Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing 
Pages: 262 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Series: Stolen Empire 

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?

Review:
If you love a good historical read you will enjoy this story. Sophie is one bad ass princess in the first part of the story Sophie and her mother get ambushed and the guards are killed. Sophie takes out two of the men with a knife and leads the third away to the woods. She comes out the other side of the woods and into one of Empress Elizabeth's guards sent to make sure they make it to Russia. Sophie saw the third man sneaking up on the guard and throws the knife killing him. I enjoyed this book a lot and plain to read book two when it comes out. I give it five stars for a kick ass read.