Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781634220705 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Clean Teen Publishing |
| Publication date: | 07/14/2015 |
| Series: | Stolen Empire Series , #2 |
| Pages: | 278 |
| Sales rank: | 693,266 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.30(w) x 5.60(h) x 0.70(d) |
| Age Range: | 9 - 18 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Queen of Tomorrow: A Stolen Empire Novel
4.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
5 reviews.
 |
Sherry Ficklin is a master storyteller, and her sequel to Queen of Someday won't disappoint fans!
|
|
**I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**
4 stars!
With power and societal position, comes heartache and pain. No one knows that better than Sophie, or as she is now known, Catherine The Great. When she became The Grand Duchess of Russia, she never imagined how much she could change in the short time since she married the Empress of Russia’s nephew Peter. Her every move is controlled and contained – not allowed to dress or eat without the assistance of her maids, but she’s also under the thumb of the powerful and oppressive Empress of Russia – who’s heart has become hardened to love and feeling. Catherine’s goal now is to bear a child who is to be the heir to the throne – but seeing as Peter has not so much as touched her since their nuptials; it’s making it difficult for Catherine to proceed with her intended purpose. Especially has Peter is more inclined to spend his time with his mistress Elizzavetta. But Catherine has a secret weapon in her pocket, in the form of her beloved Sergi. As Catherine slips deeper and deeper into the monarchy and comes to see what being a royal is all about, the only thing that keeps her feet rooted in the palace is the knowledge that by doing so, she has the ability to make some real changes - but with family such as Catherine’s, who needs enemies?
I LOVE how Ms. Ficklin is able to so seamlessly mesh the true history of Catherine The Great, but still add in saucy details that feel so real, even if they are from Ms. Ficklin’s imagination. The strength that Catherine exhibits should be mirrored by young girls today – even though she had no one, she had everyone right where she wanted them; poised to strike when the opportunity arose. A terrific combination of brains and beauty, Catherine’s story has surely never been told with such creativity and power has it does through Ms. Ficklin’s words. I am looking forward to September to see how Catherine brings the Russian Empire to its knees!
|
|
Full review and more available at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogspot.com/2015/06/queen-of-tomorrow-stolen-empire-2-by_30.html
***
My Thoughts:
You guys may remember earlier this year when I devoured and raved all about Queen of Someday, book one in this series. As several of you guys will remember, I am a huge history buff. Russian history and culture has always been interesting to me so as soon as I heard of this series, I knew I'd fall in love. I was right. Immediately after reading book one, I realized this series was truly something special. I couldn't say enough great things about it. Not know exactly what Ficklin had planned for book two, I'll admit I was a little nervous, there was a lot of ground to cover. I'll tell you what folks, Ficklin definitely did a очень хорошо job on this novel! Ah-maz-ing! (That's a 'very good' job for my non-Russian speakers out there.)
Oh wow guys. The plot for Tomorrow is one emotional roller coaster ride. Twists, turns, unease, heartache, and heartbreak follow our cast of characters as Sophie continues to rise to the occasion, growing from poor German-born Sophie to Empress Catherine the Great. The story sure isn't without its' hiccups, but Sophie, now Catherine blossoms from the ashes and become the heart of Russia. Outshining even the brightest stars in power. It isn't easy to craft these characters, but it's even hard to watch them endure the hardships they do. Ficklin does note that this novel is not suited for young readers, and she is very right in saying this. Forced sex, physical abuse, and harsh language will follow Catherine on her journey to win the heart of Russia. It certainly isn't an easy ascent up the mountain.
Ficklin does an absolutely amazing job with the characters in this novel. Anyone who remembers book one will remember the huge cast of characters involved. Thankfully in book two, Ficklin doesn't throw many more at us, but rather dives deeper into the psyche of the ones she previously crafted. Not only do we see the crucial development of Sophie to Catherine, we see amazing strides in the characters of Empress Elizabeth, Sergei, Peter, and others. Like I said before guys, it's non-stop emotion and tension. Expect the absolute unexpected because nothing is as it seems!
Set in eighteenth century Russia, Ficklin pulls out all the stops. From palace to the forests of Russia, each setting is beautifully crafted with just the right amount of description to set the tone of the novel. I was very clearly able to close my eyes and imagine myself in the palace of the Empress Elizabeth, right alongside Sophie and the gang. Everything from Russian architecture to food was described in such a fantastic way as to leave the reader more than impressed.
I can honestly say that I am in absolute awe of Sherry Ficklin. Never before in my bookish history have I seen an author go to such lengths for a story. The research Ficklin has done on every facet of Russian history and culture is sure to please even the harshest of critics. It is noted in the novel multiple times that this is a historic fiction and that Ficklin has taken some liberties in interpreting the tale. In all honesty, I believe that Ficklin's tale is probably closer to the truth than the history books have led us to believe, plus they give these historical figures a story for an entirely new generation of learners. Save a spot on your bookshelf of favorite, Ficklin has more than earned that empty space!
|
|
First off, I just need to say, WHAT THE HECK?!?! Ficklin you are literally trying to kill me. It's official, I've heard rumors that the author giggles at our pain, but I know it now...she's evil & wonderful all in one.
This is book 2, if you haven't read book 1, please go to that RIGHT NOW. I'm timing you, because it's THAT good. And book 2 does NOT let you down, actually, if they made book 2 into a TV show, I would not need anything else to watch for like a month, maybe longer. This book pushes off from where Book 1 left us, curled into a ball, waiting for more.. and it takes us through an insane rollercoaster of emotion. Sophie, now Catherine, has been battered, beaten and bruised by those at Russian court, but she's not giving up. She's going to rise above everyone who tried to push her down, and my god, she does it WELL! This character is so well described that I feel like I know her, I feel like Sophie was my best friend, and I watched her grow and change, I watched her heart break and heal again, and I can't wait to see what she does in the next book.
In this book, we dive more into Catherine, the queen, we see her start to grow into a ruler, a leader, and more importantly, a real woman. She has tied herself to Peter, for better or worse, and it seems worse is the way it's going to be, but now she's got Sergi at her side, to guard and protect her. He is definately my favorite. Move over Alexander, Sergi is here. Handsome, skilled, smart and cunning. Exactly what Catherine needs. Living life a a female in this time was hard, but a female royal? It's almost impossible not to misstep against someone, and that kept me on the edge of my seat, and made me want to read all day long instead of work. Catherine learned some hard lesson, but even as it killed us, it elevated her to a new level, and a new stage of the game
This book, much like book 1, leaves us waiting, wondering, dying for more. The way Ficklin ended this novel is so perfect, we know what Catherine/Sophie's plan is from here on out, and I for one CANNOT wait to see it happen. There are people in this novel just begging to be kicked off their high throne.
I honestly DO NOT want to wait for the final book! I don't! I wish i could throw a 3 year old level temper tantrum and get myself a copy right now, but that's just not going to happen.. sadly. (If I thought it would work, I'd be doing it FYI). This book is not to be missed. It raises the bar (which I thought couldn't get higher after book 1) and then jumps over it like an olympic pole vaulter, Ficklin clearly shows a mastery for the craft and for the ability to reduce her audience to a tiny little ball of emotion, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Bring on book 3! I'm ready!
|
|
A riveting sequel. Better than the first.
|