The Book that Gave Me ALL THE FEELS.

Title: The Bronze Horseman

Author: Paullina Simons

Publication: September, 2009
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Bought it
Series: Yes! This is the 1st book.

Rating: 5 out 5 stars

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Synopsis: The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanoia, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana - and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects - a secret as devastating as the war itself - as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

Review: This book is SO HARD to review because it delivered SO MANY FEELS! I don't even know where to start but to say that this book has earned a very special place in my heart. I think I will carry Tatiana and Alexander's story with me and when I think of a grand and true love, I think of them. 

This is a historical fiction novel set during WWII which I usually try to stay away from. Books set around wars are not my most favorable reads. I'm glad I gave this one a chance. I know the general history of WWII but one aspect I surprisingly enjoyed is the historical aspect that delivered a different view of the war from the country of Russia. I've heard stories of the Holocaust and what terrible things happened, and it's completely horrific. Additionally terrible is what the city of Leningrad went through when the Germans arrive. I learned more about WWII from reading this book, more than what I thought I would. 

Speaking of the historical aspect...I've read some reviews complaining of the book being boring. There are pages of what could be considered to be mundane aspects of Tatiana living her daily life. I didn't find these pages boring at all, in fact, I found them completely interesting to see things happening as she would have. These were so interesting to me, to see what someone of that time would have been going through on a day to day basis. 

It's so hard to go into details of the story and why there's so many feels without spoiling anything but I must say that I enjoyed the characters in this book. While I didn't like all of them and increasingly was frustrated with a few, I found myself still rooting for them in a way. Tatiana is one of the strongest and most willful characters I have ever read. I enjoyed her SO MUCH. Her determination is admirable and a force to be reckoned with which made her a character to be remembered. 

Alexander.. what a man! Tatiana and Alexander's romance was heart-warming and heart-breaking over and over again. I am beyond excited (and incredibly nervous) to see what happens in the next book. 

I hope that if you've been debating on reading this that you take the leap and dive in. I think you might find it worth your time if you love deep romance and history. 

If you've read this and want to talk about THE FEELS. LETS TALK! 

Have you read this one and if so, what did you think of it? What historical aspects of the book surprised you if there were any? What other great historical books do you recommend?