"The Star of Kazan" is a rich, historical mystery following Annika, a twelve-year-old foundling in early 20th-century Vienna. Raised by loving maids and professors, Annika longs to know her origins. Her world is turned upside down when a glamorous woman appears, claiming to be her aristocratic birth mother and taking her to a decaying German estate. As Annika navigates this new, unsettling life, she uncovers a web of deception involving a valuable inheritance and must rely on her courage and the loyalty of her true friends to uncover the truth about her past and find where she truly belongs. This book explores themes of identity, family, and justice against a vivid historical backdrop, perfect for readers who enjoy immersive stories with strong characters and a satisfying resolution.
After twelve-year-old Annika, a foundling living in late nineteenth-century Vienna, inherits a trunk of costume jewelry, a woman claiming to be her aristocratic mother arrives and takes her to live in a strangely decrepit mansion in Germany.