The Diamond Secret, by Suzanne Weyn

The Once Upon a Time series has some gems and some let-downs, but when this retelling of Anastasia came out, I didn't hesitate to check it out of the library. A big fan of the Romanov mystery, I've always enjoyed the different conclusions authors come up with:

The Diamond Secret, by Suzanne Weyn
Young Adult, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Nadya is a mischievous kitchen girl in a Russian tavern. Having nearly drowned in the Iset River during the turmoil of the Revolution, she has no memory of her past and longs for the life she cannot remember.
Then two young men arrive at the tavern and announce that Nadya's long-lost grandmother has sent them to find her. Yearning for family and friendship, she agrees to accompany them to Paris for the joyful reunion. Nadya eagerly embarks on her journey, never dreaming it will be one of laughter, love -- and betrayal.

This read very similarly to the Disney movie that came out awhile back. Basically Anastasia has lost her memory and the guys that are in it for the reward money realize she's the real deal. While this version was a little more detailed, especially with the nitty grittys of traveling across Russia, Germany and into France on mostly foot, it did have the same basic but sweet romance and lovable characters. I did feel that the villain could have been...well, more a villain - it was a little underplayed. And the ending felt a little abrupt. However, it was a cute story, and a sweet version of what could have happened.

Graded a B-.

Want more fractured fairy-tales? Check out the entire series:
(I've read a variety of these, but don't typically review them. Violet Eyes has a link to my review, and I know Crimson Thread, while I didn't review it, I enjoyed quite a bit.)

• The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey (The Arabian Nights, 2002)
• Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey (Sleeping Beauty, 2002)
• Snow by Tracy Lynn (Snow White, 2003)
• Midnight Pearls by Debbie Viguie (The Little Mermaid, 2003)
• Scarlet Moon by Debbie Viguie (Little Red Riding Hood, 2004)
• Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey (The Magic Flute, 2004)
• Spirited by Nancy Holder (Last of the Mohicans and Beauty and the Beast, 2004)
• The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn (The Twelve Dancing Princesses, 2005)
• Golden by Cameron Dokey (Rapunzel, 2006)
• Water Song by Suzanne Weyn (A Retelling of The Frog Prince, published October 2006)
• Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey (Cinderella, published March 2007)
• The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder (The White and the Black Bride, 2007)
• The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn (Rumpelstiltskin, 2008)
• Belle by Cameron Dokey (Beauty and the Beast, 2008)
• Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey (Mulan, 2009)
• The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn (Anastasia, 2009)
• Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey (The Snow Queen, 2009)
• Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguié (The Princess and the Pea, 2010)
• The World Above by Cameron Dokey (Jack and the Beanstalk, 2010)