Please update!

Very good, very good read.

I came here because someone referenced it from my own story (apparently we have similar premises?), and already I'm interested...

Congratulations on being shortlisted! I'm sure I speak for all of your fans in wishing you the best of luck. Be sure to let us know the final results.

Excellent news, ma'am! A very well deserved honor. Hope your London visit is perfect in every way :-)

Very well down. This book is amazing and I wish you so much luck. Now. I had to sit here for five minutes first getting over my sorrow that this wasn't a proper update.

Please let us know what happens.

I still think about this story and am so glad for you.
By the way... I'm still wondering what happened to Kolya and Katya.
Congratulations!

I know it's been over a year since your last update but if you are still out there. I beg of you to continue this story, it is the equivalent of Toltsoy's greatest work. It feels like you travelled into an alternate universe, and witness what has happened.

Again I hope you continue this wonderful story.

Writing/Descriptions-I like the descriptions at the very beginning with Nora's dress, that really stuck out to me and was very vivid. I would have liked a little more detail to some of the action, as this felt very dialogue heavy, though...perhaps a little more in that third and fourth last paragraphs-more attention to detail, though I do like that you added in the folds of her red dress. Then again, perhaps the dress really does become this stark prop, if so, it's used well.

Character- I liked how you characterized Nora in this chapter. She became very frantic and I like how you built up to the introduction of Nikolai. The Tsar's reaction was also wonderful, it caught my attention and carried it through!

Pacing-This chapter read a little fast, but I think that's because of the shortness. While I don't find that's a big deal for Fictionpress,hopefully the chapters in your final manuscript are longer, if not, I suggest it. Especially for these chapters that rely on a lot of dialogue and action.

Setting- I didn't get a great sense of the setting as far as detail, other than knowing the general location. Even if you've spent previous chapters describing it, perhaps spend a little more time. Then again, I really liked the corridor with suits of armour shoulder to shoulder-maybe contrast the glinting metal with the carpet, or wood floors? Are there windows in the corridor? What are the color of the walls? Does the electric light shadow play and make the corridor even more menacing? That sort of thing.

But seriously, as always, this story is a treat. It was nice to get back to it, loved the developments!

Nothing but a Red whore. [owch, that bites. Perhaps red was not the right color for her to wear to a Tsar ball...so...despite her bravery it is kind of dumb...but clever!]

I really liked the starting imagery with this chapter, the red and the snow, it contrasted well and I could really picture them running through the streets to the Palace. I thought that was a great way to set up the scene and a good starting point to reveal everything that needs to be revealed to, especially because you used it to sort of zoom-out and show us Alex lurking in the background of the scene, which makes the energy level spike for the pace!

Liked listening to Nora's (ugh I called her Kat in the last chapter review, sorry, she's just that good, XD) dialogue and her inner monologues about how she's so happy and thinks she's done it. I have a feeling that rude awakening will be happening quickly, especially because of the foreshadow involving Alex in this chapter too.

This all really set up a good rising action for the climax of the scene, even if it goes on for awhile, you've got them there at the palace, and I can't wait to see the description of the ball itself, if that get involves. The setting you've created is just so vibrant for these scenes.

I really felt a big lurch of sympathy for Dima there, when Nick realizes he's basically under the delusion he has a family of pictures-his family, basically. That was cool how that came together though, good fate. I'm really afraid for both of them at this point, though I feel like Nick is being a little stupid to just barge in there and think he's not being watched-perhaps that's what it is, naivety? Anyway, another solid chapter! I like where I *think* this is going, and I also love guessing, XD.

Whoa, whoa whoa, The Tsar is crushing on Nora? Alex the Tsar? I didn't see that coming...to the point where maybe I've gone and confused myself. But if so, I guess, that's kind of cool, I didn't see it happening but it mixes things up! I guess sometimes dislike is love, hehe. I'm getting this feeling from the "Leaning on the mantelpiece" paragraph, especially the last line about loving the enemy and him saying "literal" which makes me think actual love and not like friendship love...so that's where I'm coming from if I'm horribly wrong.

They curled like talons, the joints swollen and throbbing. [Loved that line and description, very unique and somewhat darkly poetic]

I liked you've got both Alex and Nick in this chapter. I thought the segue into Nick's perspective worked incredibly well and had no problem following the shift. I think my favorite part was with Alex though, and I really enjoyed the mention of worldly events, like the Nazis, I was wondering when that might pop up, and I'd love to see if it can play a bigger role in the future. It's very scary... I remember a quote or something about world war two that it was the American's bran, the British brains, and the Russian blood that won the war. Unless this does an alternative take, Alex will totally be sacrificing a lot later on, and with the state he's in already, it'll be something to see him go through the stress of it all.

