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    The Firebird
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    The Firebird
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    The Firebird
    Ebook576 pages10 hours

    The Firebird

    By Susanna Kearsley

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Nicola Marter was born with a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images; glimpses into its past, and of those who have owned it before. Born with this rare ability, Nicola sees it as something to keep hidden. But when a young woman arrives at the London gallery Nicola works at, offering a wooden carving for sale and claiming it belonged to Russia’s Empress Catherine, Nicola faces a dilemma. With no proof of its past, Nicola’s boss believes the carving – known as ‘the Firebird’ – is worthless. But Nicola has held it, and she knows that the woman, who is in desperate need of money, is telling the truth.

    Compelled to help, Nicola turns to a man she once left, and still loves: Rob McMorran, whose own psychic gifts are far greater than her own. With Rob to help delve into the past, Nicola travels from Scotland to Belgium, and on into Russia. There, in St Petersburg, the once-glittering capital, Nicola and Rob unearth a tale of love and sacrifice, of courage and redemption – a story which will change their lives for ever.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAllison & Busby
    Release dateJan 28, 2013
    ISBN9780749012618
    Unavailable
    The Firebird
    Author

    Susanna Kearsley

    New York Times, USA TODAY, and Globe and Mail bestselling author Susanna Kearsley is a former museum curator who loves restoring the lost voices of real people to the page, often in twin-stranded stories that interweave present and past. Her award-winning novels are published in translation in more than twenty-five countries. She lives near Toronto. Visit her at SusannaKearsley.com or follow her on Twitter @SusannaKearsley.

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    Reviews for The Firebird

