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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
What caught my attention was the premise of this book. I mean how cool (or maybe not cool but handy) would it be to be a part of a paranormal family? Clarity (aka Clare) can see memories through objects, her brother Periwinkle (aka Perry) can talk to the dead, and her mother can read minds. As with all gifts they can be fickle, but they make enough money to get by in the touristic area of Eastport. Things start to get bad when a murder happens in town. Clare is enlisted by her ex-boyfriend to help, and if that wasn't awkward enough, there is the new guy in town that just screams hotness. Before Clare can really start to help with the investigation she finds out that Perry was the last person to see the murdered girl alive. Clare now has something personally invested and will do what she can to prove Perry is innocent, and hopefully she's right.
There were some parts of the story I enjoyed. The teenage voice is captured well, and seeing how the family used their "powers" was interesting. I'm also a fan of beach settings (must come from living in place where there are no beaches), and there were some pretty funny lines. I actually should read more mystery books because I enjoyed trying to guess 'who done it?' But I gotta say this wasn't executed well, at least for my taste.
All that though could not make up for the annoying amount of love interest that Clare has. I think I counted about four? Seriously? This from a person who can't even attract or nab a friend? Supposedly she has no friends, and she makes this clear over and over again. Usually there is a reason why people don't have friends, but the author doesn't offer any. It can't be because of her paranormal gift because her brother Perry has a friend and is evidently quite the player. And I hate the agrument of people being jealous. (insert eye roll) To be fair I think only two of the guys are really in the playing field, but still. Out of everything this is what really brought down my enjoyment of the story.
I hate to rant, but it just has to be said. If Perry had been let's say the sister who "hooks" up with numerous guys we would not have seen her in the same light. I was interested enough to finish and I thought things were woven in nicely. Here's hoping that the next installment [b:Perception|9396162|Perception (Clarity, #2)|Kim Harrington|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310145085s/9396162.jpg|14279954] will knock me off my rocker.
There were some parts of the story I enjoyed. The teenage voice is captured well, and seeing how the family used their "powers" was interesting. I'm also a fan of beach settings (must come from living in place where there are no beaches), and there were some pretty funny lines. I actually should read more mystery books because I enjoyed trying to guess 'who done it?' But I gotta say this wasn't executed well, at least for my taste.
All that though could not make up for the annoying amount of love interest that Clare has. I think I counted about four? Seriously? This from a person who can't even attract or nab a friend? Supposedly she has no friends, and she makes this clear over and over again. Usually there is a reason why people don't have friends, but the author doesn't offer any. It can't be because of her paranormal gift because her brother Perry has a friend and is evidently quite the player. And I hate the agrument of people being jealous. (insert eye roll) To be fair I think only two of the guys are really in the playing field, but still. Out of everything this is what really brought down my enjoyment of the story.
I hate to rant, but it just has to be said. If Perry had been let's say the sister who "hooks" up with numerous guys we would not have seen her in the same light. I was interested enough to finish and I thought things were woven in nicely. Here's hoping that the next installment [b:Perception|9396162|Perception (Clarity, #2)|Kim Harrington|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310145085s/9396162.jpg|14279954] will knock me off my rocker.
Clarity "Clare" Fern has kind of an unusual family life. You see, she, her older brother Perry, and her mother Starla all have some form of psychic gift, and they make their living selling readings to the tourists that frequent the Cape Cod town where they live. Perry's a medium who can sense the presence of dead loved ones, Starla is a telepath who can read the thoughts of her customers, and touching recently touched objects communicates visions of the past to Clare herself. It's a nice normal summer where Clare only has to worry about keeping her remorseful cheating ex at bay and Perry has only to consider which tourist girl to bed next, until tragedy strikes and Clare and her gifts are pressed into service in an investigation of the first murder to take place in Eastport in years, a murder for which her womanizing brother has become the primary suspect.
Wow, did I have mixed feelings about this book. I'll start with the bad so we can end up on a good note. The love triangle reveals itself within the first few chapters. Meh, love triangles. Suspension of disbelief is at a premium here, too, as we're supposed to believe that the mayor's son, Clare's ex Justin (hot, sweet, and still clamoring to have her back), the newly arrived detective's son Gabriel (hot, mysterious, and cynical about Clare's gifts but also, of course, totally attracted to her), and psychic Clare are practically independently being given the reins of a behind-the-scenes murder investigation. Clare and Gabriel are poking around crime scenes and dead bodies all on their own with only a passing nod to the danger of the situation and very little consideration for the vagaries of, you know, procuring actual admissible evidence. Also, I prefer my mysteries just a tiny bit less contrived, but maybe it all boils down to Clarity being just a bit too Y for my A.
