Mini Reviews: Spellbinding & The Dead and Buried

Spellbinding

by Maya Gold

Release Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 272
Received: ARC from publisher
Stars: 3
Goodreads Page

I'm pretty neutral on this book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. The main character didn't make much of an impression one way or the other and the romantic lead was inoffensively bland. The plot was fairly predictable and there wasn't a whole lot to it.

But, I liked it. I wanted to find time to read it and I ended up pushing aside other things in order to spend time reading. The main character didn't make much of an impression on me, but the writing style was languidly engaging and a lot more mature than I would have expected with that cover. I was expecting light and fluffy, which was pretty off base. 

The whole thing felt almost like an adult narrating. Not in the cringe-inducing adult-author-trying-and-failing-to-sound-hip way. But more like an adult looking back on her teenage years and telling her story. It had that vibe, and I tend to like that approach. Going along with that, the story focused more on Abby discovering what kind of person she wants to be than on the blurb's love spells and action.

Recommended if you're looking for a pleasant way to kill an afternoon or two.

The Dead and Buried

by Kim Harrington

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 295
Received: ARC from publisher
Stars: 3.5
Goodreads Page

I'm always up for a good ghost story, and The Dead and Buried hit the mark of being sufficiently chilling without being *too* scary for a wimp like me.

It probably could have even been a little scarier. The scariness lost some steam as the book progressed. Actually, it lost a lot of steam overall.

Mostly that's because I figured out whodunnit way too early and then spent about half the book somewhat impatiently waiting for main character Jade to catch up. This is always a big let down.

That's ok though, because even though I figured out the big mystery, there was still a lot to like and hold my interest. Jade herself is just straight up likable. I enjoyed spending time with her. She's not a push over and she doesn't lose her perspective (or dignity) the second a cute guy shows interest. She pretty much made the book for me.

She also had her own hobbies and interests that she engaged in with little care to what other people thought about them (and what I thought about them was that they were super cool! I love gemstones).

All in all, a nice standalone mystery that I liked more than Kim Harrington's first book Clarity (mostly because I liked Jade a whole lot and I didn't like Clarity that much. The romance was better than Clarity's romance, too. The mystery was about the same though, which is a solid good for both books).

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Clarity by Kim Harrington (Review Comparison)

Review Comparison: Clarity

Review Comparison is a feature I do where I pull out the pros and cons of the featured book mentioned in my review and other bloggers' reviews.

Click for my original review: 

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The following bloggers kindly allowed me to include their reviews in this feature: 

The Bookish Type: 5 out of 5
Bewitched Bookworms: 5 out of 5
Ivy Reads: 5 out of 5
Irresistible Reads: 4.5 out of 5
The Book Scout: 4.5 out of 5
Poetry to Prose: 4 out of 5
Dreaming of Books: 4 out of 5
Stalking the Bookshelves: 4 out of 5
Cheezyfeet Books: 4 out of 5
Annette's Book Spot: 3.5 out of 5
Bookworm1858 3.5 out of 5
Everything To Do With Books
Lisa the Nerd

Please click on the links to read their full reviews!

~Conclusions~ 

Reviewers were almost unanimous in saying that they did not guess the murderer ahead of time. Clarity and her brother Perry were also liked by almost all reviewers. Also noted was the fast pace. The biggest point of disagreement was over the romance, with some reviewers liking the love triangle and others disliking it.

 
 

~Story~

Mystery:

• "I had several theories and I was kind of right but I didn't quite piece everything together" (Bookworm1858)
• "I felt there were enough clues that kept me entertained and I could figure out half of what had happened but I was surprised at the other half of it" (Everything To Do With Books)
• Captivating, "Readers will be able to enjoy the tension and the thrill of the chase, while still being caught up in the lively and playful tone of the narrator." (The Bookish Type)
• "...many twists and turns, and I really didn't figure out who the perpetrator was until it was revealed." (Annette's Book Spot)
• "I was unable to guess who the killer was...there was a twist or two that I didn't expect." (Irresistible Reads)
• "...very well crafted and features quite a few twists...I admit to believing I had unraveled the mystery rather early on, only to realize I didn't at all" (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "The murderer was very unexpected and I wouldn't have suspected him/her at all...talk about the twists and turns...!" (Ivy Reads)
• "[The plot was] predictable, until there was a twist, but then it went right back to being predictable again." (Cheezyfeet Books)
• "It keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to solve the mystery!" (Ivy Reads)
• "The story line was captivating and kept me on edge the whole time...I had theories over theories and in the end I was just wrong...two thumbs up for surprising me here!" (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "...full of suspense with lots of speculation over who the killer is." (Dreaming of Books)
• "A fantastic and unique new mystery...kept me guessing to the end" (The Book Scout)
• "[Kim Harrington] threw a curve ball when I least expected it...my hands were often gripping the pages, my heart pounding" (The Book Scout)
• "Gripping...refused to allow me any shuteye until the last page of the book was turned" (Poetry to Prose)
• “I was constantly on my toes and look at everyone with suspicion...the final reveal surprised me” (Small Review)
• "My only tiny little complaint...is the thriller part could have been a little scarier. I was surprised but it didn't get my pulse pounding." (Irresistible Reads)
• "I never really felt invested in the story beyond surface-level curiosity" (Small Review)

