[Book Review] Der Winterpalast

Hello sweeties <3

It is time for another book review :)

Title: Der Winterpalast
Original Title: The Winterpalace
Author: Eva Stachniak
Pages:  530
Language: German 
ISBN-10: 3458358951
ISBN-13: 978-3458358954

You can buy the book here! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [German]
Geheime Gänge, verdeckte Türen, dunkle Nischen: Als die Waise Warwara als Dienstmädchen in den Winterpalast kommt, lernt sie schnell, sich ihrer Verschwiegenheit und ihren aufmerksamen Blick zunutze zu machen. Keine Intrige, die ihr entginge, kein Getuschel, das ihren Ohren verborgen bliebe. Schnell wird sie zu einer der wichtigsten "Spioninnen" im Palast. Als die junge Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst - die spätere Katharina die Große - an den Hof kommt und auf dem Weg zur Macht eine Verbündete braucht, wird Warwara ihre engste Vertraute. Schließlich erklimmt Katharina den Zarenthron - aus der unerfahrenen Fremden wird eine der mächtigsten Frauen ihrer Zeit.

[English - Goodreads Summary]

Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie’s destiny at court is to marry the Empress’s nephew, but she has other, loftier, more dangerous ambitions, and she proves to be more guileful than she first appears.

What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power. 

 

What I think about it:

To be honest I bought this book because I liked the cover and I loved hearing stories about Catherine the Great in the past. I wasn't really expecting anything and so I was really surprised about how great the book actually was.

 

It tells the story of Catherines rise to power not as you would think. We see here struggles through the eyes of another young woman who through the strings of destiny comes to work as a spy at the Russian court under Empress Elizabeth. Through her eyes we not only see the lives of all the historical personas surrounding Catherine but we also learn about the lives of the people working for those famous historical figures.

 

Eva Stachniak did a great job researching the life at the Russian court during that time and also about the historical figures. Even though many things in this book are mainly a work of fiction the constellations and characters seem to be true to the real historical persons. I really like how she combined the "real" people with her own creations like Warwara and her family.

 

I think Eva Stachniak did a great job bringing the Russian court back to life. One might think that historical fiction might be boring but I enjoyed every page of this book to the fullest and just can't wait to read "The Empress of the Night".

 

★★★★★

 

What is your opinion on historical fiction? 

Have a nice evening <3

xoxo

Shall we Date?

Hello sweeties <3

It seems that I have found myself a new obsession...well, actually it is pretty old - I am talking about Otome Games. So far I have only played the Yaoi-Version of those games but now that the smartphones are getting better every minute there are also many games for your mobile phone. And I am addicted to the Shall we date?-Series. At the moment I am playing 3 games simultaniousely and you can actually really play them for free ;D There are some installments of that series where you have to buy each story on its own...I am not playing those...yet but they seem interesting xD But I wanna talk about the games I am playing now :3

1. Ninja Love+

As the name suggests it is a game about Ninja ;) You can choose between four characters and have to try to get a good ending with the guy you chose. As in every Otome-Game you don't have so many choices...either there is a great, mediocre or bad answer and you have to get to know your character to get the ending you want. Each ending gives you more achievements so playing one story a couple of times is a good choice ;) Contrary to other Otome-Games for normal consoles here you use up power that either regenerates after some hours or you can buy items with real or in-game money. There is also a social option where you can add friends to get boni ^^ Well, the story is really romantic. You start as the princess of the ninja who is thrown into this title and has to stand her ground beneath the ninja...has to grow as a person and well, fall in love xD If you are looking for a game with depth you shouldn't play the games from Shall we Date? ;D

2. My sweet Prince

The system is roughly the same as in Ninja Love+. You use power to advance the story, items if you want to be faster, can buy those items with ingame money or use real money, dress your avatar to get more charm points and a higher love ranking and find friends to get more ingame money and achievements. So the games only differ in setting and background story. Here you are a traveller in an arabic country beeing accused of robbery. Through some unfortunate events you come to the palace and find yourself in the situation to be the fiancee of one of the 6 princes - each of them different and you have the one you chose fall in love with you. There are different endings for each prince and each one activates more achievements.

3. Destiny Ninja

Well, another game with Ninja in it but this time you are a girl who lost her memories and is found by...whomever you want...I decided on Miyamoto Yoshitsune for my first try ;) Except for the story it is pretty much the same as the other two games. Only now you have to get friends with the animal companion of your Crush ;)

The artwork for all three games is really good and everytime I used up all my power I can't wait till the power is recharged and I can play on :3 It doesn't take up much of your time and it is fun to play inbetween...and which girl doesn't want to be adored by all those pretty men? ;D

Did you already play Otome Games? What did you think about them?

Have a nice day everyone <3

xoxo

In the splendor of the czars

Hello sweeties <3

On Saturday I went to the exhibition "In the splendor of the czars" with some friends and, who would have though, I used this occasion to wear Lolita again ;) I was really really excited to see the exhibition, not only because I love all things baroque, but also because I am reading a book about Catherine the Great at the moment and thought I would learn something new about her in the exhibition. Unfortunately the exhibition started just after her reign and was more focused on the connection of the house Württemberg with the Russian Empire than the actual splendor of the czars. I was a bit dissappointed as on one hand there was so much new information but than on the other hand things I was really interested in weren't really explained *sighs* 

To match the splendor I decided to wear something princessy and romantic this day *points down*

JSK: Metamorphose Temps de Filles

Blouse: ebay

Socks: Secret Shop

Shoes: Antaina

Belt: ebay

Cardigan: Bodyline

Necklace: Claire's

Wig: Lockshop

Roses: Claire's

And derping around a bit XD

My makeup wasn't all fresh when I took the pictures but I liked how it came out in the morning...love my Marie Antoinette Palette from Lime Crime *-*

What did you do at the weekend?

And what are you reading at the moment?

Have a nice afternoon <3

xoxo