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THE WITCHES OF ST. PETERSBURG is the tale of two sisters that have to fend for themselves at the Romanov court, and they do so by not only befriending the Tsarina, they use black magic as well. Militza and Stana are the daughters of the King of Montenegro. They are forced to marry men with status in the Romanov court and to secure the future for their home country. However, they are shunned by the aristocracy especially the women. But, they soon find out that the lonely Tsarina desperately needs a male heir, and they decide to help her even if that means using black magic.

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THE WITCHES OF ST. PETERSBURG is the tale of two sisters that have to fend for themselves at the Romanov court, and they do so by not only befriending the Tsarina, they use black magic as well. Militza and Stana are the daughters of the King of Montenegro. They are forced to marry men with status in the Romanov court and to secure the future for their home country. However, they are shunned by the aristocracy especially the women. But, they soon find out that the lonely Tsarina desperately needs a male heir, and they decide to help her even if that means using black magic.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

Loved this book, a really interesting and amusing look at the airline industry.

This was absolutely unputdownable- 4* writing but a *5 story, which I'd never heard of. I had never considered HOW Rasputin, a Siberian peasant, gained entrance to the Romanov court. Here we learn of the "Black Princesses"- Montenegrin sisters who have married into the slightly lesser echelons of St Petersburg aristocracy. Sidelined and treated with contempt for their lowly origins, Militza and Stana gain an intimacy with the unhappy Tsarena, disliked and unable to produce a son, through their ability with the occult. With spells and drugs, various spiritistic friends...and finally Rasputin himself, they become constant figures in the highest circle.
But jealousy grows...other royals seeing themselves usurped...and later from the sisters themselves, as the Tsarena takes up with other, more suitable, ladies...as Rasputin launches his career, unaided by them..and as his harem of female acolytes makes him more hated by the day...
Quite fascinating!

Chagrijnige stewards die een laxeermiddel in je drankje doen? Gehandicapte passagiers die op wonderbaarlijke wijze weer kunnen lopen? Welke kleren draag je om een upgrade te krijgen? Het aantal onderbroeken en gebitten dat wordt achtergelaten in het vliegtuig? Wat doe je met het lichaam van iemand die overlijdt tijdens de vlucht? Wat gebeurt er met je bagage als je incheckt? En is dat veilig? Ben jij veilig? Geen idee? Lees Air Babylon.

Two sister princesses from Montenegro are married off by their father to men within the Romanov court. Despite struggling to be accepted by the Russian society they manage to make themselves indispensable to the Tsar and Tsarina. I thought the writing was good and I really liked the story. A bit fantastical but still an interesting glimpse into this world and time period.

Off to a slow start but then it got rolling. Really scandalous and juicy!!!

The Witches of St. Petersberg are Militza and Stana, princesses of Montenegro who have made advantageous marriages to Grand Dukes of Russia in order to enrich their impoverished country and pretty much universally despised by the more established courtiers. However, their practice of seances and other 'magic' earns them some notoriety. When the Tsar and Tsarina fail to produce a male heir, the sisters court and gain the Tsarina's favor by utilizing their 'powers' and 'rituals' to bring about the desired offspring. Their machinations become more complicated the longer the Tsarina fails to reproduce, and when she finally does, and the Prince turns out to be hemophiliac, they have an opportunity to retain their power by producing a 'healer' (Rasputin) to keep Alexei alive.
I'm not well-read on the topic of the last Tsars of Russia, but this is obviously a highly fictionalized account. It was entertaining to read, but with so many interesting and scandalous actions attributed to actual historical figures (most of which blatantly contradicts those people's Wikipedia pages) it was a little difficult to digest. I found myself constantly wondering how much of this was 'real' and how much completely fabricated. Also, there is quite a bit of sexual content and while I'm not against that, per se, the scenes were particularly graphic and seemed a little out of place within the context of the rest of the novel.

Sisters Militza and Stana fight their way through the Russian court using spiritualism, charm, black magic and manipulation of the Tsar and Tsarina. They married into the court but learn quickly that the way to power is to control Tsarina Alexandra. With every daughter born, Alexandra becomes more despondent and willing to try any magic or listen to any religious charlatan that the sisters send to her.
This is a different side of the Romanov court where incredible waste and riches gave way to superstition and desperation. When the sisters discover Rasputin they unknowingly unleash a monster that could mean their downfall. Politics, history, court gossip and the incredible sexual escapades of Rasputin are all shared in great detail. The author has spent time doing her research but there were times I wanted to skim to get to the action. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy. (less)

Author Imogen Edward-Jones highlights a lesser known pair of historical figures in this novel set in Czarist Russia and endows them with magical abilities that go further than they expected.

