The Morning Star

Katerina #3

by Robin Bridges

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1890

Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, wants to be known as a doctor, not a necromancer. But Tsar Alexander III forbids women to attend medical school; his interest in Katerina extends only to her ability to raise the dead. Twice now, Katerina has helped him by using her power to thwart the forces of darkness—vampires bent on resurrecting the lich tsar Konstantin Pavlovich so that he can take what he sees as his rightful place on the throne. Katerina thought she had bound Konstantin to the Greylands, the realm of the dead, but he has found a way out. Now he is searching for the Morning Star, a sword that will allow him to command a legion of supernatural warriors.

Katerina must find the sword before Konstantin does—and she must travel to Egypt to do so. Along the way, she puts up with unwanted attention from her former fiancé, the nefarious Prince Danilo, and struggles with her feelings for her true love, George Alexandrovich. But with the looming threat from Konstantin, Katerina's focus remains on the sword. Russia's fate will be determined by whoever wields the Morning Star—and delivers the final blow.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Historical

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

By day, Robin Bridges is a mild mannered writer of young adult fiction. By night, she is a pediatric nurse, poking small children with needles for a living. She lives on the Gulf Coast with her family and an ever-growing menagerie of cats, dogs, tropical fish, and parrots. But alas, she still does not have a unicorn.

Reviews

[Charlotte Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Random House for letting me review this book to give my honest opinion.

It's such a happy and sad moment when you reach the end of such an exciting series. The Katerina Trilogy is one of my all time favourite reads and I've read the first two books many times in eagerness, quietly waiting for the third and last book. I had so many expectations of what would happen. Would George be cured of his mystery illness? Would Katiya and George finally be able to marry? What would happen with the Lich Tsar and would they be able to finally get rid of his evilness from the face of the earth to let everyone live in peace at last? And what of Danilo, evil Crown Prince that he is. His plans may have been scuppered for now but he was surely going to make a return to finish off Grand Duke George for good. Now that Katiya's secret is out what would happen when the rest of her close family knew of her secret, being a necromancer would never be a story for the relations to discuss over afternoon tea.

What I truly loved about this series was the extensive research that Robin Bridges must be commended for. Anything to do with the Imperial family of Russia intrigues me, and Robin has had me researching the true stories of the family for my own personal pleasure. It was clear from the outset after reading The Gathering Storm that this series would be exquisitely represented as the characters deserved--in their true proper, elegant, and magnificent manner.

So, if you enjoy tales of intrigue wrapped around evenings of dinners, dances, with a bit of paranormal romance and mystery, then I must urge you to pick up this series.

In the final chapter of the Trilogy we are brought into a scene with Katiya doing what she wants to do most, and that is to study medicine to become a Doctor. I really loved her ambitiousness even when faced with such close relatives who would try and talk her out of it. At one point she even contemplated breaking off her arrangement with George to further her studies and her heart broke as did mine. They're meant to be together after all!

But even in the face of danger, Katiya and George decide to forego all the family's wishes to get married in secret. Once they're married then no one can interfere with their livelihoods any longer. George agrees that he might be struck off by his father, Tsar Alexander III, but he's willing to move to Zurich to enable Katiya to study at the University.

However, the past never stays away for long and disaster happens shortly after they leave. The evil Lich Tsar is looking for the one true Morning Star which will enable him to take control of the Grigori and using the Talisman of Isis (which is permanently around Katiya's neck) he can have what he believes is rightfully his--the throne of Russia.

Once again the story becomes a battle of Light against the Dark. The two Russian courts are involved, the Order of Lazarus (the revenants), Princess Alix and her werewolves, the Montenegran Vampires, Katiya's own Mother (who is now the Striga) and the Bogatyr. If ever there was a story that included all these magical creatures to their fullest it was this one! The only thing missing was unicorns!

We're taken on a thrilling journey of capture and conquest through Ancient Egypt and meet up with new and old friends. With magic now such a huge part of George's life I was never in any doubt that he would find Katiya eventually.

The final chapter was a heart in mouth moment. And a surprising gesture saved the day. I loved how it ended with all loose ends nicely tied up, and once finished I had to read the whole book again just to enjoy it one more time.

