The Witches of St. Petersburg audiobook

Iba con las expectativas bajas pero vamos, me ha sorprendido mucho, y me ha gustado. Tengo que decir que tendremos algunas partes lentas y el libro no es para leerlo con prisas, es para empaparse bien de todo. Me ha fascinado como ha llevado la autora todo el tema histórico, fantástico porque pese a ser ficción la mayoría es todo historia verídica, tendremos toques de magia oscura pero es un toque que no le quita el valor histórico a la novela, ya que la protagonista fue un personaje histórico real y su historia es así, pero en versión novela. Además pese a que sabemos que pasa al final no lo que pasa con ella y su hermana, lo que nos lleva a seguir sin parar hasta el final y saber su destino.

The Witches of St. Petersburg gathers up a lot of my interests. Court Royalty, historical fiction and the occult seems to be a concentration of mine. I perhaps have obtained a major in historical fiction, with a minor in court intrigue as well as the occult. I have always been interested in the royals, vying for succession and power, marriage alliances, using each other as pawns. Killing for the sake of succession. Throughout all of these, madness and the occult are never far. What was different for me around this, is that I knew very little of Russian history, and almost nothing about Rasputin, our infamous nefarious evil character who commands the dark arts as generals command armies. Rasputin is one of our most evil historical characters. He commanded the Tsar and Tsarina, and the entire court, the armies and the militia. Something about him was commanding and mystical. He enticed, forced women to sleep with him, carouse with him, and called it a "healing." In this account, he even beat their sins out of them, and they were willing to this cause - so great was their faith. But in this tale, he was not completely unopposed. He had two women, our heroines, Militzia and Stana, our "Black Princesses." Known for pitch black hair and eyes, these Cinderella figures were also known as the Goat Princess, and they were seen as peasants and intruders and treated as such. They were not accepted into the court, and had to vie for power. Not to mention the sisters had the gifts of the occult, and were not afraid to use it as leverage to save their skins. They both introduced and created Rasputin to the Russian community, and were responsible for the catastrophic impact of that cascade. Rasputin became unstoppable. To digress for just a moment from the storyline, I want to share an everyday moment. I was in a Starbucks line, missing the beginning of a 4th grade soccer game, where I missed my son making an incredible life defying goal. A woman commented on the book I was holding, The Witches of St. Petersburg. I love that, because normally, I am the one to bee peeking at the titles folks are reading, and to engage them in book discussions. Anyway, the woman was intrigued because she was Russian and she had just returned from St. Petersburg two days earlier. I read the back of the book - synopsis, and we talked about her history briefly. She said, "Its so funny how the women were blamed back then for producing daughters, when nowadays, science, we know sex is entirely determined by the men. Y chromosome and all that. Women feared for their lives if they couldn't produce a son. They were killed for it, abandoned. Its why they turned to the dark arts." She also told me of the little Tsar having hemophilia, which of course they didn't understand scientifically back then, or how to treat it. I didn't realize that this all came from Queen Victoria's line, the "royal disease", which emerged from way back when, the curse of the Tudors. Where the curse was, whoever was responsible for the death of the boys in the tower, would never be able to produce sustaining male heirs, and that appears to have come all the way through history. Obviously, my coffee line partner wasn't talking about the English monarchy, she was much more steeped in the Russian, which I found interesting. But clearly the long awaited Tsar, and his hemophilia, was the perfect storm for a Rasputin to enter, and that landscape of fear was his calling card and source of his power. Tsarina Alix would do whatever it took to keep that child safe, and linked Russia's fate with Rasputin's. And therefore the Black Princesses, too.My coffee line partner says there is much lore in Russia about Rasputin, and the greatness of his powers. That he was stabbed, shot, drowned, and poisoned, and his strength was so great, he still didn't die. She said medically (autopsy) he lived underwater long after he should have drowned, and it was medically impossible. The book strongly hints at that too. He is as scary and evil as Voldemort, or any other character. And I must admit that while I was writing the review, and thinking about how all of these women were swayed by this character of ill-repute who gained power by a mixture of charm, power over others, and his "cock", that the unlikely image of Donald Trump continued to come to mind. How people allowed this man to overrun way past any boundary, political, personal, in ways that defy our understanding. Our black princesses seemed to me to be no different than any other female court royalty in trouble and in danger. No more or less noble or nefarious. They were just trying to save their lives, and in a way, Russia's. The idea being that no one should hold that much power. Which is an interesting thought, for both the political and the occult. Militzia, far more than Stana, is the heroine of the book. Stana too is more ruled by desire, Militzia by principle, and powerful strategy. And yet Militzia had that privilege due to the happier marriage, and perhaps that makes a difference. Her husband was a minor character, but I have to say that I liked him. He and his brother were stand-up men at a time, where scheming and power-grabbing men were also at the center of the book as well as in history. Historical fiction is really wonderful, because we get to take a well known story and make guesses, really develop the characters inside of them and give them feeling, warmth, heart, and motivations. I loved learning more about Russia, and also the occult piece, which appeared to fit right in, and actually always has throughout our history of court royalty and the fight for succession and power. These women were noble ladies with a badass spirit. A combination I very much like. 4 stars and I really enjoyed this.

