I scored an ARC to the fantastic 2011 debut CLARITY earlier this year, by author Kim Harrington.
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?
My thoughts: I'm a cover lover, and this one definitely caught my eye on the blogs as well as when I scrolled through the Goodreads giveaways. I added my name to the list of the 2000+ hopefuls for the ARC and Kim Harrington herself picked me!
Clare, her mother, and brother are pretty much the town freak show, but a useful freak show! Especially when there is a murder case to solve. The first chapter was a bit slow for me, mostly because I'm never sure what to expect with first chapters and it takes a while to learn the rules of a different paranormal world from the last book I read. I wasn't fully engaged until several chapters in, and things started really swinging.
Hot ex boyfriend with dramatic history? Check. Witchy girl that likes to ruin your life? Check. Hot and mysterious newcomer? Check. A murder case with tons of suspects and all of them plausible? Check. Like Clare, I had no idea who to focus on as a suspect, and her inner concerns about certain people in particular were realistic and heartbreaking. Go ahead and try to guess "who-done-it". You're probably going to be wrong. I sure was.
Harrington's writing is straightforward and enjoyable. The characters each stood out on their own, and they all served a purpose. I could picture them perfectly. I won't complain about how short it was (it was a little short!) because I enjoy these kinds of books that you get pulled into and you don't really need to put it down to go to sleep--you probably have time to finish!
Harrington's writing is straightforward and enjoyable. The characters each stood out on their own, and they all served a purpose. I could picture them perfectly. I won't complain about how short it was (it was a little short!) because I enjoy these kinds of books that you get pulled into and you don't really need to put it down to go to sleep--you probably have time to finish!
Book two, Perception, comes out in March of 2012!
Kim Harrington:
Goodreads
Blog
Buy the Books
What other 2011 releases did I love, you ask??
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Liesl & Po and Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Solstice by P.J. Hoover
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
And let's not forget Lola and the Boy Next Door by the fabulous Stephanie Perkins! Favorite contemporary YA read of the year (after Anna and the French Kiss, of course). Obsessed much? Why yes, yes I am. ;)
Have YOU read Clarity yet? Planning on it?
Blog
Buy the Books
What other 2011 releases did I love, you ask??
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Liesl & Po and Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Solstice by P.J. Hoover
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
And let's not forget Lola and the Boy Next Door by the fabulous Stephanie Perkins! Favorite contemporary YA read of the year (after Anna and the French Kiss, of course). Obsessed much? Why yes, yes I am. ;)
Have YOU read Clarity yet? Planning on it?