I really hope the author can bring us more from her wonderful world she's created using the historical people and sumptuous scenery. I feel like I'm waving goodbye as I finish this review but I'm so glad I read this series. And I can't not mention the wonderful Family Tree of all the characters on Robin Bridges website!

If you like historical books especially ones to do with royalty mixed with the paranormal and things that go bump in the night then this series is a must.

[Leah (Jane Speare) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I never really was a huge fan of this series to begin with. I liked it enough to keep going, but the way it was written really made it hard to follow at all, so I just picked it up here and there and that's how I got through. Not saying it's a bad series by any means, you just have to pay attention to all the Russian names and relations etc.

So it's a nice ending to the series, but the last chapters felt rushed and completely unexpected, a tad out of character? Also, through the last two books and most of this one, the main character was striving to be a doctor, when women weren't doctors, and how it actually played out...well I'm still not sure I like it. She seemed to compromise a few of her beliefs to be with...the one who wins the love triangle. (spoiler avoided.)

Very neutral three stars.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it was definitely the most enjoyable of the three, but I am still feeling empty from it. Hmmm I must stew over this for a bit.

Rtc.

[Andreea Pop]

Uuu, look at that cover! Beauty <3

[Elizabeth ♛Smart Girls Love Trashy Books♛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-

Well, this book certainly wasn't the amazing Russian Empire necromancer novel I've been craving from the start, but at least it wasn't as bad as the first.

This book's main problem is that it's boring. Nothing much really happens, and when it does happen, it doesn't feel urgent. There's about three different climaxes in this book, and they all felt rushed. I felt like there was more to explain and more to do that the author just didn't get into.

I did like the new location of Egypt. It was a lot of fun, even though the writing style wasn't descriptive enough about it. Plus they get married in Riga! And the author acknowledges Riga is in Latvia! I was so happy I didn't even care that back in the Russian Empire, it was called Reva instead!

The cover is my favorite in this entire trilogy! It's summer, since the book takes place in summer and fits the desert theme of the novel. Plus I love how the dress is a combined outfit of a traditional Russian dress and a Victorian gown. It looks really pretty!

As said before though, while not awful, this book is boring and way too rushed. I felt the final climax, which only take up about two pages, was the most rushed of them all.

The historical notes made me the most upset, since the author mentions an actual doctor during WW1 who trained Olga and Tatiana to be nurses under her. The book mentions she was from Kiev, but that's not true. She was a Lithuanian princess from Vilnius who later on moved to Kiev in 1916, shortly after the royal family's imprisonment. I know I mainly know this from that Romanova sister book, but I feel like even if I didn't read that book I would've known that woman wasn't Ukrainian since her name is a Lithuanian name!

Overall, this book was fairly bland, rushed, and boring. It tried to win me over, but it failed, much like the trilogy as a whole did.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, another series finally done.

I did like this series. It had a unique take on necromancy, and an interesting premise about how all these magical creatures and factions fit into Russian nobility.

This book, though, didn't seem as strong as the others. It seems to have served the sole purpose of wrapping up the issues in the other books, without having a strong storyline itself. And while I don't dislike Katerina, she felt wimpy here. Okay, sure, go along with the evil, possessed vampire. Don't try and think of any way to trick him or to escape. Don't even bother worrying too much about it. Go ahead and keep worrying about how George won't want you back. Yeah, you go ahead and perform that mysterious necromantic ceremony for him, never mind that you don't know what you're getting into. And do it another time, without resisting or even being cautious. Yup, nice job.

It did, however, wrap the series up nicely. All questions answered, all answers had questions. Nice and solid.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh thoroughly enjoyable. KATERINA AND GEORGE <3. AND THE GODDAMN MONTENEGRIN PRINCE >__>

[Jessica Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite of the trilogy! Katerina felt the most natural and real in this book. Lots of adventure and travel in this one as well, which I loved. Particularly the Egypt aspect. I’m left feeling satisfied with the story and the ending however I still feel like I have lots of questions about different things. Overall a really good read!

