The Romanov Prophecy
by Steve Berry
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In 1917 Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, was executed by revolutionaries. Now, in response to the collapse of the country's economy, the people have voted to instate a new Tsar, one who will be chosen from the descendents of Nicholas II. But a powerful group of Western businessmen want to make sure he is a candidate they can control, and hire African-American lawyer Miles Lord, with his knowledge of Russian language and history, to check the background of their chosen man. Miles is thrilled with show more his assignment ... until he becomes the target of an assassination attempt, and must run for his life, guided by a cryptic phrase penned by Rasputin, a bizarre prophecy that the Tsar will return to the throne and that Miles himself will see to it. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A great piece of fiction. Enough research and factual base to make one wonder about the real possibility of such "conspiracies". Perhaps a little weak on character development, but the author keeps the action going, and has quite a bit of factual material to maintain a semblance of realism. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of my books referenced in the discussion.
Outstanding book. The intrigue of surviving members of the Romanov family massacre before the Russian revolutions coming back to claim the Tsar throne in present day times kept me turning the pages in this book. Berry has created a very intelligent novel, and I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who love fictional history.
This is the second Steve Berry book I’ve read and I enjoyed it much more than I did “The Amber Room” some years ago.
“The Romanov Prophecy” opens with the idea that Russia again wants to establish a royal monarchy. Law states that those who can prove their lineage to the last royal family, the Romanovs, are eligible. American lawyer Miles Lord and his boss Taylor Hayes represent investors who are backing Stefan Baklanov for the throne. Lord’s job is to make sure Baklanov doesn’t have anything in his background to prevent that. During his research, Lord discovers a prophesy made by Rasputin 100 years earlier that suggests that not all of the Romanovs were killed during the massacre. And when bullets start flying—at show more Lord—he realizes there may be something to that. If there is a true blood descendant to the Romanov family, they would be the rightful heir to the Russion throne. What follows is a globe-trotting adventure made by Lord, a Russian circus acrobat Akilina Petrov, and those hot on their heels.
At the same time, we learn that Hayes, Lord’s boss, is in the thick of assuring Baklanov’s ascension. Hayes is working with members of the Russian Mafia and must find a way to keep Lord from locating a more closely related member of the Romanov family.
This book moved quickly and the devices Berry used to get Lord from clue to clue was intriguing and exciting. The prophecy’s clues ultimately imply a little too much to make the end wholly satisfying or surprising, but this really doesn’t take away from the story. Uniquely, I didn’t feel like the protagonist reacted in ways that were unbelievable as is so often the case in thrillers. I am looking forward to reading his next book “The Third Secret.”
I must also compliment narrator Paul Michael as he does an excellent job with the voices and isn’t overly dramatic in his reading. show less
“The Romanov Prophecy” opens with the idea that Russia again wants to establish a royal monarchy. Law states that those who can prove their lineage to the last royal family, the Romanovs, are eligible. American lawyer Miles Lord and his boss Taylor Hayes represent investors who are backing Stefan Baklanov for the throne. Lord’s job is to make sure Baklanov doesn’t have anything in his background to prevent that. During his research, Lord discovers a prophesy made by Rasputin 100 years earlier that suggests that not all of the Romanovs were killed during the massacre. And when bullets start flying—at show more Lord—he realizes there may be something to that. If there is a true blood descendant to the Romanov family, they would be the rightful heir to the Russion throne. What follows is a globe-trotting adventure made by Lord, a Russian circus acrobat Akilina Petrov, and those hot on their heels.
At the same time, we learn that Hayes, Lord’s boss, is in the thick of assuring Baklanov’s ascension. Hayes is working with members of the Russian Mafia and must find a way to keep Lord from locating a more closely related member of the Romanov family.
This book moved quickly and the devices Berry used to get Lord from clue to clue was intriguing and exciting. The prophecy’s clues ultimately imply a little too much to make the end wholly satisfying or surprising, but this really doesn’t take away from the story. Uniquely, I didn’t feel like the protagonist reacted in ways that were unbelievable as is so often the case in thrillers. I am looking forward to reading his next book “The Third Secret.”
I must also compliment narrator Paul Michael as he does an excellent job with the voices and isn’t overly dramatic in his reading. show less
A fairly typical action-thriller-based-on-real-historical-events.
