time it was published, so I figured if there were any errors, then they would be fixed. The Faberge Secret takes place in the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The Court is dazzling but the people of Russia are suffering. Then there is the massacre of the Jewish people. Dimitri loves his position at court but is shocked by the treatment of the Jewish people. He then meets a female doctor who helps expose him to the atrocities committed on the Jewish people.
Trigger Warnings: Anti-Semitism, Murder, Genocide
See? The plot is intriguing and important as it shows the atrocities committed against the Jewish People in Russia. Then that cover is STUNNING. It is not my intention to rip apart this author’s work but I do want to point out the issues I had with the book. So what is the problem? First of all, the plot seemed all over the place. The pace of the novel suffered as a result. It could really use some content editing to keep the novel on track with the main plot. Dimitri is friends with the Tsar so he condemns the actions but is also still his friend? I feel like there were other ways of handling that situation.
Then, there is just the overwhelming amount of grammatical errors and strange sentence structure. For example:
“Then there were private balls like Dimitri’s and Lara’s held Dimitri liked American women.”
THE FABERGE SECRET
See what I mean? This should have never made it past the editing stage. If this book goes through a thorough content and grammar editing process then it would definitely shine a little brighter! I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars. There is also one thing I would like to state: my copy of this book had some format errors. Paragraphs were often mixed up from page to page. Since this is a formatting issue, I did not include this issue in my overall rating.
*Sigh*
I was so excited to jump into The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure. The premise sounded promising! It was the second time it was published, so I figured if there were any errors, then they would be fixed. The Faberge Secret takes place in the court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. The Court is dazzling but the people of Russia are suffering. Then there is the massacre of the Jewish people. Dimitri loves his position at court but is shocked by the treatment of the Jewish people. He then meets a female doctor who helps expose him to the atrocities committed on the Jewish people.
Trigger Warnings: Anti-Semitism, Murder, Genocide
See? The plot is intriguing and important as it shows the atrocities committed against the Jewish People in Russia. Then that cover is STUNNING. It is not my intention to rip apart this author’s work but I do want to point out the issues I had with the book. So what is the problem? First of all, the plot seemed all over the place. The pace of the novel suffered as a result. It could really use some content editing to keep the novel on track with the main plot. Dimitri is friends with the Tsar so he condemns the actions but is also still his friend? I feel like there were other ways of handling that situation.
Then, there is just the overwhelming amount of grammatical errors and strange sentence structure. For example:
“Then there were private balls like Dimitri’s and Lara’s held Dimitri liked American women.”
THE FABERGE SECRET
See what I mean? This should have never made it past the editing stage. If this book goes through a thorough content and grammar editing process then it would definitely shine a little brighter! I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars. There is also one thing I would like to state: my copy of this book had some format errors. Paragraphs were often mixed up from page to page. Since this is a formatting issue, I did not include this issue in my overall rating.
September 4, 2020
256 pages
4.5 stars
What is the cost of friendship? Truly?
This is the story of Prince Dimitri Markhov who is a very close friend of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. He is in a loveless marriage to the beautiful Larissa “Lara.” She is a flirtatious woman who loves to party and gossip. Dimitri does not enjoy spending his time this way. He is somewhat of an oddity in Russian society – an aristocrat who actually has a job. He is a civil engineer and architect who loves his work.
Dimitri becomes disillusioned with Nicky's apparent stance on the Jews in Russia and his care-less attitude regarding the pogroms and murders of the Jewish citizens. He thinks they are all terrorists and deserve the cruel treatment.
Dimitri meets a woman doctor and falls in love, perhaps for the first time.
What transpires is a plot among many to rid Russia of the Tsar – and Dimitri is stuck in the middle. Torn between his friendship with the Tsar and his heartbreak at the treatment of the Jewish citizens, Dimitri is at a loss. He then makes up his mind.
This is a very nice little story about a man with a strong sense of morality and what happens when the morality is threatened.
The book is well written and thought out. Mr. Belfoure's descriptions of the characters and the dialogue are spot on. I could imagine being there in Russia and witnessing first hand the goings on that are described in the book. Very well done. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Belfoure's work.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
4.5 stars
What is the cost of friendship? Truly?
This is the story of Prince Dimitri Markhov who is a very close friend of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. He is in a loveless marriage to the beautiful Larissa “Lara.” She is a flirtatious woman who loves to party and gossip. Dimitri does not enjoy spending his time this way. He is somewhat of an oddity in Russian society – an aristocrat who actually has a job. He is a civil engineer and architect who loves his work.
Dimitri becomes disillusioned with Nicky's apparent stance on the Jews in Russia and his care-less attitude regarding the pogroms and murders of the Jewish citizens. He thinks they are all terrorists and deserve the cruel treatment.
Dimitri meets a woman doctor and falls in love, perhaps for the first time.
What transpires is a plot among many to rid Russia of the Tsar – and Dimitri is stuck in the middle. Torn between his friendship with the Tsar and his heartbreak at the treatment of the Jewish citizens, Dimitri is at a loss. He then makes up his mind.
This is a very nice little story about a man with a strong sense of morality and what happens when the morality is threatened.
The book is well written and thought out. Mr. Belfoure's descriptions of the characters and the dialogue are spot on. I could imagine being there in Russia and witnessing first hand the goings on that are described in the book. Very well done. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Belfoure's work.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
May 21, 2021
I was so enchanted with the cover and premise of this novel and was beyond excited when I was gifted an advance copy. I love historical fiction and seek out books focused on the Russian royal family. In fact, when we were in Russia, I made it a priority to see as many of the Faberge eggs as possible. When I teach this period in history, it’s not too difficult for my students to see my passion for the subject.
This read was like a kite that couldn’t get airborne! It had so much potential. Unfortunately, the author wasn’t able to bring history alive and maintain my interest in his novel.
Things I struggled with:
- Jarring and stilted communication
- Too much information about the Princess’s bedmates
- Lack of emotional expression in the prose
- No emotional ties to the characters
- Too much focus on incidentals such as describing a gown or jewels to the point where I’d skip
whole paragraphs
- Very violent
Things I really enjoyed:
- Author’s explanation of Jewish life under the threat of pogroms
- Author’s ability to show the gap between the rich and the poor
- Author’s ability to show how out of touch the Tsar was with his people.
- Author explaining Russian words
- Author’s depth of knowledge about Russian history
I was gifted this advance copy by Charles Belfoure, Severn House Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This read was like a kite that couldn’t get airborne! It had so much potential. Unfortunately, the author wasn’t able to bring history alive and maintain my interest in his novel.
Things I struggled with:
- Jarring and stilted communication
- Too much information about the Princess’s bedmates
- Lack of emotional expression in the prose
- No emotional ties to the characters
- Too much focus on incidentals such as describing a gown or jewels to the point where I’d skip
whole paragraphs
- Very violent
Things I really enjoyed:
- Author’s explanation of Jewish life under the threat of pogroms
- Author’s ability to show the gap between the rich and the poor
- Author’s ability to show how out of touch the Tsar was with his people.
- Author explaining Russian words
- Author’s depth of knowledge about Russian history
I was gifted this advance copy by Charles Belfoure, Severn House Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 30, 2021
Aquí va mi opinión con este libro. El inicio no me gusto e incluso me costo trabajo avanzar. Sentía que estaba leyendo Gossip Girl versión Rusia Zarista y pues eso no lo vi venir. Además sentí que los personajes eran muy infantiles y además ridiculizados.
Sin embargo pasando la página 100 (+/-) empieza a mejorar todo y se vuelven más serios los personajes. La trama empezó a solidificarse.
Ahora el tema de la psicología de los personaje:
La psicología de los personajes y sus respectivas evoluciones, de dos para ser más precisos, fue muy dispar porque considero que no iban de la mano. Faltó un poco más de coherencia al construir estos personajes. El problema de esto es que el final tiene que ver con la “redención” de un personaje principal y sus acciones nunca las debió haber hecho como consecuencia de cómo pensaba o actuaba a lo largo de toda la novela.
Esto fue una balanza: todo se balanceó (positivo y negativo) y resultó en una buena lectura pero no increíble. Diría palomera. Tenía potencial para ser algo mucho mejor.
Sin embargo pasando la página 100 (+/-) empieza a mejorar todo y se vuelven más serios los personajes. La trama empezó a solidificarse.
Ahora el tema de la psicología de los personaje:
La psicología de los personajes y sus respectivas evoluciones, de dos para ser más precisos, fue muy dispar porque considero que no iban de la mano. Faltó un poco más de coherencia al construir estos personajes. El problema de esto es que el final tiene que ver con la “redención” de un personaje principal y sus acciones nunca las debió haber hecho como consecuencia de cómo pensaba o actuaba a lo largo de toda la novela.
Esto fue una balanza: todo se balanceó (positivo y negativo) y resultó en una buena lectura pero no increíble. Diría palomera. Tenía potencial para ser algo mucho mejor.
April 15, 2021
The Fabergé secret at the onset establishes the Russian cultural and social scene during Tsar Nicholas's reign.
The opulent and lavish lifestyle of the Russian Imperial court and aristocracy has been vividly described.It shows the inception of the Russian Revolution and the disparity between aristocrats and peasants, pogroms against Jews and their oppression.
But along with all this, it is also a story about the friendship between Tsar Nicholas and Prince Dimitri, a love story of Dimitri and Katya.
The book took its time in establishing the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and miserable working condition of the poor but the end was abrupt which left me wanting for more.
For detailed review visit my blog
https://nextonreadinglist.blogspot.co...
The opulent and lavish lifestyle of the Russian Imperial court and aristocracy has been vividly described.It shows the inception of the Russian Revolution and the disparity between aristocrats and peasants, pogroms against Jews and their oppression.
But along with all this, it is also a story about the friendship between Tsar Nicholas and Prince Dimitri, a love story of Dimitri and Katya.
The book took its time in establishing the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and miserable working condition of the poor but the end was abrupt which left me wanting for more.
For detailed review visit my blog
https://nextonreadinglist.blogspot.co...
January 5, 2021
Narrated by Nancy Peterson
Format - Audiobook
Genre - Historical Fiction
Book 5 out of 5 stars
Narration 5 out of 5 stars
This was an amazing book set right at the beginning of the revolution in Russia. The narrator was great and did amazingly well on the accents. I think that is what made the book come alive for me.
The story was about Prince Dimitri Markhov and Doctor Katya Golitsyn one of a few female doctors of the time. It is all about how the revolution was started and of course Fabrege Eggs and other gifts made in the Fabrege style. Some of the details about the eggs are amazing.
It also showed how the upper class of that time lived. Affairs ran rampant and it was not unheard of to have a ménage type sex life. In fact Dimitri was married at the time he met Katya. Although himself and his wife were both having extramarital affairs. All that changes when he meets Katya. He is devoted to her from there on out.
It also talks about the tensions between the Jews of the country and the upper classes. Plus some about tensions between Japan and Russia. I found out a lot about things that happened during that time. I was a bit disappointed that Rasputin was not in the picture yet at the time.
It was overall a very good summary of what was happening at the time.
Historical Note: In my research into the people in the book I could find nothing about Dimitri or Katya or the bombing that takes place in the book. I could possibly have not dived deep enough but keep that in mind while listening or reading. This is categorized as Historical Fiction so the author may have take liberties.
Personal Note: This book fascinated me because this was about the time my grandfather at age 7 immigrated to America because of his family sensing the upcoming revolution. That just added to the book for me.
Format - Audiobook
Genre - Historical Fiction
Book 5 out of 5 stars
Narration 5 out of 5 stars
This was an amazing book set right at the beginning of the revolution in Russia. The narrator was great and did amazingly well on the accents. I think that is what made the book come alive for me.
The story was about Prince Dimitri Markhov and Doctor Katya Golitsyn one of a few female doctors of the time. It is all about how the revolution was started and of course Fabrege Eggs and other gifts made in the Fabrege style. Some of the details about the eggs are amazing.
It also showed how the upper class of that time lived. Affairs ran rampant and it was not unheard of to have a ménage type sex life. In fact Dimitri was married at the time he met Katya. Although himself and his wife were both having extramarital affairs. All that changes when he meets Katya. He is devoted to her from there on out.
It also talks about the tensions between the Jews of the country and the upper classes. Plus some about tensions between Japan and Russia. I found out a lot about things that happened during that time. I was a bit disappointed that Rasputin was not in the picture yet at the time.
It was overall a very good summary of what was happening at the time.
Historical Note: In my research into the people in the book I could find nothing about Dimitri or Katya or the bombing that takes place in the book. I could possibly have not dived deep enough but keep that in mind while listening or reading. This is categorized as Historical Fiction so the author may have take liberties.
Personal Note: This book fascinated me because this was about the time my grandfather at age 7 immigrated to America because of his family sensing the upcoming revolution. That just added to the book for me.