[Adrienne Amborski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following The Gathering Storm and The Unfailing Light, The Morning Star concludes the Katerina Trilogy. Set in Russia’s Imperial Court of St. Petersburg in 1890, the author Bridges blends historical facts and paranormal elements to create a luxuriant world combining tsars and duchesses with vampires, werewolves, and other mystical beings. Seventeen year old duchess Katerina’s ability to raise the dead as a necromancer deems her to be a valuable pawn in the power struggle between the dark and light courts of Tsar Alexandra’s kingdom. As in the past books, Katerina denounces her power and instead struggles to become a medical doctor, unheard of for a woman during this time period. In The Morning Star, Katerina faces the return of the evil lich tsar from the purgatory of the supernatural Graylands. Reunion with her love interest, George Alexandrovich, is short lived when Katerina is kidnapped by the lich tsar and sent to Egypt to release the morning star, the sword of Lucifer. Epic battles and alliances of courts are put to the test in this final installment. Will good triumph over evil? Will the love between Katerina and George last? Will Katerina’s dream of practicing medicine become a reality?

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in The Katerina Trilogy holds up to the others and then some. The book begins with George and Katerina eloping, but with all things - it is not that easy. The lich czar Konstantin is held within Danilo's body, the Order of St John, the Order of St Lazarus, the Order of The Black Lily, and even the bogatyr/czar all come to a head when the search for The Morning Star leads to Egypt.
The Morning Star is a sword that controls the Grigori can only be touched and wielded by a "pure" necromancer, so everyone wants Katerina and is not above kidnapping, taking her to the Graylands, even using black magic rituals. The love that Katerina has for George makes the journey possible and although his body is weak and sick, there is nowhere that she can go that he won't find her or visa versa.
This book was filled with so much action, I was lost in the pages, exploring Egypt to St Petersburg. Filled with twists, turns, and a battle scene not to be missed. A great ending for a wonderful trilogy.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this series. There is something distinctly romantic and mysterious about books set in the late 1800s. I don't know what it is but I love them. It must have something to do with all the fancy dresses, the balls, the chivalry and the innocence of the characters. If you love that time period, then you'll likely enjoy these books. However despite the love of the time period these books are set in, I was left feeling like something was missing at the end of the third novel. The author did tie everything up at the end but I still felt a bit unsettled...almost like they didn't end on a happy note. And I suppose they didn't since one major issue wasn't fixed and it seemed to suggest that it didn't actually end happily for the main characters. However, I believe I felt this way because I read the historical notes at the end of the book. Read this series if you love the time period. The setting will pull you in and keep you moving through the series.

[frumpburger · Rating 2 out of 5]

...Just starting...pretty sure the cover says it all. We shall soon know.

"After burying her husband's body in the Romanov crypt with his ancestors, she faked her own death and assumed the identity of a distant Cantacuzene cousin. She deceived the foolish Nicholas Pavlovich and gained control over the remaining blood drinkers who had not been exiled to Siberia. She hid in the heart of St. Petersburg with the stolen relic, the Talisman of Isis, slowly gathering other vampires loyal to her and waiting decades for her chance at revenge."

[Raye of the Dead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent the last three days reading this trilogy because I just couldn’t put it down. It was addicting and when I finished each book I couldn’t wait to pick up the next one. A part of me is sad that it’s over, but at the same time I’m completely satisfied with the ending.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, just because the ending was a bit disappointing and the exploration of the world-building never really provided as much detail as I would have liked. Still, I really enjoyed the series.

[Celeste_pewter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-second recap: In the third and final book in the Katerina trilogy, author Robin Bridges brings together Katerina and the forces of light and dark, for one final confrontation. The resulting drama, romance and intrigue, will have readers on the edge of their seats, reading frantically until the very end.

***
Intro:

Sometimes, there are serendipitous moments in reading.

Back when I was living in London, I found a copy of The Gathering Storm that someone had accidentally left on the Tube. I started reading the book during my commute, and immediately fell in love.

The Gathering Storm had everything I wanted in a good story: Russian history (with a slight twist!), the paranormal and a smart, level-headed heroine with admirable goals and ambitions. My love of the world that Robin Bridges had created only increased, when I got my hands on The Unfailing Light.

So when I was given the opportunity to host the final (!) stop for the third and final book in the series, The Morning Star, I responded "YES!" so quickly and with so much enthusiasm, I think I may have seriously amused Nicole, the publicist in charge of the series.

What follows is a review of The Morning Star that is deliberately vague, because I both want to show my love for the book, but I don't want to spoil anything for newcomers to the series.

***

Things that worked:

* The characterizations

Over the course of three books, Robin Bridges has done a fantastic job of developing Katerina from a smart but less-than-worldly student, into a intelligent, thoughtful woman who is on the verge of a great destiny.

Katerina's had several years (and three books) now to solidify her conviction to become a doctor, but she's also had three books time to understand who she is as a person. She's become more aware of her powers, the responsibilities that she has to herself, her family, the two courts and to the rest of the world.

She's also become even more compassionate, and more aware. Even though Katerina is frequently put into situations where people are trying to take advantage of her, she doesn't hold grudges. There is one scene in the latter half of the book, where she forgives a character for repeatedly putting her into harm's way, and tries her best to make things right for that character, just because she knows it's the right thing to do.

If I were a parent or an educator, I would definitely point Katerina out to my child or students, as a fine example of someone who embraces her differences and uses them to make the world a smarter, stronger and better place.

As for the secondary characters, they're incredibly rich in their own right. I was especially taken with the subtleties and complexities that Bridges wove into Danilo's character journey. In the hands of anyone else, he could have easily come off as a one-note villain, continuously determined to prevent Katerina from her goals and ambitions.

But in Bridges's world, she makes it clear that a character like Danilo has his own motivations, ambitions and even a humorous personality, which has just unfortunately been overshadowed by the desire for power. He becomes sympathetic and relatable throughout most of The Morning Star, which I think is an absolute testament to the strength of Bridges's writing.


* The relationship between George and Katerina

I've read quite a number of YA books in my time, featuring all sorts of romantic relationships between the protagonist and their respective love interest(s).

However, throughout the course of The Katerina trilogy and in The Morning Star in particular, Bridges does something completely different from all of the other YA books I've read before with her main romantic pairing: she solidifies the idea that the relationship between Katerina and George is truly a partnership.

They love each other, but more importantly, they mutually support each other. George and Katerina not only work well together defeating the forces of evil, but they also cheer on each other's slightly less supernatural-orientated ambitions and dreams.

They're both willing to make the type of sacrifices that will help the other one's goals come true, whether it's George doing whatever he can to help Katerina become a doctor at great personal cost, or Katerina doing whatever it takes to heal him.

I'm normally not the type of person to say to an educator or parent, "Hey, tell your student/kid to read this book, for good examples of healthy, smart relationships," but I'll make an exception in this case. Tell your student/kid/neighbor/whomever to read this book, because the relationship between Katerina and George is just so smart, level-headed and healthy.


* The writing

From a world-building perspective, Robin's writing is literally dripping with details. The reader can see everything about St. Petersburg, from the dusty, crowded street car that Katerina takes to visit the Tibetan doctor, to the ornate tarot cards that she and her mother shuffle when she's at home.

Between the descriptions of the objects and the scenery, Robin has also taken the time to weave in both historical and fantastical details that shows that Katerina's world is very similar to ours, but with that detailed, paranormal edge. Readers will appreciate the amount of careful detail that Bridges shows in explaining how Katerina's world of dueling courts, dark and light fae, intersects with the mythological/paranormal elements of other cultures, especially Egyptian mythology.


* The plotting

The plotting in The Morning Star is beautifully complex.

On the one hand, it moves incredibly quickly. Bridges wastes no time in throwing the reader into the story, skillfully including sentences or dialogue that helps readers recollect events that have happened before. As she catches readers up, she occasionally also throws in a revelation or plot twist, which will make the reader sit up and take notice.

On the other hand, the book also moves slowly at certain points, e.g. when Katerina travels to Egypt. Through the journey, Katerina (and the reader) are slowly caught up again on why it is that she's on this trip, and what led her here in the first place. It gives readers the downtime to truly enjoy the world that Bridges has created.

However, this eventually leads to...

* The ending

Without giving any spoilers away, the ending is a perfect closure to all of the court drama, dreams, hopes, romances and tragedies of the three books.

After a nerve-wrecking climax - including an epic battle that will rival any fictional battles that have come before, there's a closure to the finale - which is a bit warm and fuzzy, but still perfect - which will make the readers feel like they've experienced a full, complete character journey.
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
My one minor quibble with The Morning Star is that I wish that it was longer! Robin Bridges has built such a beautiful, detailed and complex world, I would love to spend more time in it.

