Heart of Iron

In an alternate Russia where the Decembrists succeed and the Trans-Siberian railroad is complete before 1854, Sasha Trubetskaya yearns for a grand debut ball in St. Petersburg. However, her aunt's quarrel with the emperor forces her into university as one of its first female students, an experiment in proving women's inadequacy. As Sasha’s friends begin to vanish and she uncovers secrets about her companion Jack, the duo must navigate tensions among three empires while evading a persistent foe. Their quest for help leads them to the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace as they journey across Siberia to China, revealing unexpected truths about themselves along the way.