This is one of those fabulous novels set in Russia like Doctor Zhivago, Anna Karenina and War and Peace which one wants to go on for ever and ever.
Charles Belfoure takes one right to the beating heart of the Imperial Court in 1904. Nicholas and Alexandra, the loving parents of the four Grand Duchesses, have not yet got a son and heir to protect the Romanov throne.
Russia is a land of two extremes: the hugely wealthy aristocracy, and the peasants living in filth and dying of famine. All around the Royal Couple the storm clouds of revolution gather.
Written with style and elegance this is one of the best novels of the early years of the revolution I have ever read.

The opulence and the decadence of the Romanov dynasty are brought to life in this novel, set in the early 20th Century in Russia. The author contrasts this masterfully with the poverty and hopelessness of the peasants along with the abuse of the Jewish citizens. Rather than attempting to rectify some of the innate problems of the working class, the Romanovs blamed the Jews for all the problems and perpetrated the pograms.

The author Charles Belfoure, an architect himself, describes the architectural splendor of various palaces in vivid detail. He also painted exquisite mental pictures of the Faberge eggs and other artworks. Oftentimes in the midst of this novel, I felt that I was there, in the palace, with a personal guide describing the most intricate nuances of art.

The story, itself, is set during the reign of Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. The stage is being set for the revolution and the reader is privy to the quest for a better life. In this book, the quest was for a constitution that would provide rights for all the people. As we know, that wasn’t the way things turned out for the peasants.

This novel encompassed a lot of history and is well worth a read. I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House, in exchange for an honest review. I heartily recommend The Faberge Secret.

Prince Dimitri Markhov is one of the closest companions of tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra. He's an architect, which makes him one of the few aristocrats with a real job, while his wife Lara likes nothing more than to gossip and meet with her lovers. When Dimitri meets the young doctor Katya at a ball and she takes him to a few art meetings, he discovers that the situation of the peasants in Russia is worse than his friend the tsar wants him te believe. Jews are killed in pogroms, while children sleep in dirty houses and the war with Japan is draining the imperial coffins. Slowly, Dimitri starts to doubt his aristocratic friends and joins the revolutionary cause.

I was happy to be approved for this book of a new to me author because of its beautiful cover (gorgeous, isn't it?) and interesting setting. I always enjoy books that take place in Russia under the tsars. I can't really explain why, I just find the Romanovs an interesting dynasty.

But when I started reading I was afraid this would be too much a love story as the blurb suggests. But luckily, I enjoyed the story no less. There are enough elements to like. The novel is written in short chapters from different perspective which kept the pace up.

Dimitri's character is in constant conflict between his friendship with the imperial couple and his new views on Russia and the need for change. There are also some interesting side characters such as the baron, Lara and of course Nicholas and Alexandra. Their struggle with the sickness of their son touched my heart.

The ending was perhaps a bit too perfect for my liking but I understand the author's choice. As Dimitri Markhov apparantly isn't based on a real person, this was the perfect way to write him out of what happens next.

I hadn't heard of the jeweller Fabergé and his famous imperial eggs before. I loved the descriptions of the eggs, and all other cultural references to Tolstoj and Tchaikovsky in the story. I hope to one day marvel at a Fabergé egg in real life.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher to provide me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Prince Dimitri Markhov, an aristocrat and architect, lives a life of luxury in St. Petersburg in 1903. His close friendship with Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra insure a life in the Imperial Court cocooned from the plight of Russia's common people. After witnessing the death and destruction brought on by a pogrom, he is faced with the choice of doing nothing or working to end Russian oppression. I was fascinated by this insider's look into the Imperial Court, the architectural descriptions and the incredible journey from design to creation of the famous Faberge Eggs. The total disconnect between the Tsar's view of his people and their actual lives reminded me of political situations in today's society. I highly recommend this glimpse into the turbulent history of Imperial Russia!

