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    Shadows Cast by Stars
    Shadows Cast by Stars
    Shadows Cast by Stars
    Ebook367 pages5 hours

    Shadows Cast by Stars

    By Catherine Knutsson

    4.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Old ways are pitted against new horrors in this compellingly crafted, “atmospherically beautiful” (Kirkus Reviews) dystopian tale about a girl who is both healer and seer.

    Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet—especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the Plague ravaging the rest of the world.

    Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the Plague, but that doesn’t mean she’s safe—government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cassandra and her family, they flee to the Island: a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors—and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken her under her wing, and the tribal leader’s son into his heart, the creatures of the spirit world are angry, and they have chosen Cassandra to be their voice and instrument...

    Incorporating the traditions of the First Peoples as well as the more familiar stories of Greek mythology and Arthurian legend, Shadows Cast by Stars is a haunting, beautifully written story that breathes new life into ancient customs.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtheneum Books for Young Readers
    Release dateJun 5, 2012
    ISBN9781442401938
    Shadows Cast by Stars
    Author

    Catherine Knutsson

    Catherine Knuttson lives on Vancouver Island, on which the fictional Island of her debut novel, Shadows Cast by Stars, is based. She divides her time among teaching, singing, and writing. Like her narrator, she is a member of the Metis nation.

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    Reviews for Shadows Cast by Stars