January 9, 2021
I’ve read quite a bit about the end of Tsarist Russia, so the premise of The Faberge Secret excited me.
Unfortunately, the historical time period didn’t come to life for me. The narratorial view of the tsar felt too western to fit a Russian like Dimitri; for me, it felt like the narratorial voice was too aware of itself to really work. That’s one of those things that’s subjective and almost impossible to explain: a gut-feeling, not a head-analysis. If you asked me to explain why the voice felt western rather than Russian, and “too aware of itself”, I don’t think I could do it. But that gut-feeling remained throughout my reading of the book.
All the descriptions are well-written: dresses, jewels, the Faberge eggs, and, of course, architecture are all shows in great detail. But the book describes these things repeatedly, even when they aren’t of any real significance to the story. The repeated descriptions feel excessive. After a while, I skimmed them. (That’s a shame, I know. I do wish Belfoure–and other writers, myself included!–would learn to dwell on the descriptive details in proportion to their importance in the story.)
As well, there are many times when the execution of the writing felt weak. The dialogue and general conveying of information is too overt, often spelling out the obvious. As in, one character tells another character something that they both already know just so the reader will understand. Or, certain details scream, “Look, a clue!” to anyone who reads in this genre.
The plot didn’t quite hang together for me, either. Things happen with little regard for cause and effect, as characters accidentally discover important information. It often feels that characters go to particular places not to further the story, but as an excuse to describe setting and more architecture. The ending didn’t feel properly set up; it felt rushed and unbelievable.
Despite the author’s attempts to develop the characters, they often feel two-dimensional. Katya is determined and passionate. But she never stands out as being different from other strong females in current historical fiction. Lara (Dimitri’s wife) is selfish and vain. (The book hints that she had been an intelligent, interesting person at the beginning of their marriage. Yet the book never tells us why and how she devolved into the gossipy, superficial court lady of this story. This was a missed opportunity to deepen her character and Belfoure doesn’t resolve this loose thread.) And so on.
All of this is unfortunate, because I truly love well-crafted historical fiction.
There are a lot of terrific historical details in The Faberge Secret, though. Belfoure has done his research. While the execution of the writing is often weak, he does try to show the Russian aristocracy of that time period. Their avid appetite for gossip. The petty cruelties. The exploitation of those in service to them. The empty talk and dismissal of what is truly important. For example, there’s an interesting tidbit about how on certain estates, footmen must carry the mistress up and down the staircase! (In contrast, Dimitri manages to install a small elevator in one home he designs. I imagine the footmen of that estate is quite grateful.)
On the positive side, the portrayal of the pogroms against the Jewish people are well-done. Sadly, the suffering he portrays is historically accurate. At various times, the Russian people, prompted by anti-Semitic propaganda, mercilessly attacked, raped, and killed their Jewish neighbors. Authorities did little (nothing) to stop these attacks, often blaming the Jews themselves. Dimitri accompanies Katya as she tends to the wounded and dying in the aftermath of one particular attack. His reaction to the people’s suffering is genuinely moving. I read parts of these scenes with tears in my eyes.
Scenes like those show that Belfoure is capable of writing a strong story. The Faberge Secret has a great premise. But it sometimes felt like a draft, as if the book needed more time to be developed into a vivid, passionate, and compelling story. I wonder if he’s being rushed in writing and publishing his work. If so, that’s a shame.
After reading two of Belfoure’s novels, I think he isn’t the author for me. (When I requested The Faberge Secret, I’d forgotten that I’d read and reviewed The Fallen Architect and felt disappointed in it, too.) Considering the Belfoure is a bestselling author, many other readers will disagree with my assessment of his work.
Some may not have read very much about Russia during this time period. For them, it may be enlightening to see the factors contributing to the fall of the Russian monarchy. Those are interesting. Given the importance of the Russian revolution, it’s important to know the reasons behind it. If you’re already well-informed on both the revolution and the Jewish persecution in Russia, the book probably won’t add much to your knowledge.
If you’re already a fan of Belfoure’s work, then The Faberge Secret might be a terrific book for you.
I also recommend the book for those want to learn more about the end of the Russian monarchy and/or the pogroms against the Jews. Also, if you absolutely love architecture, this book contains many elaborate descriptions of the Russian architecture of that period.
I was received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Note: this will appear on my blog on January 18, 2021.
Unfortunately, the historical time period didn’t come to life for me. The narratorial view of the tsar felt too western to fit a Russian like Dimitri; for me, it felt like the narratorial voice was too aware of itself to really work. That’s one of those things that’s subjective and almost impossible to explain: a gut-feeling, not a head-analysis. If you asked me to explain why the voice felt western rather than Russian, and “too aware of itself”, I don’t think I could do it. But that gut-feeling remained throughout my reading of the book.
All the descriptions are well-written: dresses, jewels, the Faberge eggs, and, of course, architecture are all shows in great detail. But the book describes these things repeatedly, even when they aren’t of any real significance to the story. The repeated descriptions feel excessive. After a while, I skimmed them. (That’s a shame, I know. I do wish Belfoure–and other writers, myself included!–would learn to dwell on the descriptive details in proportion to their importance in the story.)
As well, there are many times when the execution of the writing felt weak. The dialogue and general conveying of information is too overt, often spelling out the obvious. As in, one character tells another character something that they both already know just so the reader will understand. Or, certain details scream, “Look, a clue!” to anyone who reads in this genre.
The plot didn’t quite hang together for me, either. Things happen with little regard for cause and effect, as characters accidentally discover important information. It often feels that characters go to particular places not to further the story, but as an excuse to describe setting and more architecture. The ending didn’t feel properly set up; it felt rushed and unbelievable.
Despite the author’s attempts to develop the characters, they often feel two-dimensional. Katya is determined and passionate. But she never stands out as being different from other strong females in current historical fiction. Lara (Dimitri’s wife) is selfish and vain. (The book hints that she had been an intelligent, interesting person at the beginning of their marriage. Yet the book never tells us why and how she devolved into the gossipy, superficial court lady of this story. This was a missed opportunity to deepen her character and Belfoure doesn’t resolve this loose thread.) And so on.
All of this is unfortunate, because I truly love well-crafted historical fiction.
There are a lot of terrific historical details in The Faberge Secret, though. Belfoure has done his research. While the execution of the writing is often weak, he does try to show the Russian aristocracy of that time period. Their avid appetite for gossip. The petty cruelties. The exploitation of those in service to them. The empty talk and dismissal of what is truly important. For example, there’s an interesting tidbit about how on certain estates, footmen must carry the mistress up and down the staircase! (In contrast, Dimitri manages to install a small elevator in one home he designs. I imagine the footmen of that estate is quite grateful.)
