** spoiler alert ** 
 1.75 stars 
 I know the rating is oddly specific, but this was a book I initially enjoyed for the first four-hundred pages or so, and then it went downhill from there. 
 Though this book is labeled as romance, I liked the historical fiction aspect of it most. I've recently had an interest in reading more WWII Russian historical fiction, and The Bronze Horseman definitely delivered in that area. I appreciated the fact that the author was from Leningrad, Russia (where the story takes place), and she spent a great deal of time describing the city in depth, constantly referring to street names, tram stops, hospitals, and other various locations. She described the people that Tatiana passed by in the streets before the war began, and then during the winter as provisions became sparse, which allowed me to easily envision what life was like in Soviet Russia during that time period. 
 Going alongside that, I also appreciated the authenticity of the Russian language and its culture. The language incorporated in every day conversation within Tatiana's home - descriptions of Russian meals, the general attitude towards war and the Soviet Union, Tatiana's literature, and even the naming conventions that the family used towards one another - added a richness and depth to the story that would be difficult to accomplish if the author was not from that culture. I thought that integration was realistic and satisfying to read, and it was one of my favorite parts of this story. 
 Aside from these aspects, though, I did not enjoy much more. 
 After the first one-hundred pages, the romance was painful for me to read. I was a sucker for when Tatiana and Alexander first met, but then I couldn't really get over the fact that he was also dating and sleeping with her older sister (view spoiler)[and then continued to do so for the next four hundred pages while seeing Tatiana (hide spoiler)]. I also didn't like how the foundation of their relationship was built on lies and deception, and that conflict serves as the main reason why they can't be together for the majority of the story. On top of that, their relationship takes a very unhealthy and abusive turn about halfway through the novel. I understand that the culture and time period were different in WWII, but I don't agree with romanticizing abuse for the sake of angst (or romanticizing abuse in general). And this may just be me, but the author seemed to justify it by making Tatiana "innocent and forgiving" and almost "wanting it," which I was not okay with. That's the main reason why I decided to go with the low rating. 
 In addition, the majority of the characters (except Tatiana and Alexander) were flat and one-dimensional. At the very beginning, I noticed that Tatiana's family members only seemed to exhibit one or two personality traits, but I figured once the war started, they would develop and flesh out into more well-rounded characters. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and that seemed to be a trend for most side-characters throughout the rest of the story. 
 Overall, I appreciated the some aspects of the story, and I understand why a lot of people like it, but it was not for me at all.