Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Stormbringers
    Stormbringers
    Stormbringers
    Audiobook8 hours

    Stormbringers

    Written by Philippa Gregory

    Narrated by Nicola Barber

    3.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    The second book in a YA quartet filled with intrigue, mystery, and romance, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory.

    The year is 1453, and the end of the world is closer than ever.

    As Luca and Isolde continue their journey, their attraction grows with each passing day. Even as they try to remain focused on the mysteries they’ve been ordered to investigate, the tension between them builds.

    Their budding, illicit relationship is put on hold when a boy, Johann, and his army of children arrive in town. Johann claims to have divine orders to lead the children across Europe to the Holy Land, and the townspeople readily accept his claims. Luca wants to believe, but his training tells him to question everything...but when Johann’s prophecy begins to come true, Luca wonders if they have finally stumbled upon a real miracle.

    Yet even the greatest miracles have the potential for darkness…and the chaos that follows Johann is unlike anything anyone could have imagined.

    The second in Philippa Gregory’s four-book series delves further into a forbidden romance and an epic quest as secrets about The Order of Darkness are finally revealed...
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJun 4, 2013
    ISBN9781442360754
    Author

    Philippa Gregory

    Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned author of historical novels. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature from the University of Edinburgh. Works that have been adapted for television include A Respectable Trade, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Queen's Fool. The Other Boleyn Girl is now a major film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. Philippa Gregory lives in the North of England with her family.

    Related to Stormbringers

    Related audiobooks

    YA Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Controversial King

      Jan 7, 2022

      The Controversial King
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Time Is Right About Now

      Apr 7, 2022

      The Time Is Right About Now
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Maybe-Messiah and His Grandmother’s Ghost: On Olga Tokarczuk’s ‘The Books of Jacob’

      Apr 25, 2022

      That Tokarczuk's Nobel nomination was rumored to be greatly based on the accomplishments of this book has only magnified the anticipation. And now, it is here. The post The Maybe-Messiah and His Grandmother’s Ghost: On Olga Tokarczuk’s ‘The Books of

      5 min read

    • Article

      Fabulous Fiction

      Apr 9, 2020

      Fabulous Fiction
      2 min read

    • Article

      Science Fiction And Fantasy

      Nov 3, 2022

      Peng Shepherd Orion 2022 Hb, 392pp, £14.99, ISBN 9781398709928 Map-makers sometimes include false information in a map – a made-up river name, or a small street or hamlet – to catch other map-makers stealing and copying their maps. But what if one of

      4 min read

    • Article

      Is The Future Seen In Our Dreams?

      Sep 8, 2022

      TO SEND REVIEW COPIES, CONTACT THE BOOK REVIEWS EDITOR AT DVBARRETT@FORTEANTIMES.COM Sam Knight Faber and Faber 2022 Hb, 256pp, £14.99, ISBN 9780571357567 Experiences with Precognitive Dreams, Synchronicity and Coincidence Gary Lachman Floris Books 2

      11 min read

    • Article

      Science Fiction

      Dec 15, 2023

      Science Fiction
      2 min read

    • Article

      INTERNATIONAL BOOKS / The Best Of The Month

      May 12, 2019

      “Comfort women” was a euphemism for sex slaves during World War II. In more than a dozen occupied countries, Japanese soldiers visited “homes” where women and teenage girls abducted from their families were raped and half-starved. This novel is about

      5 min read

    • Article

      The Origins Of The Fairies

      Jan 25, 2024

      The Origins Of The Fairies
      3 min read

    • Article

      Piranesi

      Sep 9, 2020

      Piranesi
      2 min read

    • Article

      What To Read?

      Apr 19, 2024

      BY DAVID NICHOLLS Hodder & Stoughton Say the names Emma and Dexter and you’ll instantly have David Nicholls fans swooning. For those having withdrawal symptoms after binge-watching the recent Netflix TV adaptation of his bestseller One Day, it will

      3 min read

    • Article

      September’s BOOK CLUB

      Jul 30, 2020

      What if you had the chance to open a book and try another life you might have lived? In this life-affirming read, Nora Seed does just that. With so many regrets, she gets to see what could have been if she’d taken that job, joined her brother’s band

      2 min read

    • Article

      Science Fiction And Fantasy

      Feb 25, 2021

      Will Maclean William Heinemann 2020 Hb, 406pp, £14.99, ISBN 9781785152375 We all know that Fortean Times is inspirational – and it’s inspired three very different novels. First, directly influenced by Bob Fischer’s article “The Haunted Generation” (F

      4 min read

    • Article

      Explaining the Donald

      May 19, 2022

      The Magical and Occult Roots of Political Power John Michael Greer Inner Traditions 2021 Pb, 201pp, £12.99, ISBN 9781644112588 Donald Trump may be the ultimate anomalous phenomenon – at least for our age. How did an elderly American real estate and e