On the positive side, the portrayal of the pogroms against the Jewish people are well-done. Sadly, the suffering he portrays is historically accurate. At various times, the Russian people, prompted by anti-Semitic propaganda, mercilessly attacked, raped, and killed their Jewish neighbors. Authorities did little (nothing) to stop these attacks, often blaming the Jews themselves. Dimitri accompanies Katya as she tends to the wounded and dying in the aftermath of one particular attack. His reaction to the people’s suffering is genuinely moving. I read parts of these scenes with tears in my eyes.
Scenes like those show that Belfoure is capable of writing a strong story. The Faberge Secret has a great premise. But it sometimes felt like a draft, as if the book needed more time to be developed into a vivid, passionate, and compelling story. I wonder if he’s being rushed in writing and publishing his work. If so, that’s a shame.
After reading two of Belfoure’s novels, I think he isn’t the author for me. (When I requested The Faberge Secret, I’d forgotten that I’d read and reviewed The Fallen Architect and felt disappointed in it, too.) Considering the Belfoure is a bestselling author, many other readers will disagree with my assessment of his work.
Some may not have read very much about Russia during this time period. For them, it may be enlightening to see the factors contributing to the fall of the Russian monarchy. Those are interesting. Given the importance of the Russian revolution, it’s important to know the reasons behind it. If you’re already well-informed on both the revolution and the Jewish persecution in Russia, the book probably won’t add much to your knowledge.
If you’re already a fan of Belfoure’s work, then The Faberge Secret might be a terrific book for you.
I also recommend the book for those want to learn more about the end of the Russian monarchy and/or the pogroms against the Jews. Also, if you absolutely love architecture, this book contains many elaborate descriptions of the Russian architecture of that period.
I was received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Note: this will appear on my blog on January 18, 2021.
January 2, 2025
La novela se enmarca en la Rusia pre-revolución, con un protagonista, Dimitri Markhov, muy cercano al zar, rico, noble y que poco a poco se hace consciente del estado de absoluta marginalidad y subdesarrollo en que vive el pueblo ruso, especialmente los campesinos y los judíos que, además, sufren con frecuentes pogromos que llevan muerte y desolación a sus comunidades. Sobre esto último, el zar tiene ideas preconcebidas y si bien no es quien ordena las masacres, parece bastante dispuesto a hacer desaparecer a los judíos de tierras rusas.
En esta conciencia que va adquiriendo Dimitri sobre el verdadero estado de la sociedad rusa, se hace parte de una célula revolucionaria que quiere acabar con la nobleza e instaurar en Rusia un sistema democrático.
El argumento puede parecer interesante, pero lo cierto es que el autor aborda todos estos hechos en forma bastante deficiente. La narración es simple e ingenua, a ratos se abusa de las descripciones y los diálogos resultan poco naturales:
Por ejemplo, al comenzar el capítulo 30, Dimitri le regala a Katya una copia auténtica y enmarcada de una obra de Tchaikovsky; él no sabe leer música por lo que no sabe a qué obra corresponde. Cuando Katya lo toca al piano, él exclama:
¡Es la parte media del Concierto para piano y orquesta número 1 en Si bemol menor!
Esa exclamación la encontré divertida además de inverosímil, yo encontraría creíble que exclamara "¡el concierto n° 1! o "¡su concierto para piano!", pero dar todo el nombre del concierto y el acorde exacto en que fue escrito en una muestra de sorpresa me suena un poquito ridículo. Me lo imagino exclamando: ¡Pero si es el tercer movimiento adagio molto e cantabile de la Sinfonía n° 9 opus 125 en Re menor conocida como la coral! En suma, me pareció una frase pedante que tiene varios símiles en el desarrollo argumental y que levantan dudas sobre el estilo del autor.
El esfuerzo por nombrar y describir personalidades de la vida real resulta innecesario, se hace un poquito agotador, aleja al lector de la trama principal y alarga sin razón el desarrollo del argumento.
Curiosamente, a pesar del título, los huevos Fabergé tienen poco que ver en la historia, es decir, aparecen en todo el desarrollo del relato, pero son elementos utilitarios, nada más; para el uso que se le da en la novela se pudo acudir a cualquier otra cosa en vez de los huevos Fabergé, salvo que estos últimos son famosos y suenan bien.
La caracterización de personajes se acerca bastante a la caricatura; Lara por ejemplo, es una mujer pueril y superficial, vive del pelambre y su cerebro semeja un maní, aunque al final de la novela actúa como no lo hizo nunca antes; al zar y la zarina se los describe como personajes totalmente alienados, con cero conciencia de las necesidades de su pueblo. Es tal la irrealidad en la que viven que me recordaron a la frase (probablemente falsa) que se le atribuye a María Antonieta en la corte de Luis XVI: cuando ella se entera de que el pueblo no tiene pan para comer, contesta "que coman pasteles".
El problema, en mi opinión, no es que respecto de la autocracia rusa el autor no estuviera en lo cierto, probablemente así fue, sino que todo se cuenta de una manera un tanto cándida respecto de los hechos que realmente ocurrieron. Es una ficción histórica, sí, pero bastante más cargado a la ficción que a la historia y el estilo narrativo me parece un tanto simplón y esa, me parece, es la falencia más relevante.
En definitiva, una novela que pasa sin pena ni gloria y creo que pronto la olvidaré.
En esta conciencia que va adquiriendo Dimitri sobre el verdadero estado de la sociedad rusa, se hace parte de una célula revolucionaria que quiere acabar con la nobleza e instaurar en Rusia un sistema democrático.
El argumento puede parecer interesante, pero lo cierto es que el autor aborda todos estos hechos en forma bastante deficiente. La narración es simple e ingenua, a ratos se abusa de las descripciones y los diálogos resultan poco naturales:
Por ejemplo, al comenzar el capítulo 30, Dimitri le regala a Katya una copia auténtica y enmarcada de una obra de Tchaikovsky; él no sabe leer música por lo que no sabe a qué obra corresponde. Cuando Katya lo toca al piano, él exclama:
¡Es la parte media del Concierto para piano y orquesta número 1 en Si bemol menor!
