The Katerina Trilogy, Vol. I: The Gathering Storm [Kindle Edition]

Robin Bridges (Author)

Book Description

Lush and opulent, romantic and sinister, The Gathering Storm, Vol. I in the Katerina Trilogy, reimagines the lives of Russia's aristocracy in a fabulously intoxicating page-turning fantasy.

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?


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An atmospheric vampire tale."--Kirkus Reviews

"Bridges could become a worthy successor to Libba Bray with this historical fantasy."--VOYA

"Bridges delivers an imaginative, complex blend of history and magic."--Publishers Weekly

"The plot is rich and intriguing."--School Library Journal

"This alluring fantasy gives fans of the Luxe series a new society to enter, albeit with some fear."--Booklist

About the Author

ROBIN BRIDGES lives on the Gulf Coast. The Gathering Storm is her debut novel.

Product Details

• File Size: 1285 KB
• Print Length: 402 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0385740239
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (January 10, 2012)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004X6PRLY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,052 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding and glamorous, but also a little bit heavy on world and character building! October 8, 2012

By Evie Seo (Bookish blog)

Format:Hardcover

The Gathering Storm is a book full of surprises. Part historical fiction, part romance and part paranormal, it's a head-spinning and eye-popping tale of light and dark, good and evil, loyalty and treason, love, hate and everything in between. Russian folklore, Gothic creatures, crazy plot developments, gorgeous settings and a whole cast of magnificent historical figures - this novel has it all! Prepare to be dazzled!

Set in St. Petersburg in 1888, when the Dark Court rivals the Light Court and the perpetual power struggle leads to many convoluted conspiracies and schemes to take over the throne of Russia, The Gathering Storm tells the story of Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, a girl burdened with a dark and dangerous secret. Katiya is a necromancer, she can raise people from the dead. She does not consider her power a talent, but a curse, and one that she is deeply ashamed of. Unlike her mother, she does not show particular fondness for seances, spiritualism and the occult. She dreams of becoming one of Russia's first female doctors, developing new cures, healing people. But a great and evil presence is growing in St. Petersburg. Behind a veil of glamour, the powerful faerie courts are plotting for control of the fate of the empire. An army of undead soldiers is being raised, rumors of dark magic are spreading, and the tsar's life is in a great danger. Katiya's powers attract the attention of both the Light and Dark Court, and she finds herself caught in the middle of a complicated love triangle that involves a brooding prince Danilo and handsome tsarevich, Goerge Alexandrovitch. The future of the entire Imperial Russia lays in her hands, will she make the right decision?

This was a really amazing book and I had so much fun reading it!... Robin Bridges obviously did a lot of research for this series, and I was amazed at how historically accurate and detailed a world she created. At times, the astounding complexity of the plot (with its many intricate plot threads), as well as the head-spinning abundance of vibrant characters (both fictional and historical), comes dangerously close to crossing the line between genius and chaotic. And trust me, the line is very blurry. There's so much going on within the pages that it's practically impossible to keep up with all of it without drawing diagrams and family trees. Non of the characters can be dismissed as secondary and unimportant, everyone has a role to play, their fates intertwine with each other and if you lose your focus even just for a moment, you'll find yourself going back and re-reading certain passages, even whole chapters. I appreciated the note about Russian names and patronymics that was included at the beginning of the volume, it really helped me make sense of the many different names and diminutives that were scattered throughout the novel. I would, however, really like to see some sort of glossary included, as well. With so many creatures from Russian folklore (veshtiza witches, Grigori, Dekibristi, Vladiki, Bogatyr, etc..) making appearance on the pages of The Gathering Storm, I often had to consult my notes (yes I made notes, and a lot of them!) to make sure I'm getting everything right. All that can be a little bit overwhelming at times, but make no mistake - Bridges did not pick these myths and supernatural beings randomly. In the end, it all comes together in the utmost brilliant and jaw-dropping way. And, while it certainly is a read that demands 100% of your attention and a good memory for names (or at least a notebook and a pencil to write them all down), it is also a very well-thought-out and rewarding one.

While I loved the premise and the intricate plot line, Katiya was a hard personality for me to like. She's the kind of girl who likes to act alone, an independent spirit and a progressive thinker. While I can't say that these are bad things, more often than not these attributes of her character would get her in serious trouble. She insists on carrying the burden of her dark talent all by herself, internalizes all her struggles and pushes everyone else away. She doesn't want people to get hurt because of her and that's perfectly understandable, but at the same time, she is practically incapable of solving her own problems. She's full of conflicting feelings, confused as to what actions to take, at times even distracted and silly. For example, during one of the most dramatic scenes in the book, when Katerina is about to take part in the dark ritual (prince Danilo's ascension), instead of panicking (or even showing any visible signs of discomfort), trying to save herself or at least breaking down in tears, she swoons over her new pretty dress. And the dinner preceding the bloody ritual she's about to play major part in? She didn't think it was stressful or dramatic. Quite the opposite, it "was, overall, pleasant dinner" in her opinion. I must admit, I laughed out loud at least a few times. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed for sure and it was really hard for me to root for such a weak and dazed-out heroine. I wanted her to be more focused, to research her dark talent and perhaps learn how to control it, to speak up for herself, fight back, and not let everyone push her around. That never happened, though, and I felt that for a central character Katerina was just a little bit too silly and unmotivated.

