⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) When I first picked up The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had, I assumed it was a historical novel. A few pages in, my eyes started to glaze over—and that’s when I realized it was actually a biography. Still, I was curious about Julie’s life, so I pressed on. Helen Rappaport, known for her royal deep dives, tells the little-known story of Princess Julie, aunt of Queen Victoria and one-time bride-to-be of Grand Duke Constantine. Handpicked by Catherine the Great, Julie entered a dangerous court full of rivalries, gossip, and a husband who alternated between cruel and charming. Her courage to walk away from […]