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Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated In The Shadow of Blackbirds in Books

Jan 23, 2020  
IT
In The Shadow of Blackbirds
Cat Winters | 2013 | Paranormal
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I had this random tendency to not write a review, at all, for Cat Winters' <i>In the Shadow of Blackbirds</i>, to which the copy at the library had an extremely sucky synopsis (though the design IS pretty):

In a city filled with the dead and dying,
while a nightmarish war rages halfway across the world,
the grieving look for answers in photographs and séances.

It's 1918. San Diego.
And a girl who doesn't believe in spirits
steps off the train and into a new life...

Apparently the one sentence synopsis provided by the publisher (yes, I read those) is a lot more helpful than this inside jacket cover synopsis, which gives a the book a mysterious aura that separates it from the other 2015-2016 Gateway Award Nominees.

The book, albeit a fantastically creepy concept, apparently goes from one end of the spectrum to the other end of the spectrum by the end of the book.

The so-called beginning of the spectrum I'm speaking of is the absolute, complete paranoia of the time period. Literally all of the characters depicted throughout the book was highly addicted to onions, spirit photography, or shunning the Germans. Of course, the more historical fiction and actual historical texts I read of World War I, I sometimes find it highly hilarious mainly due to the simple fact that Americans actually came from Europe and the majority of them have German blood (okay, a lot of ya'll have European blood). Funny how that actually works.

The only characters that I actually liked was Mary Shelley Black (thankfully the main character) and Stephen Embers (or rather, Live Stephen and not Dead Stephen, who actually spent a good few times squishing Mary Shelley). Both Mary Shelley and Stephen were more "adventurous" (logic and science) and tended to stray from the rest of the pack. On the unfortunate side... dear old Stephen Embers is apparently dead, which eventually results in the book being one of your typical ghost stories/shows where the dead have unfinished business.

However, in Stephen's case, all Mary Shelley seems to get from him is something about blackbirds - blackbirds attacking him.

The other end of the spectrum, as the book continues and Mary Shelley gets closer to finding out Stephen's "unfinished" business, is apparently the book going from the main character being the most logical and unparanoid one to being one of the paranoid ones. She goes from being one of the logical ones who reasons and questions everything to someone who "freaked" out over a cough or "drowning" herself in onions. Onions are apparently the garlic of the book while the vampire is the influenza.

Simply put, <i>In the Shadow of Blackbirds</i> started to become a little bit too "insane" for my taste and for me to handle at certain points until the very end. Cat Winters' debut novel was a chilling read that left me walking away feeling mainly satisfied with how Stephen and Mary Shelley eventually come to terms with their relationship.

<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-in-the-shadow-of-blackbirds-by-cat-winters/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
  
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Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Shadow Reigns (Witch-Hunter, #2) in Books

May 22, 2019  
The Shadow Reigns (Witch-Hunter, #2)
The Shadow Reigns (Witch-Hunter, #2)
K.S. Marsden | 2013
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second part of the Witch-Hunter series.

The world has been thrown into darkness by the Shadow Witch&#039;s revolution. The witch-hunters are scattered, but still strong. The race is now on to gather allies and win the war.
New enemies will arise; loyalties will be pushed to the limit. And an important question will be answered: can a witch-hunter that practices magic ever be trusted, or will he be persecuted?
It is said that &#039;love conquers all&#039;, but this twisted love must stay secret, locked away with the past.

The Shadow Reigns is the sequel to book 1 The Shadow Rises in K.S. Marsden’s the witch hunter trilogy.
In the second instalment of the Witch-Hunter trilogy we find the world dealing with the catastrophic aftermath of the witches’ revolution. The remaining witch-hunters and the army form an alliance to plot the downfall of the powerful Shadow Witch and her followers.
I really like what the author has done with the plot twists in this one.
Hunter is embracing his newly realized anti-magic abilities. Hunter and his companions are searching for MMC survivors.
I found this one witty but also gritty.
The characters are so engaging and can just picture them in my mind.
The story and plot so well done and kept me on the edge of my seat!
Loved also the descriptive imagery of the landscape and also the magic.
Such a wonderful book.
Highly recommend reading!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.