The Gathering Storm

January 30, 2012 Uncategorized 0

The Gathering Storm

Author: Robin Bridges
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 389
Series: The Katerina Trilogy, book one
Source: ARC from NCTE, e-galley from Netgalley


About the Book: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. 

An evil presence is growing within Europe’s royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina’s strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar’s standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina’s help to safeguard Russia, even if he’s repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn. 

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?


My Thoughts: I honestly don’t even know where to begin with this book! There were so many factors I loved in the description alone. Nineteenth century Russia? Aristocratic society? Boarding school? Magic? Mystery? Intrigue? Yes, please! Sign me up. I mean, I was hooked by the informational paragraph about Russian names before the book even started


Now, obviously with all the afore mentioned awesome in one book I had some pretty high expectations. The Gathering Storm did not disappoint. I was engrossed in the history and the different myths and supernatural beings. I sighed over the ball gowns, parties, and outings the characters attended. Katerina’s desire to be more than just an aristocratic wife, to be a doctor, had me rooting for her through it all. 


The Gathering Storm is a wonderful example of historical fiction with a paranormal twist. Robin Bridges kept me guessing through the whole story! I loved that the characters and plot twists surprised me. I could not put it down! This is the first in a trilogy so not everything is wrapped up neatly. Still, the story didn’t leave any loose ends or dropped plot lines. You will be dying to know what happens next in the best possible way. This is certainly a series I will be continuing with. 

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