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Clarity #2
Perception
When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?
Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.
Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.
But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?
One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.
Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.
Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.
But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?
One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.
275 pages, Hardcover
First published February 29, 2012
About the author
Kim Harrington
11 books1,078 followersKim Harrington is the author of Clarity (a 2012 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers), Perception, The Dead and Buried, and Forget Me for teens and Revenge of the Red Club, the Sleuth or Dare series, and Gamer Squad series for younger readers. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she’s most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 477 reviews
March 6, 2012
(3.5 stars) Perception is Kim Harrington’s second mystery starring Clarity “Clare” Fern, a young girl who comes from a family of psychics. Clare’s special power is psychometry: she can touch an object and see scenes from its past.
In the first novel, Clarity, Clare used her ability to help solve a murder mystery. As Perception begins, that story’s aftereffects have turned Clare’s social life upside down. Once a social misfit, now she’s locally famous and unsure how to deal with the sudden fawning attention she’s getting from kids who once shunned her. She also has two boys vying for her heart, plus a rather creepy secret admirer. Her brother is acting strangely too. And if this weren’t enough, another mystery emerges: Sierra, a fellow student, has gone missing. Clare feels a responsibility to use her power to help people and becomes embroiled in the case.
The mystery is a really good one; Harrington scatters red herrings throughout the story, sending the reader’s brain off in many different directions, and when the solution is finally revealed, it makes perfect sense. I once read a guide to mystery writing that said, to paraphrase, that when the culprit is exposed the reader should first be surprised and then a moment later think, of course, it had to be! This is exactly the experience I had with Perception. Another well-done aspect is the way Clare deals with her love triangle. Rather than string either boy along, she takes a step back from both of them to sort out her own feelings.
I didn’t enjoy Perception quite as much as I did Clarity; to me there was a sense that Clare was driving events less than she did in the previous book, instead being moved along by events. This made Perception slightly less satisfying.
That said, it’s an enjoyable light mystery for YA readers, and I hope Harrington writes more in this series. In particular, I think there’s a lot of potential that could be explored regarding Clare’s father.
In the first novel, Clarity, Clare used her ability to help solve a murder mystery. As Perception begins, that story’s aftereffects have turned Clare’s social life upside down. Once a social misfit, now she’s locally famous and unsure how to deal with the sudden fawning attention she’s getting from kids who once shunned her. She also has two boys vying for her heart, plus a rather creepy secret admirer. Her brother is acting strangely too. And if this weren’t enough, another mystery emerges: Sierra, a fellow student, has gone missing. Clare feels a responsibility to use her power to help people and becomes embroiled in the case.
The mystery is a really good one; Harrington scatters red herrings throughout the story, sending the reader’s brain off in many different directions, and when the solution is finally revealed, it makes perfect sense. I once read a guide to mystery writing that said, to paraphrase, that when the culprit is exposed the reader should first be surprised and then a moment later think, of course, it had to be! This is exactly the experience I had with Perception. Another well-done aspect is the way Clare deals with her love triangle. Rather than string either boy along, she takes a step back from both of them to sort out her own feelings.
I didn’t enjoy Perception quite as much as I did Clarity; to me there was a sense that Clare was driving events less than she did in the previous book, instead being moved along by events. This made Perception slightly less satisfying.
That said, it’s an enjoyable light mystery for YA readers, and I hope Harrington writes more in this series. In particular, I think there’s a lot of potential that could be explored regarding Clare’s father.
February 18, 2012
Perception
was one of my eagerly-awaited books of 2012. I read
Clarity
last year for HH, and was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the people that pushed it on me were right. I loved Clare's voice and Harrington's breezy, engaging storytelling. I couldn't wait to get back into Clare's world. And though I think Perception suffered a bit from sophomore slumpage, I have to say, it was nice being back in her world.
There were times when, I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed. The book - and Clare - seemed somewhat lacking in spirit. I missed Clarity. In the first book, she reminded me so much of Veronica Mars - as this sassy, really smart, no nonsense, strong girl - and I loved that. In Perception, she lost some of what made her stand out from the rest of the YA pack. Her sassiness peaked through and definitely became more pronounced as the story went on, but for awhile she became just a little more typical, a little more predictable, and that made me sad. Strong Clarity somehow lapsed into an average YA heroine, caught between 2 boys and the popular and unpopular groups. She wasn't really her anymore. Her spark was missing.
Now, she did reclaim it. And part of me even thinks that, given all she went through in book 1, it kind of made sense for her to be a little...less, somehow. But still. Her voice was a big part of the reason I liked the series in the first place. And part of it, too, was - OH GOOD GOD with the love triangle already. Don't get me wrong, if ever there was an excuse for a love triangle in a book, this book gets it. Certain things needed to be addressed after how the 1st book ended, and it should have merited a good amount of page space - there were some major things to be worked through. But seriously. There's only so much you can take before you want to yell "Let's get on with it already!"
Also, NO WAY would those boys ever have been as saintlike as they were.
So, there was that.