Sisters Militza and Anastasia,aka Stana, managed to marry well as princesses of Montenegro but are snubbed by upper class Russian society due to the humble origins of their home country.

However, when Militza takes a prime opportunity to move up the regal social ladder by connecting herself with new czarina Alexandra, she does not neglect to bring her sister along for the climb.

Aided by their combined talents in dark magic, Stana and Militza are easily able to make themselves powerful players in the court of Nicholas II. Yet, when a royal heir is in need of medical care, the sisters cast a spell to find a powerful healer which summons Rasputin, a man who proves to be more trouble than he's worth. Ridding themselves of him tests the limits of their skills and may prove to be the undoing of everything they've ever wanted.

Edward-Jones did a good amount of solid research into the real life members of the Russian court to enhance her creative vision of magic and ambition that ought to make readers wonder the what ifs of that time very well.

This is a very atmospheric book that delves into Tsarist Russia, with a hint of mysticism. Edwards-Jones writes a compelling historical novel while at the same time having characters that come springing off the page.

Note: My rating is 3.5 rounded up to 4 here.

Based very loosely on facts, The Witches of St. Petersburg, by Imogen Edwards-Jones, is about two young sisters Militza and Stana whose father arranges their marriages to members of the Russian nobility. Once they arrive at court the Russian aristocracy look down their noses at them for being not only outsiders but uncultivated and having backwater ways.
The sisters further this appearance by dabbling in black magic. They predict the sex of the servant’s unborn children, read tea leaves, and hold séances to communicate with the dead. All of this is very unseemly for someone of the nobility. That is until the sisters capture the attention of the Tsar’s wife Alexandra.
Tsarina Alexandra has produced nothing but girls and she is desperate to give the Tsar an heir. So desperate in fact that she allows the sisters to send her charlatan, after charlatan, to help ensure a male child is born to secure the Romanov line. I guess you could say desperate times call for desperate measures. Once Rasputin enters the story Militza and Stana are desperate to help Alexandra and secure their place in the social standings of the Russian court. Unfortunately, they are wholly unprepared for what will come.
I read some of the reviews going into this book and was not sure if I would like it. Since I love reading historical fiction that are based on facts and I also find paranormal stories fascinating, I decided to not let others influence me. That is not to say that there were not flaws, because there were and I just ignored them for the most part and enjoyed the story for the entertainment it is.
So what I liked about the book was the darker side of court life that was betrayed. I felt the author really did a good job of capturing that. I also liked her imaginative take on fictional events surrounding the Romanovs. The sisters Militiza and Stanza’s characters I also liked. I felt that they were still young enough that they didn’t realize what they were getting into. What started out as a simple attempt to elevate their social standing in the end turned on them in the most horribly way.
What I did not like was the repetitiveness of some parts. I felt that the book could have been cut down by a third and it would be better for it. The other thing I disliked was all the sexual content, in the second half of the book, which took away from the plot. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind sexual scenes in books especially when it helps move the story forward or releases tension. I just felt that it was heavy handed and fewer would have been better. This goes back to my prior point, less would have been better.
In summary, while I did like parts of the story and enjoyed reading sections, especially the first half of the book. There were flaws that some readers will find fatal to the overall story. This is why I have rated it at 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. To read more of my reviews, and author interviews, check out my blog at www.thespineview.com.

I was excited to receive this story as I do love a good witch tale. The story however was more focused on Russian culture and society, more so than witchcraft. The details and descriptions of enchanted Russia were beautiful and haunting at the same time. However the actual story of the sisters is more about their demise than about where they learned their gifts, and what was important to them other than being accepted into a society. Overall the story was interesting, but did fall a little short of actual tales of witches.

This novel wants to be 2 things: first, an historical fiction account of a fascinating time in history, the cusp of the Bolshevik Revolution, that time just before everything collapses, and the author gives us a great insider's view of what life among the cream of the elite is like: decadent parties, silk-dressed ladies dripping with jewels, palaces and yachts and soirees and teas and clubs and lavish weddings, etc. Some of the excesses of that time challenge belief.

And then there is the supernatural element here, the focus of the semi-biographical account of two (if we're to believe the author) witches and necromancers who have actual powers, working with the dark arts to "create" human beings and summon creatures to do their bidding. Interestingly, the sisters use a combination of paganism and what seems like elements of Roman Catholicism or the Russian Orthodox church in their rituals (using Catholic icons of saints, for example).