To sum it all up: if The Gathering Storm sounds over the top, convoluted and confusing, it's because - for the most part - it is over the top, convoluted and confusing. It's also glamorous, thoroughly captivating and really fun to read. At times it's overly dramatic (in a way that is both annoying and charming at the same time), at times it hits serious notes about death, longing, life-changing choices and following your dreams. In the end, though, it's just a furiously entertaining, visually appealing, sparkly and deliciously fresh piece of literature. If, like me, you're fascinated with Eastern-European culture, history and mythology and you don't mind having to consult Wikipedia every other page, then this story is sure to bring you joy and satisfaction. Bridges' blend of history, fiction, paranormal and folklore is undeniably spellbinding, and the complex world she created is just as beautiful as it is dark, sinister and dangerous. While not without its flaws, The Gathering Storm is sure to make a huge impression on its readers, young adult and adult alike. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait to read volume II January 7, 2012

By Jaylia3 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Fae folk, undead soldiers, and vampires cavort and conspire in this elaborate, rich in atmosphere YA novel set in the glittery balls and dark corridors of Russia's imperial court during the late 1880's when Russia's final tsar, Nicolas II, was a young man and his father, Alexander III, still ruled. Main character Katerina Alexandrovna is a reluctant necromancer with the "gift" of being able to raise the dead, an ability she considers a horror and hideous curse, but unsurprisingly she must in the end accept and embrace her power to protect Russia from the forces of evil. Katarina is fascinated by the rapidly evolving science of modern medicine and would like to become a doctor, but societal restrictions on women and complications that develop because of her supernatural abilities stand in her way. In spite of trying to keep her powers hidden she attracts the attention of both the bewitching Prince Danilo of Montenegro and the curt and distant George Alexandrovich, middle son of the current tsar.

While The Gathering Storm is not a perfectly written novel I raced through it, and only willingly paused in my reading long enough to look up more information on the fascinating historical characters and incidents woven into its plot. It's added a number of books about imperial Russia to my Amazon wish list and library holds queue. Early in my reading I printed out a family tree of the Romanov dynasty to help me keep track of characters--which is fun reading in itself--but the final version of the book includes one (I read an advanced reader's copy).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Russian Mix of Lore and Reality February 6, 2012

By D. Previte

Format:Kindle Edition

Are you a Tolstoy fan? I loved War and Peace and Anna Karenina so Russian names don't intimidate me, nor does anything Russian. I cut my wisdom teeth in high school reading about Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. I love St. Petersburg and needlepointed a pillow or two to commemorate it. I've cried over the butchering of the Romanov Family and wondered about the girl called Anna who said she was the youngest surviving daughter of the bloodthirsty Russian rebellion.

But, if you aren't an aforementioned fan or a Russian history buff, or if you don't care for the complexities of their names and places and royalty...this book may be a tad taxing on you. You may have to flub the names a bit.

As for me; I found it an absolute treasure! Someone couldn't have handed me a Godiva chocolate-encrusted, faux Fabrege' egg with pastel icings on it to make me happier! I just ate this book up...and will someone please bring me Volume II of this series asap?

Robin Bridges may be a nurse, but she is also a fabulous writer with an imagination and uncanny ability to place paranormal characters into real Russian royalty as if they were born to it. Amazing literary talents. Her characters just gleamed off the page with magical qualities and intrigue. They are beautiful and dark, brittle as glass and soft as fur, frightening and furious. Just a melting pot of interesting and provocative people that I was so excited to meet and can't wait to continue to know more.

The settings Robin creates are dazzling and realistic. I felt the stifling heat of a ballroom lighted by candles and fireplaces...too cramped and crushed by too many bodies dancing furiously to gypsy-played music...too much danger and excitement for a young girl approached by a would-be blood drinker.... Her street scenes, scenes of palaces and hospitals, opera houses and theatres are vivid and lush. Even her descriptions of the Princesses in their girl's school with their strict teachers fits her storytelling realism because the Smolny School actually existed in the 1800s.

I felt breathless when the fierce rival of the empress, the powerful and beautiful Maria Pavlovna, wife of the Grand Duke, was described in her deep purple ballgown and diamond tiara, dark violet eyes blazing, frightening and powerful as the queen faerie of The Dark Court. See this picture from Robin's website of what she may have looked like:

An actual picture of Maria Feodorovna of Russia, 1885
What particularly saved the day for me in this young adult novel, fit for adults, is the emphasis on Katiya's desire to be a doctor in a time when royal girls were trained and primed to be royal wives. This theme of an independent thinking young woman who has intellectual goals for her life is refreshing and unusual in paranormal/fantasy writing for YAs. I give Ms Bridges hundreds of "high 5s" for that alone in her fantastic book.

In summary, "The Katrina Trilogy..." is a wonderful read. It is a book I raced through, losing track of time when I only wanted to read a couple of chapters and go to bed! I was fascinated with the book because it tripped the fine line of reality and mixed it with the fanciful in such a remarkable way. It does that dance and has you enchanted before you know what's happened, and you can't put the book down. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, pure entertainment in the best sense of the word. Believe me when I say, you must read this one!

5 shimmering stars

PS: Special treats: Finding out what the Romanov Empress and Queen Victoria's favorite romance novel was. Finding out the Empress's favorite processional was from "The Snow Maiden" by Rimsky-Korsakov. Finding out what certain of the tarot cards mean. Etc...

Deborah/TheBookishDame Read more ›

More About the Author

By day, Robin Bridges is the mild-mannered author of the YA historical fantasy series, THE KATERINA TRILOGY, set in Imperial Russia at the end of the nineteenth century. By night, she's a pediatric nurse who pokes small children with needles and makes them drink horrid-tasting medicines. Robin is a member of the Apocalypsies 2012 Debut Author group, as well as the Class of 2K12 and SCBWI. She lives on the Gulf Coast with her husband, one teenager, and two goofy mastiffs. She likes playing video games and watching Jane Austen movies.