Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia - OTMA. These are the daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, Russian grand duchesses living a life steeped in tradition and privilege. For these sisters on the brink of beginning their own lives at the mercy of royal matchmakers, summer 1914 promises to be a precious last wink of time together - time to link arms and laugh, to share their dreams and worries, and to flirt with the officers of their imperial yacht.

But in a gunshot the future changes - for them, and for Russia.

As World War I ignites across Europe, political unrest sweeps Russia. First dissent, then disorder, mutiny, and revolution. For Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, the end of their girlhood together is colliding with the end of more than they ever imagined.

At the same time hopeful and hopeless, naive and wise, the voices of these sisters form a chorus singing a requiem for the Romanov dynasty. Impeccably researched and utterly fascinating, acclaimed author Sarah Miller recounts the final days of imperial Russia with lyricism, criticism and true compassion.