The Unnaturalists (The Unnaturalists #1) by Tiffany Trent (review)

Hardcover, 305 pages
Published August 14th 2012 by Simon & Schuster BFYR
Source: Library

Synopsis:
In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

Review:

I was really sick after I finished this book, like confined to the bed for five days sick, and for some odd reason, in the delirium brought on by multiple Tylenol 3s, I could not stop thinking about this book. Deconstructing it in my  head, analyzing the plot twists and the narrative elements. It almost drove me crazy.

So it was inevitable that I would write a review of this. The cover and the promise of steampunk pretty much guaranteed that I would give this one a try. The novel however was a disappointment. It had the potential but never fully met it. The setting of the novel is interesting. A contemporary London is torn up from its usual haunting grounds in merry olde England and finds itself, rather like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, in an alternate universe. And just like they did in America and elsewhere, they start killing the natives. Only they don’t just kill the natives, they preserve them in museums for the entertainment of all the elites who can afford to go and be entertained.  There are firm hierarchies present and social division plays a big role in this society. There are also a gypsy like people who live in abandoned train tracks and who undergo Culling which is a nice and magical term for genocide.

There is a fourteen year old boy, Syrus, who has some magical abilities and there is a fascinating creature, some kind of mythical beast, who holds the fate of their world in her. The synopsis is misleading in that it implies that Syrus and Vespa are the two main characters. And while this is true to a certain degree, it is certainly not the whole truth. There is a very useless, yet strangely intriguing (to Vespa, not me), love interest present. Vespa is one of those protagonists who make you question where she has ever read a book. She is supposedly a witch. Supposedly. The most fascinating and memorable character in this novel is Syrus. The love interest whose name I can’t remember is, if you recall, useless. He does not do anything even though he is full of hot air about doing everything. Even in situations of extreme urgency, he is waiting for Syrus to make an appearance before taking any action. And Vespa, like any good stupid heroine, waits to be rescued by others.

There are so many similarities to Twilight in this one. Apart from the Sparkly. Oh and Edward does not actually marry another girl. The ending is kind of ridiculous with no logic, no backstory, no world building to substantiate the surface claims. The romance is even more lackluster. The main character is not a favourite, she doesn’t even make the top thousand. And I didn’t enjoy this book. At all. I will not be reading the second one.

 

Grave Memory – Kalayna Price (review)

Mass Market Paperback, 1st Edition, 373 pages
Published July 3rd 2012 by Roc
Source: Library

Synopsis:
As a Grave Witch, Alex solves murders by raising the dead—an ability that comes at a cost, and after her last few cases, that cost is compounding. But her magic isn’t the only thing causing havoc in her life. While she’s always been on friendly terms with Death himself, things have recently become a whole lot more close and personal. Then there’s her sometime partner, agent Falin Andrews, who is under the glamour of the Winter Queen. To top everything off, her best friend has been forever changed by her time spent captive in Faerie.

But the personal takes a backseat to the professional when a mysterious suicide occurs in Nekros City and Alex is hired to investigate. The shade she raises has no memory of the days leading up to his brutal ending, so despite the very public apparent suicide, this is murder. But what kind of magic can overcome the human will to survive? And why does the shade lack the memory of his death? Searching for the answer might mean Alex won’t have a life to remember at all…

Review:

I was anticipating the third installment in the Alex Craft series because I had really really enjoyed the first two and I suppose I did enjoy this one to a certain degree but I also felt let down to a certain degree. I disliked how all the action was distilled down to the last two percent of the novel and I read on fearing that I’d be left at a horrible cliff hanger with no way to bring myself down. The novel was peppered with varying degrees of action but it in no way reflected the roller coaster razziness (yes, I made up that word) of the first two novels. For one thing, there was too much in the way of the love triangle. Who is she in love with? Is she in love with both? Does it really make a difference? Do I care? Is she going to be with any of them for any length of time? For a satisfying length of time?

Can we just focus on the world and the case? I guess. I think the relationship that fascinates me most if the one between Alex and her father. It is chockfull of unspoken things and I have a feeling that when we do get into it, it’ll surprise the hell out of us. As for the major case/crime of the novel, it was interesting in that it proved the existence of yet another dimension that Alex can tap into.

Alex’s friends are rather…interesting but I like their relationship because there’s a certain give and take that I can relate to. There was way too much romance in this one to suit me so I hope the next one focuses on one guy. I can only handle them one at a time because they are both hot that I cannot choose. Also that mortal woman is so badass. I hope she is added to Alex’s coterie.