    4/5

    311 ratings35 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I was curious as to how this connects to The Winter Sea, so I looked at the opening chapters online. I wasn't planning on reading the whole book straight away -- but I became hooked.Nicola works in art gallery. A woman brings in a carving she believes was given to her ancestor, Anna, by Catherine I of Russia into the gallery where Nicola works. There’s no evidence to support this…. but Nicola has an unusual ability which gives her glimpses of an object’s past when she touches it. She decides to take advantage of an upcoming work trip to Russia to do further research.Nicola enlists the help of an old boyfriend -- a minor character from The Shadowy Horses, now all grown up. (I was rather delighted to see him again.) I said I wanted more ambiguity regarding the fantasy element in The Winter Sea, but I had no issue with it being front-and-centre here. I actually find it easier to suspend disbelief when these things are firmly established, and as a reader of fantasy, I’m interested in characters actively making use of their supernatural abilities. Bonus points for telepathy!Meanwhile, the historical storyline, features several characters from The Winter Sea, most notably Sophia’s daughter Anna, following her from her childhood in Scotland to her time in Russia. As a sequel to The Winter Sea, Anna’s story is unexpectedly satisfying.My only disappointment -- yes, I do have one -- is that the very interesting conflict of Nicola and Rob having different attitudes towards their supernatural abilities is pushed aside to focus on Anna and then it’s resolved too readily. “Both those stories are alike, though, really.”“How is that?”“The firebird drops a feather,” was his summary, “and if you’re fool enough to pick it up and chase the bird itself, you’re in for trouble.”“And adventure.”“Aye.” He nodded. “True enough. But what you bring back with you in the end,” he said, “might not be what you started out in search of to begin with.”
    • 4/5
      3.75 starsNicola is able to “see” things when she touches them. When her work takes her to Russia to buy some art, she has a second mission in mind. A woman had recently come in wanting to sell a piece of art that she insisted came through her family’s generations, originally gifted from Peter the Great’s wife, Catherine. But there is no proof. Nicola is hoping to find some proof while she’s in St. Petersburg, along with her friend, Rob, who has the same “gift” of sight, but is better at it than Nicola is. I preferred the modern day storyline to the historical one in this one. I’ve been to St. Petersburg and loved “visiting” some of the places again: Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood and, in particular, the Hermitage… but also, one of a chain of restaurants our tour group visited, Stolle, was mentioned in the book: “a small chain with several locations strung all through the city, and served what one might call traditional Russian ‘fast food’: homemade pie.” Yum! Good memories!Anyway, I was surprised to find that many of the historical characters in this one were real – thanks to an author’s note at the end, which I always like to see in my historical fiction! In fact, it was quite a detailed note. I guess this is the second book in a “series” (loosely-based, I think), where one of the (historical) characters in the first book reappears in this one (I haven’t read that one). I recognized one of the contemporary characters from another book by this author that I’ve read, though, so that’s always fun.
    • 3/5
      This book is ok. I liked reading some of the history in it and reading the section at the end about which characters were real. However, this book throws in a double romance, so be careful if you are not into that kind of thing.
    • 5/5
      Reading this book, I found myself once again caught up in Kearsley's world. It wasn't until I started reading that I realized this was a sequel and features Rob from a different book in which he was a child which was a welcome surprise. Nicola has always known she was different and was taught to hide her gifts of psychometry which is the ability to touch an object and learn of its history and her ability to speak telepathically to some. Rob has always been encouraged to be proud of his abilities and has been able to hone them over the years. when Nicola comes across the Firebird, she glimpses a history behind it & is compelled to find out the history of the girl she saw in her vision. she enlists the help of Rob who used to be her boyfriend and finds that the more time she spends with him, the more she knows she never stopped loving him. Rob guides her along the way of the journey encouraging her to use her gifts and explore her potential. Eventually they both learn of the history of the girl and together also realize that they are better together than apart and sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and not let fears get in the way. I loved this book and can't wait to read her next one!!
    • 5/5
      This novel is the perfect blending of history and fiction with a kind of time travel thrown in to blend then (18th C) and now.
    • 4/5
