Questions for Discussion

1. Why do the last Romanovs hold such a fascination for modern audiences?
2. Despite sharing a sheltered upbringing, Olga believes her sister Tatiana to be more “worldly” than her. Why do you think she feels her younger sister is more equipped to handle the nuances of high society?
3. Dmitri Pavlovich describes himself as a “lonely fool” who hopes that someone might “take him seriously one day.” How does Dmitri change over the course of the book, and how do those changes result in his participation in Father Grigori’s assassination?
4. In the prologue, Grandmamma Maria Feodorovna tells Olga that courage means “meeting whatever the future may hold with grace.” How does Olga exercise courage—or a lack thereof—throughout the book?
5. How do Olga’s experiences during World War I open her eyes to the inequities in Imperial Russia?
6. Nicholas and Alexandra view themselves as parents, first and foremost. How do they attempt to reconcile the duties of ruling with caring for their children?