How disappointing was this totally unnecessary sequel? Oh, let me count the ways...
(***Mild spoilers ahead***)
Truly? This felt like a forced cash grab follow-up to THE BRONZE HORSEMAN. The author made TATIANA AND ALEXANDER a poetic prequel/sequel and the blend just doesn't work. I know there are many glowing reviews for this one, but having just finished reading it for myself, I can't help but question the veracity of them.
The narrative is super choppy, bogged down by flashbacks to Alexander's childhood, flashbacks to scenes from TBH, and flash-forwards to the present-day events where TBH left off. And unfortunately, much of that is Tatiana making a life for herself in New York, and Alexander's military tactics and maneuvers in Russia and Germany.
Then, in the 11th hour, T&A suddenly become GI Jane and Rambo...and I don't feel the author was able to pull off that type of writing. So it felt borderline comic book-like.
Having said that, the ending did wet my beak for picking up the final book in the trilogy, if only to see how these two fare once they are both FINALLY in America.
So in the end I give TATIANA AND ALEXANDER a C+. If you loved THE BRONZE HORSEMAN as I did, I think you can't help but want to continue the trilogy--just don't expect to have a continuation of the same experience. Because it really just turns into a rather worn out love story. :-(
(***Mild spoilers ahead***)
Truly? This felt like a forced cash grab follow-up to THE BRONZE HORSEMAN. The author made TATIANA AND ALEXANDER a poetic prequel/sequel and the blend just doesn't work. I know there are many glowing reviews for this one, but having just finished reading it for myself, I can't help but question the veracity of them.
The narrative is super choppy, bogged down by flashbacks to Alexander's childhood, flashbacks to scenes from TBH, and flash-forwards to the present-day events where TBH left off. And unfortunately, much of that is Tatiana making a life for herself in New York, and Alexander's military tactics and maneuvers in Russia and Germany.
Then, in the 11th hour, T&A suddenly become GI Jane and Rambo...and I don't feel the author was able to pull off that type of writing. So it felt borderline comic book-like.
Having said that, the ending did wet my beak for picking up the final book in the trilogy, if only to see how these two fare once they are both FINALLY in America.
So in the end I give TATIANA AND ALEXANDER a C+. If you loved THE BRONZE HORSEMAN as I did, I think you can't help but want to continue the trilogy--just don't expect to have a continuation of the same experience. Because it really just turns into a rather worn out love story. :-(
