Daughters of a Dead Empire
* A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection *
* A Bank Street College of Education’s 2023 Selection for Best Children’s Books of the Year *
Russia, 1918: With the execution of Tsar Nicholas II, the empire crumbles and Russia is on the edge of civil war―the poor are devouring the rich. Anna, a wealthy bourgeois girl, narrowly escapes the massacre of her entire family in Ekaterinburg. Desperate to get away from the Bolsheviks, she offers a peasant girl a diamond to take her as far south as possible―not realizing that the girl is a communist herself. With her brother in desperate need of a doctor, Evgenia accepts Anna's offer, and suddenly finds herself on the wrong side of the war.
Anna is being hunted by the Bolsheviks, and now―regardless of her loyalties―Evgenia is too.
Daughters of a Dead Empire is a harrowing historical thriller about dangerous ideals, inequality, and the price we pay for change. An imaginative retelling of the Anastasia story.
(Content warnings: graphic violence, death, strong language)
Praise for Daughters of a Dead Empire:
★ “A riveting reimagining of a historical legend as a pulse-pounding thriller…. Well-researched and accessible…. Anna and Evgenia’s hard-earned friendship forms the heart of the tale and reinforces the importance of crossing class, political, and religious lines to find the humanity in all.”
“Fast-paced and compelling…. An unflinching look at the brutal realities of the Russian civil war through the complexity of the two main characters. Perfect for readers who enjoy Monica Hesse and Elizabeth Wein.”
“Russia is on the edge of civil war in 1918 following the execution of Tsar Nicholas, and this novel expertly tells the stories of a pair of girls caught in the center…. This fresh, thrilling take on Anastasia establishes that O’Neil is a debut author to watch.”
— Buzzfeed
“This is a harrowing, gritty tale that holds nothing back…. It all makes for an apt comparison to today's teens in a tense political climate.”
— Booklist
“In her debut novel, O’Neil proves herself to be a capable storyteller with excellent command of her complex tale and its setting…. Anna and Evgenia eventually develop a strong bond of friendship, one that helps them arrive at a sense of healthy disillusionment as they grow to see the flaws of both the monarchy and the Bolsheviks.”
"Tightly plotted and compulsive, Daughters of a Dead Empire is simultaneously a heart-racing thrill ride across the landscape of revolutionary Russia and a tender, timely reflection on the reconciling power of friendship."
—Amanda McCrina, author of Traitor and The Silent Unseen
“O'Neil's thrilling, historically authentic novel is every bit as moving as it is harrowing. A must read for Russophiles and bibliophiles alike.”
—Candace Fleming, author of The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner for Young Adult Literature
“You might know the history, but do you know the heart that beats beneath? Carolyn Tara O'Neil reinvents revolutionary Russia with a broad brush for atmosphere and a fine pen for detail. Daughters of a Dead Empire spins the tale of two fierce young women facing down history in an emotional reimagining of one of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century. Start to finish, I was hooked—a remarkable feat for a story inspired by well-known facts. It was a joy to read.”
— Sherri L. Smith, SCBWI Golden Kite Award Winning author of The Blossom and the Firefly and Flygirl
"A page-turning tale of loss, redemption and deep friendship, as two young women learn to move past the prejudices they’ve grown up with. A heartfelt book that makes you believe in the power of friendship over conflict."
—Shamim Sarif, author of The Athena Protocol and The Shadow Mission
"A poignant and well-researched historical fiction about two incredible young women and the lengths they will go to save themselves and those they love."
—June Hur, author of The Forest of Stolen Girls
"Carolyn Tara O’Neil’s Daughters of a Dead Empire highlights the chaos of a muddled war with heartbreaking accuracy. I didn’t want it to end!”
—Amber Lough, author of Open Fire
"Daughters of a Dead Empire is a vivid and layered depiction of the Russian Revolution loaded with heart and characters you can't help but adore."
— Carly Heath, author of The Reckless Kind
"An amazing adventure in history, politics, and empathy."
—J. Albert Mann, author of The Degenerates and Scar