Esa exclamación la encontré divertida además de inverosímil, yo encontraría creíble que exclamara "¡el concierto n° 1! o "¡su concierto para piano!", pero dar todo el nombre del concierto y el acorde exacto en que fue escrito en una muestra de sorpresa me suena un poquito ridículo. Me lo imagino exclamando: ¡Pero si es el tercer movimiento adagio molto e cantabile de la Sinfonía n° 9 opus 125 en Re menor conocida como la coral! En suma, me pareció una frase pedante que tiene varios símiles en el desarrollo argumental y que levantan dudas sobre el estilo del autor.
El esfuerzo por nombrar y describir personalidades de la vida real resulta innecesario, se hace un poquito agotador, aleja al lector de la trama principal y alarga sin razón el desarrollo del argumento.
Curiosamente, a pesar del título, los huevos Fabergé tienen poco que ver en la historia, es decir, aparecen en todo el desarrollo del relato, pero son elementos utilitarios, nada más; para el uso que se le da en la novela se pudo acudir a cualquier otra cosa en vez de los huevos Fabergé, salvo que estos últimos son famosos y suenan bien.
La caracterización de personajes se acerca bastante a la caricatura; Lara por ejemplo, es una mujer pueril y superficial, vive del pelambre y su cerebro semeja un maní, aunque al final de la novela actúa como no lo hizo nunca antes; al zar y la zarina se los describe como personajes totalmente alienados, con cero conciencia de las necesidades de su pueblo. Es tal la irrealidad en la que viven que me recordaron a la frase (probablemente falsa) que se le atribuye a María Antonieta en la corte de Luis XVI: cuando ella se entera de que el pueblo no tiene pan para comer, contesta "que coman pasteles".
El problema, en mi opinión, no es que respecto de la autocracia rusa el autor no estuviera en lo cierto, probablemente así fue, sino que todo se cuenta de una manera un tanto cándida respecto de los hechos que realmente ocurrieron. Es una ficción histórica, sí, pero bastante más cargado a la ficción que a la historia y el estilo narrativo me parece un tanto simplón y esa, me parece, es la falencia más relevante.
En definitiva, una novela que pasa sin pena ni gloria y creo que pronto la olvidaré.
December 23, 2021
Como apasionada de la novela histórica, y dado el momento histórico y lugar en el que transcurre la historia que se nos narra, «El Secreto Fabergé», es una lectura que estaba deseando iniciar desde el mismo día de su publicación. Con un excelente trabajo de documentación, su autor Charles Belfoure, escritor y galardonado historiador estadounidense y arquitecto de profesión, nos sorprende con una novela histórica de intriga y conspiraciones, en torno a uno de los momentos históricos más influyentes en la caída de la monarquía de los zares de Rusia.
Una historia que se inicia en la Rusia Imperial del año 1903, y que tiene como protagonista a uno de los raros miembros de la aristocracia Rusa, el príncipe Dimitri Markhov, amigo íntimo del Zar Nicolás II y arquitecto de profesión, al igual que su autor. Y a una joven doctora de familia adinerada, Katya Golitsyn, partícipe de las reuniones del círculo de las artes de San Petersburgo.
De la mano de Dimitri, quien vive rodeado de lujos en la corte imperial junto a su esposa, tendremos acceso a un mundo mágico de cuentos de hadas, el de la familia Imperial y la aristocracia Rusa. Recreando con todo lujo de detalles, los escenarios más significativos en los que se desarrolla la vida social de la Corte Imperial, atendiendo especialmente a la faceta arquitectónica, como experto historiador de la arquitectura que es su autor. Dándonos a conocer las costumbres y el transcurrir cotidiano en la vida de la más alta sociedad, entre celebraciones, bailes, chismes, romances, y los lujosos regalos Fabergé. Entre los que destacan, los famosos huevos imperiales de Pascua, que se convertirán en objeto de conspiración para derrocar la autocracia del mismísimo Zar Nicolás II.
Será de la mano de Katya, como tendremos acceso a otra parte de la sociedad rusa, que pese a llevar una vida de privilegios, se resigna a quedarse de brazos cruzados ante la existencia de una realidad a la que no son ajenos. Son aquellos miembros influyentes del mundo del arte e intelectuales, quienes comparten su amor por San Petersburgo y el mundo moderno. Los que guiarán al pueblo oprimido hacia el propio autogobierno en forma de una monarquía parlamentaria. Una revolución sin violencia que busca acabar con la misera vida de las clases bajas y con el antisemitismo que sufría el atormentado pueblo judío, promovido por el propio gobierno.
Una realidad de la que Dimitri irá tomando consciencia, provocando sentimientos encontrados en nuestro protagonista, quien se resigna a culpabilizar a su amigo el Zar. Y es que gracias a Dimitri conoceremos el lado más humano del Zar Nicolás II, un hombre centrado en su familia que no había nacido para reinar. La historia sobrecogedora de una familia, con la que he llegado a simpatizar y que me deja un sentimiento de tristeza sabedora de su trágico final.
En resumen, es un libro con el que he disfrutado de una lectura fluida, envuelta en una trepidante trama de intriga y conspiración. Reviviendo junto a sus protagonistas los acontecimientos históricos que dieron lugar a uno de los días más trágicos y relevantes en la historia de la Rusia Imperial. Una lectura más que recomendada para todos los apasionados de la novela histórica, el romance y el suspense.
Una historia que se inicia en la Rusia Imperial del año 1903, y que tiene como protagonista a uno de los raros miembros de la aristocracia Rusa, el príncipe Dimitri Markhov, amigo íntimo del Zar Nicolás II y arquitecto de profesión, al igual que su autor. Y a una joven doctora de familia adinerada, Katya Golitsyn, partícipe de las reuniones del círculo de las artes de San Petersburgo.
De la mano de Dimitri, quien vive rodeado de lujos en la corte imperial junto a su esposa, tendremos acceso a un mundo mágico de cuentos de hadas, el de la familia Imperial y la aristocracia Rusa. Recreando con todo lujo de detalles, los escenarios más significativos en los que se desarrolla la vida social de la Corte Imperial, atendiendo especialmente a la faceta arquitectónica, como experto historiador de la arquitectura que es su autor. Dándonos a conocer las costumbres y el transcurrir cotidiano en la vida de la más alta sociedad, entre celebraciones, bailes, chismes, romances, y los lujosos regalos Fabergé. Entre los que destacan, los famosos huevos imperiales de Pascua, que se convertirán en objeto de conspiración para derrocar la autocracia del mismísimo Zar Nicolás II.
