Heard as an audiobook. It was a marvelous recreation of an era and another country. Masha, Rasputin's daughter, is requested by the Czarina to entertain the royal son, at a time which coincides with the Red Army uprising and captivity of the Romanovs.
I very much enjoyed Masha's perspective on her father, whom I've only heard of incidentally, and on the Romanov rulers, as real people and not greedy rulers. Altho there was quite a bit of opulence, it is not clear that the final Romanov's would have chosen that.
My only disappointment with the book were the sections at the end describing in excessive detail Alexei's first sexual experience.
The Author Interview at the end explained how Masha died, which is why the story of Masha in America didn't continue beyond her performance as a wild cat trainer for a circus. ( )

This fictional book follows one of Rasputin’s daughters after he has been murdered. She (a teenager by this time) goes to live with the Romanovs and is there (I think) when they are taken away before they are murdered.

I can’t really tell you much more than that. I listened to the audio and it did not hold my attention at all. She seemed to be all over the place chronologically, which didn’t help. There would be something about her father, then living with the Romanovs and back and forth. Oh, and throw in some after the Romanovs were killed. Too bad – I usually do enjoy reading about the Romanovs. ( )

This is my favorite type of historical fiction-great writing, fascinating topic, and and amazing storytelling. Loved it! ( )

I've read several versions of Rasputins life and death, as well as the fall of the Romanoff family. This book didn't provide much new, except for the old Russian tales mixed in throughout the book. Stopped partway through. ( )

Kathryn Harrison's latest novel, Enchantments, takes place primarily in the year leading up to the execution of Russian Tsar Nikolay II and his family. After the murder of their father, Masha and Varya Rasputin are sent to live with the Russian Royal Family. It is Tsarina's hope that Masha has the healing abilities of her late father, Grigori Rasputin, who tended to Prince Alyosha, the Romanov heir who suffered from hemophilia. It is not long after the arrival of the sisters, however, that Tsar Nikolay is forced to abdicate the throne and placed under house arrest with his family. To pass the time and keep Alyosha's mind off his illness, Masha spins stories about the Romanov's, Rasputin, her own childhood and some Russian legends. These stories are intertwined with narrative that is focused on the reality of life under house arrest, as well of Masha's activities after the death of the Romanov's.

I very much enjoyed certain parts of this novel, including the sections of the narrative that give the reader insight into the history of the Romanov downfall, as well as those that provide a glimpse into the life and sufferings of young Alyosha. It is not difficult for the reader to appreciate the pain and despair that young Alyosha must have felt when suffering from a bout of hemophilia. I also liked Harrison's characterization of Grigori Rasputin, who rather than being portrayed as a 'Mad Monk' comes across as a misunderstood and sympathetic figure. Another positive aspect of this novel is Harrison's eloquent prose, which helps to illicit emotion from the reader.

While there is much to like about Enchantments, I do have mixed feelings about this book. Most of the novel is told from Masha's perspective, a character I found difficult to garner an interest in. Although Harrison has a lovely way with words, certain of her descriptions are overdone. While I enjoyed Masha's stories about both the Romanov's and her father, I found myself skimming over those stories that seemingly had little connection to the plot. Masha's post-Revolution life outside of Russia also held little interest to me. Lastly, I thought the constant jumps back and forth in time disruptive to the overall flow of the novel.

Despite my issues with certain aspects of Enchantments, I think the positives of the novel ultimately outweigh the negatives and for this reason I would recommend the book to readers interested in Russian history, as well as to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a more literary bent.
( )

I have ancestors that lived the life written about in so many Russian Novels and history books. I have always been intrigued by the Romanovs and their stories. Enchantments gave me another point of reference into their lives and those around them. Very well written with compassion for a family that was not always understood. I really enjoyed this book and would love to read other stories from Kathryn that take us inside this cursed family.
Thank you Kathryn.


I received this book free through a Goodreads giveaway. ( )

I've just spent a day in Tsarist Russia, with the daughter of the infamous Rasputin and the family of Tsar Nicolay. Enchantments is one of those perfect historical novels that inserts fascinating facts into a hypothesized storyline in such a way that you go merrily along, not questioning, just enjoying.