The Wizard of Dark Street – Shawn Thomas Odyssey (review)

Hardcover, 348 pages
Published July 26th 2011 by Egmont USA
Source: Library

Synopsis:
Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle—the Wizard of Dark Street—that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.

Review:

Shawn Thomas Odyssey’s middle grade debut novel is creative, colourful and imaginative. He dreams up a protagonist called Oona Crate who is something called a natural magician, believed to have a small amount of fairy blood in her makeup which makes her able to do magic naturally rather than by learning to manipulate elements etc. However, several horrible things happen which lead to Oona renouncing magic and this in turn leads to the Magician of Dark Street (who is incidentally also Oona’s uncle) to look for a new apprentice.

The novel is fairly easy to read and has that zany makeup that appeals to me and should appeal to most middle grade readers. Most of the themes in this novel, especially the guilt that Oona is carrying around and what she did for that guilt to be there is pretty heavy stuff and I can’t say I bought the resolution at the end because let’s face, Oona’s magic ways directly led to her mother and sister’s deaths so…you get what I’m saying? That’s life changing stuff right there.

The plot is straight forward as are the conflicts. There are bad guys who are simply bad – no grey area here. This is a remarkably entertaining book without diverting into anything more substantial. At least that’s how it felt to me. The world building is fun and thought out and as I said previously, this book is very creative. I recommend it to anyone who wants to pass away an enjoyable hour or two.

A Perfect Blood – Kim Harrison

Hardcover, 438 pages
Published February 21st 2012 by Harper Voyager
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth–a would-be creator is determined to make his (or her) own demons. But it can’t be done without Rachel’s blood, in this latest blockbuster by a “New York Times”-bestselling author.

Review:

Another rollercoaster ride but one that I did not love as much as the one before it. That one was kinda awesome so I am not surprised that A Perfect Blood shone a bit dimmer in the face of its brilliance. Also it might be because I read both within a space of twelve hours and my mind was reaching oversaturated levels in Brimstone (jnsiders will get this). Anyway, at the end of the last book, Rachel’s demon-ness was established and her absolute lack of rights in the human world was also alluded to. This novel elaborates on the premise laid down in the previous novel by showing how exactly circumstances have changed for Rachel especially with regard to the way she is treated by human and supernatural alike.

The humans, who have not really been key players in this series, come to the surface in the novel and complicate things a whole lot, showing that things are a lot more complex than Rachel and in extension, we the readers may have realized. It also reworks the supposed hierarchy which features the supernaturals at the top of the food chain. It also exposes some of the uglier aspects of human nature and I was very ready to become a witch by the end of the novel. Rachel’s growth in the novel was frustrating and there were moments when I wanted to scream at her for her stupidity and her thick headedness and her stubborn need to learn every lesson the hard way.

But she does learn those necessary lessons and if she has scars to prove that she did, well, it’s her fault. What’s more interesting is the way Trent is developed in this novel. I really enjoyed seeing him in a way different than what we had been shown previously. Since Pale Demon, his character has been slowly unraveling to reveal someone more approachable, more…human for lack of a better word and someone who is, again, more complex than we had been shown. And his relationship with Rachel becomes a lot more interesting though she is still mooning over her bodyguard’s butt who is also making her offers of unattached sexytimes. I don’t know. If Harrison goes down that road, I am going to very disappointed. Hm. I enjoyed this book, there were glimmers of Al as a more substantial character and more hints about the conclusion of the novel. The next three books in the series promise to be really, really good and I can’t wait to read them.

Pale Demon – Kim Harrison

Hardcover, 432 pages
Published February 22nd 2011 by Eos
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Condemned to death for black magic and shunned, Rachel Morgan has three days to somehow get to the annual witches convention in San Francisco and clear her name. If she fails, the only way she can escape death is to live in the demonic ever after . . . for ever after.

Banned from the flight lists, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack, headed for the West Coast for his own mysterious business. But Rachel isn’t the only passenger along for the ride. Can a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car survive for over 2,300 miles? And that’s not counting the assassin on their tail.

A fearsome demon walks the sunlight, freed after centuries of torment to slay the innocent and devour souls. But his ultimate prey is Rachel Morgan. While the powerful witch with nerves of steel will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

Review:

Oh what a fabulous read. Dear Writers of Young Adult Trilogies/Series, please take notes. THIS is how you write an installment in a series/trilogy. So I took an unplanned year off reading The Hollows series. I don’t know why I didn’t. I think I just got distracted reading too many other books to give attention to what remains after 10 books my favourite urban series ever. Kim Harrison’s YA series? Does not hold a handle to her adult series. I’ve been waiting for this novel ever since I found out that Rachel and Trent were going on a road trip together. Of course I didn’t realize that there would be so many other passengers in the car along with them but I didn’t really mind in the end.

