My first impressions of The Star of Kazan were that the cover seemed to suggest the book was for quite mature readers, and that the story would revolve around this big, bold jewel that caught my eye on the front page. The book at first seems a very long one when you pick it up, but it is very easy reading and you may spend more time than you mean to reading it, as it is most definitely a page-turner that is difficult to put down.

The book is actually about a twelve-year-old orphan girl, called Annika. Her mother leaves her at a church when she is a baby, as she can’t look after her. However, the nuns in the church that Annika is left in, cannot look after her because in the time that it is set, 1900s in Austria, there was an outbreak of typhus: this spread to the Nuns.

So when Ellie, a cook for three professors in Vienna, finds her while on a hike with her fellow servant, Sigrid who is the maid, they decide to take her in. At first the professors are sure not sure of this, but decide that if she does not disrupt their work Annika can stay with Ellie and Sigrid downstairs, away from the professors. Annika grows up to be an excellent cook with Ellie’s teachings, and ihelps out with cleaning around the house.

Then one day Annika's real mother turns up and takes her to live with her. Then Annika's new family, who are seen in a high position, have to start selling belongings, to keep their house.

Until as if by magic, something happens that means they inherit lots of money, and new presents are being passed out. Don’t be put off by the length of this book, as, once you get into it, you’ll never want to put it down.

My rating: 8.5 out of ten