Recently Read: In the Shadow of Blackbirds

Author: Cat Winters
Genre: Young Adult/ Paranormal Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 2013
Page Count: 387
Rating: 5/5

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Also by Cat Winters:
The Cure for Dreaming 

Mary Shelley Black is named after, you guessed it, the author of Frankenstein. She is living in America during the Spanish Flu of 1918 and WWI; the country is paranoid about spies and germs and no one rests easy. After her father is arrested for voicing his political opinion Mary Shelly is sent to live with her young widowed aunt where she is reunited with her childhood crush Steven and his older brother who is a spirit photographer claiming to capture spirits of the dead in the photographs of loved ones. Mary Shelley doesn't believe in spirit photography, she prefers science, but events begin to change her mind.

First of all, I love Cat Winters' novels. She is so great at paranormal historical fiction, and this novel along with The Cure for Dreaming weaves in old photographs into the story that really add to the creepy atmosphere of the novel. The second thing I love about Cat Winters is the way she writes young female characters that defy their time-period and seek independence. Mary Shelley is a young woman interested in science, something quite uncommon and frowned upon by 1918 standards. She is outspoken and never shy about voicing her opinion. 

This book was actually much darker and more emotional than I expected it to be. The added element of WWI and Mary Shelley's childhood crush going off to war added a depth of emotion to the creepy elements of the story. I think I would go as far as to say that I liked this one more than The Cure for Dreaming which is saying a lot. I loved the science elements and how they mixed with the spiritual elements of the novel. I loved the part where Mary Shelley goes to the library and reads poems and first hand accounts of the war (naturally) and I loved the photographs chosen for this novel.    

This is a perfect Halloween read for those who like historical fiction or paranormal. Winters builds the terrified and death-filled atmosphere of 1918 America perfectly, and the mystery element of the plot is quite intense and hard to put down. 

October Reads: What I Recommend

I love that October allows for themed reading! So, if you are making your own October themed TBR this month, I've got a few suggestions for you, and you can see what I plan to read this month here.

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Review 

Cat Winters is the Queen of October reads. She writes historical fiction with paranormal and supernatural elements, and her novels have black and white photos and advertisements from the time period she is writing about inside. The hardcover of this book is stunning, especially without the dust jacket on. This one takes place during the suffragette movement, and has to do with hypnotism. 

  

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson 

Review

This book is both creepy and hilarious. It is the first book in the Shades of London series, and is a really great October read. It's about an American girl who goes to a British boarding school, and receives the ability to see ghosts. She stumbles upon a division of the British police who deal with ghosts that commit crime, like the Jack the Ripper knock-off they face in this novel. I've read all three books in the series that are out so far, and this is my favorite one by a long shot. This series is a lot of fun, but still creepy. 

The Diviners by Libba Bray 

Review

This massive novel is creepy, set in the 1920's, and about a group of teens with supernatural powers. I really need to reread this one, as the sequel just came out and I need to reread this one before diving in, and I'm looking forward to revisiting it. I love the 1920's New York setting, and the villain in this one sent chills up my spine.

The Grave Yard Book by Neil Gaiman 

Review

This is a fun October read with great illustrations. It is a retelling of The Jungle Book but set in a graveyard. It has a cast of ghosts and paranormal creatures, and a very creepy villain. 

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Review 

This one is a more serious read, but it is extremely beautiful. The story is accompanied by black and white illustrations that are breathtaking. It is a story about monsters and grief, and how your own feelings can be even scarier than any monster you ever have to face. 

White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick

Review

Sedgwick is one of my all-time favorite authors, and all of his works would work for October reads, but this one in particular. It explores the age-old question: is there life after death? This has a mix of magical realism, stories in different timelines that cross over, and mythology and legend. 

Gris Grimly's Frankenstein 

Review 

I love Grimly's art and his taste for the creepy. This graphic novel adaptation of Frankenstein is beyond gorgeous. It is a mix of Shelley's original text and abridged text, but the emotions of the story and creepy, dim tone are captured perfectly. 

Gris Grimly's Poe Stories 

Grimly and Poe are a match made in heaven! The stories in this volume are some of Poe's lesser known stories which was great because some of them were new to me. One story in here had me quite creeped out! 

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Review

I enjoyed this classic way more than I was expecting to! I listened to it on audiobook while driving back-and-forth from my apartment at school to my parents house, and when I was driving at night, I got quite spooked a few times. This novel is the most popular vampire novel, but it is about so much more than vampires, there are a lot of themes going on here related to when the novel was written, and the history of the novel, and its themes are quite interesting. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Review

I just read this short story for school and quite enjoyed it. It is an American spooky classic, and surprisingly humorous. After you read it, be sure to watch the Disney short animated version of this story as it's fantastic (Bing Crosby narrates and does the music.)

Anything you want to add to my list?  

October Reads: What I Want to Read

October is the best month for themed reading, so I thought I would make a list of the Octoberish books that I'm hoping to read this year. I probably won't get to them all because of school, but here's the books I'm going to be picking from this month.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

This is Winters debut novel. I loved The Cure for Dreaming and Winters has made her way onto my auto-read list. I love the way she does paranormal historical fiction, and how she adds old photographs and advertisements into her works. This is the first one I will be picking up this month.
The Uninvited by Cat Winters

This is Winters newest novel and  I just ordered it the other day, as stated above Winters is perfect for the month of October. This one takes place during the Spanish Flu. I also think that this is Winters first adult novel, so I'm interested to see how it compares to her YA novels. 

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

I've owned this one for awhile, and I think it will be a good quick fall read. It's about a teenage girl who is a ghost I do believe. 

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvator

This one shouldn't be a surprise, it has been on every single TBR I have made for the past two years, but I am determined to get to it this year.

What's on your October TBR?
On Wednesday I'll be sharing my recommendations for October reads!