I’ve compared reading The Hollows novels to riding rollercoasters and Pale Demon was no exception. There are car chases, assassin Elves, creepy day-walking demons, kidnapping pixies and Jenks, who remains my 4 inched hero. His curses remain awesome (Tink’s a Disney whore the most common of them yet) and he makes up for what he lacks in size (being a pixie) with his presence and contribution to the novel as well as his enduring relationship to Rachel and Ivy. There are some awesome moments between Ivy and Rachel that were a long time coming and I am glad that they finally talked about it and things happened. I think this book gives the first hint that the series is reaching its conclusion (and it will be a very sad day when I read the last book).

There are also those heartbreaking moments where your heart wants to fold into itself – when Rachel realizes she has been betrayed albeit unintentionally and the sheer stupidity of the Council will make you want to aim some arrows a la Katniss. However, what I most want to talk about is Trent and his, dare I say, non-relationship with Rachel. I have had my suspicions that Harrison would go this route for the longest time and in this book, I get the first inkling that my suspicions may have been founded. Trent is as flawed as they come but that is okay because Rachel probably wouldn’t fit perfect even if it was custom made for her. The sexual tension has been between them since the first book but this is the first time there was something more involved. I am still cautious about it though I hope that Harrison takes it forward to its natural conclusion. Rachel’s romantic entanglements have never been the focus of the novels and I liked how neatly it was woven into the narrative this time around too. And that kiss. Swoon city, you own me.

Also the ending was ace too. I love it when books in a series are still standalone books that can be read and enjoyed. Some YA authors should be taking notes about how to end an installment in a series too. If you leave a reader satisfied, she is more like to come back and read the second book. Cliffhangers do nothing but frustrate and aggravate.

Pale Demon is, I believe, my favourite out of the series so far. So, so, sooo good.

Born Wicked – Jessica Spotswood (A Review)

Hardcover, 330 pages
Published February 7th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile
Source: Library

Synopsis:

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word… especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Review: Letter

Dear Cate,

Let’s talk, you and me. We’re both women, we’ll definitely have no problem finding at least one topic to find common ground in. We started off as friends, you and I. I quite understood and empathized with the horror you felt concerning the chauvinistic bastards who organized themselves as the Brotherhood and whose main aim was to ensure that women did not move out of their place in the supposed “natural” order of things. I was quite disgusted and I dare say, felt your anger at the crimes constantly perpetrated against women. I felt your pain as you tried to be a mother to your sisters, one of whom needed a good slap that you managed to restrain yourself from giving. And the freedom of the Arab girls? So clever. I enjoyed a chuckle though I don’t know if that was what was intended. Anyway, we were good friends.

Until you started being annoying. This was due to two main things. Two main people. Two boys. I feel bad for Paul. I really do. First there is a flashback where I am led to believe that Paul holds more meaning to you than he apparently does. My bad. His arrival is heralded with a lot of fanfare and anticipation and I thought I’d hold your hand and squeal as your heart palpitated. I guess not. Of course he’s handsome and totally in love with you despite other girls wanting him oh so badly. Unfortunately, you have a thing for the gardener. Finn. Who seems perfectly nice but if you have a thing for him, why the heck do you lead on Paul? Why do you promise not to marry anyone else, explicitly mind you, and then in the next chapter, you are oh so blithely agreeing to marry Finn. Why do you do that, Cate? That’s not cool. This “best friend” of yours, Paul, surely deserves more than the shoddy treatment you insist on giving him.

But Cate, I think our relationship failed entirely when you continued not doing anything even in the face of annihilation. What is the point, I ask you, of having so much power when you are standing there, doing nothing and waiting for the bad guys to win. And the Sisterhood? Psht. I actually admire them more than I admire you. At least they use the agency they have to do shit that is actually bigger than them. You are selfish, Cate, and the ending is supposed to make me empathize with you? It didn’t. It just made me roll my eyes a lot more at the insistence on pathos in a series that really could have been organized into something that flowed on its own. Because Cate, as you waffle and wibble about true love and all the sacrifices you are making, you are being forced to make, there are other girls, some even the ages of your own sisters, who are being killed, yes Cate, that means not alive anymore, while you bemoan the fact that you have to actually think beyond yourself. Yes, I realize there’s no one as important as you are, not even the two unlikely witches who mind you are cooler than you, but when you are the heroine of a novel, you gotta do shit to be shit, like say, I dunno, Katniss does for Primrose? If you had to be Katniss, you’d never volunteer because what if that vixen to whom you sell beavers (or something) stole Gale while you were away fighting for your life? So for all the proselytizing you do about doing anything (ANYTHING) for your sisters, you don’t actually do anything. You are forced to which is a markedly different from volunteering to. So Cate, you fail.