      I love books that blend past events with the present, and THE FIREBIRD did so in a unique way. Nicola Marter is a secret psychometrist, someone who can divine information about people or events by touching an object. A new client comes to the gallery where she works with a small wooden carving she calls "The Firebird." The woman believes the carving once belonged to Catherine the Great and was given as a gift to one of her ancestors. Nicola can sense by touching the bird that the woman's story is possibly true. However, she can't tell the client or her boss this without exposing her gift, so she sets out on a quest to find another way to prove the item's authenticity.Nicola is a smart, compassionate and determined character, but she's also quite stubborn and unsure when it comes to using her gift of sight. She enlists the help of a lost love named Rob McMorran (aka little Robbie from THE SHADOWY HORSES, all grown up), whose ability to see the past is much greater than hers. Rob is more open and honest about his gift, and he hopes he can teach Nicola to embrace hers as they go through this journey together.So, essentially, Nicola and Rob were chasing "visions" of the client's relative, Anna, in the past. They tracked her from place to place across Europe, and they were able to see important events from her life that eventually led her to Russia. Young Anna's life was an exciting and dangerous adventure to read about, as she was caught up in the political intrigue of the time. I also enjoyed the dual romances in this book, one in the present and one in the past.THE FIREBIRD was an engrossing, well-researched story that will delight fans of paranormal and historical fiction. While I did enjoy THE SHADOWDY HORSES more (it had an extra-special "something"), THE FIREBIRD was a wonderful and unique follow-up. 4-stars! SOURCE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Nicola Marter doesn't consider her talent at psychometry a gift. This is partially due to her grandfather's constant warnings about revealing her gift to others. However, as a student, she did make an attempt to learn more about controlling her talent before giving up. When an older woman arrives at the gallery where Nicola works, she tells the story of a small wooden carving, a family heirloom, reportedly given to an ancestor by Tsarina Catherine of Russia. Regrettably she doesn't have documentation to support the family legend. After handling the object Nicola is assured of the woman's story but isn't sure how the gallery can help without proper paper documentation. This woman, her story and the information Nicola learns from touching the object peaks Nicola's interest in learning more and wanting to help. Is it possible she can found some documentation to support the woman's claim?The Firebird is a fascinating blend of contemporary and historical fiction with paranormal elements. Once Nicola decides to try and help the gallery's potential client, she realizes she needs help and seeks the assistance of Rob McMorran, an outstanding psychic she knew from her college days. With Rob's assistance, Nicola is able to trace the history of the original recipient of the Firebird, Anna. Nicola and Rob are able to track Anna from Scotland to Belgium and finally to Russia. Anna was born into the Moray family, but due to her family's Jacobite leanings, she is trusted to friends of the family to raise as a foster daughter. She lives in Scotland for almost seven years before she is forced to flee to a convent in Ypres, Belgium in the company of Colonel Graeme and Captain Jamieson. She resides in the convent for one year before being forced to flee once again and this time winds up in Russia as Anna Jamieson, the ward of Admiral Thomas Gordon. Ms. Kearsley provides the reader with details of the Jacobite cause and its supporters in Scotland, as well as expatriates in Belgium and Russia. Anna's life is revealed in vignettes as Rob and Nicola search for places she lived and visited. Anna's life is one filled with love and courage but no true family. As Nicola and Rob work to piece together the puzzle of Anna's life, Nicola realizes that she actually has more control over her talents than she initially thought. The Firebird is a well-crafted story that incorporates tales of love, courage, and self-confidence in both Nicola and Anna's lives. If you're looking for something a little different to read, then you may want to add The Firebird to your reading list.
    • 5/5
      There are certain authors I will jump through hoops to read their books; Susanna Kearsley is in that company. I have read two of her books and was not disappointed with this third. She is expert at weaving the present into the past and then back again to the here and now. And you don't feel a fool for believing what you are reading even though you know it would never truly happen.In this book, characters from two of her previous novels make appearances - The Winter Sea (which I did not read) and The Shadowy Horses (which I did.) I felt a touch at a loss with not having read The Winter Sea but not enough to ruin my thorough enjoyment of the novel. I am going to have to acquire that book now to bring it all full circle. I sincerely doubt that will be any great hardship.Nicola is an expert in Russian artifacts and a woman brings in a small wooden carving that has been in her family for generations. Family lore is that the Empress Catherine gave it to one of her ancestors but there is no proof so Nicola's company cannot accept it for sale. But what Nicola can't tell her or her boss is that she can "read" objects so she knows that the story is, in fact, true. She also knows from handling the woman's scarf that she is dying and wants the money from the sale of this object, the Firebird, to go on a trip. Nicola wants to help her and so will use her gift/curse to try and prove provenance of the carving. She cannot do it alone, though and enlists the aid of the one person she has met who is just like her - a person she was never going to interact with again.What follows is a thrilling tale of Nicola and Robbie (of The Shadowy Horses fame) tracking the Firebird through time as they discover the history of the mysterious Anna to whom the piece was given. Ms. Kearsley knows how to bring history alive and most assuredly how to weave history and current times into a compelling and suspenseful tale. I was turning pages as fast as I could - most of the time. There were a couple of slow patches but not many. I was again totally engaged with the world created as the truth of the Firebird came to be told.
    • 3/5
      I liked the fact that this book was connected to the other two Kearsley books I have read. The winter sea introduced us to two figures in the past and now we see their daughters journey. But like her other books she also have people looking into the past. Those two are Nicola and Rob, and Rob we met in The Shadowy Horses, where he was a kid with the sight. Two books connected in this third one.

      Like I said, it's about Nicola and Rob. She can touch objects and see their past but she is no where as good at it as Rob. They know each other from before and meet again when she needs to track down the origin of a statue. There is some hidden attraction there too. But Nicola is not as open with her powers as he is. Theirs is the journey from place to place, tracking down a woman named Anna who lived 300 years ago.

      And here is the good part, I got totally hooked on Anna's story. It was so good, and sad and I just had to know! They track her from her origin and onward and I can't tell you much without telling it all. But that was a good story. I wanted the whole story as just one story, it was that interesting.

      A book that got me hooked
    • 4/5
      Picks up child-characters from both The Shadowy Horses and The Winter Sea, following them in later years. Nicola, who works for an antique dealer who specializes in Russian art and artifacts, can read the history of an item by touching it. When a customer comes in with a carving that was supposedly given to her ancestor by Peter the Great's empress, Nicola determines to help the woman by tracking down the story in an effort to authenticate the carving. But there are a lot of twists and turns, both in Nicola's life and in Anna's.The historical parts, the bulk of the story, are more interesting than the modern romance, but both are good and feed into each other.
    • 3/5
      I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed this more in print rather than the audio version. It feels like a missed something. The plot twines around Anna's past and Nicola's present. The Firebird doesn't seem to figure into the plot except as a catalyst for Nicola to reconnect with an old friend, who later becomes a love interest. Anna's story doesn't seem to relate to the firebird at all other than that she is a relative of the current owner or the artifact. That's why I feel like I missed something. It was well written but the alternating timeline was hard to follow on audio.
    • 5/5
      Perfection my friends. Fast paced and wonderfully romantic. A perfect beach or cold winters night read. This is one you want to recommend for fans of Diana Gabaldon. Excellent pacing, intriguing characters, wonderful writing and hot scottish guy, what's not to love. Trust me, go get yourself a copy. You will thank me. Just send wine, coffee, money or David Tennant in thanks for highlighting this book for you.
    • 5/5
      Now this one I liked - a lot!This builds on The Winter Sea and moves the story along. This is the story of Anna, Sophia's daughter. Anna's life could have been a tragedy - given up at birth by her mother and raised by a neighbor and later sent to live with nuns and finally landing with a new family in Russia. But it isn't a tragedy - instead it is the story of strength and poise and love. Anna accepts each stage of her life for what it is and what she can learn from it. That sounds a little ridiculous, I know. But, I really liked her plucky attitude and stamina for a 1720 girl!This story is told in pieces by Nikola - an English girl with a gift for 'seeing.' Her connection to Anna is not through written words like Carrie's was - but by touching an object and 'seeing' the history and the events that the object was involved with. Nikola is a Russian art dealer who was asked to appraise a small carved bird - the firebird. She sees the Tsarina of Russia handing this bird to Anna - but doesn't know who Anna is or how she can prove the object was actually important. Nikola enlists her friend Rob to help with the process - Rob has a stronger inner eye and together they embark to Russia to discover Anna's story. In the same way that Winter Sea told a double story - so does The Firebird. As the story of Anna is being told - Nikola and Rob's story is also unfolding.I liked this book much more. I was very vested in the characters! There were a couple twists that I didn't quite anticipate that made the end very engaging. The history was important - but somehow it was easier for me to follow along without really knowing all the details. Maybe that happened because I cared for Anna more.I would recommend this one! It was a fun and quick read.
    • 5/5
      I love this author's works! The characters are interesting, the plots are fascinating as she invariably weaves storylines between modern day and some historical time. Her use of the supernatural is exciting and captivating. Can't wait to read more of her books!
    • 5/5
      Yes, a real review, HUZZAH! I couldn't put this down. Love, love, love. Fantastic. Beautiful. Everything I anticipated.I first started reading Susanna Kearsley after I found Gabaldon's Outlander series. I was recommended similar books and Kearsley was a new name to me, so social book lovers media gets two gold stars AND an A+ for that recommendation.And you Canadian authors? Get on with your bad self... I think they come out of the womb with a cap and gown and best seller already written in their hand.This is historical fiction at it's best. Engaging. Betrayal. Attraction. Mystery. Love. Twisty. A tissue or five. Kearsley grabs your attention and shows, not tells, her story. This is why she remains one of my favorite authors.It does stand mention that although this book continues with characters from earlier works, The Winter Sea and The Shadowy Horses, it can easily be read as a stand alone.One of my first pet peeves in historical fiction is being told a biblical genealogical portion, chunk, heap of facts and history. The author manages to avoid waxing poetical over period dress of colorful, purple-red, tightly-woven, fine-fitted for fall, brushed gabardine and heralding its merits of sturdiness (or lack of) once washed vigorously and hung to dry by the maid who is 22, blond, busty and also very much 9 months pregnant by some unfaithful, lazy sot with an even lazier eye and unfortunate overbite..... to regaling lengthy descriptions of the majestic, sweeping, gentle rolling of wind off the whispering reeds of the pond, across the hills to the tickling effects on each and every insects' ear, energetic hatching offspring, and entomological abode nestled in the blades and twisted roots of rich, green, dewy grass.Somebody please help me...its like watching my nails grow.Susanna Kearsley does not do this. She keeps you engaged. I COULD NOT put it down (note appropriate use of SHOUTY CAPS). Who needs sleep and study time when you are testing for legal aspects of medicine? Not me, no sirreee.Kearsley portrays a balance of her story and characters, more than any of her stories Ive read. She shows the foundations of the story without the dreaded info dump. The reader is handed piece meal bits of history that draw the reader along: English history, Russian history, art, and The Jacobite Rising.A few fans claim this book does not have as much rich history to the story as her other works, but I disagree. Out of the two storylines, present and past, the focus is that witnessing or living the history itself was a catalyst for the characters. You need interesting, real, engaging characters to do this, you need character development and interaction.The Firebird carries on dual story lines...the historical storyline involves a young woman named Anna, separated from her family due to their political entanglements.(spoiler)***********In The Winter Sea, readers objected to the issue of a child sent away by his or her parents, even as a safety measure. Kearsley never flat out stated WHY an author would write this but if readers look deeper, you will have your answer: If a child's age can determine a time frame for a relationship between her mother and father, and esp. establishing a time frame contrary to their new identities and date of nuptials, wouldn't you protect the entire family by sending the child away? At least until cloak and dagger, political unrest is no longer life-threatening. In plain words, yes...I'd send my child away for a time - it would completely rip my heart out, but I'd make the same choice.(end spoiler)*************Life is not miserable for Anna, in fact she is very blessed. She is surrounded over the years by caring family (adopted or otherwise), friendships, and yes, a young man or two. Along the way, Anna also experiences in as many forms trust, heartache, faith, and hope that comes with love.The present day storyline is a continuation of Rob "Robbie" from Kearsley's The Shadowy Horses. What's not to love about Rob? Sigh.Rob is grown now, handsome, charming, and altruistic in his talents. He has been open about his mind reading abilities. This to the betterment of his job as a policeman, a rescue volunteer, and also to those living in his quiet village. When approached by Nicola, a woman from his past with similar abilities, he jumps right in to help her solve her mystery. A mystery involving provenance of a historical artifact linking to Anna in the past (thus the crossing of story lines to the Winter Sea).It was clear that Rob was also driven by his and Nicola's mutual attraction, and growing relationship. Although, growing in which direction? As Nicola complains, why does he have to be such a gentleman?!This delicious tension ramps up with each turn and twist of the story. Rob encourages Nicola in her budding abilities, pushing her but he also knows when to patiently hold back and allow Nicola make up her own mind, at her own pace. And an intelligent, gorgeous, patient but broody Scot is definitely swoony in my book. Add a Scots brogue and Nicola is lost...or is she? You'll have to read it to find out.I highly recommend this for readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, romance, and a bit of paranormal. I'd also recommend her other works, if you are so inclined.**I live in a border state to Canada and couldn't wait a month to buy my own keeper shelf copy. Yes, I'm spoiled like that.
    • 5/5
      Lovely book. Great characters, well-woven story, and fantasy element reinforcing human foibles we all know and love (or suffer from!). Loved the historical detail, the time periods and locales chosen (Scotland, London, St Petersburg). Hero/ love interest was a little too perfect, but that's ok, it kept me from falling too hard for him. ;-)
    • 4/5
      This book didn't simply pick up where book 1 (Winter Sea) left off. In fact, the "present-day" characters were completely new to us. However, like the main character in the 1st book, they also had a means by which to "see" into the past. And that is where the connection to the 1st book lies. I loved both stories in this book - the present-day and the one that took place centuries ago.
    • 4/5
      I did enjoy reading this book a great deal, but I preferred its predecessor, The Winter Sea.The story was involving and the characters and settings definitely had substance, however I felt the pacing was slightly off - the beginning was quite exciting, but the middle started to drag and by the time I reached the last quarter of the book I just wanted it to be finished. The ending did go out with a bang though - some twists and revelations I saw coming, and some I didn't.Specifically, I liked how the author may have set it up so we believed that Captain Jamieson as Anna's father was the main plot twist, since although it was quite obvious (especially to those who read The Winter Sea), it was never confirmed until the end. But in actual fact the reader was hit by different twists that we may not have seen coming, which fits in nicely with the "seeing what you expect to see" moral.Having said that, I'm not sure all the twists made complete sense. I thought the Firebird was going to have come from Edmund O'Connor, so that was a nice surprise that it actually did come from the Empress, but I thought the problem of not being able to sell it would be resolved by the buyer in Inverness taking it, as opposed to the (surprise!) complete, signed, first edition set of James Bond novels (come on, how would Margaret not have known the value of that?!). I also thought Rob's insistence that Nicola revealed her gift (and the fact that he straight up left her when she refused) was rather unreasonable, along with the way she did choose to reveal it (very publicly) in the end.An engaging read, but although with all paranormal stories one must suspend disbelief, some parts of this were just a bit too unlikely for me. Worth reading for the descriptions of the settings though, and for closure on the characters in The Winter Sea.
    • 5/5
      Lovely book. Great characters, well-woven story, and fantasy element reinforcing human foibles we all know and love (or suffer from!). Loved the historical detail, the time periods and locales chosen (Scotland, London, St Petersburg). Hero/ love interest was a little too perfect, but that's ok, it kept me from falling too hard for him. ;-)
    • 5/5
      I have enjoyed every novel of Susanna Kearsley's that I've read. She has a talent for writing romantic suspense set in two different timelines. In The Firebird, we have Nicola and Rob traveling first to Belgium and then to Russia in the present day in an attempt to authenticate Margaret Ross's heirloom. The second timeline involves the little girl that the wooden bird was given to-- a time shortly after the death of Peter the Great, a time when a Stuart was trying to retake the throne of England, a time when the English were doing everything in their power to prevent that from happening.The present day timeline is a good one. Nicola and Rob are two strong, fascinating characters whom you want to see getting together. Nicola has always been afraid of her gift and hasn't really explored how far she can go with it. Rob on the other hand is the "old hand" (and the old soul) whose patience and steadiness are exactly what Nicola needs. But as strong as their story is, it's not the heart of this book.No, the heart of the book belongs to young Anna Logan, who spent the first years of her life unaware that she was living with a foster family. When the political situation takes a deadly turn, Anna is told a portion of the truth of her heritage, and she's spirited away to a convent in Belgium before finding herself in St. Petersburg. This girl will steal your heart. She's smart, she's observant, and she's incredibly brave. She may be old beyond her years, but she's still a little girl whose naivete has dire consequences. After all she's been through, you just want things to go right for Anna.Kearsley put me right smack in the middle of that Belgian convent and before I knew it, I found myself in Russia. Anna Logan's story is compelling, and Kearsley does an excellent job of showing what happened to so many of the Jacobites who fought on the losing side. If I have any quibble about The Firebird it's that this historical storyline is so strong that the one in the present day pales by comparison. I really liked the characters of Nicola and Rob, so I do wish their story had been beefed up a bit. But that is a very small quibble indeed because each time I picked up this book, I lost myself in Kearsley's marvelous story.
    • 5/5
      Nicola Martin is a London art dealer with a secret. When she touches an object, she sees glimpses of its past. Because of her family's history in oppressive Russia, she keeps her gift a secret. Then a woman comes to the gallery with a small wooden firebird, hoping it will bring her enough money to fulfill her dream of traveling around the world. When Nicola touches it, she gets a glimpse of a scene from the time of Peter the Great. However, her boss tells the woman her Firebird isn't valuable. But Nicola knows the woman is dying of a hereditary disease and decides to do her own investigation. But for that she needs the help of someone whose psychic talents are stronger than her own. She turns to Rob McMorran, a young Scottish policeman she once knew.

      I've read several books by Susanna Kearsley and she is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. So far, her books have been set in Britain, so Firebird, with its Russian theme, seemed a departure. But as I began reading, familiar characters popped up. I was delighted to meet the grown-up Rob, whom I first met as a fey child in The Shadowy Horses, and who is just as charming as an adult. And as he and Nicola continue to follow the trail of the Firebird, we learn the story of Anna, the child born to 18th c. characters from The Winter Sea.

      Nicola and Rob follow Anna's wanderings from Scotland to Belgium as she is brought to safety with her Jacobite uncle. Later she becomes ward of Admiral Thomas Gordon and travels with him to St. Petersburg where he helps Peter the Great build his Navy.

      Kearsley does a good job of interweaving the historical and contemporary stories. I found the glimpse into the Jacobite community in St. Petersburg a fascinating piece of unknown history.
    • 1/5
      I had to DNF this book. I've read one other book by this author, Winter Sea, and I really enjoyed it. It had some supernatural qualities but not outrageously so. The Firebird just went too far. Not some subtle qualities, bu MC's with full on telepathic powers. Boring, heroine was too quiet. Just too much. I guess this is part of her genre and I just got lucky with the first book being closer to my style.
    • 4/5
      A good read that moves between contemporary England and 18th-century Scotland and Russia through the psychic gift of Nicola Marter. Nicola can sense the past when she holds objects and she knows that a wooden carving of a firebird was a gift from the Russian Empress Catherine - even though there is no documentation of the fact. Attempting to help her client, Nicola goes on a journey, seeking proof of the carving's past by utilizing a gift she has kept hidden for most of her life. Good reading.
    • 4/5
      A little bit slow to start, but a good read for those who enjoyed The Winter Sea. Once it got going, I couldn't put it down.
    • 4/5
      Firebird is the third novel by Susanna Kearsley that I have had the pleasure to read. Her novels mix Historical Fiction with the paranormal for an extremely intriguing read. The Firebird in this novel is a small craved wooden bird passed down through generations of a woman who wished to sell the object to the art deal who our protagonist, Nicola works. Unfortunately the piece of art is worthless without documentation that the bird once belong to Empress Catherine, wife of Peter the Great of Russia.Nicola has a secret talent which helps in determining if a work of art is a fake and when she touches the Firebird, she see a woman named Anna receiving the Firebird as a gift from Empress Catherine. She can not explain this vision to Margaret Ross, the owner or her boss but she is determined to help Margaret prove its worth. Nicola will be traveling the next week to Russia on business and plans on researching the bird but needs help.Two years ago Nicola entered into a paranormal study and scored high on the scale but not higher than a Scottish Policeman. The two become friends but as they grew closer, she ran. Now she needs his assistance. She seeks him out and convinces him to travel with her on her search for the truth.The first clue tracks Anna to the same castle from the novel, "The Winter Sea", to Belgium and finally to Russia. Their journey bring forth a look into the 18th Century Russia full with details of times. Ms. Kearsley's novel makes history come alive with Russia at this time and examines in depth what become of a group of loyal Jacobites. It is an extremely fascinating read.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars, rounded down. I would have given the book 4 stars, but I felt it was a bit too long and over-detailed. Enough so that around the 2/3 point I found myself skimming large sections. The first book was far better but overall, I have enjoyed the history told via fictional characters who had a little better “vision”than the rest of us. ;-)
    • 5/5
      Wonderful historical romance. Kearsley's description of both the past and present put the reader right there. I love the way the main characters can see the past.
    • 5/5
      There are certain authors I will jump through hoops to read their books; Susanna Kearsley is in that company. I have read two of her books and was not disappointed with this third. She is expert at weaving the present into the past and then back again to the here and now. And you don't feel a fool for believing what you are reading even though you know it would never truly happen.In this book, characters from two of her previous novels make appearances - The Winter Sea (which I did not read) and The Shadowy Horses (which I did.) I felt a touch at a loss with not having read The Winter Sea but not enough to ruin my thorough enjoyment of the novel. I am going to have to acquire that book now to bring it all full circle. I sincerely doubt that will be any great hardship.Nicola is an expert in Russian artifacts and a woman brings in a small wooden carving that has been in her family for generations. Family lore is that the Empress Catherine gave it to one of her ancestors but there is no proof so Nicola's company cannot accept it for sale. But what Nicola can't tell her or her boss is that she can "read" objects so she knows that the story is, in fact, true. She also knows from handling the woman's scarf that she is dying and wants the money from the sale of this object, the Firebird, to go on a trip. Nicola wants to help her and so will use her gift/curse to try and prove provenance of the carving. She cannot do it alone, though and enlists the aid of the one person she has met who is just like her - a person she was never going to interact with again.What follows is a thrilling tale of Nicola and Robbie (of The Shadowy Horses fame) tracking the Firebird through time as they discover the history of the mysterious Anna to whom the piece was given. Ms. Kearsley knows how to bring history alive and most assuredly how to weave history and current times into a compelling and suspenseful tale. I was turning pages as fast as I could - most of the time. There were a couple of slow patches but not many. I was again totally engaged with the world created as the truth of the Firebird came to be told.
    • 5/5
      This is the successor to The Winter Seas though you need not have read that story to understand this one (though you should read it - it's a great book). Young Anna Moray was placed in a cottager's home in Slains for her safety when just a small child. Her great-uncle brings her to Ypres hoping to keep her from being a hostage by the adherents of King George - her family are Jacobites. Through some misadventures, she ends up in St. Petersburg at the court of Peter the Great and his Tsarina Catherine. As with other of Ms. Kearsley's books, there is a dual modern story alternating with the historical one. Nicola is an art authenticator with the gift of psychometry; she can touch an object and see the past. She hides the gift, and in fact, it's the reason she broke up with Rob whose gift is much stronger. Together they try to find a way to authenticate a small wooden carving of a bird passed down in a woman's family supposedly by Anna and given to her by Tsarina Catherine. This story started a little slow for me but soon picked up. I admit I was more interested in the historical story of Anna, but I also enjoyed the modern descriptions of St. Petersburg as Nicola and Rob try to trace Anna's steps. Ms. Kearsley writes lovely historical fiction, and I enjoy all her books. This one is a worthy successor to The Winter Seas.
    • 2/5
      Good plot, but not fascinating writingMarch 20, 2019Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseThis author has much potential, but such a fantastic plot needs more skilled writing not to become boring. Good character descriptions. I did not finish this book and will not be going back to it.