Review ~ The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Summary:
Whoever dares to seek the Firebird may find the journey — and its ending — unexpected.
Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images; glimpses of those who have owned it before. It’s never been a gift she wants, and she keeps it a secret from most people, including her practical boss Sebastian, one of London’s premier dealers in Russian art.
But when a woman offers Sebastian a small wooden carving for sale, claiming it belonged to Russia’s first Empress Catherine, it’s a problem. There’s no proof. Sebastian believes that the plain carving — known as “The Firebird” — is worthless. But Nicola’s held it, and she knows the woman is telling the truth, and is in desperate need of the money the sale of the heirloom could bring.
Compelled to help, Nicola turns to a man she once left, and still loves: Rob McMorran, whose own psychic gifts are far greater than hers. With Rob to help her “see” the past, she follows a young girl named Anna from Scotland to Belgium and on into Russia.
There, in St. Petersburg — the once-glittering capital of Peter the Great’s Russia — Nicola and Rob unearth a tale of love and sacrifice, of courage and redemption…an old story that seems personal and small, perhaps, against the greater backdrops of the Jacobite and Russian courts, but one that will forever change their lives.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Just like the first in the series, it had dual story lines: one present and one past. Set in Scotland, England, and Russia made for great history lessons with the plot still based around getting King James on the throne. Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed this even more, if possible, if I had listened to it. The accents were written out not just skimmed over and that makes for a great listen when the narrator does them all.
This book sort of continued the “past story” from the first in the series. Have I confused you? Well, the characters in the “present story” are new but the ones from the “past story” are not. And it answers so many questions and I’m so grateful for it. But I’m greedy and want more still.
Kearsley has this seamless way of jumping from past and present without making it confusing. It’s very enjoyable and tends to leave one on the edge of their seat waiting to get to the next part of one of the story lines. I love the supernatural elements of ESP and psychometry, it made it possible for us to see the past.
I hope there will be more from this series as I’m dying to find out what happens with Anna, Sophia, and John.
I recommend this to anyone that loves historicals, real characters from history, supernatural elements, and great love stories without the obvious romance.
