Review: The Uninvited by Cat Winters

Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan finally stumbles out of her sick bed, one of the many victims of the great influenza epidemic of 1918. In the days she was bed-ridden, her entire world was altered.  Though the sickness removed a great deal of her physical strength, her ability to see the undead, the uninvited, remains.

Shortly after she awakens, she learns her father and brother have killed a young German man, one of the owners of a furniture shop in town. Though not directly responsible for her brother's death at the hands of war, he is the closest target for their anger and outrage. Unable to live under the same roof as these two murders, she seeks solace in town.  There, she learns of the severity of the outbreak and of the war, so many people cower in fear of falling victim to one or the other.  There, she becomes involved with one of the German shop keepers. Their relationship is forbidden, yet they are both so desperate for some semblance of hope and light that they forage on, together, despite the fate that awaits them.

Yet the uninvited continue to make their existence known. Their appearances have always been a predictor of the death of a loved one.  Unbeknownst to Ivy, they message they are attempting to relay is far more foreboding than she could have ever imagined.

You may notice that my summary of this title varies a bit from the publisher’s book copy.  This is intentional, for I felt that the publisher’s summary focused far more on Ivy’s “gift” than it should of.  Yes, at the core, this is a novel about death and loss and the spirits of the undead, but more so, it’s a story of historical fiction that centers around the war, American patriotism, and the anti-German sentiment that pervaded our country at this time.

I, like many others will, had a very different assumption of the storyline when I began to read this title. The cover, the title, and the book summary lead me to feel that this was going to focus more on Ivy’s ability than it actually did.  I feel it important to mention this now, in this review, so readers know what to expect. Honestly, I felt led on and betrayed, in a sense. I nearly put the book aside due to this, yet felt compelled to continue.  I’m glad that I did, for although the story that was revealed wasn’t what I had anticipated, it was completely engaging and rewarding.

This is not to say that there isn’t a hint of the supernatural, there is. The majority of it just happens to take place in the last portion of the book. Eventually, I was handsomely rewarded for my patience.

The bottom line: if you are preparing to read this book hoping for a story of the dark and supernatural, be patient. It will come. Rather, my recommendation would be to embrace this novel with an open mind. Become immersed in the story as it is presented to you.  Though I didn’t feel this title was marketed as it should have been, it is a completely compelling piece of historical fiction, focusing on the political unrest of WWI and the ever-changing political climate of our nation….with a touch of the supernatural. Highly, highly recommended.

Thank you to TLC for providing me the opportunity to participate in this tour. Please be sure to check out the other stops along the way!

Thanks to the publisher, I have three extra copies of this title to give away.  To enter, please fill out the form below. The 3 winners will be contacted on Friday, August 21st. Open to US residents only.