Review- In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In the Shadow of Blackbirds

Cat Winters

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Amulet Books

ISBN-10: 141970530XSource:

ARC from the publisher

Rating: Obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

From Goodreads.

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. During 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-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.

Ok so for those that know me and know me well; they know that I’m very picky about historical fiction. I don’t read most of it because it honestly bores me to tears. But there are a few gems out there that I am a big cheerleader for. Now take a historical novel and throw some paranormal into it and I am instantly more attracted to that book! As it was with In the Shadow of Blackbirds! This book was simply beautifully written and it was amzazeballs! Hear that peeps?!?! IT WAS AMAZEBALLS!!!!! I loved it so much I begged to be on the blog tour so come back here on March 28^th for a post about Stephen!

I loved the haunting tale of Mary Shelley Black and her first love Stephen. Yep I fell... hard for a ghost. It was impossible not to. Also I love that Cat set this book in San Diego because it’s one of my favorite places in California and I know it so well that when she spoke of areas I felt like I was there. I could imagine myself in the VA hospital at Balboa Park and on Coronado Island. I loved Mary’s strength during such an honestly awful time. I mean if loved ones weren’t dying in the war; they had a huge possibility of dying of Spanish Influenza and from what I’ve read it’s a not a good way to go. But she was determined not to let either beat her and she was stubborn in her efforts to give Stephen the peace he so needed. The twists and turns in this story were so good and even though I kind of figured them out I didn’t care because I was so wrapped up in this!

If you love a good historical paranormal you will eat this up! I only have one complaint about this. It’s a standalone and I want more of this world she left it open enough to continue Mary’s story. Pleas Cat write another J J

I’ve chosen a passage between Mary and Stephen from the past because I loved it and it was when I first fell for Stephen.

I slid my fingers up the frame until I touched his hand. “Please stay safe. It’s not everyone who has the patience to photograph a butterfly.”

He gave me a smile that seemed bith grateful and sad.

I swallowed, and he continued to search my eyes with his own, as if her were trying to say something he couldn’t articulate with words. The space between us shrank. Our breathing accelerated until it became the only sound in the house. My heart pounded like I was about to leap off a cliff a hundred feet high.

Before I could say anything awkward to break the spell, he pulled my face toward his and kissed me. I lost my balance at first, but then I closed my eyes and held his smooth neck and enjoyed the warmth and hunger of his mouth. His hand moved to the small of my back and brought me closer. Our stomachs touched. Our chests pinned the photograph between us. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight against him, as though he were kissing me goodbye.