In fact, Robin has created such a great cast of characters, I think that it would be easy for her to write prequels or sequels for any of the characters we've met throughout the course of the trilogy.

(*Hint hint* Robin!)

For future editions, I would also love for a family tree of the cast of characters to be included in the book. Bridges does an excellent job of detailing who's who over the course of three books, but unless you read the three books together, it does occasionally take a second to remember the relationship between each characters.


***

Final verdict:

The Morning Star is a spectacular, fitting end to the Katerina trilogy. It fulfills unanswered questions, ties together loose ends, and gives the reader an ending, which has been three books in the making.

I highly recommend The Morning Star for YA historical fans who enjoy books filled with rich, glorious details, and want to spend time in a world that will make their imaginations soar. I also recommend The Morning Star (and the Katerina trilogy) for fans of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy, and fans of Russian literature.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing end to the trilogy, with too many quick fixes that happened so abruptly that I had a few "wait, what? *flip back*" moments. The love story, which seemed to start off tantalizingly enough by the end of Book 1, continued to NOT develop any deeper here; it's supposed to be an epic love story, but I just didn't feel it ("But the kissing!!!" "Yeah, and...? The 'and' is the important part. And shut up, I don't mean sex."). There was a bit of dilemma in the beginning, but then it felt like a lot of passive-protagonist stagnating in the middle before stuffing too much action in the last 20 pages. The Grigori could have been better developed to make me care about them, not to have them just be completely interchangeable props. It felt unrealistic the way Katerina kept worrying about/protecting Danilo after everything he'd done (seriously, he basically roofied you in Book 1; I don't think you'd forget/forgive a thing like that!). Yeah, you wouldn't wish [spoiler] on anyone, BUT STILL, that was some next-level Mary-Sue-ing. The conclusion left me oddly unsatisfied, too neat while at the same time leaving too many details up in the air. This felt like a rushed, slapped-together conclusion to a 'well, trilogies are popular so we gotta stretch this into 3' affair.

[Anya Zhang · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The vampire princess had no tears, only cold rage that shook her entire body.” ― Robin Bridges, The Morning Star. This quote shows how descriptive the book was, and if I might add, a little too descriptive in some places. The author, Robin Bridges, made a story that was shaped by a beautifully outlined plot, and I think we can all agree that this book was definitely awesome. Some parts of the book did not seem realistic (in which I mean when the characters talk to each other, not the idea). But other than that, it was a great read!

[Jules Goud · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice ending to this trilogy.

As said before, I think that I would have appreciated this more more when I read the first novel. But, it is definitely still a fun read. I love how we get to see Katerina finally training to become a doctor, as well as learning more about her powers.

Definitely a fun trilogy and if you like the supernatural and want a light and breezy book, this is the series for you!

[Cindie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Overall, it was an ok book and a good ending to the trilogy. I just wished that Robin Bridges would have delved deeper into the magic within the story and not just skimmed over it. We still don’t get to find out what Katerina could really do with her necromancy or what George was studying as a wizard. I would have also liked to know more about the light and dark faerie courts.
And even though everything was neatly wrapped up, I can’t help but feel like the ending was rather abrupt. Like she couldn’t figure where to end the story...maybe that’s just me though.

[nyree · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book is definitely my favourite but the way this one ends is just disappointing. A lot was left unsaid or unfinished in my opinion and it just felt rushed and open ended..? I would have loved to see more of Katerina and George’s story after all the fighting and what they went through to be together. Giving it a 3.5 because of this but it’s still a good book and series, I have noticed the author is MIA and hasn’t written anything for many years. I think if she continued writing she would have been a lot bigger and her books would be easier to find, my library only had the first 2 so i ordered all of them off amazon thrifted books bc book stores no longer carry them (they could be out of print idk).

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 2.5 from me. Some problems, but an entertaining and fast read.

[Kitty Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good end to the series. It kind of left me wanting more but the ending was satisfying for whole story.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this part of the series. But I have to say that I was not very satisfied with the end.
3-4

[Destiny Chall · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books were boring.

[Melissa Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Loved this series!

[Tracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing ending that felt rushed.

