Novel Review: In the Shadow of Blackbirds

In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

 Goodreads Summary: 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.

Yet another Battle of the Books novels reaches a high rating! This interesting historical fiction novel featuring the main character, Mary Shelley Black (although absolutely not related to the Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein), a young girl interested in studying science and in love with a young solider during World War I. 

While the name of the main character is deceiving, she was simply named after her mother's favorite author, Mary Shelley. And although the novel has nothing to do with retelling the story of Frankenstein, there are some ironies placed throughout the novel to include supernatural events such as ghosts and the fact that Mary Shelley Black is fascinated with science and electricity (similar to Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's novel). 

The novel follows this young girl while she watches those she loves either sent off to war or dying of the Spanish flu. The boy she had sent love letters to and hoped to have a happily ever after does in fact return from war, but only as a ghost. And thus,  in this riveting tale, young Mary Shelley Black on her supernatural journey to have her young lover reach some peace. Along the way she is faced with death, mystery, and crime that most sixteen year old girls would faint at the thought of - well, at least in 1918. 

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