    4.5/5

    38 ratings6 reviews

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    • 5/5
      With a similar premise to "The Marrow Thieves" this earlier-written novel is based on a future world where the Indigenous People are being hunted down by the government for their blood because it contains an antibody which fights against a deadly plague that has wiped out large portions of the world's population. Sixteen-year-old Cassandra, her twin brother Paul, and Bran (the son of the missing Band Chief) are bound together by fate and the spirit world to save their people. I was glued to this book. The writing is captivating.
    • 5/5
      Great stuff, would definitely read again. Some of the best writing of our generation. Long live the millennials.
    • 4/5
      Shadows Cast by Stars was a brilliant young adult book. Knutsson’s writing was captivating; you could tell her original story came from her heart. I believed it was going to be my favorite book until I got to the final quarter of the book. The world building and feelings were going along so great and then the story took an unexpected turn.In the beginning, Knutsson paints a setting that is mixed with Native American myths and the currently bad atmosphere of the main character Cassandra’s future world. Cassandra, her twin brother, and their father are what is known as “others”, they live in the outlying part of The Corridor. “Other” blood is a commodity and there are “searchers” constantly hunting them. So far, her family has been quietly living “the old way” with no running water and minimal Corridor influence. Then, suddenly, they are warned that the searchers are coming and the only refuge for “others” is an island filled with what is left of old Native tribes.Knutsson does a wonderful job of detailing what it is like to be an “other” in a society, as well as being persecuted for being different. I believe Shadows Cast by Stars is a story that is told from the author’s hopefulness of her own world and what it means to live as a unique human being. It was so easy to fall in love with the setting, it made me feel like I was a young teenager again and wondering what it means to be an outsider to my own ancestral roots. This character connection will always be a reminder to what it was like in my head when I was young.With that said, the story took a turn for the... boring. It went a completely different route than what I was expecting. Instead of following the journey of Cassandra’s life, the story was led literally into the spirit world. I found that part boring and a little overwhelming. So much storytelling in a story itself was just not my thing.While there were Native aspects of life and apocalyptic-type problems, the romance was okay. It just felt forced. With so many things touched upon by Knutsson in the Native world, from alcoholism, to storytelling, and shunning; I felt that the "romance" and creepy/abusive characters were issues should have been resolved by the main character, it made me a little angry.With such a beautiful story, I felt that some of the characters could have been left out, among other things... Unless she plans on making it into a series. Then, I would be all over that. Maybe the ending would be okay, and the characters I didn't like could be built upon in the future. I don’t know if this will ever happen because it seems like Knutsson wanted this story told this way.I do still love this book, even with its flawed ending, and intend to buy it to have one of the pretty covers on my shelf one day. Either one is gorgeous.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. I wish I had written it.
    • 4/5
      Shadows Cast by Stars was a brilliant young adult book. Knutsson’s writing was captivating; you could tell her original story came from her heart. I believed it was going to be my favorite book until I got to the final quarter of the book. The world building and feelings were going along so great and then the story took an unexpected turn.In the beginning, Knutsson paints a setting that is mixed with Native American myths and the currently bad atmosphere of the main character Cassandra’s future world. Cassandra, her twin brother, and their father are what is known as “others”, they live in the outlying part of The Corridor. “Other” blood is a commodity and there are “searchers” constantly hunting them. So far, her family has been quietly living “the old way” with no running water and minimal Corridor influence. Then, suddenly, they are warned that the searchers are coming and the only refuge for “others” is an island filled with what is left of old Native tribes.Knutsson does a wonderful job of detailing what it is like to be an “other” in a society, as well as being persecuted for being different. I believe Shadows Cast by Stars is a story that is told from the author’s hopefulness of her own world and what it means to live as a unique human being. It was so easy to fall in love with the setting, it made me feel like I was a young teenager again and wondering what it means to be an outsider to my own ancestral roots. This character connection will always be a reminder to what it was like in my head when I was young.With that said, the story took a turn for the... boring. It went a completely different route than what I was expecting. Instead of following the journey of Cassandra’s life, the story was led literally into the spirit world. I found that part boring and a little overwhelming. So much storytelling in a story itself was just not my thing.While there were Native aspects of life and apocalyptic-type problems, the romance was okay. It just felt forced. With so many things touched upon by Knutsson in the Native world, from alcoholism, to storytelling, and shunning; I felt that the "romance" and creepy/abusive characters were issues should have been resolved by the main character, it made me a little angry.With such a beautiful story, I felt that some of the characters could have been left out, among other things... Unless she plans on making it into a series. Then, I would be all over that. Maybe the ending would be okay, and the characters I didn't like could be built upon in the future. I don’t know if this will ever happen because it seems like Knutsson wanted this story told this way.I do still love this book, even with its flawed ending, and intend to buy it to have one of the pretty covers on my shelf one day. Either one is gorgeous.
    • 5/5
      Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: This novel crosses boundaries of science fiction and fantasy to weave together a world of racism, plagues and myths that test the heroine in ways she never imagined.Opening Sentence: We live the Old Way.The Review:The UA’s greatest concern is the Plague. With everyone crammed into Population Corridors and quarantine sections numbered off, they harvest the Others for their blood. The Island is the last resort of Cassandra’s father, who’s clung hard to their house, his wife’s grave, and the life they have in the Corridor. But as blood becomes more scarce the government begins hunting half-bloods. They have no choice but to run or die. The Others are more than the government gives them credit for. Paul, her younger brother by four minutes, prophesizes the future — though they can rarely discern the answer in time to change it, while Cassandra can see Others’ shades. They reveal to her the state of someone’s soul. Her father’s, for example, hasn’t been seen since her mother died.The Mercredi’s lived the Old Way, without the luxuries of the Corridor. Living on the Island isn’t such a big change for them. Protected by the boundary, the island is closer to the spirit world than the Corridors. Cass’s power is stronger here, different. She can feel the Island itself. Old land has a lot of secrets; ones that Cass might be finding out sooner than she expected. The mythology of the aboriginals and Arthurian legends begin to mix their way into her life as she finds friends in the community. And we all know the original myths aren’t quite as nice as the Disney versions.Things on the Island aren’t as easy as they’d hoped. For one thing, not everyone is happy to have Corridor people living among them. As the twins try to find their place in the community, they fall further apart. Cassandra towards the Island’s healer, Paul to the Band. Both of these cliques have their own dangers. Cass from the spirit world she uses to help heal, Paul from the government that’s hunting the Band. As the holes in the boundary begin to grow bigger, their jobs become harder. Not only because the boundary is tied directly to the spirit world, and thus their powers, but because the government is going after the Band more aggressively — putting Paul and Cass directly in their path.What blew me away with this novel was Knutsson’s writing. Her prose is poetic, grounding the narrative voice in emotions and scenery without saying it outright. The interpretations of the mythology and legends made for a tense and original story line that I really, really hope turns into a series. As her characters grow, both as a community and as individuals, they make hard choices that will have readers questioning what they would do in such pressing situations. Nothing on the Island is quite what it seems — spirits are real and people are false. Just when you think you’ve got the plot pegged or a character, Knutsson surprises you with a twist and changes your expectations. For someone who reads a lot of young adult and can usually guess the rest of a story, it’s a refreshing change. This story crosses the boundaries of fantasy and science fiction, creating a dystopian with an alluring back story that keeps tension high and the pages turning.Notable Scene:Finally Madda clears her throat again. “Grace, I’ve got a matter I need to discuss with you. Band business. Cassandra, would you wait for me outside?”I force myself to take slow, even steps as I cross the room and slip into the hall, but the library door doesn’t close all the way, I creep back to listen.“How do you know she’s not the one?” Madda asks.“She’s a half-breed. She said it herself.” Grace coughs. “Bran can do better. He will do better.”“She might be a half-breed, but she’s also touched by spirit. I would have thought that would be enough for you.”“I’m looking for pure blood. That’s what Bran needs to step into his inheritance–a woman whose lineage I can be sure of. Spirit has nothing to do with it. I am rebuilding what should never have been lost. I’d think you’d understand, considering your trae in myth and legend. The old myths are being reborn. You know that as well as I do.”FTC Advisory: Atheneum/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Shadows Cast By Stars. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

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    Shadows Cast by Stars - Catherine Knutsson

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