I had picked up the book as part of my course requirements for "Reading Fiction" for the Gotham Writers Workshop. I had to gulp it back as the library wants it back tomorrow, so it gave me an excuse to immerse myself and I was glad I did.

Well worth a read.
( )

This was one of those books that I wanted badly and then didn't read for about a year. I would pick it up and then put it back because I wasn't sure if I would like it. I love history, but I am not really at all familiar with the Romanov's. Unless you count the Anastasia movie from the 90s with Meg Ryan as the voice of Anastasia, which I am super sure is not at all historically acurate. Bats, after all, don't really talk.

And it they do someone better tell me.

So back to what I was saying. I wasn't sure if I would be captivated by the book. And I was so wrong. I fell in love with Alyosha, the heir to the throne, who suffered from hemophilia. And Masha, one of Rasputin's daughters who basically becomes Alyosha's companion after her father is killed. Their relationship was beautiful. They have an obvious connection in the book that was so sweet but also heart wrenching because, well, we all know what happened in real life to the Romanov's.

I loved Alyosha in this book. He was constantly sick, but he was very strong on the inside. I think he guessed what was going to happen to his family before the rest of them.

As for historical aspects, I really can't say how accurate certain parts were because I no pretty much nothing about this part of Russian history. But the book was written so well that I was ready to believe that this was a real story, which says something about the writing.

This was a wonderful, enchanting book about innocent love. I was left pondering for days afterward what would have blossomed between Masha and Alyosha had history been different. I definitely recommend this one. ( )

I like historical fiction and love the era of the Romanovs. This takes place after the death of the enigmatic Rasputin, who has left 2 daughters behind. Masha, the oldest is the hope for the young hemophiliac prince, Alyosha, but she does not possess the powers of her father, but she is a wonderful storyteller. She and Alyosha develop a bond as she tells him mostly made up stories about the palace. It is well-written in a magical type way, it is enchanting like the title. If compared to the historical fiction of Hillary Mantel, it is lacking but it is a step up from a Philippa Gregory HF novel. I think if just read as a novel, it holds up better. My favorite way to learn about history is through fiction but that doesn't mean everything in here is true. You will have to look facts yourself. But it is a different look at a fascinating time period. ( )

Rasputin is a name to which history has not been particularly kind: the Mad Monk, sexually rapacious charlatan, filthy heretic, villain, predatory opportunist who was amongst the major reasons for the overthrow of the last tsar of Russia. It is hard to tease out the man from the myth, a myth written by the historical victors and Kathryn Harrison, in her newest novel, Enchantments, doesn't really try to dispell or reinforce the popular view of the public Rasputin. Instead she comes at him obliquely, through the eyes of his daughter. And what of Rasputin's eldest daughter? Maria Rasputin was only 18 when her father was murdered and she and her younger sister were taken under the protection of the Romanovs. These two girls lived with the royal family during their final days in power and in the early days of their captivity and house arrest. Although the tsarina has hopes that Maria (Masha) has inherited her father's healing ability, the power to ease and stop Alexei's hemophilia, she hasn't. What Masha does have, through her growing friendship with Alexei (Alyosha) and life with the Romanovs, is an insider's view of the end of a reign, a daughter's understanding of her father, and a very personal connection to the flesh and blood people up against the execution wall of history.


Told many years after the Revolution, Masha looks back on her past, her father, and her friendship with Alyosha Romanov, recounting that pivotal year she lost her much beloved father and half fell in love with the tsarevich, entertaining him with her fantastical stories, distracting him from both his pain and the simmering knowledge that he and his family were living under a death sentence. Masha spends many hours with the tsarevich recounting Russian history, his family's personal history, and her father's life. She tells of Rasputin's early life and how he became known as the mystical healer upon whom the Tsarina latched to save her precious son. She doesn't gloss over the way he accepted sexual favors as his due nor over the way he put his position above the daughters who loved him so well and his succumbing to the worldly temptations of the capital but she shows him as a more balanced man, holy and gifted and feared and martyred in equal measure. She creates a picture of Grigory Rasputin that does not often jibe with other, perhaps admittedly, biased accounts.