Enough complaining, though, because there are plenty of things I really liked about Clarity not the least of which is Clarity herself. Clarity is a fierce heroine with a wicked temper on her. She's loyal, protective, and not afraid to unleash an angry retort or a sharp elbow on somebody who's harassing her for her "freakdom." She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she's usually got her heart in the right place when she's making them. The mystery itself did have me absorbed, and Harrington does a great job of introducing her entire cast of characters such that any of them could be sketchy enough to be the sort that commits a murder or...they could be totally normal decent people! Even Clare's sweet, if a little foolish, lady's man of a brother doesn't escape legitimate scrutiny. Harrington had me going until the bitter end making me think it might be this person or this other person when really it was, that person (er, behold the wonder of the spoiler free review! LOL), and I really didn't see it coming until a page or two before Clare saw it coming.
All in all, Clarity had its weaknesses, including a kind of weak series-starter ending, because it's YA, of course it's part of a series, which I wish I would have remembered before I started because I am so bad at keeping up with series. That said, I was totally involved in the mystery and *mumbles* maybe the love triangle, too *grumble, grumble, cough.* It made for a very quick and absorbing read, and I might even seek out the sequel, a few years after I've forgotten every important thing I need to remember about this book because I'm good like that.
Wow, did I have mixed feelings about this book. I'll start with the bad so we can end up on a good note. The love triangle reveals itself within the first few chapters. Meh, love triangles. Suspension of disbelief is at a premium here, too, as we're supposed to believe that the mayor's son, Clare's ex Justin (hot, sweet, and still clamoring to have her back), the newly arrived detective's son Gabriel (hot, mysterious, and cynical about Clare's gifts but also, of course, totally attracted to her), and psychic Clare are practically independently being given the reins of a behind-the-scenes murder investigation. Clare and Gabriel are poking around crime scenes and dead bodies all on their own with only a passing nod to the danger of the situation and very little consideration for the vagaries of, you know, procuring actual admissible evidence. Also, I prefer my mysteries just a tiny bit less contrived, but maybe it all boils down to Clarity being just a bit too Y for my A.
Enough complaining, though, because there are plenty of things I really liked about Clarity not the least of which is Clarity herself. Clarity is a fierce heroine with a wicked temper on her. She's loyal, protective, and not afraid to unleash an angry retort or a sharp elbow on somebody who's harassing her for her "freakdom." She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she's usually got her heart in the right place when she's making them. The mystery itself did have me absorbed, and Harrington does a great job of introducing her entire cast of characters such that any of them could be sketchy enough to be the sort that commits a murder or...they could be totally normal decent people! Even Clare's sweet, if a little foolish, lady's man of a brother doesn't escape legitimate scrutiny. Harrington had me going until the bitter end making me think it might be this person or this other person when really it was, that person (er, behold the wonder of the spoiler free review! LOL), and I really didn't see it coming until a page or two before Clare saw it coming.
All in all, Clarity had its weaknesses, including a kind of weak series-starter ending, because it's YA, of course it's part of a series, which I wish I would have remembered before I started because I am so bad at keeping up with series. That said, I was totally involved in the mystery and *mumbles* maybe the love triangle, too *grumble, grumble, cough.* It made for a very quick and absorbing read, and I might even seek out the sequel, a few years after I've forgotten every important thing I need to remember about this book because I'm good like that.
fabulous my friends, simply fabulous! review to come :)
Well, at some point during the book Clare's mom asks "Where's Perry?" And I started to laugh because I was picturing Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.
And moving on...
My first reaction to Madame Maslov's last prediction for Clare was "OMG, please don't let it be Nate!" Then I moved on to Gabriel, and lastly Justin (He's the one I suspect the least.)
It ended on a minor cliffhanger. Nothing too major, but it will keep me wondering until the next book comes out. :)
And moving on...
My first reaction to Madame Maslov's last prediction for Clare was "OMG, please don't let it be Nate!" Then I moved on to Gabriel, and lastly Justin (He's the one I suspect the least.)
