Book Review of
The Ice Swan

Lynn's Review

The Ice Swan by J’Nell Ciesielski is a Christian historical fiction book. It was published in 2021. 

I cannot remember where I got this book, but it was on my shelf, and I wanted a quick, clean read. I love to read before bed, but I have realized that I need more of a mindless, clean book at that time of day. 

My mind does not focus well late at night. I am also trying to work on getting better sleep. I have realized over the last few months that if I read a book about war or a murder mystery right before falling asleep, it affects my sleep. So, I have been picking up books like this right before bed. 

This book is a relatively typical Christian fiction romance book. It was okay, but I did not love it. I am kind of tired of the marriage of convenience troupe or whatever troupe it would be. 

Basically, a man rescues a woman from evil people by marrying her. But does he love her? Does she love him? After several awkward months of marriage, they fall in love and live happily ever after. 

This book mixes a Princess who escapes Russia during the Revolution and a WWI doctor who is a Duke but is the second son, so he becomes a doctor. 

This book is okay. I can see why people enjoy this author. I am just tired of so many Christian fiction books being the same. I am also tired of them trying so hard to keep them clean that they do not stay true to history. They also do not read like real life. 

I like closed-door books, but I want well-written, creative stories, that stay true to history. For me this book lacked the creative stay true to history part.