But her own father's reputation and life is not all she speaks of with Alyosha. Masha creates fantastical tales of his parents' courtship and love match. She recounts the madcap celebration of Tsar Nikolay's coronation and the tragedy in its wake. She draws intimate pictures of both the Tsar and Tsarina, capturing their humanity far beyond them as symbols of the monarchy. And the tsarevich listens enthralled, always wanting more, learning to see through the imagination and eyes of Masha. As she acts as his Sheherazade, the two, Masha and Alyosha, bcome extraordinarily close companions and confidantes. Alyosha feels comfortable enough with Masha to try to explore his new and budding sexuality with her although the majority of their interactions are centered around the stories Masha tells, almost folkloric in feel.


While the end of the Romanov tale is in no doubt, Harrison has done a beautiful job with the pacing of this non-linear novel, keeping the tension high as they move inexorably toward their date with destiny. The novel is a seamless blend of history and fiction, with the latter bringing the real life characters into clearer focus, giving them inner lives, desires, and pressures. Her use of Masha as a story-teller to educate Alexei (and the reader) on the history behind his birthright is well done and believable even when she tells of the most fantastical events and happenings. There is a sense of inevitability and yet the small dogged desperation of hope woven throughout the novel. Although the story continues with Masha's life outside of Russia and touches on the almost unbelievable path she trod as a performer, once her connection to the Romanov family is gone, the story is somehow less captivating. The major interest here is her complicated relationship with the doomed tsarevich rather than her life post-Revolution. Harrison has drawn a magnificent picture of a Russia in turmoil and the preternaturally calm patch of it that the royal family tried to maintain as the noose tightened around them. The writing is magical and fanastical evoking place and character beautifully and the reading was smooth and satisfying. Historical fiction fans, especially those enchanted by the doomed beauty of the last of the Romanovs, will enjoy this novel very much. ( )

You may not know Matryona Grigorievna by her first two names, but you will recognize her last, infamous name: Rasputina. The daughter of either Russia's most famous eccentric and healer or her most prolific sham, depending on who is asked, Masha's unique and by turns sad, very strange and moving story of life after her father's abrupt (and excessively violent) murder is a sure-to-please strong-female-character-powered novel. Enchantments was exactly what I wanted from another Russian historical fiction set about the same time (The Last Romanov) and didn't get: a fresh, compelling point of view, set during a popular and dangerous time period (the fall of the Romanov dynasty), a slight hint of romance that doesn't overpower character and/or plot development and (hopefully) amply furnished with enough accuracy to keep the tension high and the audiences interest consistently piqued. Veteran author Kathryn Harrison gracefully executes all these disparate parts to their utmost, with clear and tactile imagery and compelling prose. This is a darker novel in tone, for obvious and unavoidable reasons, but the intensity of the setting, the crackling tension and the characters desperation make for a moderately fast read.

I enjoyed almost everything there was to Enchantments. I did find the plot a bit lacking in some extended areas, but this is a novel that is carried by the strength of its cast. Harrison has a dab hand for foreshadowing ("There are those people who cannot be transplanted from one age to the next."), incrementally building up tension, and in setting up crucial, expected scenes without veering into predictability. Though the fate of the Romanov family is well known, Harrison makes their years-long journey to the House of Special Purpose compelling and touching. The unique POV perspective distinguishes this novel, as does the fact that Enchantments is more concerned about tsarevich Alexei's final days than either his brood of sisters or his parents. This is one of those historical fiction novels that makes a reader want to know more about the source material. As a ardent history major and freak, I was already well-versed in a lot of Romanov and Bolshevik Revolution lore, but Harrison's thoroughly developed and rounded versions of these real, flawed people reignited a previous cultural fascination with Russia and her Imperial family - I was Googling away on a vast array of subjects, people and events that had impact on this story.

As I intimated earlier, it really is the characters that make The Enchantment so compulsively readable. While Harrison sticks to facts for the bulk of her work, Masha's romantic entanglement with young Alexei provides a light spot in an overwhelming sad life. I appreciate the light hand used for the relationship - it felt natural and right for both characters, while not overpowering the more dramatic and worldly plotlines of the novel. The author also avoids the issue of characterizing Rasputin outside of his role as a doting father - while his life obviously impacts his daughters, Harrison never takes a side in the debate about his role as healer or heretic. Masha, obviously, believes in the power of her mystic father, and her belief is compelling but not convincing. Worshiped by some, reviled by others, but only truly understood by his devoted eldest daughter, Rasputin's magnetic pull is in evidence largely in absentia and its continued affect on Masha's life after his death.