The intrigue of Militza and her sister and how they weave, cajole and magik their way into the highest echelons of Russian nobility was interesting.

FYI to the editors: the cover art depicts a star of David, whereas I think you're trying to go for a pentagram. They are completely different symbols. Look them up.

This was a very atmospheric and in general, beautifully written book. I loved all of the details of the extravagant and vicious court life of these extremely wealthy and awful people of the Russian court. As other reviewers have noted, it's difficult to keep track of the different characters, who each have multiple names that are hard to keep track of for someone not very familiar with Russian history. The author revels in explicit discussions of the vile and grotesque, and there are lots of bodily fluids throughout. Edwards-Jones does a great job of bringing to life her setting, describing the piercing cold, the disgusting smells, the glittering jewels and dresses, etc. It's quite repetitive and overly long, however, and in spite of all of the lurid details, it was at times a tedious read.½

Russian history with a lot of names to keep straight as well as titles.

Militza and Stana are forced by their father, the crown prince of Montenegro, to leave their provincial country and move to St. Petersburg and marry men with senior positions in the Romanov court. Militza and Stana are shunned at court because of where they come from and have a hard time mixing with the aristocrats. In fact they are called "The Goat Princesses" the devils daughters, witches because it is said they practice the black arts. Trying to fit in or find a place in court is like dealing with school bullies.

Militza decides the only way they can get ahead in court is to befriend the Tsarina who after giving birth to 4 daughters is desperate to give the Tsar a son and heir. The sisters start working their magic and soon convince the Tsarina to believe in them. From there the story takes off with all the court gossip, backstabbing, black magic and Rasputin! I enjoyed the story and the book held my interest. I just had trouble keeping all the players and names straight.

Received an advance copy through the early reviewers program. This is historical fiction, but the emphasis here must be on the fiction if the book is to be enjoyed. Otherwise you'll find yourself picking it apart, instead of just being entertained. The author does a very nice job bringing the time period to life, especially when it comes to descriptions of the weather, scents, etc. Kind of a guilty pleasure book.

I don't know why it has such a low rating. I had never read the books of the Babylon Series but if they are all in the same style I must say they are pretty good. I am planning to read the complete series. The story is funny and insightful it gives you an interesting perspective of the life inside a restaurant and how they work. I have a background in restaurants myself and know some people that have been in the business for over 30 years and despite the fact that they are not the same high- class restaurants as the ones in the book you have the feeling that you understand where the author & authors are going with it. Is a good read for everybody who knows or want to know about restaurants.

Makes me really loathe the luxury hotel business. They sound like prostitutes, doing anything for the right amount of money. Such amazing things go on behind the scenes and behind the eyes of normal guests. This is certainly an eye-opening read.½

An amusing, easy read.

About four years ago I read Hotel Babylon, and upon learning of the existence of an Air Babylon I figured I would give it a shot. The idea behind the *-Babylon series of books is pretty much "look-how-stuff-works-behind-the-scenes-isn't-it-outrageous". Supposedly, all the events in the books are based on true stories told to the author by "Anonymous": people from within the industries whose names and employers cannot be divulged "for legal reasons". In Air Babylon all the events recounted to the author by Anonymous are compressed into a single 24 hour day of a single airport employee. Unfortunately this artificial intensity of weird stuff just makes everything feel a little absurd. This is a problem in a book that ultimately relies on being believable enough to 'shock' the readers with real-life events. The book presents itself as being a bit of an exposé, but ends up seeming like a collection of anecdotes about things that happen infrequently enough not to really be at all shocking, or even surprising.
The story itself necessarily becomes a contorted coat-hanger on which every juicy anecdote grapples for space. The reader follows an airport supervisor and his colleague, Andy, during a workday at the airport and then eventually onto a flight as they head to Dubai to celebrate Andy's birthday. Along the way they encounter a gallery of other forgettable caricatures. The birthday in Dubai becomes an excuse to emphasise all the drugs, sex, and apparently endless partying everyone involved in the airline industry gets up to all the time, something the reader is liberally reminded of throughout the book. Unfortunately this, and everything else with a racy angle to it, is emphasised to the point where it becomes annoying. Not quite to the extent that I feared, but still more so than I'd like. Oh, and on the off chance that anyone starts actually caring for the characters, there is also a laughably predictable love story that allows everyone to go home with a smile on their face.

