Want a NOOK? Explore Now
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 Metanova, 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.
Light came through the window, trickling morning all over the room. Tatiana Metanova slept the sleep of the innocent, the sleep of restless joy, of warm, white Leningrad nights, of jasmine June. But most of all, intoxicated with life, she slept the exuberant sleep of undaunted youth.
She did not sleep for much longer.
When the sun's rays moved across the room to rest at the foot of Tatiana's bed, she pulled the sheet over her head, trying to keep the daylight out. The bedroom door opened, and she heard the floor creak once. It was her sister, Dasha.
Daria, Dasha, Dashenka, Dashka.
She represented everything that was dear to Tatiana.
Right now, however, Tatiana wanted to smother her. Dasha was trying to wake her up and, unfortunately, succeeding. Dasha's strong hands were vigorously shaking Tatiana, while her usually harmonious voice was dissonantly hissing, "Psst! Tania! Wake up. Wake up!"
Tatiana. groaned. Dasha pulled back the sheet.
Never was their seven-year age difference more apparent than now, when Tatiana wanted to sleep and Dasha was ...
"Stop it," Tatiana muttered, fishing helplessly behind her for the sheet and pulling it back over her. "Can't you see I'm sleeping? What are you? My mother?"
The door to the room opened. Two creaks on the floor. It was her mother. "Tania? You awake? Get up right now."
Tatiana could never say that her mother's voice was harmonious. There was nothing soft about Irina Metanova. She was small, boisterous, and full of indignant, overflowing energy. She wore a kerchief to keep her hair back from her face, forshe had probably already been down on her knees washing the communal bathroom in her blue summer frock. She looked bedraggled and done with her Sunday.
"What, Mama?" Tatiana said, not lifting her head from the pillow. Dasha's hair touched Tatiana's back. Her hand was on Tatiana's leg, and Dasha bent over as if to kiss her. Tatiana felt a momentary tenderness, but before Dasha could say anything, Mama's grating voice intruded. "Get up quick. There's going to be an important announcement on the radio in a few minutes."
Tatiana whispered to Dasha, "Where were you last night? You didn't come in till well past dawn."
"Can I help it," Dasha whispered with pleasure, "that last night dawn was at midnight? I came in at the perfectly respectable hour of midnight." She was grinning. "You were all asleep."
"Dawn was at three, and you weren't home."
Dasha paused. "I'll tell Papa I got caught on the other side of the river when the bridges went up at three."
"Yes, you do that. Explain to him what you were doing on the other side of the river at three in the morning." Tatiana turned over. Dasha looked particularly striking this morning. She had unruly dark brown hair and an animated, round, dark-eyed face that had a reaction for everything. Right now that reaction was cheerful exasperation. Tatiana was exasperated herself -- less cheerfully. She wanted to continue sleeping.
She caught a glimpse of her mother's tense expression. "What announcement?"
Her mother was taking the bedclothes off the sofa.
"Mama! What announcement?" Tatiana. repeated.
"There is going to be a government announcement in a few minutes. That's all I know," Mama said doggedly, shaking her head, as if to say, what's not to understand?
Tatiana. was reluctantly awake. Announcement. It was a rare event when music would be interrupted for a word from the government. "Maybe we invaded Finland again." She rubbed her eyes.
"Quiet," Mama said.
"Or maybe they invaded us. They've been wanting their borders back ever since losing them last year."
"We didn't invade them," said Dasha. "Last year we went to get ourborders back. The ones we lost in the Great War. And you should stop listening to adult conversations."
"We didn't lose our borders," Tatiana said. "Comrade Lenin gave them away freely and willingly. That doesn't count."
"Tania, we are not at war with Finland. Get out of bed."
Tatiana did not get out of bed. "Latvia, then? Lithuania? Byelorussia? Didn't we just help ourselves to them, too, after the Hitler-Stalin pact?"
"Tatiana Georgievna! Stop it!" Her mother always called her by her first and patronymic names whenever she wanted to show Tatiana she was not in the mood to be fooled with.
Tatiana. pretended to be serious. "What else is left? We already have half of Poland."
"I said stop!" Mama exclaimed. "Enough of your games. Get out of bed. Daria Georgievna, get that sister of yours out of bed."
Dasha did not move.