My Rating 4.5*Oh my! What a book! What a tale! The Witches of St Petersburg is a book that is filled with both fact and fiction, as we are taken on a fascinating historical journey back in time to that of the Russian Imperial Court and the Romanovs.Described as a ‘lavish’ read, this book is an obvious labour of love for the author, a book that has it’s roots in a conversation between the author and a very dear friend, journalist Nikolai Antonov, back in 1992.Historical fiction, from many different eras, always holds a special appeal for me, but I must admit this is the first book that I have read with such a Russian theme.The Witches of St Petersburg were real. Two sisters, Princesses from Montenegro, with an interest in the occult, their father married them off to Russian aristocrats with money and influence. Montenegro was in financial difficulties at the time and he needed his daughters to marry for power, in the hope of strengthening his own position in Eastern affairs.Militza and Anastasia (Stana) came to St. Petersburg with an aura attached that immediately made folk uncomfortable in their presence. Members of the Russian elite shared no affection for the two sisters, sniggering behind their backs and referring to the smell of goat that followed them whenever they entered a function room or banquet hall. Militza and Stana did meddle with the ‘otherworld’ and soon their reputation preceded them at certain private events, among others who believed in the spirits and who requested their presence at the Ouija boards and clairvoyant tables.Militza’s marriage developed into a respectful partnership and her married life was happy but for Stana, life was very difficult. Her husband had little regard for her and spent most of his time keeping other company in Biarritz. This left Stana with time on her hands, and together with Militza they inveigled their way into the company of the Tsar and Tsarina, soon becoming part of the inner circle. With this position came trust and the sisters were to learn the most secret thoughts of the Tsarina, a lonely woman who craved a son, a young prince to carry on the reign of the Romanov family. But this struggle to bear a boy was real and the sisters, using every method and manner at their disposable, welcomed many a guru and renowned charlatan into the fold.As the years passed the Tsarina failed to give birth to a boy and the sisters became very concerned about their own, by now quite elevated, positions within the court. Looking to the spirit world, the sisters begged for help and assistance. This was the point when the lives of all at the court were to change dramatically.Grigori Rasputin, a roaming mystic from a small village in Siberia, was to become a huge part in the ultimate collapse of the Russian Empire. His arrival to St Petersburg carried with it an air of mysticism and hope. These were challenging times in Russia, with the ordinary folk repelled by the lavish and opulent lifestyles of the aristocracy. Rasputin’s timely appearance was just what the court needed. His ability to influence their decisions and lives is just fascinating to read about. The descriptions of this man are truly vile. His lifestyle was incredible, as he built a harem of women from all walks of life who adulated him and craved his company in every manner. These women were willing to succumb to all his sexual demands with a frenetic fervor that was quite incredible. Every description of Rasputin refers to his lack of cleanliness, his odour, his general appearance but yet he attracted the Russian elite to him like bees to a honey trap.His power over the Imperial family is clearly documented as was his introduction to the court by Militza and Stana but this was to be one of the greatest mistakes they could have made……I was both repulsed and intrigued reading about Rasputin. Imogen Edwards-Jones leaves very little to the imagination, as his treatment of women and his lewd behaviour is quite graphically described. Not for the faint of heart I might add. The action of many of the aristocracy at the time was heavily influenced by their addiction to opiates, with cocaine being one of many elixirs imbibed. The party atmosphere was quite dark with seances and mystical behaviour a huge attraction. Mixed with a high intake of drugs and a penchant for sexual deviances, these were very hedonistic times indeed!!The Witches of St Petersburg is almost encyclopedic, with it’s vast list of characters and it’s background insight into the Romanov family and it’s subsequent downfall. I did struggle with all the names but there is a glossary at the beginning that can be referred to if necessary.The Witches of St Petersburg is certainly a book that may not appeal to all. There are quite explicit images that many may have a difficulty in reading about. Imogen Edwards-Jones does not spare in her descriptions, particularly those of Rasputin, where you can almost smell him off the pages. Quite a despicable character in every way.The Witches of St Petersburg portrays the decadent lifestyle of the Russian aristocracy. As the empire was falling down around them, they seemed almost oblivious to the chaos that was looming.It is quite clear that the author is passionate about Russian history. The level of detail, the references to the fashion, the jewels, the architecture, combined with the debauchery and the occult, all make for one very exhilarating and fascinating read.I had never before heard of ‘The Black Peril’, as the sisters became known as. It really is worth looking up their history alone with Militza living until fairly recently, 1951.The Witches of St Petersburg is an intoxicating read, an, at times, uncomfortable read, but always, an intriguing and engrossing read. One for all historical fictions fans and especially if there is the added interest in the black arts…..Provocative. Compelling. Scandalous. Outrageous. Intriguing.

