The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

The Gathering Storm (Katerina Trilogy , #1)

by Robin Bridges

In St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1888, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret--that she has the ability to raise the dead--but when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

Reviewed by Kelsenator on

5 of 5 stars

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Edit: Did a re-read, and loved it just as much the second time around!

For the full review, go to my blog at Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

This was Robin’s first novel, and after reading it, I want more! This book was a great read, I loved that it was set in the past but in Russia, which was a nice change, and the added paranormal element was interesting.

Katerina has a special skill, of raising the dead, that she discovered by accident when she was a child. She tries to hide it, and has never told anyone, not even her family. Even though she goes to the balls and dances, which are meant to help find her a husband, all she really wants to do is study medicine and become a doctor. But women are not allowed to go to school for that in Russia, which leads her to wanting to apply elsewhere. Her dad supports her, as he is one himself, but her mother wants her to be normal and find a rich husband.

When she first uses her necromancer ability at a ball to help someone secretly, that’s when things start to change. She notices the paranormal world and what people really are, and they start to notice her too.We meet more people, that either say they want to help her, or secretly want to use her.

I definitely loved this book, I got it from the library but will have to get my own copy and reread it before the second book comes out. Highly recommended for people who like paranormal, a bit of romance, set in the 1800′s of Russia.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 26 February, 2012: Finished reading
  • 26 February, 2012: Reviewed