Happy Friday, and happy Independence Day weekend! It’s kind of ironic that the book I’m featuring for First Line Friday takes place in Europe 😉 But The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski is still a great story that I enjoyed, and I think you will too!

October 1917

Petrograd, Russia

“The night burned red with the flames of revolution.”

The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

The Basics

Title: The Ice Swan

Author: J’nell Ciesielski

Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover: Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris’s underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.

Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.

My Thoughts

The Ice Swan is the first of J’nell Ciesielski’s books I’ve read, but it won’t be the last! This story is full of rich historical detail and dives into the fascinating time period of World War I and the Bolshevik revolution. Svetlana is a fierce heroine, doing whatever it takes to protect her family even at the expense of her own dreams. Wynn was the perfect balance for her, a caring, compassionate protector (and funny too)! Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and it was done so well in this book. Svetlana and Wynn both have to learn to be honest and trust each other, how see the best in each other, and fight for each other’s dreams. The mystery and suspense along the way add a layer of intrigue to the deftly woven plot. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this one!

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