To get a bit less positive about the novel, I will say that I found the shifts between the past and the present to be a bit disorientating. The flashbacks themselves are well-timed and chock full of historical detail and data without weighing down the overall plot and increasing intensity. Even when the expected end comes for Alexei, OTMA and the Imperial pair, Masha's dispassionate voice manages to convey her deep sorrow while keeping her emotional distance. I found the last part of the novel — with Masha apart from the Romanovs — lacked the dynamic of the previous chapters. I struggled slightly through the later, introspection-heavy pages devoid of interaction with the other players. But despite those few issues, there isn't much to malign here in Enchantments.

The unique, fresh approach of Rasputin's daughter, the finely and intricately drawn backdrop of Imperialist Russia, the wonderfully realized characters all made for a great historical fiction novel. People now tend to view Rasputin with the benefit of hindsight, often confusing the man with whatever he did or did not to to aid the downfall of the Tsars. Kathryn Harrison's Enchantments, through the eyes and ideas of his tale-spinning daughter, is singular in that it shows Russia's Mad Monk as a person, as a dad even, to great effect. Every choice Masha makes is influenced by her father and his desires for her and reading her life story as imagined by this author is a nice piece of historical escapism. ( )

I loved this book when I started it. There is a very dreamy, fairy-tale aspect to the writing that was just wonderful to read. The story focuses on the daughter of Rasputin and her relationship with the son of the tsar. The teenagers, Masha and Aloysha tell each other stories about their lives and Russian historical events, mainly to distract Aloysha from pain caused by a chronic disorder. Alas, I was about halfway through this book when I dropped it in the bathtub! I will be purchasing another copy so I can finish the story. ( )

Summary
Told from the perspective of Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin's daughter Masha (Maria in real life), Enchantments is the story of her father Rasputin, his murder and the undoing of the Romanov family, including Masha's close relationship with the tsar's only son Aloysha (Alexai in real life).

After Rasputin's murder, Masha and her sister go to live at Tsarskoe Selo with the Romanovs in hopes that Masha has inherited at least some semblance of her father's healing powers. Aloysha is a hemophiliac and has grown to depend on Rasputin to overcome his many illnesses, including tremendous pain and suffering throughout his young life. Masha takes her father's place, telling Aloysha stories that she heard from her father, about his life, the life of Aloysha and his parents and the history of their families, spun creatively into cultural stories with fantastic elements and details as well as fact.

What I Liked
The details - while the details were sometimes hard to read (the assassination, Rasputin's murder, burial, and unburial, Aloysha's bleeding, etc.) they made the story real. I think that's important for a story like this one where a lot of people think they know the story...when they really don't.

Another side to Rasputin - I always believed that he was an evil charlatan who was in some way responsible for the deaths of the Romanovs. In short, I accepted the "legend" of Rasputin without question, something I teach my students not to do :( Through Harrison's story I now see that there is another side (as there always is)...to this tragedy. We may never know the exact truth behind Rasputin's relationship with the Romanovs, but it certainly wasn't the clear cut version we've grown to believe. The facts lead me to believe that he was certainly a man who suffered from some kind of mental illness (maybe schizophrenia?) but he was incredibly intelligent at the same time...there usually is a fine line. I will definitely be reading more about this character.

A new vision of "monarchy" - we tend to put the monarchy up above the rest of the world...when they are just families...unfortunately, though they are families with greater expectations than the rest of us will ever know...with a country as their child.

I realized this when the tsar's supporters reached out to his other family members across the world for political asylum and no one came to their aid for fear of consequences within their own realms. Very sad indeed.

The facts - there is enough mixture of fact and fantasy to stir my curiosity to the point of literary/historical obsession as usual...I "need" to find out more. I "need" to tease out what we know from speculation. I also am intrigued by what we don't know and how as time goes on, we are still learning and putting the pieces of the historical puzzle together.

What I Didn't Like
The treatment of the Romanovs while under arrest - I realize this was a revolution, and I realize that the Romanovs were considered prisoners of war...BUT they were a FAMILY...4 young women and a young boy, their mother and father, including some of their most trusted aids. The soldiers who murdered the Romanovs kept detailed records of how they killed the Romanovs...how does a human being walk up to an injured 13 year old boy, put his pistol on the side of his face and shoot twice to finish him off.
I know this sounds naive of me, but I just don't understand.

The more I learn about the monarchy...no matter which country...the Cinderella story is a lie. The Romanovs looked for places to go...for political asylum...but even their relatives in England, Germany, and other European countries wouldn't/couldn't take them in, probably more for political reasons than anything...as a monarch, the fate of your country and the safety of your subjects is always on your shoulders. If one family must be sacrificed for the whole country, then so be it.
Nope, no thanks, not me.

The yarns and legends woven into the stories - I think if I had more of a background in Russian literature/history/storytelling, I might have appreciated and understood these more. As the story moved on, I sometimes found myself skimming through some of the more colorful stories Masha told Aloysha (flying carpets and such).

The Romanovs were doomed from the beginning...every choice they made seemed to be misconstrued...For example, after their son, the heir to the Russian monarchy (the savior of Russia) was born a hemophiliac, they moved away from the public eye to protect him and keep his sickness as much a secret as possible. A move made to protect their son was falsely interpreted as conceited, and after living away from the city so long, they missed many of the early warning signs of turmoil that might have saved them. As much as I liked this novel, by halfway through I found myself wanting it to be over. I almost think I felt the symbolic cloud (which must have been some form of depression?) that followed Alexandra around. I was trying to explain this to my oldest daughter and she said, "It's sounds like how you feel when you're reading Anne Frank." Yep, exactly.

The "romance" between Alyosha and Masha. I don't know if I'd call this a romance or Alyosha trying to lose his virginity. I'm anxious to find out where this part of the story came from.

Overall Recommendation
As one who only knew the fairy tale version of this story up to this point, I'm assuming that this is a story for those, like me, who aren't already steeped in Russian history. You certainly need to be a lover of historical fiction for this one as well. ( )

I've enjoyed some of Kathryn Harrison's previous works, but Enchantments fell flat for me. I gave it 50 pages and opted not to finish. ( )

I just could not bring myself to like this novel very much. While I initially looked forward to the tale of the Romanov family told through the eyes of Rasputin's daughter, this novel failed to live up to expectations. Fragmented and nonlinear, much of the novel involved the stories told by Matryona Rasputin to Alexei Romanov, the hemophiliac tsarevich. Despite the novel's faults, what really spoiled the story for me was the attraction between the thirteen-year-old Alexei and the eighteen-year-old Matryona. I found the attraction between these characters unrealistic and it nearly made me stop reading the book. ( )

I desperately wanted to love this book. The cover, the Romanov's, the tragedy of Russia during this time period - it should all add up to be heart-wrenchingly beautiful.. but it was lacking a bit for me.

There's no doubt that Kathryn Harrison is a writer who commands attention - she had to have been otherwise I think I may have put the book down about halfway through. Instead, I persevered, muddling my way through fragments of stories until I reached the end. I think what it boiled down to was there were too many shifts, shifts of perspective/stories/time periods. I understand what Harrison was attempting to do, and give her high marks for taking on such a complicated subject, but I felt as if I was being stretched back and forth repeatedly while reading Enchantments until I was just wrung tight, worn out, and exhausted by merely reading the book.

I've read another book about Rasputin's daughter, one by Robert Alexander, and the story was completely different - so I appreciated the perspective put forth in this book (did you know Rasputin's daughter joined a circus? I had no idea!). I think if you are a fan of Russian history, and have a love for stories about the Romanov's, this is a book that will interest you - but I recommend it with a warning: just be prepared to feel like a bit of a patchwork quilt has been read. ( )

Couldn't really get into this tale of Rasputin's daughter. The tone was kind of florid and I found it dull. I like books about Russia and I was hoping this would be a good fit but it just didn't work for me. ( )

Oh how I loved this book. It was a perfect opportunity to put he stress of the last few weeks aside and to delve into great historical fiction.

