I thoroughly relished this novel set behind the Iron Curtain in Russia. Immersed into the life of the main character, Sasha, I was enraptured, and at times, awestruck, by the cultural experience the author envelopes us in by means of her gorgeous writing. The story begins with a young Sasha living her childhood in a small provincial town. The texture of Sasha’s relationships with her family and friends, and her dreams for the future, set the stage for this historical fiction gem. The novel is rich in love, devastation, sadness, family secrets, fear, and hope. I was captivated.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing (and Cindy Burnett) for the advance reader copy, in exchange for my honest review.