"5 out of 5. The Gatherer is a romantic epic set in magical lands that stars a gifted, irresistible girl." — Foreword Clarion Reviews "A remarkable, beautiful coming-of-age fantasy that kept me hanging on every word." —Reedsy Discovery Review "...a contemplative story about courage, healing, and the life-changing power of love." —BlueInk Review "A wrong should always be addressed, Peregrine, but you cannot always make the scales come out even. There will be times in your life when you must bear a heavier load than someone else, simply because you can." In the quiet kingdom of Moran, legend tells of two powers that arise in times of crisis. Growing up in the forests of Blackwood as the daughter of a King's Ranger, Peregrine trains the sword and learns the healing arts, never dreaming a folklore prophecy could affect her own life—no matter what the animals call her. After her beloved father vanishes into the deadly White River that separates Moran from the vast, magical empire of Din Sul, Peregrine struggles to find her calling. Does the title the animals gave her fit into a bigger picture? Is there a counterpart who might finally understand her unique gifts? Then the Spear Prince of Moran turns Peregrine's small world upside down with a secret of his own—but as their friendship grows, so does the threat across the river. When Din Sul targets the prince, Peregrine will do whatever it takes to save him. But how could an inexperienced young warrior possibly outwit a powerful mage? And how does a broken healer find healing? Fans of Robin McKinley's Chalice and Spindle's End and of Patricia A. McKillip's The Forgotten Beasts of Eld will delight in Peregrine's connection with nature and her journey towards a place of belonging in this wholesome coming of age romantasy. "Beautiful and satisfying... [The] portrayal of cats' catlikeness and dogs' doglikeness—and their own personalities within these types—is marvelous." —Erin Healy, author of House of Mercy and The Baker's Wife " Impressively deep character development (both human and animal) , solid world-building, intricate plotting and subtle philosophical morsels throughout ('Patience, planning, and a propensity to strike without hesitation at the pivotal moment—these were the three cornerstones of power') make for an enthralling, multi-tapestried read. "— BlueInk Review " Kit Trzebunia has the gift of writing characters that are so real, so relatable, you feel like you're right there in the pages with them. I loved Peregrine. She reminded me of myself as a child (except I didn't have any magical gifts and nobody taught me how to use a sword, more's the pity). And every character is well-crafted... They all had histories and strengths and flaws, and I cared deeply about them."— Reedsy Discovery Review by Lisa Henson "Peregrine is... an endearing protagonist , and not necessarily a character whom readers might expect to lead a fantasy novel."— Kirkus Review Full 5-Star Foreword Clarion Review : 5 out of 5. The Gatherer is a romantic epic set in magical lands that stars a gifted, irresistible girl. In Kit Trzebunia's fantasy novel The Gatherer , a talented girl struggles to adjust to her new family situation amid outside political tensions. Peregrine, the daughter of an esteemed ranger, studies healing and weaponry while struggling to live with her new stepmother, whom she dislikes and distrusts. In time, Peregrine discovers that she has a unique connection to animals. After her father goes missing and is presumed dead, Peregrine meets a prince who's harboring a secret and has a target on his back; their futures intertwine. Peregrine's stepsister is loving and trope-defying; she proves her mettle by sticking up for Peregrine to her mother. "Take all of Lady Carola's charm," Peregrine says of her, "exchange ingenuity with ingenuousness, throw in a heaping dash of whimsy, and you have Wennie, in a buttercup." And the prince is a natural choice for Peregrine: he's loved by animals as much as she is, and he is a sympathetic companion despite their different stations in life. Their romance blooms in a gradual manner, moved along by flowing prose. Excellent physical descriptions flesh out the characters further, giving color to their attitudes, manner of dress, and cultural upbringings, all while heightening the world's fantastic atmosphere—which includes tensions with Din Sul, where the emperor works with mages who command powerful magic. Most often, Peregrine narrates the story, her point of view maturing with each new challenge. The book includes some shifts to encompass the Din Sul emperor's situation, though, capturing him from an omniscient perspective. Peregrine's spirited voice and early countryside exist in stark contrast to events in the emperor's vicinity—as though the scenes belong to different books altogether. In time, these storylines intersect. Oddities in the book's turns of phrase give added shape to the