Anyway, loved that involvement. I also really liked the moment about an heir, though I think I did want a little more elaboration on why he "can't even think" of conceiving a kid. Am I missing something about his condition or is he just scared that he could pass it on? Would have liked a bit more to back that just as a reminder, if you've already pointed it out before hand.

In a similar vein, I liked the moment with Chelyadin being the foil to Alex during his musings, that was a great pairing and the dialogue played off one another. I think you conveyed a lot of natural information that way, and I liked that. I feel sorry for Anastasia and have a sinking feeling something will go amiss there, but at least she's alive at this point, haha.

As for Nick, things are definitely getting sticky for him! (Also I hope this isn't annoying that I keep using the American name versions I just can't get me x's, i's, and e's all in a row when I type, I'm a fail, XD) It makes me cringe to see him still trusting Katyushka. Things are not going to go well and now I'm beginning to understand why he was left out in the Gulag (probs spelled that wrong, eep) camps as an officer. I almost want to close my eyes during a scary scene in a movie as this plays itself out!

It's been so long! I've also owed you this return since July 1st and haven't spoken to you for even longer, it seems :[ This makes me sad. I would normally say: but now I'm going to read this chapter that will make me happy! But since this is Night Love and in Russia, it will probably continue making me sad (but in a good way), XD. *Ahem* Without further ado!

I really like seeing Nikolai's past, that was my favorite part of this chapter. I like that he has such depth and compassion in a place where there aren't very many like him-but then we of course know that by the first few chapters when he runs away with Kat, but it's nice to see the subtle moments here in chapters like this, where we get to see when he was once happy as well. This chapter, did, actually make me happy-because it's so well written! I love that about your writing, your descriptions are beautiful. But yes, anyway, so the compassion for Dima was well played, and I liked his interaction with his grandpa and when they were joking and with his sister and his mother, everything felt a little less tense than the previous scene with the Tsar and Anastasia.

I like the Anastasia scene too, the Nikolai one contrasts with it quite nicely. I'm glad that she's convinced Nikolai to allow her to leave, that was refreshing and I'm really looking forward to where that plot line is going to take the two of them once Alex's knee heals up. So yeah I really enjoyed that and the two meshed really well together! You've really managed to capture some cool moments extended in history, so I'm enjoying that, as always.

And setting, the contrast of the the royal family and the Bolsheviks, all of this is really creating a tense atmosphere that also has a tinge of foreshadow that I love. I mean we all know what happens in history and in your alternative history, so the journey getting there just keeps winding us up waiting!

It's been awhile since I've visited this and I forget how fun it is!

Soph! The past few chapters have been absolutely wonderful. I do so love that the story is moving forward. As usual, your language is spot on, and your characters progress admirably- or at least they gain more depth. I'm not sure if they're still really moving at the same time/pace as the story. But I have all my nutty fanboy theories to which I am the sole caterer and to which I am of course entitled, because I fan hardcore.

An interesting twist you threw in there with the tsar trying to bring back Nikolai, and Nikolai being listed as dead. I love the potential for Alexei to do one of his seriously angry butchering things... Though I feel like his character development may forbid it. Still, a man can dream, right?

Hmm... So much cuteness keeps popping up here. I wonder if you plan it or if it comes naturally.

We are now nearly sixty chapters into this story- it is huge. I have to wonder, when does the big moment happen? When does everything come to a head and explode? These past few chapters have brought my anticipation up to a level that I didn't think could be reached short of Harry Potter, but you've done it. I just don't know how much longer a fanboy like me can endure this kind of punishment! I'm pulling out my beard hairs wondering what will happen next, and every time there is some kind of miscommunication or lie or extenuating circumstance that inhibits the truth.

"Mooooom! Soph's being a meanie and won't write the climax to her story when I tell her to!"

:D

I love your story, Soph. Is it possible to get a signed ebook?

I really didn't see too much that bugged me, but I might not be an unbiased reader anymore at this point ;) Thank you for all the updat

"His birthday with hadn't yet come true." That should be "birthday wish." Or does your computer lisp?

Sorry about that. The chapter is so good that I have to nitpick at minor mistakes. The characters have fulfilled their early promise of full personalities with intricate, engaging depths. And the plot has developed so well that it sould be easy for you to go back and smooth the rough spots along the way.

Nice chapter-tight description and gripping suspense. Good cliffhanger ending. Impatient to read more.