Growling, Mama left the room.
Turning quickly to Tatiana, Dasha whispered conspiratorially, "I've got something to tell you!"
"Something good?" Tatiana was instantly curious. Dasha usually revealed little about her grown-up life. Tatiana sat up.
"Something great!" said Dasha. "I'm in love!"
Tatiana rolled her eyes and fell back on the bed.
"Stop it!" Dasha said, jumping on top of her. "This is serious, Tania."
"Yes, all right. Did you just meet him yesterday when the bridges were up?" She smiled.
"Yesterday was the third time."
Tatiana shook her head, gazing at Dasha, whose joy was infectious. "Can you get off me?"
"No, I can't get off you," Dasha said, tickling her. "Not until you say, 'I'm happy, Dasha.'"
"Why would I say that?" exclaimed Tatiana, laughing. "I'm not happy. Stop it! Why should I be happy? I'm not in love. Cut it out!"
Mama came back into the room, carrying six cups on a round tray and a silver samovar -- an urn with a spigot used for boiling water for tea. "You two will stop at once! Did you hear me?"
"Yes, Mama," said Dasha, giving Tatiana one last hard tickle.
"Ouch!" said Tatiana as loudly as possible... The Bronze Horseman. Copyright © by Paullina Simons. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.My God. This book completely ripped my heart out. This is a romance unlike any other, beautiful and raw and achingly tender. A story of war and life and brutal, relentless need. About family, and the unbreakable power of love. The writing took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. I want to curl up in a ball and sob until the hurt goes away. I want to hug this book to my chest and memorize the passages and the poetry and never, ever forget the way I felt when I turned the last page.
I LIVE for books like this. Books that NAIL what life is really about. Books that make you feel grateful for every single breath you take.
I'm not even playing, you guys. The character development in this book is unreal - after one book, these characters feel like family to me. The love story will torment you and then make your heart soar; you will want to pull your hair out and then dance around in circles. This book is about life. I don't know if I'm even really expressing what is so wonderful about this book. The writing is just incredible - lyrical and honest. It is heartbreaking and bittersweet. It is a golden summer afternoon and a burning winter chill. War Romance at its absolute best.
If you can't tell, I highly recommend this book. Please go read it. You will not regret it.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Aug 05 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I just bought this eBook and read the reviews before purchasing it. Some reviews dating further back stated that the eBook was missing around 200 pages. With none of the recent reviews stating this, I was hoping this had been fixed. I just opened the eBook and was VERY disappointed to see that there are only 649 pages when the product details state there should be 832. I was SO excited to read this trilogy however now I don't know if I even want to start the book if I am going to miss that much! I just wanted to warn those who are thinking about buying the book that there ARE missing pages.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 EST 2012
This book is one of my top five favorites of all time. I am a lifelong voracious reader but "The Bronze Horseman" stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away. Having a particular fondness for historical fiction and WWII, I can't believe it took me so long to discover this incredibal author and this amazing book. There are really no words to describe this book. Just read it.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Jul 29 00:00:00 EDT 2010
The e-book version is incomplete. It is missing about 100 pages of the story. After Alexander and Tatiana are in the tent in Lazarevo it skips to a new chapter where Tatiana is sad in bed because Alexander has left while the 4 old women are discussing it. It's missing crucial info to the story and their relationship. I have a Nook and had to buy the paperback. Do yourself a favor and don't bother with the e-book version.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Once in a while a book comes along that will capture you and doesn't let you go until it has shared its last word. This is such a book.
The Bronze Horseman is the first book of three that deal with the lives of Tatiana and Alexander, a young couple who meet and fall in love amid the first waves of WWII.
A nearly 17 year-old Tatiana Metanova wakes up one morning to a radio announcement that Hitler has just invaded the Soviet Union. The country is now at war and Tatiana is sent out in a rush to buy whatever she can get her hands on. Overwhelmed with the frenzy of her countrymen and having no luck securing provisions for her family, Tatiana takes an ice cream break on a street bench waiting for her bus. From across the street she notices a young Red Army officer watching her intently. He crosses the street towards her and from then on Tatiana's life begins a rollercoaster ride of passion, tragedy, betrayal, danger, and profound love.
