This is a hard one to really write a review for because, after awhile, it became a real struggle to keep reading. There is a lot of sexual violence in this book and it is explicit. So much so that I skipped a good chunk of the scenes because I couldn't cope. I'm a sucker for Russian historical fiction and I'm not saying this book isn't true to life, but I could have done with less graphic sexual violence. I really can't stand reading super x rated depictions of rape and this book has it in spades. whatever joy or enjoyment I might have otherwise gotten out of it is completely overshadowed for me by this. Was it an interesting story? Sure. Would I ever recommend it to anyone? Not at all.