Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family--and herself--Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.
Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she's willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.
In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?
Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Young Adult, Historical
Length: 262 pgs
Rating: 3.5
Review: The research was done well. It was a good story, but the proof in the pudding was that I wasn't compelled to read the second and third books--I did look them up to see what happened in them . . . so that's something. A few instances of more modern language took me out of the setting a time or two. I enjoyed the author's video notes at the end of the chapters, mostly because when reading something based on a real person's life, I always like to separate the truth from the fiction. It's a well done story and worth a read. :)
Content:
Sex - 1+ ("Going further" per se is thought about and spoken of and almost done, but everything in a non-graphic manner. One couple is discovered without clothes on.)
Language - 0
Violence - 2 (A fight scene at the beginning and other various fight scenes. One man is beaten viciously. Nothing graphically described.)
Overall Rating - PG-13
