Tsarina

Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick, 2014 Razorbill

     Russia is on the verge of rebellion when the heir shows the Romanov family secret to the girl he loves. Natalya is in love with Alexi as well, and the knowledge that a Faberge Egg imbued with the powers of the great mystic Rasputin is hidden in the Winter Palace is enough to reassure her the revolution cannot take the boy she loves.
     When fighting breaks out in St. Petersburg between the Reds and Whites, Natalya's life comes crashing around her. During the scramble the Constellation Egg vanishes and a young Red demands she help him find the egg. Leo doesn't want to use Natalya for the revolution, but he wants Russia to be the nation it can be--Lenin and his new politics seem to be the answer.
     The Romanovs are captured and held in a small Siberian town, the quest for the egg becomes a cross-country endeavor, and when Natalya receives the news of the escalating revolution and Alexi's death her faith in her countrymen is shaken. She quickly learns nothing as as clear as she once thought.
     As a noblewoman and the tsarevich's love interest, Natalya holds a priveleged position at court, which has not prepared her for the dangers of preventing a revolution. But the daughter of an imperial general is passionate about her country and fights for what she believes is right. While loosely based on true events, Tsarina is an interesting young adult read from a fascinating era.