Enchantments

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A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK “Part love story, part history, this novel is a tour de force [told] in language that soars and sears.” — More In 1917 St. Petersburg, after Rasputin's body is discovered in the Neva River, his eighteen-year-old daughter, Masha, moves to the imperial palace to live with Tsar Nikolay and his family. Tsarina Alexandra, hoping Masha has inherited her father's healing abilities, asks her to care for her son, Alyosha, who suffers from hemophilia. Shortly after Masha's arrival, the tsar abdicates, and the royal family is placed under house arrest by the Bolsheviks. Amidst the turmoil of civil war, Masha and Alyosha find comfort in one another. To help distract the prince from his pain, Masha shares stories—some embellished, others imagined—about the courtship of Nikolay and Alexandra, Rasputin's life, and their homeland, which is on the verge of monumental change. In their shared fantasies, weakness transforms into strength, and the impossible future feels tantalizingly close. Praise for the novel highlights its sumptuous prose and fresh perspective on the last days of the Romanovs, with critics noting its enduring impact and mesmerizing storytelling. Harrison's work is described as intricately crafted, blending historical facts with rich imagination, creating a literary gem. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.