Pacing/Readability:

• Bursts of intensity now and again to keep things exciting" (Lisa the Nerd)
• "I started it in a day and sat down and read it all day until I finished it" (Everything To Do With Books)
• "...suspense will keep [you] on the edge of [your] seat" (The Bookish Type)
• "It keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to solve the mystery!" (Ivy Reads)
• "Easy, quick read" (Annette's Book Spot)
• "Short, quick read" (Cheezyfeet Books)
• Fast read (Bewitched Bookworms)
• Fast paced (The Book Scout)
• "Pacing is steady and to the point" (Small Review)
• "The novel has a beautiful rhythm to it" (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "Hypnotic and intriguing...could not get enough of...effortless style...entertaining and absorbing" (Irresistible Reads)

Paranormal elements:

• "The whole psychic angle was very very well played out...seemed realistic" (Everything To Do With Books)
• "The unique take on psychic ability lends nicely to the murder mystery element" (The Bookish Type)
• "The paranormal parts were nice, blending seamlessly into the overall plot without overwhelming it" (Small Review)
• "I loved the idea of a family of psychics running a business in Cape Cod" (The Book Scout)
• "I liked how there were rules that restricted what they could do [with their paranormal abilities]" (Small Review)
• "I didn't really ever feel like the psychic abilities were all that sinister, or even that they added that much to the story" (Annette's Book Spot)

~Characters~

Clarity:

• "...totally reminiscent of Veronica Mars...I fell into step with Clarity immediately. Her voice was intelligent, sweet, smart, and sincere." (Lisa the Nerd)
• "[Reminded me of] Veronica Mars...they have a similar fire and determination...fierce loyalty to their family" (Poetry to Prose)
• "I liked Clarity...she stands her ground when it comes to her beliefs and ideals...incredibly relatable and really well developed" (Everything To Do With Books)
• "Love[d] Clare from page one" (The Bookish Type)
• "It is refreshing to see a teenage heroine who isn't afraid to fight back against the bullies, rather than crying in a bathroom stall" (The Bookish Type)
• Strong, extremely loyal (Cheezyfeet Books)
• Strong, smart, and sassy..."You can't help but like her. She's also very easy to relate to..." (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "I really enjoy Clare...she isn't afraid to be herself" (Ivy Reads)
• Awesome, fiesty, determined, and instantly likeable. She "sticks up for herself" (Irresistible Reads)
• "Brave, funny and a real strong person...she wasn't insecure and [was] truly determined." (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "Easy narrative voice that I instantly fell into" (Small Review)
• "I love Clarity's voice." (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "Clare's voice blows through like a breath of fresh air, full of snark and vivacity...utterly loveable heroine, with complex layers" (The Bookish Type)
• "Snarky, honest, and speaks her mind" (Dreaming of Books)
• "...snarky, fun teenager and a great narrator...had me chuckling out loud and rooting for her success throughout" (The Book Scout)
• "Sometimes I got the impression that Clarity's leper status might be her fault" (Small Review)

Family:

• "They have great family dynamic" (Dreaming of Books)
• "I love the...family dynamic" (Poetry to Prose)
• "I enjoyed getting to know this fun family and to see how much they loved each other" (The Book Scout)
• "The [family relationship is] tight and honest one...nice, fun banter...which shows off just how much they deeply care for one another" (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "Clare's mother actually has a presence and communicates with her children"(Poetry to Prose)
• "Clare's mom is a splash of humor and genuine love that helped balance this read" (Lisa the Nerd)
• "Perry...is a character I enjoyed" (Poetry to Prose)
• "I fell in love with [Perry]!" (Bewitched Bookworms)
• Perry "was a fun character and I couldn't help but like him" (Small Review)
• "I loved this sister and brother relation, it was sweet, strong and genuine." (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "...endearing brother/sister relationship...dysfunctional parent relationship with their flaky mother" (The Bookish Type)
• "I like that Clarity's mom was a part of the story, but she seemed kind of wimpy and "fragile" to me," which I didn't like (Small Review)

~Romance~

• "I was not really a fan of the romance" (Bookworm1858)
• "I didn't like [the love triangle], mostly because I didn't like either of the guys" (Small Review)
• "Kim Harrington manages to make the reader invest in each romance" (The Bookish Type)
• "I don't need triangles and actually prefer not to have them [but] I don't care so much here." (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "I prefer Justin, he is so sweet...I couldn't help but get annoyed with Clare for being so mean and unforgiving" (Cheezyfeet Books)
• "You'll have a hard time figuring out everyone's agenda, as well as who to root for in the Justin/Clare/Gabriel department" (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "There is a love triangle and it actually worked...I couldn't pick between the two guys either" (Irresistible Reads)
• "I like both guys so really wasn't able to pick one over the other" (Dreaming of Books)
• "It's hard to tell which boy I'm supposed to be rooting for [likes both]" (Poetry to Prose)

~Ending~

Cliffhanger?

