A Portrait Of Loyalty By Roseanna M. White

Sometimes the truth isn’t always black and white.

Zivon Marin can testify to that. After a horrific train wreck separates him from his brother, he comes to London. His plan? To use his brilliant skills as a decoder to turn the tide of World War I, find his brother, and put the Bolsheviks in their place.

There are a few kinks in this plan, though. In that no one trusts him. And that seemingly solid photographic evidence is pouring in that he’s not who he says is.

I said no one trusted him. Well, all except one. Photographer Lily Blackwell—who isn’t even supposed to be at Room 40 at all.

I have been waiting for this book to release since January when I got the second book in the series. I was not disappointed.

While these books are not the fastest paced books in the universe, but they are never dull. This one did seem to have a bit more set up, perhaps due to it having more points of view than the rest of the installments.

I really enjoyed reading about the Russian side of World War I, as well as the Bolshevik Revolution. It’s an intriguing and complex subject, and I got a good taste of it in this novel without being overwhelmed.

She did very well setting up all the opinions surrounding the Bolshevik Revolution equally. Yes, the Bolsheviks were the “bad guys,” but she presented their view point just as she portrayed her main characters’. It took a lot of thought, and I was very impressed.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think of the climax. It did NOT unfold the way I expected it to, or even the way I wanted it to. But the longer I let it sink in and thought about it, it was exactly what the book, the characters, and perhaps even myself needed. I can’t say much more without spoiling the book, and that would be a dreadful shame.

This book is not just a portrait of loyalty. It’s a portrait of mercy, deep themes, and strong writing, too.