Guess the Russian History Trivia Time with Issabelle Perry

Heyo everyone! Today's blog post is another blog collab with another amazing author friend, Issabelle Perry! Issabelle is publishing her debut novel, Don't Let Me Go, with Sky's the Limit Press. let me share a little bit about her book, and then we'll get to the fun stuff! 

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Don't Let Me Go ​by Issabelle Perry

When truth is a crime...
Soviet Russia, 1929: Maksim Lenkov is tired of his past haunting him. An ex-Bolshevik and supporter of the revolution over ten years earlier that toppled the Romanov dynasty, Maksm has never forgotten his guilt over not saving the tsar and his family—especially a certain beautiful grand duchess. Tatiana Romanova had stolen his heart before the Bolsheviks took her life.
Maksim has spent the last ten years hunting down her killers to no avail and doing anything possible to resist Soviet rule. This is why when a young, spunky British girl appears out of nowhere, claiming she has the Soviet secret police on her heels and needs help escaping the country, Maksim is compelled to aid her. Especially since she says to have information that would ruin the USSR’s push for influence on Western Europe and, more importantly, information that connects to one Bolshevik whom Maksim knows well. A man who was there the night of Tatiana’s murder.
This could be his chance to finally avenge the Romanovs and find peace with his past. But is his new ally all she claims to be or could she be an informer for the secret police? When the OGPU draws closer, how far will Maksim go to serve justice? Inspired by true events, Don’t Let Me Go is a gripping, page-turning novel that explores the power of hope in the midst of darkness and the strength of love over evil.

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Oh. My. Goodness! Doesn't that sound like amazing? I cannot wait to read it! :D

Russian History Trivia Time

Okay, so here's how this works. I asked Issabelle Perry a bunch of questions about different topics in Russian history, and she sent me her answers. I'll say if she was correct or not, and occasionally provide a little commentary. Ready? Let's go! :D

C: What was the name of the first dog in space?
I: Well, I know there was a dog sent in space, but I honestly have no clue what his name was. Hmm what would I name a Soviet dog? Gruffy? Stalin Jr? 😂
C: Her name was Laika, and she was a husky-terrier mix. I like Stalin Jr. though. XD

C: When was Tsar Alexander II assassinated, and who was his successor? 
I: I should know this date because this is actually what the opening scene in the third book of my Lost Empire series is about, but I couldn’t tell you off the top of my head. WAIT. I think I can figure this out. I’m pretty sure Nicholas Romanov was thirteen the time his grandfather was assassinated so I would just need to count up thirteen years from his birth. However, I don’t remember the year of his birth, but he was 50 in 1918, I’m pretty sure, so I’m gonna count back 50 years and then count up thirteen. If my calculations are correct… Alexander II died in 1881. His successor was Tsar Alexander III.
C: Okay first of all, incredible math skills there! Yes, it was Tsar Alexander III. Alexander II was assassinated on March 13, 1881. (Random side fact: Julius Caesar was killed on the Ides of March, which happens to be the 15th of March, making their death dates only off by two days. Coincidence? I wonder...)
I: HAHAHA I was right! *happy dance* I knew my overly complicated calculations would get me somewhere! *mentally high fives myself*

C: Who sold Alaska to the United States, Alexander II or Catherine the Great?
I: Well, I’m gonna guess Alexander II (I’m 89% certain I’m right on this) because I have a vague memory of reading something about this.
C: Nice one! It was Alexander II (he's also the one who bought it). 

C: What medical condition did Alexei Romanov have?
I: Alexei Romanov had hemophilia.
C: Okay, you know you had that one in the bag. XD
I: Hehehe, Ikr. When I saw the question I was like, yes this is my moment!!! XD I should've planned some grand reveal to show off my super awesome russian knowledge. 😏

C: Who were the Molsheviks (not the Bolsheviks)? (NOTE TO READERS: The Molsheviks do not exist. I meant the Mensheviks. Kids, this is why you need to fact-check yourself with Google sometimes. XD)
I: Um… I don’t have a clue. My first guess would be an opposing political party or faction in the socialist political group during the time of the Bolsheviks, like the Mensheviks were, but I feel like this name would have stuck out to me.
C: Okay, I'm giving you the point on this one because they were actually called the Mensheviks and I didn't spellcheck before writing that down. *facepalm*
I: Ooo yaay!! I was starting to think maybe I didn't pay as much attention to the political parties of that time as I thought I had. But I get that.
C: Nope. Totally my fault. XD

C: What date was Bloody Sunday?
I: Rats, I apparently stink at dates. I’m pretty sure it was 1905… in February? January? Ya just gonna have to tell me on this one. 😂
C: January 22, 1905, to be exact. 
I: I should get half a point on this one for almost being there. 😂
C: Given. ;)

C: Who was Vera Zasulich, and how did she make Russian history?
I: Never heard of her, but her name is pretty awesome so I’m hoping she did something equally awesome.
C: Er...she was the first female who tried to assassinate someone in Russia. She also started the age of terrorism, which ended when Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. Sorry, not so awesome. :/
I: Ooof yeah, not that awesome but she might would be an intriguing character in a novel... *mind starts spinning with ideas* 

C: What was the first official city in the Russian Empire?
I: I’m gonna guess Moscow, but it could be St. Petersburg.
C: It was technically Kievan Rus, which was found by King Rurik, a Varangian chieftain. His great-grandson went on to become Vladimir the Great, who united the Russian Empire and is sometimes called "Vladimir the Russian Viking".
I: AH! I should've known that. *facepalm* That's pretty epic! I mean, if I were a Russian king, I would want to be known as Vladimir the Russian Viking too.

C: What primary source was written about the Norman theory, which claimed that the Vikings controlled the Slavic tribes that later became Russia?
I: Oh, I’ll know the name when I hear it, but I can’t tell you right off the top of my head. (I’m beginning to understand what google is for now.)
C: It's known as "The Primary Chronicle" by Nestor, a Slavic monk. 
I: Man, it was right on the tip of me tongue! I was thinking it ended with chronicle but couldn't remember the first part.
C: Well most people call it "Chronicle" so you kind of already had it. 😄

C: Okay, last question!! Who gave the bubonic plague to the Russians?
I: Gruffy the Soviet dog. 😂 I’m actually really curious to know the answer to this question now!
C: *shakes head* Ha ha, nice try. Gruffy may have been the name of a Mongol, whose people gave the Russians the bubonic plague when they invaded Russia.
I: Lol, yes, we will hereby dub the name of one of the Mongols as Gruffy. XD
C: Done and done. XD

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Okay, that's all for now! You guys should totally check out Is' website if you haven't already, and put Don't Let Me Go on your TBR shelf. Comment below how many of these questions you got right! (And swing over to Is' blog on Friday, where I try my hand at Russian history trivia!)
Until next week! 
~Cate

All About Issabelle Perry

Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer of historical fiction, and a homeschool graduate. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, bullet journaling, studying Russian, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors she co-founded in 2020. Issabelle is the author of Don’t Let Me Go (releasing early 2024 with Sky’s the Limit Press), May We Make Them Proud, and several short works. Currently, she is a proofreader for Havok Publishing and the co-editor for the Imagine and Tell Me You Love Me anthologies. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate. Subscribe to her newsletter to stay up-to-date on book releases and writing projects: https://vintagelyizzy.ck.page/newsletter
Blog: https://intomywritingjourney.wordpress.com/

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