As Luca searches for signs that the world is ending, his inquiries are interrupted by a childrens crusade led by a boy who preaches Gods will. Kidzworld has the book review of Stormbringers (Order of Darkness #2) by Philippa Gregory.
The Inquirer
Luca and his four traveling companions - his servant Frieze, Brother Peter, Lady Isolde and her childhood friend Ishraq - continue their journey from Rome to Pescara, Italy, where Luca hopes to catch a ship to Croatia. It's Luca's job to make inquiries which are assigned to him by the leader of the holy Order of Darkness. He believes the world is ending, and Luca must look for the signs.
The Crusade
On his latest inquiry, Luca and his friends encounter a children's crusade, led by Johann, a young teen who claims that God speaks directly to him. At first, Luca and his companions are skeptical. Johann is either a saint or a devil. But when he reveals secrets from both Luca and Isolde's pasts - secrets he couldn't possibly know unless he was granted divine wisdom - the inquirer dubs him a saint. Luca's group joins the crusade and they head to the ocean, where Johann believes the water will part for them so they can walk dry-shod to Jerusalem. Skeptical again, Luca arranges for ships to take them across the water. But the ships prove unnecessary when they arrive on the shore. The water peels back and creates a path into the ocean's depths.
The Tidal Wave
Most of the children follow close behind Johann as he guides them into the sea, but Frieze remains uncertain. He's convinced that the water will return just as quickly as it receded. He urges his friends to seek safety before returning to the shore to save the horses. And that's when the fearsome water strikes - a tidal wave that rips through the small ocean side village, destroying homes and washing hundreds, if not thousands, out to sea, including Frieze.
The Accused
With Johann gone, the survivors need someone to blame. They accuse Isolde and Ishraq of being the devil's aids, summoning the wave but sparing their own lives. But Ishraq, an educated woman, suspects something else is at work - something neither divine nor evil. Will anyone believe the words of an educated slave when she claims that the wave was caused by an earthquake? And how will Luca cope with the loss of his best friend?
The Bottom Line
Continuing where book 1 left off, The Stormbringers is a great tale of the 15th century by bestselling historical fiction author Philippa Gregory. As the characters develop, unexpected connections emerge. If you're interested in reading books set in the past, or religious fiction, Kidzworld recommends the Order of Darkness series.
Order of Darkness #2: The Stormbringers Rating: 
Have Your Say
The Stormbringers' topic is religion and the end of the world. What's your favorite book topic? Tell us in our comment section below!