4,5⭐Esta novela me cautivó por ser sobre la corte rusa justo en la época de Nicolás, Alexandra y Rasputín. He de confesar que sobre los Romanov apenas sabía mucho, solo había visto la película animada de Anastasia, que me encanta, y poco más, así que ya tenía que leer por unas cosas y otras este libro. Historia mezclada con ficción no podía fallar. Y no me ha decepcionado. Nos encontramos siguiendo la vida de Militza y Stana, aunque principalmente la primera, Militza tiene poderes y más relación con el espiritismo y lo oculto que su hermana, pero también tiene ambición. Las dos princesas de Montenegro han sido casadas con hombres de la corte rusa y Militza no piensa desaprovecharlo, así que lucha por hacerse un hueco en la vida de los zares, principalmente de Alix, la zarina, y así conseguir mejoras para su país, pero, sobre todo, para sí misma. La historia se centra en en dos partes, la primera en que los zares consigan tener un heredero y, cuando parece que la historia se hace repetitiva, sucederá algo que cambiará de tercio, tornándose una historia más oscura y en algunos puntos lasciva, así que si no os gusta leer sexo (no hay mucho, por si acaso aviso) tal vez os eche para atrás. Es una historia pausada, no esperéis giros dramáticos y agilidad por doquier, es de cocción lenta pero segura. A mí, personalmente, este tipo de lectura me encanta, porque no llega a hacerse densa. Vemos cómo la corte rusa vivía de lujos excesivos y fiestas estrafalarias, incluso drogas. ¡La reseña completa en el blog!https://tintaliteratura.blogspot.com/...

Me encantó, una novela basada en la historia real de 2 hermanas que movieron los hilos de la corte en Rusia, su relación con Rasputín, exposición a los Zares.