It ended on a minor cliffhanger. Nothing too major, but it will keep me wondering until the next book comes out. :)
I don't tend to read murder mysteries as they don't hold that much interest for me, but the two books in this series were really really cheap of book depository so I though why not.
I was pleasantly surprised, Kim Harrington is a really good writer, it's a shame that most of her books are murder based otherwise I would really get into her
I was pleasantly surprised, Kim Harrington is a really good writer, it's a shame that most of her books are murder based otherwise I would really get into her
Sixteen-year-old Clarity "Clare" Fern is used to getting weird looks from neighbors, being teased and even downright bullied by the other kids in town. It's all part and parcel with being "gifted."
Clare's a psychic, her brother Periwinkle "Perry" Fern is a medium. Their mother is a telepath. In the small town Eastport on Cape Cod the Fern's ply their trade with readings to entertain visitors. Tourists love them. Townies, not so much.
Clare is expected a typical summer in Eastport tied to the family house helping her mother with readings during the busy tourist season. Things get a bit more complicated when a girl is found murdered at the local motel.
Clare doesn't want to get involved, especially not when her ex-boyfriend asks her to. Unfortunately when her brother becomes the prime suspect, saying no isn't an option.
Working with Gabriel, the new detective's hot son, Clare delves into the secrets and fears of the dead girl's past. But the more Clare learns about the dead girl, the more evidence starts points to Perry in Clarity (2011) by Kim Harrington.
Clarity is Harrington's first novel.
This book really does have it all including humor, suspense and a surprise ending (not too mention an opening for more books about Clare--yay!). Mysteries are not the hot thing in young adult literature right now so it was exciting to find this one. Yes, conclusions were drawn prematurely but the plot still finished with a shocking twist.
Harrington strikes a good balance here between mystery conventions and character development, not too mention her beautiful descriptions of Eastport that will make readers eager to plan their own Cape Cod vacation. Clarity truly is a delectable read combining a traditional mystery plot with just a pinch of romance and a strong does of the supernatural to make a refreshing, totally unexpected story.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Clare's a psychic, her brother Periwinkle "Perry" Fern is a medium. Their mother is a telepath. In the small town Eastport on Cape Cod the Fern's ply their trade with readings to entertain visitors. Tourists love them. Townies, not so much.
Clare is expected a typical summer in Eastport tied to the family house helping her mother with readings during the busy tourist season. Things get a bit more complicated when a girl is found murdered at the local motel.
Clare doesn't want to get involved, especially not when her ex-boyfriend asks her to. Unfortunately when her brother becomes the prime suspect, saying no isn't an option.
Working with Gabriel, the new detective's hot son, Clare delves into the secrets and fears of the dead girl's past. But the more Clare learns about the dead girl, the more evidence starts points to Perry in Clarity (2011) by Kim Harrington.
Clarity is Harrington's first novel.
This book really does have it all including humor, suspense and a surprise ending (not too mention an opening for more books about Clare--yay!). Mysteries are not the hot thing in young adult literature right now so it was exciting to find this one. Yes, conclusions were drawn prematurely but the plot still finished with a shocking twist.
Harrington strikes a good balance here between mystery conventions and character development, not too mention her beautiful descriptions of Eastport that will make readers eager to plan their own Cape Cod vacation. Clarity truly is a delectable read combining a traditional mystery plot with just a pinch of romance and a strong does of the supernatural to make a refreshing, totally unexpected story.
Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
loved this book it was one of the first books i ever read on my own, and once i started reading it i couldnt make myself put it down.
3.5 stars
I was really into this story and found it very compelling, although imperfect. I found it a bit confusing though that most of the story was fairly clean and seemingly aimed toward a younger audience, but suddenly out of nowhere there were a few times it had some pretty vulgar speech.
I was really into this story and found it very compelling, although imperfect. I found it a bit confusing though that most of the story was fairly clean and seemingly aimed toward a younger audience, but suddenly out of nowhere there were a few times it had some pretty vulgar speech.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was okay! Good even. The murderer wasn't even on my top 3 list but that's just because I was being dumb fr. When they were revealed I was like wtf it was so clear! But yeah I'm not gonna continue this, I think this only have 2 books in the series. I'm not gonna read book 2 because I'm not a fan of love triangles! But yeah it was good. Finished it in half a day. Loved Nate actually. And loved the mom. Just disliked Clare sometimes. She has the tendency to lead people on but eh it is what it is.