Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Format: eBook & Paperback; 400 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Synopsis
Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.
1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris' underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.
Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.
Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family's debts. It's the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help but hope the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn's life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana's and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland and beyond, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.
"The Ice Swan is a ray of light in the middle of a Europe that was sinking into darkness. Ciesielski's talent for storytelling from the heart is a feast for the readers' eyes.” Mario Escobar, international bestselling author of Remember Me and Children of the Stars
My Thoughts
I've always wanted to read a novel by J'nell Ciesielski, but never managed to pick one up until this blog tour. What drew me in was the mix of the Russian aristocracy in Paris and the continuation of the story in Scotland, hinting at a clash of cultures, so to speak. This was handled so well, as were other aspects of the plot, that it is unfair to define this novel as just a romance. For me, this novel offered much more from a historical perspective, but also acquired thriller status as it raced to its exciting conclusion.
There is an immediate clash of cultures when Svetlana first meets Wynn and he willingly becomes entangled with Svetlana and her family despite her attempts to deter him. Wynn, warm, charming and humorous, is the perfect foil to Svetlana's cold and haughty facade. I enjoyed the humorous exchanges between Wynn and Svetlana, although these were often one-sided as Svetlana either ignored or misunderstood what Wynn said due to her unfamiliarity with the vagaries of the English language. There were times when Svetlana used Wynn's own words against him, which did reveal a sense of humour beneath that cold and haughty demeanour she hid behind. Wynn, too, is often perplexed by Russian customs, their language and their pessimistic view of life. A further clash comes when Svetlana and her family embark on their new life in Scotland.
Ciesielski also draws the reader into the sad lives of the Russian Emigrées in Paris struggling to cope with the drastic reversal of fortunes that escape from the Bolsheviks has brought. While being taking advantage of by unscrupulous fellow countrymen and viewed with distrust by others in a city already crippled by war, they survive on vodka, gambling, memories and the hope that the defeat of the Bolsheviks will allow them to return to their homeland. Some, like Svetlana's mother Ana, refuse to relinquish their position in society despite their reduced circumstances and amass large debts. While Svetlana works to pay off the family's debts, her efforts are scuppered by her mother's irresponsible and selfish acts.
Advances in medicine, especially heart surgery, are also woven into this wonderful story. A risky procedure that Wynn performs on a patient jeopardises his career and the subsequent decision he makes does not bode well for his future with Svetlana.
And Svetlana's love of ballet is another thread to the story. The five basic ballet positions are used by Svetlana as an aid to calm her in moments of stress, especially those times when her mother was finding fault and being unreasonable.
The Ice Swan is a great introduction to a new author. I shall certainly seek out more of J'nell Ciesielski's novels.
Where to Purchase
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound
Meet the Author
Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com. You can also find J'nell on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Goodreads.
Blog Tour Schedule
Review at Rachelle Loves Books
Wednesday, July 7
Review at Crystal's Library
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Thursday, July 8
Review at Nursebookie
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at McCombs on Main
Friday, July 9
Review at Two Bookish Babes
Monday, July 12
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Review at The Caffeinated Bibliophile
Tuesday, July 13
Review at Wishful Endings
Interview at Books & Benches
Wednesday, July 14
Review at Novels Alive
Thursday, July 15
Review at The Green Mockingbird
Friday, July 16
Review at Amy's Booket List
Review at Read Review Rejoice
Sunday, July 18
Review at Reader_ceygo
Monday, July 19
Review at Bookworlder
Interview at Reader_ceygo
Tuesday, July 20
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Niki Loves to Read
Giveaway (US Only)
Enter HERE to win a paperback copy of The Ice Swan by J'nell Ciesielski! We have 5 copies up for grabs!
The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on July 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Wow, what a fabulous review, Yvette! Thank you for hosting the tour!
ReplyDeleteAmy
HF Virtual Book Tours
Thank you!
DeleteThank you for such a wonderful review! I'm delighted you enjoyed Wynn and Svetlana's story!
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely story!
Delete