Alexander is a young man with a dangerous secret and a tragic past. He has one desire which he has been carefully planning for since he was a teenager--to escape from Soviet Russia. His plans are dangerously close to changing forever when he spies the beautiful young woman sitting on a bench from across the street. She is humming to herself, eating an ice cream cone; the red strappy-heeled shoes she borrowed from her big sister, Dasha, on her feet swinging to and fro. Alexander is lost at the vision of this young woman in her white dress with the roses. Her image is forever imprinted in his mind. Should he walk away? Stick to his plans with no complications? Or should he cross the street? He takes the step into her life and into her heart. But the horrors of war looms in the near distance. Will it tear them apart? Will they survive?
Paullina Simons gives a harrowing account of the seige of Leningrad and pays homage to her beloved grandparents in this well crafted story of love and war. It kept me engaged from beginning to end never once letting me go to catch my breath. Every detail is lovingly embellished with beauftiful prose drawing you in to breathe, eat and drink their experiences as if they were your own. It is masterful storytelling, but a double-edged sword as some of her detail can become too much information, making me feel like a voyeur in their most intimate moments. Yet, it does not disappoint.
I highly recommend this book.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 EDT 2003
I thoroughly enjoyed sections of this book. Obviously the author has real knowledge of life in the USSR under Stalin and specifically of Leningrad's dark blockaded days of WW2. I did however tire through some portions.. 100 or so pages of their love making in the woods after marrying I skipped, not because it was graphic sex but because it was so entirely repetitive. It was also irritating to this reader that two lovers who were supposed to be soulmates continually misunderstood, mistrusted, lied to, and argued with each other. It may be 200 pages too long for so much of what I have described could have been edited out. I seem to be in the minority but I could not give this book 5 stars.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I could have gone with without the pretty explicit sexual parts though. But besides that, it was EXCELLENT. I LOVED the story and the characters.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Reminded me of the first time I fell in love. 17.. a whirlwind of emotions, the uncontrollable emotional roller coaster, not being able to breathe in the presence of that person... Young romance done in an adult way. The story itself is rich, twisting and engaging. Couldn't put it down. Fabulous.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 EST 2012
Engaging and easy to follow great historical fiction with love
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 EST 2012
This is one of my favorite books! I didnt think i was gone get thrue the 810 pages but ,3 days later i started Tatiana & Alexander. I have to find out what happens !! Loved this story, its like youre there .
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.kirten
Posted Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 EST 2011
Basically its like pearl harbor only ten times more intense. i couldnt put the book down. My boyfriend even got mad at me for not talking to him. He tells me, "i hate that book." so it must be good.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2011
This novel is epic. No words to describe this book other than it is beautifully written!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Burns49
Posted Thu Oct 14 00:00:00 EDT 2010
A very good read,however I think a lot of the book was missing from the ebook. I am going to the public library today and check it out. It seemed to change scenes changed to quickly from one place to another place and time.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I am so Angry right now...I am in the middle of reading this on my Nook and it is missing over 200 pages...I am calling tomorrow, I want a refund! I will have to go the store and pick up a paperback.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 EST 2012
Beautiful!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 2012
Good insight into russia during WW 1, sad, but also kinda sexy interesting but a little long, could easily have been 200 pages shorter, but a good read :)
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2011
This is a really good story but I think there is too much wasted time. I think book 3 could have been completely eliminated and nothing would have been lost (Book 2 wasn't there and I didn't missi it either)
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2011
I picked the book up on a whim while at Barnes and Noble. I wasn't sure what I was in for but I loved the book enough that I finished it in 5 days. I didn't know squat about the Soviet Union being part of WWII and was completely intrigued, just couldn't put it down. The love makeing in the middle did get a bit annoying as it went on forever, but otherwise this is a great read!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Set in the Soviet Union during WWII, this is the most riveting, heart-wrenching tale of loyalty, compassion, and love. I could not put it down.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Bronze Horseman is a complicated and beautiful love story set against the backdrop of WWII during the siege of Lenningrad. If you're going to read this one, I highly recommend reading the second in the series, "Tatiana and Alexander," which I liked even better. I'm waiting for the third installment, "The Summer Garden" to come in the mail. The author's writing style (and the oftentimes frustrating love triangle) may throw you off at first, but stick with it and you'll be greatly rewarded.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
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 Metanova, 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 ...