Told from the perspective of Rasputin's daughter Masha, the reader learns a softer side of Rasputin. Known as the Mad Monk with a libido, a dirty peasant who helped topple the Romanov dynasty, and a starets who influenced Nicholas and Alexandra in their quest to help Alosha their hemophiliac son, Masha paints a broader picture of Rasputin.

In this novel we learn that he had three legitimate children, one simple minded, one manipulative, and another compassionate and strong.

In this novel, when Rasputin is killed two of his daughters become wards of the Romanovs. Masha becomes the friend of Alosha and as their relationship unfolds, we are privy to the every day lives of the royal family.

As the dynasty collapses and Alosha becomes increasingly bed ridden, there is a wonderfully written insight into the lush life filled with palaces, yachts and Fabrege eggs contrasted with the degradation suffered at the hands of the Bolsheviks.

Of interest is the fact that in real life, Masha escaped Russia, joined a circus and moved to the United States.

The beauty of historical fiction is that it opens doors to research truth from fiction. While Masha visited the royal palace with her father, she did not live with the Romanovs after her father died. ( )

Masha, Rasputin's eldest daughter comes to live at Tsarkoye Selo after her father's self prophesied death. The Tsarina hopes that Masha possesses the same gifts of healing that her father had. Masha instead has the ability of comfort. Alyosha, sensing the impending revolution listens as Masha spins stories about their parents and Mother Russia, imaging a life beyond the reach of the Revolutionaries. When the Revolution explodes, Alyosha and Masha are separated. Masha flees, but always feels Russia's wounds, especially after being given Alyosha's diary.

Masha's voice make a heart breaking story magical. Alyosha's sickbed becomes the place Masha passes time. While Alyosha and Masha grasp the seriousness of their imprisonment, they liberate themselves by flying all over the world. I definitely felt sympathy for a boy in danger of losing his life and a girl who had lost her father. The lyricism and majesty of the spun stories was wonderful. I really enjoyed this book! ( )

In a recent interview, the historian Paul Johnson said that he writes history in order to learn about it. I kept thinking about that statement as I was reading Kathryn Harrison's vivid and engaging new novel, Enchantments, for she must have had to do an enormous amount of research and take it all in to her bones in order to get this book to feel as right as it does. The framework of her story is a familiar one - the last days of Nicholas and Alexandra, their family and immediate circle. That circle included the daughters of the recently assassinated madman/holyman Rasputin, who could heal with one touch of his perpetually unwashed hands, whose sexual conquests were legion, despite his adamant disregard for personal hygiene. The Tsarina, convinced that the "Mad Monk"'s daughters must have inherited his healing powers, insists that they accompany the family to their country home where they are kept under house arrest as Russia descends into political chaos. The story is told from the clear-eyed perspective of the eighteen year old daughter Masha, who, unable to heal the hemophiliac young Tsarovich, can only sit with him and tell him fantastic stories, as the circle draws tighter and the inevitable end looms nearer.

Historical fiction can be difficult to pull off, but like Peter Carey or David Mitchell or Hilary Mantel, Harrison here blends history with fiction so thoroughly that we eagerly buy the world she creates for us. Fact never overwhelms story, the story feels utterly rooted in an awful kind of reality. Dialogue, which is often the most difficult trick in the game to pull off, rings true. All of which is to say I loved this book. Don't miss it. ( )

If you know anything about the Romanov family, Enchantments is the kind of story that will make you feel. As is the case with all historical fiction dealing with well known royals, we know how this story will end, and it’s not a happy ending. We go on a journey with Masha and Alyosha, both during their time together and after they are separated, which is a fantastical and magical thing to share.

I didn’t know that Rasputin had any children, so I was surprised to learn that he actually was a married man with two legitimate daughters and a son. Much of the story concerning Masha is entirely fictional, as I didn’t see any evidence in internet searches that indicate Rasputin’s daughters spent any time with the Romanov family after his death. That being said, I don’t think a lot of people vaguely familiar with Rasputin know about his family, this isn’t something I learned much about in school, so it makes for a great story using a group of people who actually lived.