As so many other European people, I just love Russian culture, music, paintings, literature, history and especially the beautiful language. I visited the country; read books about its history and I’m even trying to learn the language. So, it is no wonder the title of this book attracted me, and the blurb sounded interesting.
So why o why is this a DNF for me? I have no problem with the complicated Russian names and do know something about the history. However, this story is all tell and no show. In the first pages of the book, there were already enough names named to fill a small telephone book. Much as I prefer characters to slowly come alive by reading their words, by seeing their reactions, I just felt my interest waning after reading sentences like “After years of loveless marriage, Dimitri had to admit that he was still dazzled by his wife’s incredible beauty’.
This book may hold an interesting story, the way it’s being told is just not for me. I’ll just have to console myself with looking at the many pictures I made during my visit to the Fabergé museum 😉.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

Russia’s social, political and cultural history is always a fascinating subject, and although fictional, The Fabergé Secret paints a truly vivid picture, bringing this particular period in history very much to life.

St Petersburg, Russia, 1903 - and our main protagonist Prince Dimitri Markhov, a friend and confidante of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra is about to have his whole way of life brought in to question. His marriage to Princess Lara ( a flirtatious, materialistic, mean and spiteful woman) is really nothing but a sham. She has her lovers and so does Dimitri.

Dimitri is unusual among the nobility, in that he’s a trained architect of much renown, but he is still very much a royalist, that is, until he witnesses the after effects of a pogrom - the destruction of homes and belongings within the Jewish community, he feels heartbroken seeing those who have been brutally beaten - and of course the many dead, including very young children. He can’t believe that people could be treated in such a brutal manner, and begins to question his friend Tsar Nicholas’s role as ruler.

After meeting Doctor Katya Golitsyn at a royal ball, he finds a kindred spirit, someone who is just as horrified as he is, about the denial by the ruling classes of the poverty that ordinary Russians have to endure, and of the persecution of the Jews.

Dimitri and Katya become besotted with each other, and soon start a relationship. Their hatred of Russian oppression though, is what takes their relationship to another level. Their determination to take an active part in order to stop it, is extremely dangerous, not to mention the fact that Dimitri will be betraying Tsar Nicholas, and that will be a real dilemma for him, but he can no longer stand by and watch people being treated in this way.

The Fabergé Secret takes us from the sumptuous settings and vulgar displays of wealth in the Imperial Court, to the peasants living in dire poverty, who endured extremely bad working conditions. These went hand in hand with unfairly high taxes, and gnawing hunger, and then we’re made to bear witness to the terrifying pogroms, the descriptions of which make me ashamed of man’s inhumanity to man.

With a compelling plot - one that gives us a real sense of events leading up to the political and social Russian revolution, a protagonist who has a true sense of morality, and a cast of interesting ( though not always likeable) characters, this is a genuinely engaging read. A shout out for the cover too, it’s really beautiful.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and is set mainly in St Petersburg, Russia, in the early years of
the 20th century. Prince Dimitri is a close friend and confidant of Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. But Dimitri's privileged life, and his failing marriage, is changed after he witnesses the 1903 Easter Sunday pogrom in Kishinev and he starts to take part in secret revolutionary activities including the underground printing and distribution of propaganda. Throughout the book, the descriptions of life at the Court and its lavish style - not least detailed descriptions of the collection of Faberge eggs and other pieces -.are compelling. The plot itself is a little predictable with spies and revolutionaries mingling with aristocrats and military chiefs often portrayed as unintelligent and incompetent; and inevitably one or two historical inaccuracies occur that perhaps should have been spotted. But although the writing style is a little simplistic, and the dialogue some times unrealistic, I did find myself reading to the end and would be interested in exploring the writer's backlist.

This is an outstanding book. Set in Tsarist Russia as things begin to fall apart for the ruling house, Grand Duke Dimitri is a close friend of his relative, the last Tsar. He is also, unusually, a trained architect. The assumed privilege, the debauched life style, the racism, the ignorance of the conditions others live in are all exceedingly well drawn. Dmitri’s marriage is over in all but name and he meets the rare species of female doctor, Katya. Her wider knowledge of Russian society as well as her previously hidden Jewish background help Dmitri to understand why Russian society is restless. He gradually understands that the Jewish pogroms initiated by the Tsar’s advisers are a way of finding somewhere to place the blame for all the other things that are wrong. Dmitiri, against the odds, begins to understand that he must help to bring about a more just society. The characters in the book, some fictional, many real, are very well depicted. The story is both challenging and gripping. This is an exceptional depiction of Tsarist Russia. I recommend it..

