Queen of Someday
Series: Stolen Empire #1
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published October 7th 2014 by Clean Teen Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?
Goodreads

Review
Even though this series has been published for a while, when I first heard about it, I was completing an Imperial Russia module at uni, and wanted to read anything I could about Imperial Russia. Catherine the Great, though not a monarch I studied during my degree, has always intrigued me, because of how badass she was, in a world run by men. To have an origin story for Catherine was like a dream come true.

In Queen of Someday, our MC, Sophie (great name ;)), is preparing herself to be married to the Tsarevich of All Russia, Peter. She will face the Imperial Court, and all the political intrigue and danger that goes hand in hand with that lifestyle, all the while, being a naive 15 year old girl. As she realises that her husband's Aunt, Elizabeth, rules the court, and Sophie will find herself being broken and moulded into something she isn't, she starts to fight back. We soon see Sophie become the magnificent Catherine the Great, and stand up for herself.

Now, I'm writing this review over 9 months after I read the book, so some details are a bit hazy. I remember thinking that the book was good, but was lacking something. I don't know what, but I just kept wishing for more. I have the sequels, but haven't yet read them, because I wasn't sure if the series was worth continuing? Any ideas, I'd appreciate them.

I do remember that I enjoyed Sophie. She was naive to start with, but definitely had the building blocks to become Catherine within her. I may finish the series just to see how Sophie becomes Catherine, because I still love the idea of Catherine the Great running the empire over her weak husband.

Let me know if you think this series is something I should persevere with.