Auj asked Kate Furnivall:

This question contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Kate Furnivall Annalice, how lovely to hear from you. I am so pleased to know you loved The Russian Concubine - that book is very special to me. As for your question - why did Valentina have to die? Let me try to explain. Lydia and Valentina were bound together by so many deep emotions that Lydia always felt the need to look after her mother, even after Valentina's marriage. So I knew Lydia would never be able to leave China while her mother was still there. And I needed Lydia to leave China to go to Russia to search for her father in the sequel - The Concubine's Secret. So to make up for killing off one of my favourite characters, I then gave her a book of her own - The Jewel of St Petersburg. I love Valentina even with all her faults and she bears the name of my Russian grandmother. I hope you enjoy the rest of her book!
Happy reading, Kate

flag