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this trilogy!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was so hard to review. I do love this series, but I had so many high expectations for The Morning Star and they just weren’t met. I had hoped that Robin Bridges would only expand upon the lavish world she had created in both The Gathering Storm and The Unfailing Light, but instead I felt that we were backpedalling in some way all throughout this one.

The bulk of the book is set in Egypt, where Katerina is helpless against the Lich Tsar (now controlling Danilo, the Crown Prince of Montenegro’s body) and his ‘assistant’ Mala. We witness their extremely longwinded quest to find The Morning Star – the key to the Lich Tsar’s success or downfall.

I was left scratching my head through most of their journey. Despite the Tsar’s men being hot on their heels, ‘Danilo’ and Katerina had time to fuss around museums looking at jewellery and holing themselves up in fancy hotels at every turn. When they weren’t clambering their way out of musty old tombs (which were surprisingly still lit with torches inside) they were talking to a mystical sphinx that just happened to be ‘close by’.

I didn’t exactly understand their adventure, which frustrated me to no end and severely impacted on the enjoyment I gained from this book as a whole.

The world I fell in love was absent for the most part – the Light and Dark Court intrigue as well as characters and relationships that had been built up across the two previous books. Elena, the Montenegrin Princess, was barely mentioned despite being a main antagonist in the series. Dariya, Katerina’s best friend, made a brief appearance but we never even found out what happened with her in the end. Alix, who had been a favourite face of mine was practically forgotten after Katerina’s abduction (and even upon her return). I am extremely disappointed we didn’t get to witness the unfolding of Alix and Nicholas’ relationship further.

Instead of gifting us with a satisfying expansion and conclusion of the already existing world, Robin Bridges delivered to us what seemed like another side story. Although the Lich Tsar and his minions were ultimately defeated, this didn’t feel like the conclusion to the story I had fallen in love with.

Katerina and George’s relationship did advance, however, but I felt that their constant desire to sacrifice themselves for one another detracted from what should have been their ‘happy ending’.

I also don’t feel as if Katerina’s gift was properly explained – how did she unwittingly resurrect the souls in the previous two novels? How did she learn to control this? This seemed to be glazed over with a single sentence, with Katerina telling us that the Tibetan doctor had simply helped her. I wanted to witness this growth in her powers, and I wanted to witness that growth in her character. The same thing can be said for how she learnt to guard her thoughts from Danilo, and ultimately the Lich Tsar.

I do believe The Morning Star could have been a more effective if we hadn’t been swept away to a completely new landscape for the majority of the book and Robin Bridges had employed her myriad of existing characters moreso than creating new ones.

The enjoyment I got from this book was not in how it ended, but from the handful of chapters that remained in Russia. Despite this book’s cover being my favourite of the series, I believe that the series’ high point was the second book, The Unfailing Light.

Although all of the ends seemed to be tied up nicely plot-wise, I don’t feel many of the characters got their ending. I feel as if there is still one chapters I’ve left unread. It doesn’t feel right and that’s not something I enjoy feeling when I’ve just finished a series.

Disappointment aside, ‘The Katerina Trilogy’ was a three book series I was happy to be swept away by. Do I feel it was a waste of my time? Not at all. It was an enjoyable escape and great debut series by Robin Bridges. I will eagerly read anything else she decides to set in this world.

Recommended to: If you’ve read the first two books in this series, you can’t stop there. The Morning Light will at least answer some of your questions and bring an end to the Lich Tsar plotline. All in all it was an enjoyable series as a whole.

[Rushita · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first. The Morning Star is ridiculous, the type of ridiculous that’s good and entertaining, instead of absurd. The world of Katerina captured my attention due to its rich detailed historical setting and its unique paranormal take on the Russian aristocracy. Ever since I first read The Gathering Storm, I have been invested in these characters and their adventures with the supernatural dead. Even though The Morning Star is not as good as the first book in the series, which is my favourite of the three, it is still an entertaining conclusion to the Katerina trilogy.

Katerina is a necromancer, but what she really wants to be is a doctor. Struck in Russia, under the Tsars orders, Katerina is learning medicine from a Tibetan doctor in order to fulfil her own dreams and heal her beloved George. As always, trouble looms for her as Konstantin is rising and looking to overtake the throne. In order to do so he needs a necromancer and Katerina is his only hope. To defeat Konstantin she needs to find the sword The Morning Star and command an undead army. Along the way she needs to deal with the Imperial family, her ex-fiancé and come to terms with her feelings for George Alexandrovich.

