Shadows Cast by Stars (review)

Magical realism meets dystopia in this intriguing debut novel set in a future Canada decimated by a seemingly unstoppable plague. Cass and her twin Paul are Métis, descended from aboriginal Canadians and early European settlers, and both have the rare ability to perceive the spirit world. With aboriginal blood in demand for its resistance to the plague, Cass and Paul flee the technologically advanced mainland for the Island, a sovereign territory protected by a treaty between the North American government and the remaining coalitions of First Nations peoples on the continent. It's also home base for a guerrilla resistance movement to which Paul quickly signs on, while Cass struggles with the restrictions of her new community (which has its own forms of tyranny and exclusion), finds a place as the apprentice to a medicine woman who helps her gain control over her spiritual powers, and forges a romance with the son of the Island's missing leader. For a book about the end of the world, this takes a surprisingly quiet approach, focusing its evocative prose and dreamlike atmosphere on Cass' internal journey and her evolving understanding of the spirit world. Unfortunately, this leaves the world-building, character development, and macro-plot all underdeveloped, adding up to a story that is frustratingly vague and meandering, with conflicts and characters whose importance is asserted but never felt. Cass is nevertheless a unique addition to the dystopian heroine roster, while the futuristic extrapolation of First Nations exploitation and resistance makes for a compelling sociopolitical backdrop; the blend of mysticism with technological advancement will have appeal for both fantasy and sci-fi fans.