3.5 Stars
A friend living in Alberta asked me to read and review this book by M. K. Stelmack, an Albertan writer. The novel is best described as an historical romance, not a genre I tend to read, but I must admit to being entertained.
The novel is set in Russia in 1825. Captain Gavril Kasparevich Danilov of the imperial guard meets Anna Ellesworth who has been charged by her father to kill the tsar Gavril serves to protect. As their lives and emotions become entwined and Anna is openly welcomed into the imperial family, can Gavril stop Anna from carrying out her mission? Will Anna allow Gavril to come between her and the assassination for which she has been trained virtually her entire life?
It is the characters of Anna and Gavril that appealed to me. Both are complex characters with both positive and negative traits and personal struggles. Anna, for instance, has been trained as a mercenary and has killed many times, but she suffers from guilt and low self-esteem as a result. Her feelings for Gavril complicate her situation and she is torn between love and loyalty. She has remarkable skills, especially for a woman of the time, but she is not perfect; she has doubts and insecurities which surface especially when faced with adapting to a different lifestyle. Gavril is handsome and brave and has a strong loyalty to the people of the Nyaboskoye estate once under the control of his family. But he is likewise less than perfect. His treatment of Anna is less than he promises.
Both of the protagonists are also dynamic characters who grow and mature and achieve some self-knowledge. Anna, for instance, comes to understand that she is motivated by a death wish, that she is “seeking salvation through death.” Gavril admits that he is no better than Anna’s father: because of him Anna had “endured labor, imprisonment, and his own condemnation instead of his forgiveness.”
Though Anna and Gavril are convincing because of their portrayal as flawed, complicated characters, the same cannot be said for some others. General Arakcheev and his wife and William Ellesworth seem to have no redeeming qualities. William’s last words, “’I should’ve killed you when I had the chance’” indicate the extent of his obsession and cruelty. One scene of Arakcheev’s humiliation of Gavril is noteworthy for its proof of the extent of the former’s hatred and brutality. Granted, Arakcheev seems capable of grief, but it seems selfish and since there are no previous indications of his being capable of love, his grieving is unconvincing. I prefer characters, even villains, with more nuance.
There is a lot of political intrigue and several scenes of graphic violence. More than one person schemes to get revenge. As a result, there is considerable tension. Nonetheless there are touches of humour that lighten the mood. For example, Gavril thinks, “He couldn’t imagine striking Anna. She’d likely lay him flat first anyway. There was something to be said for marrying a mercenary.” Later, in a tense standoff, Gavril asks, “’Are you asking me whether or not you should kill me? . . . You realize that my opinion will be biased.’” And then there are the exchanges between Gavril and Lev.
I also liked the author’s writing style; she uses some interesting similes and metaphors like “The conservatory door hinges sounded like quarreling cats” and “his heart leaped like a dog over a fence at her rejection of every suitor” and a residence is described as “a three-storied wonder of elegant lines and a pink the shade of a maiden’s spanked bottom.”
Russian novels are often lengthy and detailed so this one, at almost 500 pages, fits that mold. Some readers may be intimidated by the Russian names, particularly because characters are often identified by slight variations. Gavril is sometimes Ganya, and his sister, Yelena Yankovna, is also Natalia whose pet name is Natasha! There is a list of characters given at the beginning that is useful. My knowledge of Russian history is limited, but I was impressed with the amount of research the author did in preparation for writing this book.
This book starts slowly but the pace picks up, and I found myself wanting to continue turning pages. The richly developed and psychologically complex characters certainly kept my interest. The book will also appeal to those who enjoy intricate plots and are interested in Russian culture and history. The question about Yelena’s whereabouts at the end suggests a sequel perhaps. If that is the case, I will read it.
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