And that’s why, Cate, you and I part ways and I don’t think we are ever going to resurrect our relationship. It’s a shame but I did so enjoy the pretty cover you appeared in. Here’s hoping you grow some balls in the sequels. Not that I’ll be around to witness it.

Sincerely,
Nafiza.

The Gathering Storm (Katerina Alexandrovna #1) – Robin Bridges

Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: January 10th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Net Galley

Synopsis:

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe’s royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina’s strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar’s standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina’s help to safeguard Russia, even if he’s repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Review:

I have a confession: I am completely enamored by stories set in imperial Russia. There is something so attractive about the tsars, duchesses, princesses and other royalty that inevitably dot the landscapes of these novels. The sleds instead of carriages, beautiful dresses, lights, the attractive love interests and if you throw in magic…well, you’ve got me. The Gathering Storm is a strong beginning to a trilogy by debut novelist Robin Bridges. I liked the fantastic breadth of the novel and there are many other things that I really do want to talk about so settle in.

I appreciate the time Bridges devoted into constructing and maintaining the various family dynamics of the characters in the novel. Oftentimes, the only relationships that get much attention in YA novels are the dysfunctional ones and the romantic one but Bridges carefully created many different threads that bind people together. There is friendship between friends, respect between Katerina and her father, love for her mother and brother. Even the more villainous characters come with their own set of family relationships that are no less complex.

The world building is off to a good start and it is not at all difficult to envision the world Bridge sets her story in. The pacing is brisk and the writing does not hinder the story. The love interest is very um…interesting and I would have loved to see their courtship stretched out so I could get maximum enjoyment before stuff goes crazy but alas, that does not happen. Now, let’s talk about the things I had problems with.

Katerina is a very interesting character and she is no doormat but there were moments when she drove me absolutely nuts. She doesn’t DO anything to get out of the troubles she invariably finds herself in.  And okay, the one thing that I really do not have any patience with is when a character is forced to do something because “otherwise we’ll hurt your family/brother/dog.” That’s a very outdated method of pushing your plot forward and all it does is create frustration in the reader. There is no reason the parents/brother/dog will be unable to fend for themselves because they are their own people and fine, I understand the emotional blackmail but just, don’t use it. It was jarring and it took me out of the narrative as I kept on getting angrier.

Other than that, I found the book to be compelling and a breath of fresh air in terms of the newness of its setting to the YA genre and the mixture of preexisting mythology woven together to create the unique mythology original to the story. And don’t get me wrong, when Katerina does start acting, she goes for it but the lead up to her becoming an active player rather than a passive victim is frustrating. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series because book one ends on an promising note and the possibilities are endless. And besides, what girl can resist the promise of more passion, intrigue and magic?

Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) – C. C. Hunter

Paperback, 416 pages
Published March 29th 2011 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: Library

Synopsis:

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

Review

I enjoyed this book well enough. I mean, if you read it for the pure purpose of entertainment and do not consider what the author is saying between the lines, it’s a fun enough read. Certainly not as terrible as some others I have had the misfortune of coming upon. There are vampires, werewolves, faeries, ghosts and all sorts of supernatural elements. It’s like a smorgasbord of supernatural beings. It’s not terribly original as many others have said and there are some pretty strong points to it. For instance, the portrayal of the protagonist’s sense of betrayal at her father’s affair, her relationship with her mother and her friendship with her cabin mates. Those were well done.

What I had trouble with, personally, were the numerous suitors the protagonist had. Usually it’s a love triangle but this was more like…hmm… three boys and one girl? A quartet? It just seemed unrealistic that the protagonist would be so irresistible to garner the attention of three super gorgeous guys. Ah, and two of them are apparently alike. Hm. And she can’t make up her mind which of these boys she likes better. It just felt overdone. Way overdone.

Would I recommend it to you guys?

