A richly evocative and gloriously compelling historical novel set between 1916-1919 and the collapse of Tsarist Russia during the revolution. This follows The Witches of St. Petersburg where Princesses Anastasia and Militza from Montenegro introduced Rasputin to the Imperial court of Nicholas II. Here the story concentrates on Militza and her daughter Nadezhda as their world shatters. Author Imogen Edwards-Jones sends the story weaving around actual events and figures which immediately creates a feeling of familiarity within the wider field of history. The inclusion of a deep ancestral magic that follows the family was fascinating. It was easy to fall into pages and believe in the dark swirls of the occult that swam around the key characters. The sense of place is immense, the buildings and streets of Petrograd were built in my minds eye as I marched through them. The gulf between the classes, the horror of war, the balance of power, the intimacy of family, the slide into revolution, all are handled with thoughtful attention. The story sings, and at times roars as it races towards its conclusion. The Witch’s Daughter is a vivid and fiercely dramatic exploration of a family during the wider events of a country torn apart by revolution and civil war.
'A spellbinding tale of love, lust, magic and betrayal in Imperial Russia…..I couldn't put it down' Santa Montefiore
A city in flames. A revolution raging. A woman on the run.
Nadezhda has never wanted to be a witch. But the occult is in her blood. Her mother, Militza, conjured Rasputin and introduced him into the Romanov court, releasing the devil himself. Now he is dead but Militza still dreams of him - he stalks her sleep and haunts her waking hours.
As Petrograd burns and the Russian Empire crumbles, Nadezhda escapes through the corpse-laden streets of the capital, concealing on her person a book of generational magic. Magic she once described as foolishness. But as danger grows ever closer, she may be forced to embrace her heritage to save what she loves most…
Based on a true story, The Witch's Daughter is an epic tale of women rising from the ashes of an empire, perfect for fans of Elodie Harper's The Wolf Den and Madeline Miller's Circe.Praise for Imogen Edwards-Jones:
'Richly imagined.' Daisy Goodwin
'Razor-sharp... brilliant.' Candace Bushnell
'I couldn't put it down.' Claudia Winkleman