Dreaming Anastasia: A Novel of Love, Magic, and the Power of Dreams

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

Anne is a typical American high school student. She is more worried about what college she will get into than Russian history.

But she keeps having a strange dream over and over again. This dream is about Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tzar Nicholas. Nicholas was the last reining Tzar of Russia and his whole family was gunned down in the basement of their house.

Then in walks Ethan. He is an attractive stranger who seems to know Anne and is stalking her.

Add a lacquered box that depicts the fairy tale of Baba Yaga along with the mention that her mother used to enjoy the stories of Russia as well, and you have a compelling story full of romance and mystery.

Oh, and did I mention the blue light coming off Anne's hands, or the arms that come from the sky to try to take Anne away, or the house on chicken feet?

I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to research the Romanov family and the fairy tale character of Baba Yaga. I loved the characters, especially Anne's best friend, Tess, who seems to be in the right place at the right time. She defines the expression, "I've got your back."

DREAMING ANASTASIA is easy to read and an enjoyable story. Thank you, Ms. Preble, for a great read.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Dreaming Anastasia was amazing!

I really liked this story. I thought that it was well written and easy to follow. The book never really has a dull moment which makes it very hard to put down. The love story could have had a stronger presence but I guess that wasn't the main focus of the book. I recommend this book to anyone that likes myths, history, and the supernatural. Great Book!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It was interesting to read

As a person who is Russian and knows about Russian history, I found this book quite interesting.I wound even say funny because of Baba Yaga and all this story about Anastasia Romanov.
But,anyway, I really liked that book and I think Joy Preble is very talented writer. I recommend this book to all readers who just want to read about love,magic and the power of dreams...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Magical Dreamer

Dreaming Anastasia was an enjoyable read from start to finish. So enjoyable, in fact, that it's gotten me interested in reading more about the Romanov's and their history. I, of course, know vague high school level details of the events but the plot in this story fictionalized elements so interestingly that I'm intrigued to find out more. This is a testament to Preble's ability to interweave fact with fiction thus making it entirely believable that this young princess was swept away by magic to live an ageless life until saved from captivity.

Speaking of magic, I appreciated that Preble didn't bang us over the head with mysticism and magical pyrotechnics. The story was driven by compelling characters who happened also to have these forces inside them - some were for good others for evil . While magic was entirely prevalent throughout it wasn't a caricature or some outrageously constructed series of laughable actions that people were left scratching their heads over. In this case the magic was all completely relevant and believable in the scope of the story.

The relationship between Anne and Ethan carried with it that invisible bond magic and the mission they were carrying out held over them. She with her initial skepticism over the events transpiring and the struggle to accept her role and power; he the person with all the answers for her yet measuring how to best move forward in providing them. There was just enough to push them together but also plenty to keep them just that much apart. Speaking of which, I enjoyed that Preble didn't fall into the trap of prolonging the initial distance between the two in the hope of keeping that "who is he" mystery alive. It was clear from the beginning there was a bond and we were kept guessing for just the right amount of time before small details started to trickle out. The timing of that was very well done and kept intriguing me throughout.

The attraction between Ethan and Anne was apparent from their initial meeting. Yet, the budding love story between the young couple is chaste. I never felt like they were completely in or out of love just that they were moving more and more in the direction of figuring it all out. This, in my opinion, makes the book a good gateway for readers moving from Middle Grade to Young Adult. To further the latter point, Dreaming Anastasia is a quick read with plenty of suspense and mystery to keep readers not only interested but invested in the outcome.

The use of mystical storytelling and lore is widely used and certainly effective. The story of Baba Yaga is vivid and creatively portrayed. There is equal parts fearsome monster and sympathetic captive compelled by others to do their bidding. She quickly becomes one of those members of the cast that readers either love or love to hate. Further, the story surrounding the role she plays in Anastasia's captivity is quite imaginative and makes one wonder if it is truly of real Russian folklore. Yet another area where readers may be compelled to do further research after completing the novel.

In the end Dreaming Anastasia is a story of love and loss on many different levels. It was a wild, fun and sweetly romantic ride.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful debut novel!

Before I even start to tell you how magnificent I think that this book is, let me tell you that I have been fascinated by the story of the Romanov's since probably Junior High when I wrote a term paper on them. Ever since I've read quite a bit on the family and their fate. When I saw the theme of this book I really was dying to get my hands on it. I was really hoping for something really great and I wasn't disappointed at all in this debut novel by Joy Preble.

After reading the synopsis above I had really high hopes for this fantasy adventure and over and over while I read I was rewarded. I'd recommend this to any adult who's been interested in this story. Preble has woven a wonderful story that embraces the Romanov legend and gives it a bit of a twist. Even young readers who aren't knowledgeable about the Romanov's won't be lost in the story. By telling it from three different perspectives it's all laid out well and easy to understand.

While this book is listed as a YA book, it's definitely one that parents can pick up and be just as thrilled with. The action never really stops in this book and I found myself hating to put it down for things like eating and sleeping ;)

I found the dialogue between characters to be very believable, and the action was fast-paced and really moved the story along. Interspersed with the story of Anne and Ethan there were handwritten letters that Anastasia writes to her family that tell the story of the Romanov family.

This is definitely one you'll be happy to see your teen reading. I'd give this book 5 stars! I absolutely loved this one!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must-Read!

"Dreaming Anastasia" had historical influences with references to the Romanov rule and their fall in Russia. Also, a Russian folklore come to life was a the core of the story. There was adventure, romance, history, magic. What more can a reader ask for? Bear in mind that this novel is the first of a trilogy. The third and final book is due to be released in the fall of 2012.