This story brings the opulent life of Russian aristocracy. And the poor peasants being used as an argument to start pogroms against Jews. An argument of Jews taking advantage of simple peasants when lending money.

Imperial Russia, 1903. Prince Dimitri Markhov is an esteemed architect and engineer, always looking for new architectural challenges, which is explained by his upbringing. His father didn’t want him to “become the usual aristocratic wastrel,” thus when noticing Dimitri’s artistic talent, he encouraged it. The Tsar greatly admires his abilities, involving him in many projects. They become close friends.

One day, while passing through Kishniev, Dimitri notices a wagon full of dead bodies. And that image edged in his mind keeps resurfacing and worrying him. Why the pogrom against the Jews and why there was an attempt on Tsar’s life?

At a ball, Dimitri meets Katya, one of the first female doctors in Russia. He joins her for arts circle on Thursday nights, where the talk with time starts evolving around current political situation – the pogroms against the Jews ordered by Tsar.

Will Dimitri stay loyal to the Tsar or will he stand up for the oppressed?

The brutal history against the Jews is a sad part of this story, which needs to be told. So we don’t repeat the history. This story brings the Kishniev pogrom. Kishniev was the capital of Bessarabia province. “The province also happened to be in the Pale of Settlement, where all Jews in Russia were required to live.”

There is also a cultural part of this story. The famous jeweler of St Petersburg - Peter Carl Faberge is the official jeweler to the Imperial Court, who also sets the taste of St Petersburg society. There is a tradition of creating two Easter eggs each year: one for the Dowager Empress and one for the Tsarina. Each year’s Easter egg design is the most closely guarded secret in the Russian Empire. This year’s Faberge Easter egg is called the “Peter the Great Egg” - its outside detailing miniature painting of the Winter Palace outlined in little diamonds and inside holding a miniature gold statue of Peter the Great on a horse. This cultural part and the descriptions of the eggs are very enjoyable.

This story is very informative with an elaborate plot. The protagonist of aristocratic blood, who is not expected to be working, has a skill and a life of substance. He lives the life of privilege, but his eyes open to the hardships of peasants and pogroms against Jews. He goes through personal turmoil while the country is going through a revolution. Will he be part of the revolution?

Interesting drawn-characters infused with social standards and expectations. Brilliantly executed plot, which is fast paced. And attention-grabbing narrative that moves the story forward swiftly. Thus, making it an engrossing read.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I received early access to this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for writing an impartial review. Scheduled Publication Date: January 5, 2021.

I had high expectations for this one since I love Russian history, particularly in the form of historical fiction. AND I have long been searching for a novel that paints a vivid image of Jews during the era of pogroms. Unfortunately, though both are addressed in this novel — I felt the execution was a bit clumsy. 3.5 stars might be more accurate.

The novel begins at the turn of the 20th century, continuing through the next few years leading up to the Revolution of 1905. Tsar Nicolas II (a well-meaning but inept ruler) and his wife Alexandra have close relationships with their four daughters, but are desperate for a son and heir. Russian peasants live in abysmal conditions while the aristocracy enjoys unimaginable wealth and privilege. Would-be revolutionaries and the secret police are at war. And many in power, including the Tsar, blame the Jews for both revolutionary sentiments and violence.

Into this mix the author creates a fictional character, Prince Dimitri Markhov, a member of the nobility who is also a close personal friend of the Tsar and his family. The novel centers on Markhov’s story and his transition from enjoying his life of privilege to gaining a deep recognition of the widespread injustices and antisemitism that underpin the Tsar’s regime. This involves Markhov wrestling with issues like friendship, loyalty, and love.

On the plus side, I do think the book does an admirable job of showing the societal gulf between rich and poor, including how out of touch the Tsar was with most of his people, their conditions, and their beliefs. The author successfully weaves in a number of assassination attempts against the Tsar as well as a number of other prominent historical events. And the book paints a sobering picture of Jewish life under the daily threat of pogroms — one of the chief reasons so many Russian Jews emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, as my own grandparents did.