The plot is jam-packed and complex. There are minor plot holes to be found if you look hard enough. There’s a kidnapping, an epic battle and a trip to Egypt. At one point there is a wedding right in the middle of the action, when there are more important things to consider. I will be the first to admit that there are a few faults in this book. Additionally, Katerina is sure to annoy you at some point in this book, especially in regards to her relationship with Danilo. Her relationship with Danilo just pisses me off. Despite the faults, I really enjoy this series and its last book. There were penalty of moments that had me giddy, swooning and laughing, while others had me shaking my head. The ending was a satisfying farewell to all of these characters, especially Katiya and George.

For me, the main reason I enjoyed this book, and series is its wonderful historical setting and the paranormal twist upon the Russian aristocratic court. I loved the Imperial world that Robin Bridges presents and it’s wonderful to read about the Tsar, the Imperial family, the Duchess and the Grand Duke. I am always caught up in all the historical details woven into the story, along with Russian history. I loved all the family connections and the grandeur of the dark and light courts.

Katerina is a frustrating main character, but you cannot but like this girl. Despite all of the things she does, she cares deeply for her family and George. When I think of Katerina, the description rebel with boundaries comes to mind. On one hand she’s progressive for a character in the 1890’s with her ambition to be a doctor. On the other hand she doesn’t push the boundaries too hard and remains true to historical conventions, which can get on your nerves. One of the greatest assets of this book is the romance. I love Grand Duke George. Both Katerina and George are stubborn, and their relationship has never been smooth sailing, so it was nice to see a happy ending of sorts for these two. You can feel the affection these two have for each other, in their attempts to protect the other.

An entertaining historical story with a supernatural twist and a satisfying conclusion. If you are anything like me and are fascinated by the Russian aristocracy then this might be the series for you.

This review all so appears at Ink Pages & Words.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morning Star was so much better than The Unfailing Light! It definitely exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more! After temporarily beating Konstantin, Katiya is anxiously waiting for him to return and come for her. She’s told about a heavenly sword that will defeat him for good, but no one knows how to get to it. All they know is that only a powerful necromancer can wield it. Meanwhile, Katiya is secretly studying medicine and holding on to hope that she can one day fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor. She’s even more determined since her love, George, is plagued with a supernatural illness. Then the tsar gives his blessing to Katiya and George, if she’ll promise to stop studying medicine, Konstantin returns by stealing the body of an old enemy, and Katiya has no clue what to do about any of it!

I love, love, loved the romance in The Morning Star! I absolutely adore Katerina and George together and I was so happy for them to finally have some time to be together. I actually squeed out loud at one point. Seriously. Then I was sad because she refuses to give up on her dream even if that means losing him, but she knows if she doesn’t pursue her degree, she’ll lose him to whatever sickness ails him. It’s a lose-lose situation. But George, being the romantic genius that he is, comes up with a plan! The plan made me so happy until it was thwarted by someone who may want Katiya a little bit more than him. Then the adventure began.

Katerina is whisked away to Egypt in order to find the sword named the Morning Star. She’s forced to work with Konstantin, although she’ll never let him get his hands on it. To do so, would mean the end of Russia as she knows it. I loved getting to see Egypt, even if it was mostly just glimpses inside of tombs in search of the sword, or a brief tour of a market place. I also liked the addition of ancient Egyptian magic in the rituals Katiya is forced to perform.

The only thing I was a bit disappointed by in The Morning Star was how Katiya still didn’t know much about her abilities. She didn’t use them nearly at all in the previous book, and this time it felt like everyone was using her powers but her. She’s also told about a few things that can she do and how to do them, since she had no clue. I know that she doesn’t want to use her necromancer powers at all, but I wish there had been more of it rather than just accidental zombies and forced rituals.

The Morning Star is a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Katiya saves the day with a little help from her friends, and Russia is safe…for now. I liked how after all of the action has settled, the last few chapters focused on George and Katerina. The very ending is quite abrupt and a little open, but I kind of liked that. Yes, I wanted to know that everything worked out and everyone is okay, but it’s nice to not have everything magically fixed. I will miss Katiya and Georgi though.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.