I don’t know. It’s not horrible? And it has no angels (so far anyway). But I do know that I will pass on the second in the series. I didn’t like that much.

Flying Blind (The Dragon Diaries #1) – Deborah Cooke (Teen Book Scene Review)

336 pages
Published June 7th, 2011 by New American Library
Source: Author/Publisher

Synopsis:

The next generation of shape-shifting dragons from the popular author of the Dragonfire novels.

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she’s been told she’s destined for great things. Zoë’s the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she’s sent to a Pyr boot camp.

Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind

Review

So I will be honest. I did not expect to like Flying Blind as much as I did. I mean, I had just finished reading Eona and how could two books, both about dragons, be brilliant in a row? I usually am not that lucky.

But this time, I totally was. Because Flying Blind? Rocks. In a totally different way from Eona but it does. I expect you have read the synopsis and therefore know that we were dealing with shape shifting dragons. Or dragons who can take humans who can take dragon forms – or is dragons who can take human forms? Are they more dragon or are they more human? Two different species…and this is a debate more suited for later.

So Zoe is supposed to be the only female dragon in existence. She has all these supposed powers, is supposed to meet all these expectations but the unfortunate thing? She can’t even turn into a dragon. At least not when we meet her. Flying Blind creates interesting mythology and marries the supernatural and the mundane together to tell a coming of age story. Zoe is a likeable character – even when she is being less than likeable. I like how she grows throughout the story. She faces the demons she has to and she learns to let go of her own prejudices. She develops as a character and as a person. And the reader gets to watch it all unfold in front of her.

The love interests are interesting. No, there is no love triangle (thank jeebus!!!) but there are definite lessons learned where love is concerned. There are friendships (!!) between girls (!!!) and I love how Ms. Cooke does not take the easy way out and bank on the stereotypical Mean Girl to create a rival. I think I gave the book extra stars just for that.

The conflict, the resolution and the dangling bit at the end which is not a cliff hanger but a teaser that will segue into the second book perfect – these are all reasons that I totally loved Flying Blind. I also liked the camaraderie and how the entire resolution does not rest on one person’s shoulders but is a conjoined effort.

I totally recommend this to anyone who likes good stories.

Two Mini Reviews

352 pages
Published 11th January by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
2011 Debut

Synopsis:

Tessa doesn’t believe in magic. Or Fate. But there’s something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa’s own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa’s life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

Review

I read some mixed reviews so I started the book a bit nervously. However, I found myself pleasantly surprised. I didn’t pay as much attention to the writing because I was too busy reading as fast as I could so I could find out what happens next. I liked the fact that for once the best friend is in on what’s going on and is not treated (much) like a second hand citizen in the Grand World of the Female Protagonist. And I also liked that the love interest, while a jerk, was justified in his actions and, in fact, did not stalk/threaten to kill/spy (on) the heroine. The pacing was well done and there were some suspenseful moments that made the entire story seem like an exhilarating ride. The best part though? The author totally left some strings untied so that the next book in the series will have a brilliant premise. If you haven’t read this yet, I suggest you do. It’s fun, it has a sweet romance and wonderful characters.

—————————————-

242 pages
Published March 1st, 2011 by Scholastic Point
2011 Debut

Synopsis:

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:

I liked this a lot more than I had expected to. Honestly. I love the cover but it doesn’t really give anything away or rather, it’s not very reflective of what the book is all about. Not that it’s a big deal. Anyway, I like murder mysteries. And Clarity just showed me how much I like them. The mythology, that is, the source of their powers is not explored in any kind of detail in the novel but certain things some of the characters reveal lead me to believe that they are being saved for a later novel in the series. (I am quite excited about that.) I liked Clarity. I didn’t expect to but she displayed none of the characteristics that are so annoying in a lot of other heroines I could mention. The one thing that was a bit unrealistic was how irresistible she seemed to be to all the guys. As for the love interests (oh yes, the dreaded love triangle find its mark in this novel), they are both non-sparkly specimens of lurve. Which is to say, Justin has messed up and I’m not sure Clarity should ever forgive him. However, Gabriel seems to have major issues (jealousy and possessiveness being two of them) and I believe that if she must end up with someone, she should fall back to Justin. Or there’s Nate. He seems kinda interesting. Anyway, before I get too caught up in the love life of fictional characters, let me just say that Clarity is a fun and easy read. It’s entertaining, the pace is just right and the mystery is intriguing. Also, the ending has been left open for future novels which is quite awesome, in my opinion. It was a great debut.