Será de la mano de Katya, como tendremos acceso a otra parte de la sociedad rusa, que pese a llevar una vida de privilegios, se resigna a quedarse de brazos cruzados ante la existencia de una realidad a la que no son ajenos. Son aquellos miembros influyentes del mundo del arte e intelectuales, quienes comparten su amor por San Petersburgo y el mundo moderno. Los que guiarán al pueblo oprimido hacia el propio autogobierno en forma de una monarquía parlamentaria. Una revolución sin violencia que busca acabar con la misera vida de las clases bajas y con el antisemitismo que sufría el atormentado pueblo judío, promovido por el propio gobierno.
Una realidad de la que Dimitri irá tomando consciencia, provocando sentimientos encontrados en nuestro protagonista, quien se resigna a culpabilizar a su amigo el Zar. Y es que gracias a Dimitri conoceremos el lado más humano del Zar Nicolás II, un hombre centrado en su familia que no había nacido para reinar. La historia sobrecogedora de una familia, con la que he llegado a simpatizar y que me deja un sentimiento de tristeza sabedora de su trágico final.
En resumen, es un libro con el que he disfrutado de una lectura fluida, envuelta en una trepidante trama de intriga y conspiración. Reviviendo junto a sus protagonistas los acontecimientos históricos que dieron lugar a uno de los días más trágicos y relevantes en la historia de la Rusia Imperial. Una lectura más que recomendada para todos los apasionados de la novela histórica, el romance y el suspense.
December 31, 2020
With this second book that I've read written by Charles Belfoure, I am now convinced that he's not the writer for me. As in The Paris Architect, a self-absorbed man suddenly becomes a staunch defender of the oppressed. Belfoure, who is an architect himself, has a knack for choosing architecture and historic periods that fascinate me. In The Fabergé Secret, it's the reign of Nicholas II and Alexandra. This is a period in Russia filled with incredible beauty and indescribable brutality, and Belfoure does well in depicting the pogroms that were rife in the country at the time. But then... there's the rest of the story.
In reading The Fabergé Secret, it felt as though Belfoure fell so deeply in love with his setting that he forgot all about including any action or real movement in the plot until well past the halfway point in the book. I was left wondering if anything was ever going to happen. The author also felt comfortable in sacrificing well-known historical facts to his fictional tale.
At the end of the day, I found The Fabergé Secret to be a predictable, standard, historical romance laced with a bit of architecture. A pleasant diversion that could have been so much more.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
In reading The Fabergé Secret, it felt as though Belfoure fell so deeply in love with his setting that he forgot all about including any action or real movement in the plot until well past the halfway point in the book. I was left wondering if anything was ever going to happen. The author also felt comfortable in sacrificing well-known historical facts to his fictional tale.
At the end of the day, I found The Fabergé Secret to be a predictable, standard, historical romance laced with a bit of architecture. A pleasant diversion that could have been so much more.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
January 5, 2021
It's the first book I read by this author and I'm a bit on the fence because I found it interesting but very slow.
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the characters are fleshed but the I struggled a bit with the plot.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The historical background is well researched and vivid, the characters are fleshed but the I struggled a bit with the plot.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 5, 2021
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
It’s not just the British royal family that captures my interest. I also have a passing interest in Russian History and the Russian Revolution. So I was happy to pick up the historical fiction novel The Fabergé Secret from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The book’s release date is January 5, 2021.
From the publisher: “St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can’t forget what he’s seen. Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar’s regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.”
First, I appreciated the fact that the author explained what Russian or Jewish words or phrases meant. Seriously, that’s a big deal to me. So often I read books where another language is sprinkled in and there’s no translation, so I’m left to try and figure out what the phrases meant.
I immediately connected with Prince Dimitri, even though his life is so unlike my own. In a loveless marriage to the Imperial Court’s top gossip, they live in a world of opulence and discreet affairs. Dimitri is also Tsar Nicholas’ closest friend. Unlike most of the aristocracy, Prince Dimitri has a job as an architect. It is my understanding that the author is, too, and that is made clear by the detailed descriptions of structures Dimitri is working on.
Dimitri is still a royalist until he meets a young woman doctor, Katya, and witnesses the after effects of a pogrom where he sees Jewish people brutally beaten and killed, including young children. He begins to doubt Tsar Nicholas’ handling of the situation, and soon, the running of the country.
Katya is just the antidote Dimitri needs from his loveless marriage and meaningless affairs. He finds his soul mate, despite their different stations in life. Katya opens his eyes even further to the true poverty of the peasants in Russia, not just the splendor of the ruling class. Soon, the two start a discreet relationship and Dimitri attends meetings where talk of a non-violent, peaceful revolution against the Tsar is discussed. Dimitri mainly stays quiet at these meetings, but he’s always listening, and thinks he could slowly convince the Tsar that a constitutional monarchy is what the country needs.
The persecution of the Jews is described and the Tsar’s obvious hate for the people he thinks killed his grandfather with a bomb comes through. There are repeated scenes of the Russian army attacking the non-provoking Jews. Dimitri and Katya witness this and become even more committed to the cause of peaceful revolution. Dimitri’s attempts to convince the Tsar of loosening restrictions against the Jews or giving the peasants more freedoms go nowhere. Tsar Nicholas is obstinate on those two subjects.
So, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with Faberge. The Tsar’s household is filled with spies, who pass notes to each other in code by placing notes inside the famous Faberge eggs in the display room in the palace. The reader might be surprised to find out who or who isn’t a revolutionary spy.
I wasn’t sure how the book was going to end up, either with Dimitri being arrested and executed for treason, going into hiding and continuing his revolutionary aspirations in Russia, or escaping the country. The Fabergé Secret (Amazon) was a quick read, and had a satisfying conclusion. The only thing I wished for this ARC, as I wish all historical fiction to do, is have an Afterword, explaining what exactly was fact and what was the imagination of the author. I have only done a little reading about the Tsar and his family, so I do not know enough of Russia’s backstory to
It’s not just the British royal family that captures my interest. I also have a passing interest in Russian History and the Russian Revolution. So I was happy to pick up the historical fiction novel The Fabergé Secret from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. The book’s release date is January 5, 2021.
From the publisher: “St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can’t forget what he’s seen. Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar’s regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.”
First, I appreciated the fact that the author explained what Russian or Jewish words or phrases meant. Seriously, that’s a big deal to me. So often I read books where another language is sprinkled in and there’s no translation, so I’m left to try and figure out what the phrases meant.
