In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In the Shadow of Blackbirds

by Cat Winters

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. At her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?Featuring haunting archival early-20th-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

Reviewed by Stephanie on

3 of 5 stars

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I was very excited for this book. It has everything in it that I love. It's a historical, set during World War 1 with the Spanish influenza running rampant, and ghosts with a mystery of how Mary Shelley's best friend died! Sounds awesome, right?

Well, it was good, but it didn't wow me like I wanted it to. I don't know if it was the mindset I was in at the time (I remember reading this while I wasn't feeling very well, and reading about flu symptoms while I didn't feel good wasn't pleasant) or if I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I wanted to no matter what.

My problem was that I was a little bored with it all. I didn't connect with the book at all. I eventually got to the point where I was only reading it because I wanted to finish so I could move on to some other book I would like more.

I also continued reading because I was bewildered by the fact that I wasn't enjoying it. There was a good mystery, with some creepy vibes, and the threat of the Spanish influenza always being around the corner. But I always seemed to feel distant from it, never really connecting with the characters enough to really care for them.

I am happy that I continued till the end though, because the ending was crazy, and it was something I feel like you don't see to often in young adult. The ending made me like the book a little more than I would have.

Overall, I really wish I liked this book more than I did. It's definitely a good book, I just couldn't get into it when I wanted to.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 November, 2013: Finished reading
  • 19 November, 2013: Reviewed