I have to say though, Air Babylon isn't a terrible book. It held my interest, if only for the occasional airport and airline trivia which just about manages to hold its head above the frequent debauchery. Unfortunately it didn't come close to shocking or scaring me. There is plenty of stuff that probably should have shocked me, but it didn't. It's not even a matter of me doubting it's authenticity. Everything is just presented in a much too silly manner for me to take it seriously. Ultimately, I had relatively low expectations and the book met them.½

I really like this book. Is very funny ;)

Sometimes a 5-star book is a well-written, spellbinding story, sometimes its a quick, fast read of a subject that leaves you with your mouth open. Wow, could this sort of shit really be true? Its so phenomenally out of my sphere of experience that I can't wait to turn the page to see what is the next step on the road to fame (and its great that the book names names).

This book describes 24 hours in a five-star hotel in London. The anonymous author was a manager of such a hotel when the book was published, but it’s written from the point of view of a receptionist. The staff are fictionalized, but the author claims that all the incidents described had really happened, albeit not in one day. He also tells stories about celebrities observed by him or his colleagues in various London hotels. This book is highly entertaining, but a few of the tales related are rather vulgar, and there was a point in the beginning of the book when I wondered whether to continue reading it or chuck it into the wastebasket. I decided to give it another try and was glad I did, for it does improve soon after.

The best part of the book, besides its humor and general entertaining value, is that the author doesn’t spare anyone: guests, hotel administration, its staff, or even himself. It’s a real behind the scenes look. Often it’s not a pretty picture, and it wouldn’t have made such an enjoyable read if it hadn’t been so hilarious. Guests who have to be rich to pay for accommodations there steal all sorts of things, from hotel bathrobes and KitKat from the minibar, painstakingly filling the plastic package with something to make it appear full, to artwork and refrigerators. However, the hotel grossly overcharges the guests on everything, from rooms to continental breakfasts which aren’t complimentary at all and mineral water in the minibar. It also overbooks, just in case someone cancels, which apparently happens often, and so guests who paid for an extra day to be allowed to check in early may not find their room available when they arrive (lying that the person who currently occupies the room couldn’t leave on time due to food poisoning works; lying that the room is unavailable due to sudden plumbing problems doesn’t). The sound insulation is apparently nil – the author says he can hear an orchestra of snores of various timbres when he walks along the corridors at night – and if somebody has a night-long wild party in his room, but orders enough food and drink through room service, the staff just sends the neighbors ear-plugs if they complain. Rats, mice and cockroaches defy all attempts to eradicate them. In short, it’s seems much pleasanter to read about than to experience. My personal favorite tidbit was about rich Arab businessmen who apparently routinely smuggle live sheep into their suits and butcher them there, leaving blood all over the floor, but nobody minds because they tip the staff in Cartier watches and diamond earrings.

Working there doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience either. It’s stressful and seldom rewarding. (The author mentions being thanked by a guest for being upgraded from a room to a suite, due to overbooking, to which he replied, “My pleasure,” adding to the readers that it really was a pleasure because usually they only get the grief.) Long hours take a toll of relationships. At one point, seeing an oil millionaire from Texas deciding which of the two prostitutes to take up to his room, the author says he finds the scene depressing, adding that it’s probably because it reminds him that they’re “all prostitutes in the luxury hotel business,” kowtowing to every whim of the rich. So why do people choose to work there? The only thing I could think of, from reading this book, is money, for they make quite a lot in tips. (Employees who don’t get tips are practically all immigrants who don’t speak even conversational English and are often illegal to boot – hotels “turn a blind eye to doctored passports” and “see nothing wrong in sending someone’s wages into an account under a totally different name.”) But, perhaps, it’s deeper than that, because the author says that he decided at the age of six that he wanted to work in a hotel and apparently never changed his mind, but he doesn’t elaborate on what attracted him to this work then or now. He opens the curtain behind the operation of a luxury hotel and the experience of working there, but chooses to draw it over his more personal sentiments.

But whatever working or staying in such a hotel is like, the book is very enjoyable, informative and well-written. I decided that I’d like to read more books like this about other work environments, and then I found out that the professional co-author of this book (Imogen Edwards-Jones) wrote similar books after this one, in partnership with other anonymous sources. The one about a hospital ER was favorably reviewed on LT by an ER doctor. However, I subsequently found out that most of her books are very rare in the US, for whatever reason. Perhaps, the industries involved didn’t like the exposure. One reviewer on Amazon.con wrote that it’s best not to read the book on air travel shortly before taking a plane.