The Fern Flower by Kathleen Shoop #CoffeePotBookClub #Review

St. Petersburg 1908-1917

Born into privilege as the daughter of the Tsar’s favored vodka maker, Mila appears to have everything: wealth, status, and a household devoted to her happiness. But behind the gilded doors of her family estate, she is trapped by the cruelty of a stepmother whose greatest wish is to give birth to her own child.

Each summer on Ivan Kupala Eve, Russia turns its gaze to river bends and forest floors in search of the legendary Fern Flower—a mythical bloom said to grant fortune, power, and the deepest desires of the heart. Only one person had ever found it.

Until Mila.

Years later, in the fading grandeur of Petrograd, Mila and her friends slip into the fabled Stray Dog Café, once the sanctuary of Russia’s most daring artists and dreamers. Inspired by its ghosts, murals, and memories, Mila’s group resurrects the work she’d first imagined as a child. The Fern Flower is a breathtaking ballet drawn from folklore, magic, and the secrets of Mila’s past.

But in the fiercely competitive ranks of the Imperial Ballet School, talent is never enough. Though Mila wrote the ballet and her gifted musician friend composed its score, rivals question whether Mila is worthy of claiming the coveted lead role.

As World War I intensifies and revolution ignites, the Russia Mila knows begins to collapse. Family secrets surface, loyalties are tested, and the people she loves begin to disappear. When her parents flee and her young brother’s life hangs in the balance, Mila is faced with an impossible choice: remain with the found family who helped her chase her dreams or risk everything to save the person who needs her most.

With Russian folklore, imperial grandeur, and the fierce beauty of ballet, The Fern Flower is a sweeping tale of ambition, friendship, sacrifice, and the magic that survives even when the world is falling apart.

REVIEW

This is a fabulous, immersive story and perfect for fans of epic historical fiction. The story has an unusual point of view, that of Grusha, the Moon, as well as of its protagonist Mila. The Moon gives us the advantage of being able to see the story from above, from a much wider perspective. Early in the story we see Mila, who dotes on her father, being pushed aside my her ‘New Mama’ – the woman her father has decided to marry. But her stepmother is unpredictable, addicted to her champagne, and later on rules the house with her superstitions and control over Mila’s father.

When Mila eventually reaches the Imperial Ballet School we follow her ambitions to be the best, and the ballerina assoluta of the Tsar’s company. The magic of the Fern Flower story finally takes to the stage – such gorgeous evocations of the ballet! But this is just before the outbreak of WW1 and the Revolution, and life in Petrograd will not be so straightforward. This is a long and complex book which focuses on family ties and on how family can also be found elsewhere. I particularly liked the relationship between Lottie and Mila, and also the careful interweaving of Russian folklore and the mysterious fern flower of the title. If you love atmospheric historical fiction, that is carefully researched and full of emotion, you will love this. Highly recommended.

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0jpWJ (Kindle & Apple)

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fern-flower-kathleen-shoop/1150136033?ean=2940183381290

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-fern-flower

ABOUT KATHLEEN SHOOP

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, PhD’s novels have won awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more.

Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom and has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide. She co-coordinates Mindful Writers Retreats and co-coordinated the 2023 Pennwriters Conference.

She frequently teaches and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers.