Review: Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble

 

Title: Dreaming Anastasia

Author: Joy Preble

Published: September 2009

Paperback: 310 pages

Reading Level: Ya

My Copy: rec'd via trade on swaptree.com

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 wicked stars

 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

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…

My Thoughts...

I remembered this story from fairy tales read to me as a child, as much as anyone can remember those I am sure.  The is an updated twist to the missing grand duchess, Anastasia Romanov.  I enjoy it when books weave factual history into updated romantic tales and this book is a perfect example of that.

Our character, Anne, starting having dreams that seem too real to be just dreams, and when she sees her "stalker" with the amazing blue eyes in one of them, she knows there is more going on here that disturbing dreams.  She confronts Ethan thinking he is some creepy guy and then when she realizes their lives are in danger and those whom they trusted before are no longer trustworthy, Anne must start trusting in her dreams and maybe even the scary Baba Yaga.  Anne's best friend, Tess, is a hilarious side-kick in this book. Tess is not afraid to say what is on her mind and I found that refreshing!

I truly enjoyed this book and finished it in one day because I didn't want to put it down.  The mixture of Russian history, fairy tale and modern day life was blended together just about perfectly.  I would have enjoyed a little more romance, but there was a lot going on in the drama department so that made the book flow better.  I read on the author's website, the sequel to this book, Haunted, will be out in 2011.  Can't wait to read more of Ethan and Anne's story considering the ending of the book left that wide open.