On the positive side, it's a decent ride with plenty of action and intrigue, and I quite like books like this with real-life history as its back story - not just entertaining, but you can learn some history as well. The author includes some information at the back clarifying what details are real non-fiction history, and which are fictional, which I appreciate.
On the negative side, the basic premise - reinstating the Russian royalty - is rather weak, and it feels that the "recount the historical context so the reader knows what's going on" parts take up a bit too much space in the book. I understand the need for it, but it feels a bit verbose and just slightly tedious in show more this case.
If this sort of thing interests you, I'd suggest checking out Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series, and maybe skip over this one. show less
On the positive side, it's a decent ride with plenty of action and intrigue, and I quite like books like this with real-life history as its back story - not just entertaining, but you can learn some history as well. The author includes some information at the back clarifying what details are real non-fiction history, and which are fictional, which I appreciate.
On the negative side, the basic premise - reinstating the Russian royalty - is rather weak, and it feels that the "recount the historical context so the reader knows what's going on" parts take up a bit too much space in the book. I understand the need for it, but it feels a bit verbose and just slightly tedious in show more this case.
If this sort of thing interests you, I'd suggest checking out Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series, and maybe skip over this one. show less
A suspense with a Dan Brown feel, The Romanov Prophecy delves into the long-standing legend that one or more of the Russian royal family survived brutal execution in the early 20th century. Even if you're not familiar with Russian history, names like Anastasia and Rasputin should tickle your memory. Caught between corruption, the mafia, the military, and a prophetic destiny, Miles Lord's story starts with a running shootout and doesn't end until the last page. Sorting out who's good and who's bad is enough to hold the reader from the beginning, then the compelling, if modified, history of the Romanovs keeps the pages turning.I haven't read many books with a male African American protagonist, and I enjoyed that twist. There was a little show more chemistry between Lord and the female lead, but this isn't a romance novel, so nothing came of it. Maybe it's just me, but my belief was stretched a little thin by the amount of trust Lord put in one person, and the fact that several times the question was asked "how exactly did you find me?" but the flimsy answer was always accepted. It was a little distraction, and what pulled this review down a star.I'll definitely read more Steve Berry. show less
A historical thriller in the vein of The Da Vinci Code- this time mining the frequent idea that Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov survived. Hey, I like that not!Disney animated movie! I'm all for decoding heroics, Russian landscapes, and musty books.
You know, except this book fails at delivering even a basic knockoff. The central mystery is unveiled off the top of the novel- and it's not even a controversial or interesting mystery. Furthering reducing any impact the premise might have, it's written as a period piece to replace any contemporary interest with saccharine moments bemoaning the cruelty of ye old USSR (mostly thanks to your cookie cutter sexy foreign female sidekick).
The main character, a laywer, repeatedly appears remarkably show more dim to not figure out who the not-so-shadow-y men are who keep trying to kill him (in a series of incredibly repetitive 'action' sequences) work for. Thankfully, he's saved from attempts at solving the non-mystery, because apparently the whole architects of the puzzle are willing to hand over the meaning of every 'clue', provided he just shows up.
Sure, Berry does show some fondness for Russia- and my very Russian friend assures me that he gets some aspects of the culture right- but what's the point of a historical thriller with no thrills, anyway? show less
You know, except this book fails at delivering even a basic knockoff. The central mystery is unveiled off the top of the novel- and it's not even a controversial or interesting mystery. Furthering reducing any impact the premise might have, it's written as a period piece to replace any contemporary interest with saccharine moments bemoaning the cruelty of ye old USSR (mostly thanks to your cookie cutter sexy foreign female sidekick).
The main character, a laywer, repeatedly appears remarkably show more dim to not figure out who the not-so-shadow-y men are who keep trying to kill him (in a series of incredibly repetitive 'action' sequences) work for. Thankfully, he's saved from attempts at solving the non-mystery, because apparently the whole architects of the puzzle are willing to hand over the meaning of every 'clue', provided he just shows up.
Sure, Berry does show some fondness for Russia- and my very Russian friend assures me that he gets some aspects of the culture right- but what's the point of a historical thriller with no thrills, anyway? show less
The Romanov Prophecy was another Steve Berry book. Neat puzzles and lots of action. I tend to put Steve Berry in the same box as Dan Brown, though I think Steve is the better writer, and has far fewer plot holes. I like to listen to his books when I'm driving and they help the miles go by.
