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Princess Augusta Fredericka is the daughter of Christian of Anhalt-Zerbst, a minor German prince and his wife Princess Joanna of Holstein-Gottorp (parts of present day Germany and Denmark). Her life is rather lonely, cold, and bleak – and her mother is mean to her. When word comes that the Empress Elizabeth of Russia (who is related to Joanna) wants Catherine as a bride for her heir, Peter, the young teenager sees a way out of her miserable existence. Little did she realize she’d be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!
Sophia finds herself taken from her relatively poor and obscure homeland to one of the most opulent and prestigious courts of the day. The Empress Elizabeth is kind to her since she has gambled the security of her throne and country on the marriage but Peter is another matter entirely. Deformed, demented and just downright cruel, he seems to love everything German/Prussian – except for his wife. Many in the country fear Peter will turn the country over to his “hero”, Frederick of Prussia, the moment his aunt dies. It is not a foolish fear – and one Elizabeth and her ministers fear as well. Their only hope? That the young bride, renamed Catherine, will produce a son that Elizabeth can name as her heir. Their only problem? Peter refuses to consummate his marriage.
In a fit of frustration, the Empress decides to make the young couple virtual prisoners in the hopes that Catherine will become pregnant. For eight years she waits with no result, and in desperation she decides that if Peter will not father an heir to the throne than she will find someone who will!
As Peter struts around in Prussian military uniforms, Catherine does everything in her power to become “Russian” and the people love her for it. The realization does not sit well with Peter, but he is too wrapped up in his own delusions to do much about it. Others however are looking out for Peter's interests - and their own. Peter constantly looks for ways to get rid of his wife until finally and the demonic monster is out in full force when he pulls his sword and prepares to play midwife to catch the "proof" of Catherine's adultery. But as the years go by and Elizabeth finally dies, Catherine decides its time to get rid of her husband.
I knew nothing about Catherine the Great other than her name so I found this book interesting especially since all of the information was new to me. At times the writing seemed rather detached, particularly in the first half, but as Catherine and Peter play a game of cat and mouse with Russia ast he prize, I found myself enjoying it more and am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
Imperial Highness was originally published as Rebel Princess. The other two books in the trilogy are Royal Intrigue (a/k/a Curse Not the King) which covers Catherine and her son Paul and Far Flies the Eagle (a/k/a The Warrior’s Mistress) about Catherine’s Grandson Alexander I and Napoleon. I posted some great covers of these books (as well as a few others about Catherine) here
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