I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks"The Witches of St. Petersburg" by Imogen Edwards-Jones follows two sisters---Militza and Stana---who marry into senior positions of the Romanov court. The sisters are often shunned because of their ties to the impoverished country of Montenegro and for their dabbling with the occult. Tsarina Alexandra is an outsider as well. So far she has only managed to have daughters which are no use to the continuance of the Romanov dynasty. This is the perfect opportunity for Militza and Stana to make their way into the very heart of the Romanov court where they befriend Alexandra and help her succeed in producing a male heir. Though their power is elevated, a sickly male heir is produced, and the sisters discover Rasputin who they think will be their salvation, only for him to be the future demise of everything they hold dear.This is going to be a book you either love or hate. I personally did enjoy it, though I had issue with a few plot points. I think the book started off promising and read like traditional historical fiction. We are introduced to two sisters who are princesses of Montenegro. No one at the Romanov court likes them. They are considered strange, plus they dabble with the occult. I really enjoyed the setup with the sisters, how they go about their daily lives, and how eventually they wind up being with Tsarina Alexandra and helping her produce a male heir. Imogen Edwards-Jones does a great job of presenting the fact that the sisters do practice magic, but it's done in such a way that you really have no idea if what they are doing is magic or if everything is just coincidence. You can often read a situation as being more science than magic, but obviously the characters don't realize that. Edwards-Jones also does a fantastic job playing around with the Tsar and Tsarina and their obsession with superstition and paranoia. Militza and Stana play right on in to that superstition, fear, and paranoia to help elevate their standing in the Romanov court. Of course, everything comes with a price. I'm not entirely sure what is fact and fiction (because I am not familiar with the historical figures of Militza and Stana at all), but the sisters are apparently responsible for introducing Rasputin into the lives of Nicholas and Alexandra after Alexei is born with hemophilia. As we know, Rasputin claimed to be a holy man, but he was sex-crazed, uncontrollable, and ultimately became the downfall of the Romanov dynasty. It's once Rasputin enters the equation that some of the plot got a bit outlandish and over the top for me. I did enjoy that the sisters got way more than they bargained for and that Rasputin isn't everything they were hoping, so we see the sisters facing the consequences for their decisions. I thought all of that was nicely plotted. What I was having issues with were some of the sex scenes involving Rasputin, especially his interactions with Militza. These scenes verged into the vulgar and were rather disgusting to be quite honest. I totally understand what Edwards-Jones was doing with these scenes and their purpose in the narrative, but they were too lengthy and too often. They made me very uncomfortable, to say the least. Think about it this way, do you want to read a historical fiction book about a woman having wild and crazy sex with Hitler and talking about his "large shaft" over and over again? That's what you get with Militza and Rasputin...and it was gross. I have visuals in my head that I can't un-see now. I feel like the sex scenes could have been seen starting, but cut away and talked about later. We didn't need to read about the whole act of sex going on between them.I did really love the characters of Militza and Stana. They are two real historical figures, and I'm ashamed to just now be learning about them. And it's wild, considering how much imperial Russia I read about Tsar Nicholas II, and I'm just now finding out about these two women. If it's true they introduced the court to Rasputin, they are huge pivotal figures to this time in history and it's horrible that history has neglected them. I found Militza and Stana to be just as fascinating as many of the other people who dominated this time in history. I think Edwards-Jones did a great job allowing the reader to feel sympathy for the sisters, introducing that their country is poor, they needed to get married off. Militza has one of the better relationships/marriages in this book with her husband Grand Duke Peter. But poor Stana has a terrible first marriage until she marries a second time for love. You really get a sense of them as real people, their flaws and vulnerabilities, the things that make them tick or make them happy, and why they do the things that they do.Overall, this is the type of book I think you'll either like or dislike. Some plot points were a little much for me, the dark magic could be a little ridiculous on occasion (and gross), and the sex scenes with Rasputin were absolutely terrible and uncalled for. But what I enjoyed were the characters more than anything. Great female heroines that have been neglected by history. Edwards-Jones has a great sense of the history, everything from clothes, food, even a ballet that might have been going on at the time. You read this book knowing the ending and that everything will end in tragedy. I recommend this book if you do love all things imperial Russia and the Romanovs. Just be warned that the magic and sex might be a bit startling if you aren't comfortable with that sort of thing.

Me ha parecido una novela muy sorprendente, no sabía que la autora se había documentado tanto porque parece más una historia inventada. El personaje de Rasputín me parece que está muy bien reflejado y me sorprende todo lo que hacía y el poder que tenía. Veo que los Romanov no salen muy bien parados, no sé hasta qué punto se dejarían llevar por ese personaje tan fascinante. Y no digo más, que estoy desvelando demasiado, si os interesa la historia os recomiendo que lo leáis.