In this book the main character is Miles Lord, a black American lawyer working with the czarist commission in Russia. His immediate supervisor Hayes has him looking in soviet archives trying to find anything that would disrupt the claim of Stefan Baklanov to become Czar of Russia. Much to his surprise, Miles does find something, though he doesn't know it's true significance until later. Lord escapes several attempts on his life, and by chance runs show more into Akalina a circus performer who saves Lord again. Then Miles runs into some people who believe at least one of the Czar's children escaped execution in 1918, and based on a prophecy from Rasputin, think Miles and Akalina are supposed to find them.
Overall, a fun easy book to listen to. My biggest complaint was, a man who we know is betraying Miles in the first couple chapters, is NEVER suspected by Miles himself. Even though there are several fairly important clues that should have at least made Miles question 'How did that happen?' One occurrence, sure but a man as smart as Miles was supposed to be should have at least been asking tougher questions. Other than that one big flaw/irritation I enjoyed the book.
Listened a 2nd time, completely forgot it. Must be getting old. Anyway still enjoyed it a lot, still irritated by Miles not suspecting his boss. show less
In this book the main character is Miles Lord, a black American lawyer working with the czarist commission in Russia. His immediate supervisor Hayes has him looking in soviet archives trying to find anything that would disrupt the claim of Stefan Baklanov to become Czar of Russia. Much to his surprise, Miles does find something, though he doesn't know it's true significance until later. Lord escapes several attempts on his life, and by chance runs show more into Akalina a circus performer who saves Lord again. Then Miles runs into some people who believe at least one of the Czar's children escaped execution in 1918, and based on a prophecy from Rasputin, think Miles and Akalina are supposed to find them.
Overall, a fun easy book to listen to. My biggest complaint was, a man who we know is betraying Miles in the first couple chapters, is NEVER suspected by Miles himself. Even though there are several fairly important clues that should have at least made Miles question 'How did that happen?' One occurrence, sure but a man as smart as Miles was supposed to be should have at least been asking tougher questions. Other than that one big flaw/irritation I enjoyed the book.
Listened a 2nd time, completely forgot it. Must be getting old. Anyway still enjoyed it a lot, still irritated by Miles not suspecting his boss. show less
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Steve Berry was born in 1955. He is a graduate of Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law. He was a practicing attorney when he started writing in 1990. His first book, The Amber Room, was published in 2003. His other works include The Romanov Prophecy, The Third Secret, The Columbus Affair, The Patriot Threat and the Cotton Malone show more series. He also writes e-book original short stories including The Balkan Escape, The Devil's Gold, and The Admiral's Mark. He and his wife founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the preservation of our heritage. In 2015, The Patriot Threat made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Romanov Prophecy
- Original title
- The Romanov Prophecy
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- Miles Lord; Akalina Petrov
- Important places
- Ekaterinburg, Russia; Genesis, North Carolina, USA; Moscow, Russia; North Carolina, USA; St. Petersburg, Russia; San Francisco, California, USA
- Important events
- Execution of the Romanovs
- Epigraph
- Russia -- a country in which things that just don't happen happen.
--Peter the Great
A year shall come of Russia's blackest dread; Then will the crown fall from the royal head, the throne of tsars will perish in the mud, The food of many will be death and blood.
-- Mikhail Lermontov (1830)
Russia: mysterious dark continent, "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" in Winston Churchill's phrase, remote, inaccessible to foreigners, inexplicable even to natives. That is the myth, encouraged by Russians... (show all) themselves, who preferthat no one discover who they really are and how they really live.
--Robert Kaiser, Russia: The People and the Power(1984)
For all its trials, for all its mistakes, the story of Russia at the end of the [twentieth] century must be counted as a kind of revival, a resurrection.
--David Remnick, Resurrection: The Struggle for a New Rus... (show all)sia (1997) - Dedication
- For Amy and Elizabeth
- First words
- Alexandra, Empress of all Russia, turned from her bedside vigil as the door swung open, the first time in hours her gaze had been diverted from the pitiful child lying prone beneath the sheets.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Long live the tsar.
- Disambiguation notice
- ISBN 0345485793 is for The Charlemagne Pursuit
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