      8 min read

    • Article

      Books Of The Month

      May 20, 2022

      By Alastair Reynolds Reynolds is best known as an author of hard science-based space operas, yet his latest novel begins on board a ship sailing up the coastline of Norway in the early 19th century. The mystery deepens as the same group of people, on

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Absolute Book

      Feb 24, 2021

      RELEASED 18 MARCH 630 pages | Hardback/ebook/audiobook Author Elizabeth Knox Publisher Michael Joseph Over a 30-year career, Kiwi author Elizabeth Knox has form in multiple genres: horror, mystery, YA fantasy, romance, historical fiction. In this 630

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Pomegranate Gate

      Jul 12, 2023

      ▸ RELEASED 20 JULY 509 pages | Hardback ▸ Author Ariel Kaplan ▸ Publisher Solaris → Creating a fantasy world that draws on the mythology of our own is nothing new – but Jewish mythology is underexplored, and this novel entwines it with one of the dar

      1 min read

    • Article

      Short Cuts

      May 22, 2022

      Given French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent narrow victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, what is the future of France? It might help to look to the past to understand. Few people are more qualified than Graham Robb, the author of severa

      1 min read

    • Article

      Somna

      Apr 17, 2024

      Somna
      1 min read

    • Article

      Fortean Follow-ups

      Feb 23, 2023

      The man who refused to give his name and repeatedly insisted he was the Archangel Raphael when he appeared in court in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, charged with damaging a police van, has finally been identified as 24-year-old Phillip Smith from Droghe

      4 min read

    • Article

      Middle-Aged Mulder Syndrome

      Jan 27, 2022

      Middle-Aged Mulder Syndrome
      6 min read

    • Article

      'La Belle Sauvage' Will Be Like Coming Home For Philip Pullman Fans

      Dec 12, 2017

      Nearly 20 years after Philip Pullman published the final book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, he’s launched a companion series, known as “The Book of Dust.” The hotly anticipated first volume, La Belle Sauvage, is finally out, and the master sto

      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Stormbringers

    3.5/5

    52 ratings7 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Bruder Luca, der Ermittler des Ordens der Finsternis (s. "Schicksalstochter", ID-A 52-53/15) reist mit seinem Schreiber und dem Diener Freize in Begleitung der Damen Isobel und Ishraq, einer Maurin nach Pescara. Sie gelangen in ein Städtchen namens Piccolo, wo hunderte Kinder eintreffen, angeführt von einem charismatischen Bauernjungen, der die Kinder durch das Meer nach Jerusalem führen will. "Johann der Gute" predigt und weissagt berührend, sodass auch Luca und sein Gefolge den Voraussagen des Jungen erliegen und sich ihm anschließen wollen. Und tatsächlich scheint sich das Meer zu teilen - doch eine gigantische Welle, die der Ebbe folgt, vernichtetganze Landstriche und bringt hunderten Kindern den Tod. Isobel und Ishraq werden für das Unglück verantwortlich gemacht und sollen "brennen". Erneut kämpft Luca um das Leben der beiden Frauen, für die er eine tiefe Zuneigung empfindet. Wenig später läuft ein Galeerenschiff den Hafenan, das im Sturm beschädigt wurde. Der muslimische KapitänRadu Bey dient dem Herrscher der Osmanen. Okzident und Orient treffen aufeinander. Furiose Fortsetzung des 1. Bandes.
    • 4/5
      I can understand why this book has had so many negatives reviews, but historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed how "Stormbringers" was seeped in rich detail. The first part of the book also had a strong religious focus which I found interesting, but would be off-putting for many readers. However, the second half was a real page- turner, filled with intrigue, action and suspense, and I am looking forward to the third book in the series when it is released early 2014.
    • 3/5
      Luca, Freize, Isolde and Ishrak continue to travel together. Along their way they stop in a small town where they come across a group of children following a teen named Johan to the Holy Land. Johan claims to have visions and that with his group of hundreds of children their Crusade will take back the Holy Land. Then the big wave comes, leaving questions, anger, pain and anguish in it's path.

      This volume of the series was narrated by a woman rather than a man and gave the story an entirely different tone. Isolde's voice was too child like and made her seem incredibly immature. It kind of made me feel like any character development from the previous book on her part basically hadn't happened.

      I did feel like something major from future books was given away. It's just foreshadowing now, but I find myself wondering the foreshadowing wasn't so obvious as to take away from the reveal in future volumes. I still love Luca and Frieze and the new second in command to the infidels is definitely an interesting guy. Ishrak is also becoming more interesting. I liked that Luca continued to research a viable real life reason for the wave, just as in the previous book he steered away from paranormal explanations.

      I am sick of Isolde and Ishrak being accused of witchcraft again. I'm hoping this is the last time that plot device gets used. It seems as though the next book is set up for something different and I look forward to giving it a shot. There are definitely twists and turns that I was not expecting and I was glad for them.

