The Witches of St. Petersburg

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Based on a true story, this transporting historical fiction debut depicts the fascinating lives of two sisters—princesses—in the Romanov court who practiced black magic, befriended the tsarina, and invited Rasputin into their lives—forever changing the course of Russian history.As daughters of the impoverished King of Montenegro, Militza and Stana must fulfill their duty to their father and leave their beloved home for St. Petersburg to be married into senior positions in the Romanov court. Initially outcasts, they are shunned by the aristocracy for their provincial ways and for dabbling in the occult. Undeterred, the sisters resolve to make their mark by falling in with the lonely Tsarina Alexandra, who—as an Anglo-German—is also an outsider and not fully accepted by members of the court. After numerous failed attempts to precipitate the birth of a son and an heir, the tsarina is desperate and decides to place her faith entirely in the sisters’ expertise.Promising the tsarina that they will be able to secure the succession for the Russian dynasty, Militza and Stana hold séances and experiment with rituals and spells. Gurus, clairvoyants, holy fools, and charlatans all try their luck. The closer the sisters become to the tsarina and the royal family, the more their status—and power—is elevated. But when they invoke a spiritual shaman who goes by the name of Rasputin, the die is cast, for they have not only irrevocably sealed their own fates but also that of Russia itself.Brimming with black magic, sex, power, and betrayal, The Witches of St. Petersburg is an exquisite novel filled with haunting images and sumptuous details from the dying days of the Romanov era.