First published 1860
Elena Stahov finds herself drawn to a passionate Bulgarian revolutionary who has come to Russia with dreams of liberation for his homeland. While other suitors circle around her, Elena discovers in this foreign fighter something that awakens her deepest convictions. Her family and friends watch with growing concern as she commits herself to a man whose dangerous political mission could tear them apart. The Bulgarian's revolutionary fervor matches Elena's own yearning for purpose beyond the comfortable confines of Russian society. As political tensions mount and personal sacrifices loom, Elena must choose between safety and the love that has transformed her understanding of duty and devotion. Set against the backdrop of rising social upheaval in 1859, their romance becomes entangled with larger questions of national identity and personal courage. The story moves toward a conclusion that tests whether love can survive the collision between private desires and public causes.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Russia
Period: 1859
234 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd