Dreaming Anastasia (Dreaming Anastasia #1) by Joy Preble

Title: Dreaming Anastasia

Author: Joy Peble

Series: 1st in Dreaming Anastasia

Pages: 310

Published: available now from Sourcebooks

ISBN: 9781402218170 

Source: personal copy

Description: Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead. In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

I Give This ...

 

I love the whole idea of the possibility of Anastasia Romanov surviving that horrible night.  I especially liked the idea of a mythical answer to the question of did Anastasia survive.

I loved the folklore included in this story.  I didn't know much about Baba Yaga before this.  I found her story particularly interesting.  I liked how the Brotherhood was able to manipulate her to do their bidding.  But, I think in the end she was lonely and managed to twist around the wording of the Brotherhood's spell to get what she wanted. 

I liked how dreamlike Anastasia feels during this entire story.  Even when Anne manages to free her from Baba Yaga grasp, it still doesn't seem possible that the Anastasia we know from history could be alive and well in modern day Chicago.  I also really enjoyed Anne.  She takes everything  in stride but doesn't readily accept things as fact.  I also really enjoyed the twist in the Romanov family.  It was something I'm sure was entirely plausible.

Overally, I enjoyed this story.  It was fast pasted and was an excellent mix of history, fantasy, and modern day elements.  I'll be looking for the next one!