Review: The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm

by Robin Bridges

Why did you choose this book? I enjoy historical fiction and recently developed an interest in Russian history 

When did you read this book? December 2011

Who should read this book? readers of historical fiction, fantasy, Russian history

Source: advanced copy from NetGalley

Here is a synopsis of ‘The Gathering Storm' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.72 stars.

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 Review 

I picked up this book because, well...look at the cover! Isn’t it beautiful? I also have developed an interest in Russian history since reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. This one also involves an element of fantasy; something which might have prevented me from reading it if I had realized this before. I’m glad I didn’t, because this was a really good book!

Katerina is a member of Russian nobility, and living at a boarding school. She has a secret she has been keeping from her family; she is a necromancer. She has a gift, or is it a curse, that allows her to raise from the dead. As it turns out, most of the nobility possess paranormal qualities; there are vampires, faeries, and more in this book, forming alliances in effort to overpower the others. Katherine is torn between two princes. She has feelings for the Tsar’s son, George, a faerie, but becomes engaged to the Prince of Montenegro, a vampire. Katerina must make a choice to align herself with one force or the other. The novel is full of magic and suspense and I enjoyed it very much. This book is the first in a trilogy. I can’t wait to read the second book!

My Rating:  ★★★★ 4 Stars

Here is the book trailer.