Great book

I really like how the author really interpreted such a classic tale in to something new. I love it when authors do that!! It gives me a whole new fresh picture of the story of Anastasia Romanov.

The story line of this story is amazing! I love the new concept of the story and how it flows. I love the history of the Romanov's and what happen to Anastasia. Ms. Preble did an great job in pulling the reader from the very first page. Heck, I was hooked. I loved that right from the started the action and mystery of Anastasia began, and just kept on rolling.

The characters were really unique. I loved Anne and her fierceness. She is so strong and not intimidated. Her character knew much because she went through so much. I admired Anna for her strength and wiliness to help Anastasia. The character that came out to me the most, is the best friend. She is absolutely amazing! I loved how supportive she was instead of the normal jealousy stuff.

Overall, this is a great book! I loved the pacing of the book. Many surprises were revealed little by little, but not too much to over whelm the reader. As the reader continues reading, your are sucked into a world of great story told over many years!

Good Story...

There are so many characters that come together to make this story work. It is well written and well rounded(adventure, mystery,magic,lineage,romance, betrayal, etc...) I enjoyed the historical aspect of the Romanov's as well. Looking forward to reading the next book.

Eww

I dont get all these people who say they loved it. I could not even finish. It was overly dramatic and weird. Sorry i wasted my money.

Awesome Read - Couldn't Put it Down

Let me say first that I am fascinated by historical mysteries, like Anastasia Romanov, so I was immediately intrigued. But on the whole, Dreaming Anastasia has everything a great fiction novel needs - actual historical fact, legend, mystery, suspense, girl meets boy, and supernatural events. I especially appreciate the fact that while the relationship between the two protagonists is compelling, it is not the focal point of the plot. The protagonists have lives and purpose beyond their romantic interest, as do we all, and so it was easy to get swept up in the story. Joy Preble rocks her debut novel, and it's exciting to see my sophomore English teacher receive national acclaim.

i loved it! easily one of the best books ever!

this book is the perfect mix of history, magic, and mystery. you should seriously read this book!

I am so happy this book is free now!

Seriously, definitely worth it. GET IT.

review taken from One Book At A Time

I love the whole idea of the possibility of Anastasia Romanov surviving that horrible night. I especially liked the idea of a mythical answer to the question of did Anastasia survive.

I loved the folklore included in this story. I didn't know much about Baba Yaga before this. I found her story particularly interesting. I liked how the Brotherhood was able to manipulate her to do their bidding. But, I think in the end she was lonely and managed to twist around the wording of the Brotherhood's spell to get what she wanted.

I liked how dreamlike Anastasia feels during this entire story. Even when Anne manages to free her from Baba Yaga grasp, it still doesn't seem possible that the Anastasia we know from history could be alive and well in modern day Chicago. I also really enjoyed Anne. She takes everything in stride but doesn't readily accept things as fact. I also really enjoyed the twist in the Romanov family. It was something I'm sure was entirely plausible.

Overally, I enjoyed this story. It was fast pasted and was an excellent mix of history, fantasy, and modern day elements. I'll be looking for the next one!

Another fairytale for fairytale lovers

zi enjoyed the spin in a classic fairytale legend. I cannot wait for the next one.

Great book!

I enjoyed that Joy brought new life to this timeless story. I like that this story is told from three different points of view. We hear from Ethan whose mission is to find the girl who will set Anastasia free. We hear from Anne who is linked to Anastasia and last we hear Anastasia's point of view in journal writings to her family. I like the twist that Anastasia is alive all these years and kept hostage by the witch Baba Yaga. The book holds a lot of Russian influence and is something new and different. I think the book was a cute read. I look forward to seeing more from Joy Preble.

Unexpected.

I saw this book and just decided to get it because it sounded interesting; I never knew it would blow my mind. Preble put so much thought and did so much research for this book, it's unforgettable.

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

I was so excited for this book, and to be honest, I had high expectations for it too. Well, I'm proud to announce, I wasn't disappointed.

Preble's combination of fiction, history, and folklore was riveting. I was automatically gripped from beginning to end, and I completely devoured this book in no time. After I was finished reading, I had the urge to research Anastasia and the rest of the Romanov family.

The characters were amazing and I found myself cheering for some, while wishing some not-so-nice things to others. (but you'll have to read to find out who and why). Anne is just like your average teenager - she's smart, funny, and courageous. I especially loved Anne's best friend Tess. She's the epitome of a perfect best friend. She always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. And her sarcastic remarks to Ethan had me laughing every time!

I really enjoyed this book - well, more like I LOVED it! Dreaming Anastasia is a fantastic debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Joy Preble comes out with next.

Dreaming Anastasia

Anastasia Romanov and her family's story has intrigued me since I was a little girl. I used to watch documentaries on the subject for fun, back when I was in junior high. So when I first saw this book I just had to have it!

I was happily captivated by the world Preble created. The way she mixed history with fiction and added a dose of folklore, the combination made for an awesome book from beginning to end. The only problem, and it wasn't a huge flaw, was with the cover stating it was a love story, but in fact it wasn't much of one. There was hint of a romance but you never actually got to fully see it develop. Anyway down to business. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.

Beautiful

This book is absolutley beautifully written and I couldn't put it down.

WoW

it started off a little slow but it was totally worth reading by the end i was hoping there was more! this was a amazing sotry if you like Russian history or not!