(published as Tsarina in English) is the debut historical fiction novel by Ellen Alpsten , charting the incredible "rags-to-riches" life of Catherine I of Russia . Originally published in 2002, the novel received a significant Spanish-language release through Grijalbo in 2021. Plot Summary
The novel explores the value of human life in a brutal era, the chaos of war, and the resilience of a woman surviving in an unstable empire. EPUB/Digital Editions La Zarina Ellen Alpsten epub
Sold into household labor at age 15, Marta is forced to go on the run after committing a crime in self-defense. (published as Tsarina in English) is the debut
Digital editions of the book are available in multiple languages: EPUB/Digital Editions Sold into household labor at age
Alpsten draws heavily on documentary evidence to recreate the 18th-century Russian court, from the decadent aristocracy to the brutal torture chambers.
Reviewers on Goodreads describe it as a mix of Memoirs of a Geisha and Game of Thrones , highlighting its "ice and snow" epic feel and fast-paced, "vertiginous" rhythm.