The adventures are all through stories, as we all know now that Alyosha was a hemophiliac and didn’t get much time outdoors in his life. Masha makes up all kinds of stories for him, some using real characters from their lives, such as members of their family, or making up Handsome Alyosha who is able to do all the things the real Alyosha could never do. It really helps you feel like there’s a little bit of light in this otherwise hopeless situation, and does make me a little more sad that this piece is completely fictional.

There is a bit of a blossoming romance between Masha and Alyosha, although they’re both so young that it really is only the start of something that could have eventually become more. Unfortunately, we’re working under a limited timeframe given the actual historical events, though I would have loved to see a story using the conspiracy theory that Alyosha did live and perhaps went on to have the life he wanted with Masha.

Once Masha and Alyosha part ways, we see the rest of her adulthood unfold, and through other means we learn of some of the last parts of Alyosha’s life. In this book, he doesn’t have any false hope that he or his family will live – which makes me wonder how the real boy handled this portion of his life. Was it easier for him, since he likely knew his life came with an expiration date anyway? Either way, what a horrible way to live.

I had a hard time reading the end of the lives of the Romanov family, simply because of the knowledge of their true end. It’s a very emotional book, covering details I didn’t know and making me realize how terrifying these last few months must have been for them. I’m generally a sympathizer with most murdered royals, this family being no exception, and I spent a lot of tears as we got closer and closer to the end. I always wish this could end differently! ( )

Enchantments is the story of the last days of the Romanovs, told from the perspective of Masha, the daughter of the late Rasputin, and Aloysha, the young deposed tsar to be. To distract themselves while they are under house arrest, Masha and Aloysha begin trading stories--about the history of the Romanovs, the romance of Aloysha's parents, and the mystical life and death of Rasputin. As Masha and Aloysha tell more stories, they become closer and closer. Sadly, history is not kind to these young adults, but the novel explores how their relationship grows.

I found that although the writing is good in Enchantments, I didn't enjoy the structure of the novel. The story jumps around a lot and about midway through the novel I found myself forgetting which narrative I was following and when I was listening to a story and when I was in the novel's "present". Usually flashbacks in novels don't bother me, but the total lack of a linear story really bothered me here. When I sat back and thought about all of the pieces of the novel and how they fit together I enjoyed the story as a whole, but the presentation really threw me off. I also found the characters in the present to be a bit flat, since they are all essentially waiting for their fate. I know the author likely assumed everyone knew what happened to her characters, but it still made the story less interesting to me as a reader. This novel may be worth checking out if you are a fan of the Romanovs. ( )

Enchantments is a fictional (but based on true events) account of Masha, Rasputin's daughter, and the role she played in the last days of the Romanovs. After the death of her father, Masha is taken to live with the last Tsar's family as they are under house arrest. Through her, we get to know the good and the bad about Russia's royal family and the tribulations of their last year. Unable to heal through thought like her father, Masha does what she can for the hemophiliac Alexei - she tells tales like Scheherazade to distract him through his pain. And like the princess from The Arabian Nights, Masha tells her stories to stave off their inevitable death. The tales she tells to the young prince give us a rich story of her father, the Mad Monk, the dissolute Russian aristocracy, the love between the last Tsar and his wife Tatiana, and descriptions of St. Petersburg.

Unlike some novelists, who might approach this kind of tale as a series of short stories cobbled together, Harrison makes her transitions smooth - the reader is unaware of the move between tales, and sections of Masha with Alexei are seamless and rich. Masha makes the royal family likable, pitiable. Her descriptions of her father humanize him, make him understandable, if not sympathetic. The sections following Masha's life after her time with the royal family are more abrupt, a bit rough. The chronology shifts back and forth between her future and Alexei's final days. I must say, I preferred Masha's account of Russia more than her future in Paris and America. Once she leaves the royal family, the tone of the novel shifts enough to make it feel as though one were reading another book altogether.

The author fuses the sublime with the earthly quite effortlessly. It's as easy to see Rasputin conversing with the Virgin Mary in the woods as it is to see him bedding half of Russia's female aristocracy after his brushes with the divine. Masha's tales do not exclude the brutal or the sexual elements that would have been present - in short, she is not just telling fairy tales to her young prince. Her characterizations present all sides of various characters in her repertoire, and Harrison must be given credit for making all of these lofty and distant historical figures seem immediate and human. Their deaths were poignant, and I found myself hoping against history that some kind of deliverance would come to them.

