Shadows Cast by Stars

by Catherine Knutsson

Old ways are pitted against new horrors in this compellingly crafted, "atmospherically beautiful" (Kirkus Reviews) dystopian tale about a girl who is both healer and seer.

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet--especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the Plague ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the Plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe--government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cassandra and her family, they flee to the Island: a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors--and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken her under her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the creatures of the spirit world are angry, and they have chosen Cassandra to be their voice and instrument...

Incorporating the traditions of the First Peoples as well as the more familiar stories of Greek mythology and Arthurian legend, Shadows Cast by Stars is a haunting, beautifully written story that breathes new life into ancient customs.

• ISBN10: 1442401923
• ISBN13: 9781442401921
• Publish Date: 4 June 2013 (first published 5 June 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Edition: Reprint ed.
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 464
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Shadows Cast by Stars is something totally different and great! It was a lot different than I expected it to be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Cassandra, her brother, and father live the "old way." They live outside of the cities, have no electricity, and generally no modern luxuries. They're also some of the few Native Americans who haven't been collected by the government in order to harvest their blood. A plague has swept through the world, but Native Americans appear to be immune and their blood serves as a cure, since there is no vaccine. Soon the government has come to collect "half-breeds" because they're short on blood, so Cassandra and her family flee to the Island, where there is a society hiding out from the government and preserving their way of life.

Shadows Cast by Stars is much more focused on the mythology than on the dystopian side of things. I'm always interested in future worlds that have been damaged by some kind of disease, which is why the description drew me in. However, this plague served more as a backdrop rather than an important plot point. Once Cassandra and her family are on the Island, the focus is on Cassandra learning from the medicine woman, Madda. Both Cassandra and her brother, Paul, are gifted in spirit, although in different ways. She has healing powers, while Paul can speak with the dead. Cassandra doesn't know all that she can do, and that's what Madda helps her with. This is very much a story of self-discovery and finding the balance between your personal future and the collective past.

This is not a fast paced or action filled novel at all. What Shadows Cast by Stars lacks in excitement, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. I really enjoyed learning about this culture and all of their myths. There's a lot of great world building as Cassandra learns more and more about Spirit (the place and the element). There is a brief war scene, when the warriors go out to find refugees, but it's nothing too violent. This scene is the catalyst of Cassandra's journey and the turning point of the story.

I really enjoyed Shadows Cast by Stars. It was a lot different than what I was expecting, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it. In fact, I had hardly noticed until the end that the story was lacking the disease angle I was looking for. I was completely engrossed in Cassandra's story and in the mythology presented. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something different and more diverse.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.