The Witch’s Daughter
This follow-up to Edwards-Jones’ The Witches of St Petersburg continues the story of Grand Duchess Militza Nikolayevna and her sister Grand Duchess Anastasia. Known as the “Black Princesses,” the sisters came from Montenegro, married into Russian aristocracy, and befriended the Tsarina using witchcraft to help her conceive a longed-for male heir.
The second instalment focuses on Militza’s daughter, Nadezhda, who tries to deny the powerful magic in her blood. But as society collapses around her and her family, in the wake of the revolution of 1917, they must escape, and Nadezhda must use everything she has to keep them all safe and ensure that the book in which their family’s magical secrets are stored does not fall into the wrong hands. The novel covers the final days of Rasputin, the First World War and the devastating loss of life in the Russian ranks, the Revolution, and the chaos that ensued. With an expansive cast of characters and impeccable research, Edwards-Jones brings this violent and vicious period to life.
Based on real people and events, the novel offers a fascinating window into a historical era that continues to draw speculation and wonder. Nadezhda and her family pass from lives of opulence and splendour to the misery of war, food shortages, endless winter, and angry mobs on every corner. A must read for fans of Ellen Alpsten and Louisa Morgan.