I immediately connected with Prince Dimitri, even though his life is so unlike my own. In a loveless marriage to the Imperial Court’s top gossip, they live in a world of opulence and discreet affairs. Dimitri is also Tsar Nicholas’ closest friend. Unlike most of the aristocracy, Prince Dimitri has a job as an architect. It is my understanding that the author is, too, and that is made clear by the detailed descriptions of structures Dimitri is working on.
Dimitri is still a royalist until he meets a young woman doctor, Katya, and witnesses the after effects of a pogrom where he sees Jewish people brutally beaten and killed, including young children. He begins to doubt Tsar Nicholas’ handling of the situation, and soon, the running of the country.
Katya is just the antidote Dimitri needs from his loveless marriage and meaningless affairs. He finds his soul mate, despite their different stations in life. Katya opens his eyes even further to the true poverty of the peasants in Russia, not just the splendor of the ruling class. Soon, the two start a discreet relationship and Dimitri attends meetings where talk of a non-violent, peaceful revolution against the Tsar is discussed. Dimitri mainly stays quiet at these meetings, but he’s always listening, and thinks he could slowly convince the Tsar that a constitutional monarchy is what the country needs.
The persecution of the Jews is described and the Tsar’s obvious hate for the people he thinks killed his grandfather with a bomb comes through. There are repeated scenes of the Russian army attacking the non-provoking Jews. Dimitri and Katya witness this and become even more committed to the cause of peaceful revolution. Dimitri’s attempts to convince the Tsar of loosening restrictions against the Jews or giving the peasants more freedoms go nowhere. Tsar Nicholas is obstinate on those two subjects.
So, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with Faberge. The Tsar’s household is filled with spies, who pass notes to each other in code by placing notes inside the famous Faberge eggs in the display room in the palace. The reader might be surprised to find out who or who isn’t a revolutionary spy.
I wasn’t sure how the book was going to end up, either with Dimitri being arrested and executed for treason, going into hiding and continuing his revolutionary aspirations in Russia, or escaping the country. The Fabergé Secret (Amazon) was a quick read, and had a satisfying conclusion. The only thing I wished for this ARC, as I wish all historical fiction to do, is have an Afterword, explaining what exactly was fact and what was the imagination of the author. I have only done a little reading about the Tsar and his family, so I do not know enough of Russia’s backstory to
January 6, 2021
I read Charles Belfoure’s previous novel, The Paris Architect and absolutely loved it so I was excited to see that he has a new book out, The Faberge Secret.
There are similarities in the two books in that they both have architecture as a theme and they are both historical novels.
In this book Prince Dimitri Markhov is a Russian aristocrat who is also a practicing architect in Imperial Russia, a great friend of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. He is married to the beautiful Lara but it is a loveless marriage and both have numerous affairs. However although life for aristocrats in Imperial Russia is fabulous with a round of parties and balls, the day to day existence of the peasants and the Jewish population is not great with poverty and pogroms which seem to be countenanced by the Tsar.
When Dimitri meets female Doctor, Katya, his eyes are opened to the inequalities and he begins to take part in a peaceful revolutionary movement.
I loved this story, particularly as I had visited Russia and seen many of the wonderful St Petersburg sights and subsequently developed an interest in the history of the Romanovs. Nicholas, Alexandra and their family were portrayed in a positive light although Nicholas’s inability to see the poverty and inequality of the Russia he is ruling was emphasised. The irony of his situation is that he is viewed as a god by the majority of his subjects but there there are also those that want him dead and try to assassinate him several times in order to start a revolution.
This book has everything, history, espionage and romance and it appears to be very well researched. I certainly increased my knowledge of Imperial Russia at the turn of the twentieth century after reading it and googled some of the characters and events to learn more. I was disappointed to find out that the dashing Dimitri was merely a fictional character!
One of my favourite parts was the description of the Faberge eggs in the royal palace which really made the story come alive. Each egg had a story, so to speak, gifted to the Tsarina every Easter by her husband, Nicholas. I am in a fortunate position that I have visited the Faberge exhibition in St Petersburg and it was lovely to be reminded of these beautiful objects which were also very cleverly constructed with hidden surprises inside.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and will appeal to readers who enjoy well researched historical fiction. It made a change to read a book focused on this period in history and I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
There are similarities in the two books in that they both have architecture as a theme and they are both historical novels.
In this book Prince Dimitri Markhov is a Russian aristocrat who is also a practicing architect in Imperial Russia, a great friend of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. He is married to the beautiful Lara but it is a loveless marriage and both have numerous affairs. However although life for aristocrats in Imperial Russia is fabulous with a round of parties and balls, the day to day existence of the peasants and the Jewish population is not great with poverty and pogroms which seem to be countenanced by the Tsar.
When Dimitri meets female Doctor, Katya, his eyes are opened to the inequalities and he begins to take part in a peaceful revolutionary movement.
I loved this story, particularly as I had visited Russia and seen many of the wonderful St Petersburg sights and subsequently developed an interest in the history of the Romanovs. Nicholas, Alexandra and their family were portrayed in a positive light although Nicholas’s inability to see the poverty and inequality of the Russia he is ruling was emphasised. The irony of his situation is that he is viewed as a god by the majority of his subjects but there there are also those that want him dead and try to assassinate him several times in order to start a revolution.
This book has everything, history, espionage and romance and it appears to be very well researched. I certainly increased my knowledge of Imperial Russia at the turn of the twentieth century after reading it and googled some of the characters and events to learn more. I was disappointed to find out that the dashing Dimitri was merely a fictional character!
One of my favourite parts was the description of the Faberge eggs in the royal palace which really made the story come alive. Each egg had a story, so to speak, gifted to the Tsarina every Easter by her husband, Nicholas. I am in a fortunate position that I have visited the Faberge exhibition in St Petersburg and it was lovely to be reminded of these beautiful objects which were also very cleverly constructed with hidden surprises inside.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and will appeal to readers who enjoy well researched historical fiction. It made a change to read a book focused on this period in history and I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
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While fabulously painted, this book was slow going. I enjoyed the start of the book picturing the lavish lifestyles of the royals in Russia circa 1903. But I felt like this book didn’t know if it wanted to be a romance or historical fiction. There just wasn’t enough happening to keep my attention. Speaking of attention, I love the cover of this book and I loved the beautiful descriptions of the Fabergé eggs in the novel.
I would recommend this book for those who like to slowly enjoy the view, with books such as “All the Light We Cannot See”.
- The blurb from the publisher, as they do it best -
New York Times bestselling author Charles Belfoure takes readers on a breathless journey from the gilded ballrooms of Imperial Russia to the grim violence of the pogroms, in his latest thrilling historical adventure.