The only fault I have with this novel is its lack of teleology. Never while reading the novel did I feel like I were being taken on a journey with a fixed end. The stories that ran together so smoothly seemed without purpose. This may not bother other readers - perhaps I'm too goal-oriented with my fiction. If you're looking for a pleasant novel with lovely, descriptive prose to fill an evening, this may be what you're looking for. The scenes of Russia at the turn of the century are worth the read, but overall the book lacked that special something to really get me involved. ( )

Harrison’s prose and storytelling skills are absolutely captivating. What is actually happening to the Romanovs in captivity serves as little more than a backdrop, as Masha spins her slightly fantastical stories. These stories serve to give both Alyosha and the reader a basis for understanding what is happening in Russia and how things got to such a point. They are by no means told chronologically, but between Harrison’s lovely writing and the masterful way she sets up the plot, this is not distracting and does not take away from the reader’s understanding of the circumstances. What is quite impressive is how quickly Harrison keeps the story moving along, despite how little is happening in Masha’s present – although it doesn’t hurt that what does happen tends towards the dramatic.

http://www.devourerofbooks.com/general/enchantments-by-kathryn-harrison-book-rev... ( )

Masha Rasputin, and her younger sister Varya, became the wards of deposed Tsar Nickolay Romanov in 1917 shortly after her father’s mutilated body is pulled from the river. The daughter of Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin, known better as the Mad Monk Rasputin, she understands the only safe place for them is with the tsar and his family even though she would rather leave St. Petersburg to be with her mother back in Siberia. Masha and Varya leave for the imperial palace and soon find themselves under arrest with the royal family.

Hoping that Masha has inherited some of her father’s mythical healing powers, Tsarina Alexandra asks Masha to attend her son Alyosha, the tsarevich and next in line to carry on the Romanov dynasty. Sick since birth --- his hemophilia is unspoken of and he is never seen in public unless healthy --- Alyosha suffers from extreme loneliness and is burdened with the knowledge that he will die earlier than expected. Terrified of the slightest bump causing unseen, and unstoppable bleeding, the tsarina prays constantly for his health and will do anything she can to keep him safe, including bringing in Rasputin to heal him when necessary. While she never directly says it, she wants the same thing from Masha, who knows she cannot provide the same reassurance, or healing powers, the tsarina is looking for.

What Masha can do is tell stories and she spends her days with Alyosha telling him about her family, every detail of her father’s life, their home in Siberia, her love of horses, and they discuss what they would do if they were to escape. Alyosha knows their lives will end but doesn’t speak of this to anyone but Masha who fears he may be correct but doesn’t want to believe too strongly in his convictions. Their stories and time together become an escape, not only the loneliness they both suffer from, but from daily reminders of what little life holds for them at the moment.

If you know anything about the Romonovs, it’s a sad time for this once powerful family. The tsar no longer holds any power and the tsarina has lost herself in her religion spending her days praying for the safety of her son almost oblivious to the fact there is nothing left of their former life. The four Romanov daughters are not spoken of much but are mostly just background players filling out the tableau of characters. It’s all about Masha and Alyosha and the stories she’s telling him --- her own form of healing therapy. While she doesn’t have the healing powers of her father, she can distract Alyosha and take him away from the horror that has become their lives.

Each chapter in this book is a small story tied together by the people involved. You can’t really think of this book as traditional with a beginning, middle, and end but if you take each chapter as a story of its own, it’s an intriguing book. No, things won’t tie up nice and neat but you will get the thread of story as if someone were telling you about their time with a dear friend and what they spoke about and did during their time together. It’s also a very sweet love story of two teenagers who know they have no future together but spend each day trying to forget what they can’t change. They’re in an untenable situation but they manage to seek out the only the joy they can find.

This book is aptly named. The story, while in no way linear, is a tale of love and hardship that spans years. Harrison doesn’t ignore the ghost of death hanging over everyone but manages to make the situation one of hope and a life dreamed of outside of palace walls. ( )