The Crown and the Crucible is a bit different from Nicholas and Alexandra or Sarah Miller's The Lost Crown. It deals with Russia in the 1860-70's. Although it has a fictional based background - a peasant girl named Anna goes from her small town Katyk to St. Petersburg, where she then becomes a mail to a fictional princess Katrina - I am convinced that there are facts ground in the story. For example, Princess Katrina's father, Prince Viktor Fedorcenko, is very close (both politically and friendshipwise) to Tsar Alexander II, thus providing explainations (or at least accounts) of Alexander's choices and solutions. Anna's brother, Paul, is a revolutionary, which provides a conflict in the story.
I thought that The Crown and the Crucible was an engaging read, with the glories and failings of St. Petersburg and more so the monarch that ruled it very clear, even through the eyes of fictional people. However, for me it was necessary to be able to sit down and concentrate on it - some of the twists are very sudden. It also takes a while to get into the story . . . but once you do, it is well worth the wait.
Thanks!!
PS. There seven books in the Russians series. I, myself, am only on the 3rd book. Any information on ANY of the seven books is appreciated and encouraged on this thread.