Blog Tour: Dreaming Anastasia Review

Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Pub. Date: Spetember 1, 2009
Pages: 320
Age Level: YA

Synopsis
What really happened to Anastasia Romanov?

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…

Review
Dreaming Anastasia was a captivating novel that kept me on the edge, wondering what was going to happen next. The story was a perfect combination of fantasy/folklore and history. At times, some of the motives for things seemed a little unclear or confusing but it all seemed to work itself out. The Romanov family is a great interest of mine so I was very glad to be able to read this book. (I found myself putting down the book to go look up Russian laquer boxes on my computer so I could see what they looked like. I think I'm going to start collecting them.)

I enjoyed the characters and loved getting to read the different point of views. I felt that this element made the book even better. I thought the relationship and level of trust between Anne and Ethan was practical and well developed. It wasn't something that was just, BAM, there.

As far as the ending is concerned, I can't help but wonder what is going to happen with Ethan and Anne. Other than that I thought it was a suitable and well rounded ending.

All in all, I think Dreaming Anastasia is an engrossing, thrilling read that anyone could enjoy. If you haven't read it yet, I strongly suggest that you do.

Grade
Characters: B+
Writing: B
Plot: B+
Ending: B
Cover: A
Recommendable: B+

Overall: B+

I would now like to take a brief moment to apologize to Joy and everyone else for being late posting this review. As most of you know, there was a death in my family. I fell behind and things just got out of hand there for a while. Plus I was busy with other stuff as well. Still, I'm sorry and hope you will all forgive me.