The Fabergé Girl – Ina Christova | Book Review | #TheFabergeGirl | @Lovebookstours #booksky

1909, St Petersburg. Seventeen-year-old Alma longs to work at the legendary House of Fabergé, with its talented artisans, winding staircases, secret golden elevator, and glasshouse of tropical plants. But instead, Alma must sketch quietly in her room, inspired by magical visions that could have her accused of witchcraft, whilst her domineering brother presents her designs as his own.

But then comes an opportunity. With the help of a Finnish artisan Knut, she attracts the attention of Carl Fabergé himself and is given a job at the House of Fabergé. Alma’s creations attract widespread acclaim, and her star is on the rise. But the world around her is increasingly divided, as the Revolution creeps ever nearer. Alma will be forced to decide what matters most to her. Can love, art and beauty survive such hatred and violence?

At once a poignant love story, a magical coming of age tale and a haunting and evocative account of one of Russia’s darkest periods of history, Ina Christova’s transporting debut is based on the incredible true story of Alma Pihl, the only female jewellery designer at the House of Fabergé and her journey during the age of silver culture in St Petersburg.

MY THOUGHTS

The Fabergé Girl is published by Iztok Zapad (15 May 2024) and available in ebook (including Kindle Unlimited) and hardback. My thanks to Kelly of Love Books Tours for the place on the tour and a copy to review.

I’ve long been fascinated by Russian history and this is the second book I’ve read which is inspired by Alma Pihl. Alma was the first female artisan to be employed at Carl Fabergé’s workshop, the House of Fabergé on Nevsky Prospect in St Petersburg – a highly prized job indeed.

Beginning in 1909 and spanning the years to 1917, to include the unrest and the start of the revolution, the author creates a story of vivid imagery which encompasses the opulence and excesses of the rich to the poor starving in the streets and the discontent and fury which finally escalates to acts of brutal violence and killing.

Alma is the focus of the story, with her life, loves and dreams. 17 year old Alma was a gentle soul, still mourning the loss of her dear father, a well respected artisan at Fabergé but her family is fractured. Her brother Oskar refuses to let Alma in the workshop, instead taking her ideas and creations as his own. Her mother is complicit in this and Alma has to resort to more underhand tactics to get her own designs in front of Fabergé himself. Although Oskar’s actions initially appeared to come from jealousy and control, there was a need for protection and he wanted to keep Alma safe as along with her father’s creative talent, Alma has inherited an unusual trait – she sees visions where the most stunning and beautiful creations come to life. This alone puts her in danger of being accused of witchcraft and ultimate imprisonment and she must be very careful, especially around Oskar’s best friend Vlad and others in the Church Council who are always watching.

This descriptive and evocative story tells the story of young woman determined to fulfil her dream of creating for Fabergé, her obsession for a young man she met at a lake which ultimately opens her eyes to the brutal reality of life in Russia together with the contrast between the rich and glamorous world which Fabergé inhabits and the ordinary people living in poverty and struggling to survive. With its touches of magical realism to reinforce Alma’s visions, this is a captivating and fascinating story of a determined young woman who after finally realising her dreams is thrust into a fight for survival.

This Epoch interview from May 2024 with Ina Christova gives an interesting background to the creation of the story.

Ina Christova is a Bulgarian writer. When not travelling around the world, she splits her time between London and Oxford. She completed an MA in English and German Literature where she was the recipient of the Eleanor Boyle and Kathleen Major prizes for her writing. Ina’s work has been longlisted for Mslexia and the Blue Pencil First Novel Awards. It also won first place at the Novel London Literary Competition. The first draft of The Fabergé Girl was completed on the selective Curtis Brown Creative Course in London.

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