      We'll see how the relationships among the group continue to develop and whether the author starts treading a new ground in future volumes.
    • 1/5
      Cannot be bothered. Got to the second chapter and realized I wanted nothing more to do with this book.
    • 3/5
      Set in Italy 1453 as the end of the world grows near. Luca & Isolde with their small group journey on. Charged by the church to investigate the mysteries along with way. Each day that goes by Luca & Isolde's feeling for each other grow strong. Things are put to a halt when they encounter Joahnn and this band of child followers on their way to the Holy Land.This is book two in the Order of the Darkness series. I didn't read book one, so I went into this story kinda blind. But it turned out to be a very enjoyable read. My favorite thing about this book is Luca and Isolde. Sweet, young love. Stormbringers is an intriguing story, rich in details. For me the only minus to the story was Brother Peter, he was beyond annoying. Philippa Gregory is as ever an excellent storyteller. If you enjoyed her books in the past, you'll probably love this one too.Stormbringers is narrated by Nicola Barber. I found her pleasant to listen to.
    • 4/5
      Stormbringers continues the journey of Brothers Luca and Peter as they investigate mysterious events occurring all around Europe for the Pope, in the hopes of discovering if the end of the world is nigh. Travelling with them are Lady Isolde and her companion Ishraq. I think Philippa Gregory has delivered an admirable sequel to Changeling, building upon the foundation she laid in the previous book and progressing the characters deeper into the mysteries of the time they live in.I love that the characters grow so much throughout this book - especially Ishraq and Frieze. The more these five spend time with one another, the more they learn about each other and the more their own personal views and prejudices are challenged. In Stormbringers, the foundation is laid for Ishraq's impending crisis of identity as a Muslim maid to a Christian Lady in the time of the expansion of the Ottoman Empire and the threat they pose to Christendom. I think the tension between them is cleverly woven, and would love to see how it pans out in later novels. Another interesting development is Luca's uncertainty about his future, and especially in relation to his love life. I think the revelations at the end f this book will play a large role in the dynamics of the little group as time goes on.All this character development doesn't impact the exciting plot of Stormbringers. All the action is set in a tiny coastal town, and there are prophets, natural disasters, witch trials and a captain of a slaver-ship to keep readers entertained. The book feels a lot longer than its 300 pages, but I never found it lagging or boring.However, this book isn't really about the prophets, natural disasters or witch trials, it's about the impact of these events on the devout Christian population of the time. It focuses on the way these people, lacking the scientific knowledge we have now, turn to portents and magic to explain the things around them. Stormbringers cleverly uses Ishraq to examine a woman's place in society, to challenge the prevailing idea (then and today) that a woman should behave like a man expects and wishes her to, that her honour is bound to what men think of her. The book also looks at the religious conviction of Brother Peter, pitted against Luca's uncertainty, and the way that horrible things can be done in the name of religion. Again, it is Ishraq, as the heretic in the party, who questions and challenges these things. In some ways, it feels like the plot hangs on her character - she's often the voice of reason, with modern ideas of religious freedom and gender equality.There are a few things I didn't like about the novel. The first is that, although it is an exciting book, the overall plot progression is basically nonexistent. It's obvious that the Order of Darkness series is going to be long. The second is the author's ignorance on the Islamic religion and Middle Eastern culture. Although forgivable in her sheltered Christian protagonists who are prone to superstition and look for all their answers in the Bible - it's unacceptable in the few Muslim characters we meet. They use phrases like Insha Allah incorrectly, at completely the wrong time, and seem to be shallowly versed in their own religion.Stormbringers continues the tradition of Philippa Gregory novels of being vividly crafted and well executed, and although it is written for a young adult audience, doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable sociopolitical climate of the time. All the best, trademark aspects of Gregory's writing have been translated into this YA novel, and I look forward to continuing Luca and Isolde's journey in the coming sequels.A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
    • 4/5
      Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.My Summary: When Luca, Isolde, and their companions set out on their journey, they never expected to be swept up in the strange superstitious fears of a tiny town along the road. Approached by a self-proclaimed 'saint' and a group of wayward children, the five are baffled to discover the townspeople fear... well, almost everything.Instructed by the Order to investigate this wild claim, Luca, Frieze, and Brother Peter attempt to discern whether or not Johann is a true believer or if he is simply executing an elaborate con. But things go horribly wrong, and the five travelers find themselves in more danger than they ever could have imagined....My Thoughts: In this second installment of Philippa Gregory's Order of Darkness series, we see our foursome continue on the quest for truth in the world of Christianity. We see the relationship between Isolde and Luca grow as the journey progresses, with each perilous step bringing them closer to the sinister truth - and to each other. I've always been a huge fan of Philippa Gregory's. Her trademark world-building was evident in this novel as well as in the first installment, and her attention to detail really brought Isolde and Luca's world to life in my mind. The pacing was very well thought-out, and I never felt like the story dragged. There was also a lot of symbolism present, adding that extra element of intrigue to the atmosphere.Final Thoughts: A really enjoyable read for those who love historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. I'm already anxiously awaiting the third installment!