Author: Julia Levitina
Publisher: Pantera Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year of release: 2024
Release date: 27/02/24.
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
TW physical Assault threats to safety, government corruption, Kidnapping, mentions of abortion.
Synopsis
1983, Moscow
Twenty-one-year-old Ella dreams of stardom and playing Natasha Rostova in War and Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy. One day when meeting her friend Vlad in the city, she finds herself in the middle of a protest and attracts the glare of the KGB.
labelled a tarator, she must withdraw from the academy, and she soon yearns to escape the cruel and oppressive Soviet regime. However, her hopes of leaving the country are smashed when her husband Roman is sentenced to two years’ labour camp for selling American jeans with the intent to make a profit.
As she looks for another way out, Ella is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a KGB general, who has the power to secure her freedom. Will she risk everything and leave behind those she loves to pursue a life in the West?
Review
Moscow, Russia, 1983 Ella Ashkenazi dreams of being an actress the role she has her sights set on playing is Natasha Rostova in War and Peace, her teachers, friends, and family can see Ella has talent everybody can see Ella will one day have her name up in lights.
However, Ella soon realises the path to stardom is further in the distance then she thought, meeting with her closest friend Vlad in the city she has something to ask him as Ella approaches her destination, she notices the city is a buzz with people, people who are protesting Ella knows she has done nothing wrong as long as she is quick no-one can accuse her of anything untoward. Unfortunately, Ella isn’t fast enough in locating Vlad and her presence catches the eye of the KGB.
Since her visit to the city on the day of the protest Ella has been labelled a traitor and knows deep down her encounters with the KGB are far from over, forced to withdraw from the academy Ella is shattered to learn her dream of being an actress may never come true now or in the future especially if she stays in Russia, Ella is more determined than ever to leave the motherland behind.
Ella would be well on her way to her new homeland her dreams of becoming an actress once again in sight if only her husband hadn’t been arrested and sentenced to two years in a labour camp. A dangerous game of cat and mouse with the KGB begins and Ella must decide will she risk it all leaving behind her loved ones for a life in the west a life with her name up in lights.
‘Labelled a tarator, she must withdraw from the academy, and she soon yearns to escape the cruel and oppressive Soviet regime, with the promise of a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a KGB general’ in store how could I say no?
The Girl from Moscow has a small cast of characters that bring this story to life it is clear author Julia Levitina has taken the time to craft a dynamic character, mostly evident in her protagonist Ella, even though this reviewer was not convinced Ella would be someone I would ever connect to
her personality comes across as cold and unkind in the earlier chapters however time spent with her grandparents and especially during the conflict and resolution stages of the book Ella blossoms and becomes someone to admire and care for.
“There is no such thing as a little bit of freedom.” Julia Levitina – The Girl from Moscow
The minor characters play a role in bringing this book to life even though not all of them are likeable also try as I might I felt like I couldn’t feel connected to them quite as much as I hoped. These characters certainly moved the story along, especially in the conflict period of the book where the story felt as if it slowed for a short period.
I haven’t read a historical fiction set in the USSR, not for lack of wanting but foreign languages are somewhat off-putting to this reader, I find they can disrupt the flow of reading and understanding if unable to pronounce something, I am pleased to say I was able to read this book with ease with only a few minor word mishaps along the way but I was able to make sense of things thanks to the authors descriptive writing.
If I had to improve on one area of this novel it would be Olga’s timeline given this was a dual timeline novel, I believe some details were missing I desperately wanted to form a stronger bond with her, but I feel as if I wasn’t given this chance. I believe there are some other missing details when it comes to this story, but I won’t spoil this for future readers by going into detail this is the reason for my four-star rating.
The chapters are short making it easy to race through the story when the plot takes hold it makes it almost impossible to put the book down, there was a short period in The Girl from Moscow where it feels as if the plot slowed quite considerably; now having had some time to think about I believe Julia Levitina was perhaps allowing the conflict chapters to gain considerable momentum for the readers enjoyment.
Having not read much about the USSR I was keen perhaps to gain a little more knowledge on the subject, I knew the KGB were not respected by many but I never knew just how controlling they were there were times when reading this book my blood felt as if it was boiling, I was most interested in how this tale would end because I thought Ella and her loved ones deserved more, everyone deserves to choose how and where they live without having to look over the shoulder.
If you enjoy reading Historical Fiction with romance and a dash of action, The Girl from Moscow is for you.
Sub plots included in The Girl from Moscow:
- Friends to lovers
- Political upheaval
- Ailing family member
- Secrets exposed.
- Immigrating to a foreign country
tropes included in The Girl from Moscow:
- Historical Figures
- Marriage of convenience
- Protagonist ahead of their time
- Political or social upheaval
- The dual timeline
- References to the present
I am a little sad that my time with Ella and her family has come to an end, but The Girl from Moscow has become a book I will be sure to recommend to other readers in the future.
I highly recommend this book to a mature audience, lovers of Historical Fiction should consider this title a must-read in the genre, anyone looking to explore the Historical Fiction genre don’t be afraid to start your journey with The Girl from Moscow. I cannot wait to explore future titles from author Julia Levitina a solid debut.
With continued thanks to author Julia Levitina and Pantera Press for sending a physical copy of this book to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.