On the minus side, the author’s efforts to include background information about the beliefs and treatment of Jews during this period was often awkward– taking the form of stilted and unbelievable dialog between Jews and non-Jews. These exchanges simply didn’t ring true.

I also never found myself emotionally involved with any of the characters. And I think that was because the book seemed to lack cohesion. At times it felt like a book telling Markhov’s story. At other times the focus shifted to more peripheral characters who were revolutionary “plants” in the Tsar’s inner circle. And sometimes, it seemed more like a story of the Tsar and his family. I felt this shifting around of the novel’s point of view kept me at a distance.

I still recommend the book, particularly for those interested in the subject matter. It’s a quick and engaging read. I just don’t feel it was as good as it could have been.

The Faberge Secret by Charles Belfoure is a wonderful historical fiction novel that takes place during some of the early events of the revolution in Russia while Tsar Nicholas II was still ruler. This book has it all: history, wonderful plot, Russian art and architecture, mystery, suspense, and yes a little romance. I loved it!

I love anything and everything Russian. I love Russian history, culture, and I have researched the Romanov dynasty for many years. So as soon as I saw this book included all of that, I knew I had to read it. I enjoyed this so much, I devoured this gem in less then two days. It was so good!

I loved taking another peak into early 20th century Russian culture and society. I know that the aristocracy was only 1% of the population, but I enjoyed the glimpse nevertheless. Reading about different homes, architecture, design, dresses, jewels, society engagements, and of course descriptions of Faberge’s designs, was truly enjoyable.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was the intricate plot. This book had a more serious and sobering plot then what I mentioned above. This focussed on Dimitri, an aristocratic architect that seemed to straddle both worlds. Well to do, personal friend of the Tsar and his family, but yet exposed to the true harshness, problems, volatility, destitution, and hardships of the rest of the Russian citizens became a true eye opener. His inner turmoil of being loyal to his old friends, the royalty and the aristocrats, or follow his conscious and heart after seeing firsthand the atrocities taking place across the country in the form of pogroms of the Jewish people, is a huge part of this story.

Dimitri wrestles with this dilemma while meeting Katya, one of Russia’s first female physicians, and falling in love. When Katya finds out family secrets that could affect her very life, Dimitri has to make a decision to turn a blind eye to the atrocities, or join Katya and others in the revolution in hopes of saving lives, and saving Russia. What does he decide? How does it play out? What happens in the end?

An excellent book. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the ending. I love how the author infused real historic events and people into his plot with his created characters. It was very hard, but necessary, to read about some of the horrible murders that happened to the people of Russia before the revolution. It will leave another lasting memory to add to others that I have learned in my previous moments of research.

Excellent. 5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub (as of 9/13/20 no listing for BB has been created), and Instagram accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication (and Instagram again).

256 pages

4.5 stars

What is the cost of friendship? Truly?

This is the story of Prince Dimitri Markhov who is a very close friend of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. He is in a loveless marriage to the beautiful Larissa “Lara.” She is a flirtatious woman who loves to party and gossip. Dimitri does not enjoy spending his time this way. He is somewhat of an oddity in Russian society – an aristocrat who actually has a job. He is a civil engineer and architect who loves his work.

Dimitri becomes disillusioned with Nicky's apparent stance on the Jews in Russia and his care-less attitude regarding the pogroms and murders of the Jewish citizens. He thinks they are all terrorists and deserve the cruel treatment.

Dimitri meets a woman doctor and falls in love, perhaps for the first time.

What transpires is a plot among many to rid Russia of the Tsar – and Dimitri is stuck in the middle. Torn between his friendship with the Tsar and his heartbreak at the treatment of the Jewish citizens, Dimitri is at a loss. He then makes up his mind.

This is a very nice little story about a man with a strong sense of morality and what happens when the morality is threatened.

The book is well written and thought out. Mr. Belfoure's descriptions of the characters and the dialogue are spot on. I could imagine being there in Russia and witnessing first hand the goings on that are described in the book. Very well done. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Belfoure's work.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.