In the Shadow of Blackbirds in Around the Year in 52 Books

Jun 12, 2013 ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) rated it really liked it

Shelves: strong-women, mystery, women, slytherin-mmp, killeen-library-paper, paranormal-supernatural, young-adult, family, war, 2014

Very well-written and thoroughly researched!

I really liked this book. You can tell the author did her research into the Spanish Flu and the home remedies people came up with in hopes of warding it off. Honestly, onion baths and garlic gum could not keep an airborne virus away, but they truly believed those things (and more) would help. I really didn't know much about the Spanish Flu before reading this so I enjoyed that aspect of the story.

As for the characters, I loved Mary Shelley Black. I fo ...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Serendipity Reviews rated it it was amazing

Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
As soon as you hold this book in your hand, you feel an eerie presence about it. There is something rather dark and Gothic about the presentation, that only grows upon you as you flick through the pages. Every few chapters you come across an old black and white picture that will shock you a little. Each photo represents events from around 1918 and show how America dealt with the Spanish influenza epidemic that swept through the country killing mil Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
As soon as you hold this book in your hand, you feel an eerie presence about it. There is something rather dark and Gothic about the presentation, that only grows upon you as you flick through the pages. Every few chapters you come across an old black and white picture that will shock you a little. Each photo represents events from around 1918 and show how America dealt with the Spanish influenza epidemic that swept through the country killing millions.

This book is the story of Mary Shelley Black, named after the Frankenstein author by her parents. The story is told in first person and you follow Mary’s journey to discover what really happened to Stephen, her one and only love. Stephen has been shipped off to war and she desperately awaits his return, only when he does come back, mystery surrounds him. The strong bond between Mary and Stephen, is a mixture of beauty and obsession. At times you feel that Mary is in great danger, however the way she holds herself strong, she never lets fear take hold of her.

I loved Mary, she was an utterly fascinating character. She has a strong analytical mind, which allows her to break everything down into components to find the truth. If she was around in modern society, I would wonder whether she might just be tested for autistic tendencies, but during the time period set, it would not have ever been raised as an issue. I loved her voice! She had such a way of getting the truth out of others. She had a no nonsense attitude to her and could always see the truth hiding behind lies. Now I haven’t ever read the Flavia De Luce books, but I have heard a lot about the character and I would definitely say that Mary may be an older version of her. If you like the Flavia books, I really think you will enjoy this one.

The story is intriguing from the start and raises issues concerning the belief in spirits right from the start. The book explores the world of séances and we get to learn so much about the popularity at the time of spirit photographers, which is a subject I have very rarely come across in the past. The book also looks at the hysteria that surrounded illness. The way people came up with ludicrous solutions to keep the flu at bay. I don’t think I have ever heard of so many different ways to use onions!

I was completely lost in this story and read the whole book in two days. It is definitely one I want to hand out to people and insist they read. I absolutely loved this book and I was quite taken with how wonderful it truly is. Definitely a dark horse that needs to be explored further.

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Jun 14, 2017 Colleen Scidmore rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: currently-on-google-drive, books-read-in-2017, dark, currently-on-my-computer, mystery, drama, suspenseful, young-adult, historical-fiction, ghost-stories

I have to start off saying that I am not fan of Historical Fiction at all. It is so very boring to me. I really dread reading historical fiction at times. I picked this out because of course it fit my book clubs challenge.
I have to say this book has made me a fan of Cat Winters...I absolutely loved it and it was historical fiction! It gives me hopes there are other HF books out there to discover.
I definitely think the paranormal elements helped, but it also dealt a lot with WWI times and the d I have to start off saying that I am not fan of Historical Fiction at all. It is so very boring to me. I really dread reading historical fiction at times. I picked this out because of course it fit my book clubs challenge.
I have to say this book has made me a fan of Cat Winters...I absolutely loved it and it was historical fiction! It gives me hopes there are other HF books out there to discover.
I definitely think the paranormal elements helped, but it also dealt a lot with WWI times and the deadly Spanish Flu. And it was written so well I was totally engrossed.

Mary Shelley is sent to live with her Aunt Eva in San Diego after her father has been taken to jail for being anti patriotic and a German sympathizer, which he is not. She is hoping she will get to see her childhood sweetheart Stephen who had moved out that way several years prior. He had joined the Army the last time she had seen him and was hoping for his safe return. But shortly after agreeing to sit for his brother Julius' Spiritual Photograph at her Aunts request she finds out he was killed at war. But Stephens distressed spirit visits Mary Shelley and through bits and pieces she is not so sure that he was killed at war after all.

Thing That I Liked:

1) This was such a touching love story between Mary and Stephen, it was really very emotional and nearly had me in tears at their circumstance.
2) I love Mary Shelley. She is not your average 16 year old girls girl. She is unusual and seems very sure of herself and has a lot of spunk and strength in her.
3) I had an idea what happened with Stephen but was shocked to find out the extent of his death. I love it when an author can surprise me that thoroughly!
4) This was a wonderful mystery, putting together all the pieces was really interesting.
5) It was informative. I didn't realize Spiritual Photography was a real thing, and I didn't know much about the Spanish Flu before this book.

Things I Didn't Like:

1) Aunt Eva's character was very weak. She was not a very strong female character and she got on my nerves.
2) I detest Julius. He is such a worm. This is actually a positive thing for the author, she wrote such a good character to dislike.

I really liked this book so much. I don't think there were any slow parts for me. Ms. Winters did an amazing job of telling a story in the ending times of WWI that wove romance and mystery into an amazing and captivating story. I am now a big fan of Cat Winters and am ready to read more of her novels. I'm still in awe at how much I enjoyed a Historical Fiction book! ...more

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Feb 17, 2014 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, almost-read, supernatural, five-stars

My goodness - I can't believe this is a first novel! Set during the influenza epidemic of 1918, In the Shadow of Blackbirds is filled with the dread of that terrible year. With the world at war, her father in prison, and death in the form of the spanish flu lurking around every corner, Mary Shelly Black retains her stubborn character. This is a book about many things - spiritualism, nationalism, shell shock, and the horrors of war. Cat Winters does a great job of exploring all these topics witho ...more

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Jul 27, 2013 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

If ever I were going to enjoy a dark and slightly creepy ghost story, this book would be it. Well-written, with complex, vivid characters and a fascinating time and place setting. Mary Shelley was an engaging heroine, spunky, determined, and resourceful as well as smart. Stephen was charming in a sweet, gentle way. And many of the other characters were darkly fascinating in their own way. (Mary's aunt was kind of annoying, though, if a little sympathetic.)
I haven't read much before about 1918 a ...more

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May 10, 2013 Celeste rated it really liked it

3.5 stars. I really liked this story because of the World War I history and the Spanish Influenza perspective. It has spiritualism and ghosts, making it supernatural, but I think any young adult book that can sneak history in deserves kudos. It was violent though-war and torture.

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Jan 05, 2013 Jillian (Peapod Historical Bookery) rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-nooked, young-adult, spiritualism-seances, ghosts, photography, 20th-century, california, historical-fantasy, dd-influenza, phb-rttd-1910s

Beautifully dark and unique. My first Cat Winters book but it surely shall not be my last.

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