• "...Every plot thread is neatly tied up, leaving no loose ends or giant holes in the story" (Stalking the Bookshelves)
• "Wraps things well enough that it's able to stand on its own" (Poetry to Prose)
• "...there are many places where more could be elaborated..." (Bookworm1858)
• "I'm hoping a few things will be resolved in the sequel" (The Book Scout)
• "Clarity ends nicely as a standalone...at first glance" there are still a lot of loose ends (Small Review)

Sequel:

• "I'll definitely be checking out the future books in this series" (Lisa the Nerd)
• "There was an opening left for more stories about Clarity, and I'd be all over that" (Annette's Book Spot)
• "I will definitely read more from Kim Harrington!" (Bewitched Bookworms)
• "I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Clarity in the sequel" (The Book Scout)
• "...Looking forward to the sequel" (Poetry to Prose)
• "...if this does become a series, I hope to see more depth added" (Bookworm1858)
• "I don't feel a burning desire to get to the next book RIGHT NOW, but I will read the sequel eventually" (Small Review)

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Clarity by Kim Harrington (Book Review)

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 242
Received: Library
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Page

Summary

From Goodreads:

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Review

Hoorah! I'm dense again!

I'm usually very slow on the uptake, but lately it seems like I've seen every plot point coming from page one. Not so with Clarity! Kim Harrington threw so many possible suspects at me, and each and every one of them was believable. I was constantly on my toes and looked at everyone with suspicion. The final reveal surprised me but was still totally believable.

The paranormal parts were nice, blending seamlessly into the overall plot without overwhelming it. I liked seeing the ways Clarity and her family used their abilities, but I also liked how there were rules that restricted what they could do. Their abilities could have threatened to make the story overly simplistic (just ask the dead person who killed them! Ta da!) but the limitations Kim Harrington created kept the story from becoming too easy.

I did like the mystery and it did keep me on my toes, but I never really felt invested in the story beyond surface-level curosity. I never had that feeling of "OMG I HAVE TO KEEP READING!!!" The mystery was interesting, but it wasn't packed with action. Still, the book is very short and the pacing is steady and to the point. Almost every scene ties back to the mystery in some way, so there aren't any wasted scenes you need to slog through to get back to the main point.

I'm not sure if I like you, Clare

Clarity has an easy narrative voice that I instantly fell into. She's straight forward and didn't bore me with a bunch of internal wallowing. Which is a big feat considering how much her life sucks. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her with her nemesis, she has a nemesis in the form of a popular mean girl, and she has no friends. None! Luckily Clare just rolls with the punches, throws a few of her own, and focuses on solving the murder mystery.

Except...eh, sometimes I got the impression that Clarity's leper status might be her fault. Maybe she's too prickly. I wonder if people would be so cruel to her if she approached them with honey instead of vinegar. Afterall, her brother is just as much a psychic as she is, and he has friends and girls lining up to be with him. There is a tiny hint dropped about this, so I suspect this question will be expanded on further in the sequel. I think it's a seed planted, not sloppy writing.

It's a family thing

Family plays a big part in Clarity. The family business was a fun feature that, while it didn't play a huge role in the actual story, it set a stage that I loved. How cool would that job be? Though the whole mom having mind-reading powers thing could suck in real life (Could you imagine how much of a drag it would be if your mom you read your mind?). I like that Clarity's mom was a part of the story, but she seemed kind of wimpy and fragile to me. I don't like it when the kids seem to parent the parents, and that was sort of the case here.

Clarity's brother was a fun character and I couldn't help but like him...even though objectively I should be kind of disgusted by him. He's a womanizer and a suspect for murder, but I liked him. Kudos to Kim Harrington for creating a character I loved even though I would normally hate him. I hope he plays a larger role in the sequel.

I don't love you

There's a love triange here that does take up a large part of the plot. It doesn't overwhelm the mystery, but it is a constant presence. I didn't like it, mostly because I didn't like either of the guys. Clarity is such a strong character and neither of these guys seemed worth her time. She can do better.

I also found the love triangle frustrating because it doesn't have any clear winner. Now I know this is the first book in a series and it was refreshing to have a female MC who wasn't tripping all over herself for a guy, but it was dissatisfying to leave the love triangle completely up in the air at the end. Clarity doesn't make any choices in this book and there isn't anyone in the lead. Who she's interested in is as much of a mystery as the murderer (but at least we get a resolution on the murderer).

Where do we go from here?

Clarity ends nicely as a standalone...at first glance. The murder mystery is wrapped up, but that's about it. Clues were dropped about Clarity's father and those clues make it sound like something big is coming with all sorts of secrets and history. Or maybe I'm reading too much into things. There was also that little clue about why Clarity doesn't have any friends that still needs closure. And of course the love triangle needs to be settled.

I don't feel a burning desire to get the next book RIGHT NOW, but I will read the sequel eventually. I like Kim Harrington's writing and the story overall was nice and to the point. Plus, I just like the idea of psychic investigators.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

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