St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can't forget what he's seen.
Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar's regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.
Thank you to NetGalley & Severn House for an advance copy.
#TheFabergéSecret #Severnhouse #NetGalley #BubblyBookReviewer
While fabulously painted, this book was slow going. I enjoyed the start of the book picturing the lavish lifestyles of the royals in Russia circa 1903. But I felt like this book didn’t know if it wanted to be a romance or historical fiction. There just wasn’t enough happening to keep my attention. Speaking of attention, I love the cover of this book and I loved the beautiful descriptions of the Fabergé eggs in the novel.
I would recommend this book for those who like to slowly enjoy the view, with books such as “All the Light We Cannot See”.
- The blurb from the publisher, as they do it best -
New York Times bestselling author Charles Belfoure takes readers on a breathless journey from the gilded ballrooms of Imperial Russia to the grim violence of the pogroms, in his latest thrilling historical adventure.
St Petersburg, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov counts himself lucky to be a close friend of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Cocooned by the glittering wealth of the Imperial court, the talented architect lives a life of luxury and comfort, by the side of his beautiful but spiteful wife, Princess Lara. But when Dimitri is confronted by the death and destruction wrought by a pogrom, he is taken aback. What did these people do to deserve such brutality? The tsar tells him the Jews themselves were to blame, but Dimitri can't forget what he's seen.
Educated and passionate, Doctor Katya Golitsyn is determined to help end Russian oppression. When she meets Dimitri at a royal ball, she immediately recognizes a kindred spirit, and an unlikely affair begins between them. As their relationship develops, Katya exposes Dimitri to the horrors of the Tsar's regime and the persecution of the Jewish people, and he grows determined to make a stand . . . whatever the cost.
Thank you to NetGalley & Severn House for an advance copy.
#TheFabergéSecret #Severnhouse #NetGalley #BubblyBookReviewer
July 27, 2024
Prince Dimitri Markhov is a talented architect and designer, and best friends with Nicholas, Tsar of Russia. One evening, while attending a ball, he meets one of the first women doctors in Russia, Katya Golitsyn, who invites him to attend her arts circle where weekly intellectual conversations are held about, not only the arts, but the political situation happening in Russia and the growing hatred towards the Jews. Gradually, Dimitri’s eyes are opened to the injustices around him and so he decides to help those who want to bring change to his beloved country.
I usually enjoy novels set in Russia, especially those set just before the Revolution and The Faberge Secretwith its gorgeous front cover took me from the sumptuous wealth and opulence of the aristocracy to the slums and dreadful working conditions of the peasants. While there was a lot of historical information in this novel, which I would usually enjoy, in The Faberge Secret it was heavy handed and I felt the author was forcing the information on me rather than incorporating it seamlessly in the story. However, I loved the descriptions of the beautiful Faberge eggs and how they were used to pass coded messages to spies working in the royal household.
I did like Dimitri as a protagonist. He was constantly torn between his love of the royal family and his new views on the future of Russia, however, I was never emotionally connected to him or any other character (except perhaps the young princesses). It annoyed me that Katya was often referred to as plain and Dimitri’s wife, Lara, was shallow and a gossip who I didn’t like her until she redeemed herself at the end of the story.
Overall, I found The Faberge Secret a slow and weighty read. The only thing that saved the novel was the last part which was filled with tension and danger. The rest was mediocre at best.
I usually enjoy novels set in Russia, especially those set just before the Revolution and The Faberge Secretwith its gorgeous front cover took me from the sumptuous wealth and opulence of the aristocracy to the slums and dreadful working conditions of the peasants. While there was a lot of historical information in this novel, which I would usually enjoy, in The Faberge Secret it was heavy handed and I felt the author was forcing the information on me rather than incorporating it seamlessly in the story. However, I loved the descriptions of the beautiful Faberge eggs and how they were used to pass coded messages to spies working in the royal household.
I did like Dimitri as a protagonist. He was constantly torn between his love of the royal family and his new views on the future of Russia, however, I was never emotionally connected to him or any other character (except perhaps the young princesses). It annoyed me that Katya was often referred to as plain and Dimitri’s wife, Lara, was shallow and a gossip who I didn’t like her until she redeemed herself at the end of the story.
Overall, I found The Faberge Secret a slow and weighty read. The only thing that saved the novel was the last part which was filled with tension and danger. The rest was mediocre at best.
December 29, 2020
In the early 1900s Russia’s aristocracy attended opulent balls and lived a life of luxury. Tsar Nicholas II was the Little Father who believed that his people loved him, but the people were starving and there was growing unrest. This was blamed on the Jews and the pogroms were instituted to rid Russia of these troublemakers. Prince Dimitri Markhov was a friend of the Tsar. Unkike others in his class he was a working architect who saw beauty in design and structures. In a loveless marriage to his wife Lara, his life changes when he meets Katya, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Katya is a doctor who shares his interest in music, literature and Russian culture. It is Katya and her friends who open his eyes to the suffering around him.
Dimitri is torn between his loyalty to the Tsar and his need to bring a change for the people. Working with a group whose aim is to peacefully work toward a constitution, he must keep his work hidden from Lara and avoid notice by the Okhrana, the secret police. One of his assignments is to pass messages to a conspirator in the palace. Using the collection of Faberge eggs, folded notes would be hidden inside. He also uses his meetings with Nicholas to convince him to see what is happening beyond the palace walls, but Nicholas is influenced by the ministers around him and the pogroms continue.
Charles Balfoure’s descriptions of the gowns and banquets attended by royalty are countered by the violence and suffering brought on by attacks on the villages and the Cossacks’ attack on the peaceful demonstration of Bloody Sunday. This is a fascinating look at Russian culture and the events that eventually led up to the end of the Romanovs. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.
Dimitri is torn between his loyalty to the Tsar and his need to bring a change for the people. Working with a group whose aim is to peacefully work toward a constitution, he must keep his work hidden from Lara and avoid notice by the Okhrana, the secret police. One of his assignments is to pass messages to a conspirator in the palace. Using the collection of Faberge eggs, folded notes would be hidden inside. He also uses his meetings with Nicholas to convince him to see what is happening beyond the palace walls, but Nicholas is influenced by the ministers around him and the pogroms continue.
Charles Balfoure’s descriptions of the gowns and banquets attended by royalty are countered by the violence and suffering brought on by attacks on the villages and the Cossacks’ attack on the peaceful demonstration of Bloody Sunday. This is a fascinating look at Russian culture and the events that eventually led up to the end of the Romanovs. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.
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