Robin Bridges’ ‘Gathering Storm’ is steeped in Russian mysticism

“The Katerina Trilogy, Vol. I: The Gathering Storm,” by Robin Bridges, Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, Hardcover, Jan. 10, 2012, $17.99 (ages 12 and up)

Katerina Alexandrovna is one of St. Petersburg’s elite. A royal debutante in 1888 Russia, Katerina should be enjoying balls and looking for a husband. But Katerina is hiding a dark secret — she can raise the dead.

While some people might see Katerina’s “skill” as a gift, she sees it as a curse. That’s why no one knows, not even her parents. Katerina doesn’t even plan on ever using her skill, but when a member of the imperial family is put at risk, she has to act. Her actions have consequences, and Katerina soon finds herself in the middle of an intricate web of lies and position jockeying.

There’s an evil presence making its way through the royal family, whose bloodlines reach far across Europe. Family members are taking sides and the divide goes along the lines of light or dark. As a necromancer, Katerina seems a likely fit for the dark, but her loyalties are split. Soon, she’s going to have to make a choice, but at what cost?

Author Robin Bridges has built and expanded upon the already existing mysticism that surrounds the life and death of Tsar Nicholas’ family. Though “The Gathering Storm” is set before Anastasia and her family were murdered, Robin has capitalized on the intrigue of the era, and that’s why it works so well, even with magical elements.

“The Gathering Storm” is a fast read with a compelling story line. Some of what readers are expected to believe feels at first glance implausible, but that skepticism is quickly squashed, in part because of the historical interest and mystery. Russia has an exotic feeling of the unknown that Robin captures with her mature prose. It will be interesting to see if she can continue down the well-thought-out path she’s set out on.