A very encompassing viewpoint of Russian society in the early days of the Romanovs. I must confess I knew very little about Rasputin, so this was quite illuminating.

Intrigas palaciegas, la leyenda de Rasputín, un poco de brujería. Me ha encantado!

He disfrutado mucho de esta lectura por la visión que nos da de la Rusia de los zares, de los excesos, de la opulencia, de la confianza en lo paranormal y en los charlatanes. Pero es verdad que si vas buscando brujas, no lo vas a encontrar aquí, y, además, me parece que la autora tiene un problema con la construcción de los personajes.

http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2018/1...I must admit I enjoy finding out about women who have impacted on history (who, let’s face it, are often forgotten or buried) and The Witches of St Petersburg brings the lives of Princesses Militza and Anastasia to life.My interest was piqued in the prologue which continued throughout the 416 pages. Mysticism and the occult is in evidence at key points (some scenes raising the hairs on the back of my neck) as is the use of elixirs/plant extracts for combating fatigue and lifting the spirits. There is quite a ‘Neptunian’ feel to the story until Rasputin is introduced to the court where I felt it became more feral and rooted in our more baser desires. I couldn’t make up my mind whether he was a true mystic or just charismatic, making people believe what they wanted to believe. I doubt there aren’t many people who haven’t heard of Rasputin (brought to the notice of my generation by Boney M’s song!) and yet probably not that it was Militza and Anastasia who introduced him to the Russian aristocracy.I felt the rejection as keenly as the Princesses did when they first came to court, feeling affronted by the rude comments and very frustrated that they were being judged on where they had come from. With everyone determined to keep their place in the hierarchy, Militza (using her second sight) and Anastasia becoming close to the Tsar and Tsarina and holding power brings even more derision their way as well as making their own positions very precarious. Oh the rumours and intrigue! And the extreme lengths people are capable of! There is plenty of negative vibes to get the adrenalin coursing and emotions involved.I have felt as if I have been living in Russia from the 1889 through to the turbulent times in 1916, experiencing halycon summers and bitter winters. The social calendar; the politics; the sights; the smells and the sounds have drawn me in and made me an accomplice alongside the ‘goat princesses.’The Witches of Petersburg takes us on a journey of two naive young women who become survivors as they fight for a secure place in the Romanov court. I would love to see this serialised on our TV screens. A recommended read from me.

Las brujas de San Petesburgo, es un extraordinario relato sobre los oscuros secretos( y ni tan secretos) sobre la vida de la familia Romanov y su corte.Dos mujeres que no están satisfechas con la suerte que le estaba reservada para la Historia. Militza y Stana de Montenegro, una vez obligadas a casarse con miembros de la aristocracia Rusa, Militza empieza a destacar con ciertos poderes oscuros y se siente fascinada con el mundo espiritista.Una vez que la Zarina se encuentra desesperada por dar a luz a un heredero, las hermanas cobraran un papel importante en la historia de Rusia, ya que ella, fue una de las personas que introdujeron Rasputín en la corte imperial por intermediación de una de las damas de la emperatriz, Anna Výrubova. Una vez introducido a la corte , Rasputin despliega todo su encanto y conocimientos, ganándose así no solo el favor de la familia real, sino que también buena parte de la aristocracia . A medida que las paginas avanzan, nos sumerge mas dentro de la vida en el palacio, sus alrededores, hechos históricos determinantes , y que fueron clave para el derrocamiento de toda una dinastía.No podría estar mas que feliz de haber leído tan increíble novela.

I was so excited when this book was finally released. I was all ready to read it and then I saw the reviews. They really weren't favorable towards the book. I was brave and continued on. First, I was happy with the writing. Then I found I was happy with the story. I liked it! The bits and pieces that prior reviews thought were to "rude or vulgar" or difficult to stomach I found to be fitting for the story. The story would not be the same without them. I finished it in a couple of days. So happy to have read it!