Review: The Bronze Horseman

The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.
Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana--and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects--a secret as devastating as the war itself--as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

My Rating:

My Review: This is a love story. There's pain, sacrifice, and war. But this is a love story.
It almost happened again! I almost missed the an intense, emotional, and beautiful love story. Some of you might remember that I started this one a few times and then I'd stop for one reason or another. I had other reviews due or I looked at my schedule and was intimidated by the length. But... I did read it. I didn't miss it. And it was amazing.
Honestly, my description above is adequate because nothing mattered but the love story. It wasn't the WWII setting or death that got you down, it was the lows and uncertainties of the future of Tasha and Alexander. Bad things happened but it really didn't hit me that hard. I can't describe why the relationship here worked so well. All I know is that every written word describing a small touch or glance was felt. It doesn't progress quickly but I didn't feel a lull. I was frustrated often with character's decisions but I was so invested in their relationship, I had to forgive them. I had to. There was no other way.
I will say that Tasha's maturity at the beginning made this read a slow start, but I almost didn't recognize her at the end.
Overall, I was in love with Tatiana and Alexander's love. Oh and the writing was awesome. And the characters were complex. But ehh... it was the love story that made this one.
P.S. I read the prequel to this one earlier in the year and gave it a 'meh' rating. After reading this one, the prequel should have gotten a 'yuck' rating. I didn't even feel like it was written by the same author.

P.P.S. Obviously, I loved this one. Here's the thing though. I read this one on my iPad but can't decide whether to purchase the sequel in ebook or paper form. I can read in the dark with the iPad but I always have to charge it and I can't touch it. Then there's paper... Thoughts?! What would you do with a sequel you are starting to fall for?