But as for all the rest, it was just as enjoyable as ever. It was strange, because much like book 1, I felt like I had it pegged the whole way through, yet felt like I didn't. I basically called it as soon as one specific character entered (because there was no other reason for the character to be there, really); but still...even though I was pretty sure, Harrington does a really good job arousing suspicion of everybody. The red herrings are just a-flyin' and at some point, you doubt just about every damn body. Part of me always knew, and part of me always doubted - it's a really interesting way to read a book. I have to give Harrington props for that.
Another thing that got points was that there were good repercussions from book 1. Some serious shiz went down, and there's bound to be fallout from that. And I don't just mean where Clare is concerned. Everyone went through some majorcrazyscary, and they have to deal with that. And though, no, this is never going to be one of those books that wins awards for depicting How People Cope, Harrington (fortunately) isn't the type of writer that just throws the trauma away and lets the characters move blithely forward. She not only didn't ignore the fallout and the trauma with the whole cast of characters, but she used it as a way to explore Clare and what she wants from life. I so very much liked Clare's burgeoning sense of self and purpose as a result of what she went through.
So all in all, there's a lot of good growth, though it is a kind of in an in-between book. They're inevitable in a series, I guess, but a little slumpy all the same. Still, it's worth the read, and Clarity does come back into her own (and makes a damn decision), and a lot of ground work is laid for the series to grow and for Clarity to become a really strong, kick-ass heroine.
Plus, despite any faults, it's always quick and engaging.
There were times when, I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed. The book - and Clare - seemed somewhat lacking in spirit. I missed Clarity. In the first book, she reminded me so much of Veronica Mars - as this sassy, really smart, no nonsense, strong girl - and I loved that. In Perception, she lost some of what made her stand out from the rest of the YA pack. Her sassiness peaked through and definitely became more pronounced as the story went on, but for awhile she became just a little more typical, a little more predictable, and that made me sad. Strong Clarity somehow lapsed into an average YA heroine, caught between 2 boys and the popular and unpopular groups. She wasn't really her anymore. Her spark was missing.
Now, she did reclaim it. And part of me even thinks that, given all she went through in book 1, it kind of made sense for her to be a little...less, somehow. But still. Her voice was a big part of the reason I liked the series in the first place. And part of it, too, was - OH GOOD GOD with the love triangle already. Don't get me wrong, if ever there was an excuse for a love triangle in a book, this book gets it. Certain things needed to be addressed after how the 1st book ended, and it should have merited a good amount of page space - there were some major things to be worked through. But seriously. There's only so much you can take before you want to yell "Let's get on with it already!"
Also, NO WAY would those boys ever have been as saintlike as they were.
So, there was that.
But as for all the rest, it was just as enjoyable as ever. It was strange, because much like book 1, I felt like I had it pegged the whole way through, yet felt like I didn't. I basically called it as soon as one specific character entered (because there was no other reason for the character to be there, really); but still...even though I was pretty sure, Harrington does a really good job arousing suspicion of everybody. The red herrings are just a-flyin' and at some point, you doubt just about every damn body. Part of me always knew, and part of me always doubted - it's a really interesting way to read a book. I have to give Harrington props for that.
Another thing that got points was that there were good repercussions from book 1. Some serious shiz went down, and there's bound to be fallout from that. And I don't just mean where Clare is concerned. Everyone went through some majorcrazyscary, and they have to deal with that. And though, no, this is never going to be one of those books that wins awards for depicting How People Cope, Harrington (fortunately) isn't the type of writer that just throws the trauma away and lets the characters move blithely forward. She not only didn't ignore the fallout and the trauma with the whole cast of characters, but she used it as a way to explore Clare and what she wants from life. I so very much liked Clare's burgeoning sense of self and purpose as a result of what she went through.
So all in all, there's a lot of good growth, though it is a kind of in an in-between book. They're inevitable in a series, I guess, but a little slumpy all the same. Still, it's worth the read, and Clarity does come back into her own (and makes a damn decision), and a lot of ground work is laid for the series to grow and for Clarity to become a really strong, kick-ass heroine.
Plus, despite any faults, it's always quick and engaging.
May 23, 2015
Το δεύτερο μέρος μου άρεσε περισσότερο από το πρώτο. Καλοφτιαγμένο θέμα, πιο πολύπλοκο. Οι χαρακτήρες ξεκάθαροι, και η λύση του μυστηρίου δεν ήταν προφανής. Πριν το τέλος έπαιξε αρκετά με το ποιος ήταν ο ένοχος και δεν άφηνε περιθώρια για την εξακρίβωση παρά μόνο λίγες σελίδες πριν τελείωσει. Διαβάστηκε γρήγορα και ευχάριστα. Μόνο μια μικρή ένσταση, υποθέτω ότι πήγαινε για τρίτο βιβλίο διότι άφησε ανοιχτό πολλά θεματάκια π.χ. για οικογενειακά ζητήματα, γονείς κ.α.
3,5 αστεράκια
3,5 αστεράκια
September 24, 2013
Oh my gosh, I can't even begin to describe how absolutely AMAZING this book was! The kind of amazing that makes you stay up until 2 a.m. to finish it; the kind of amazing that doesn't leave your mind until long after the last page is turned.
I have to admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Clarity, but Perception makes me remember why I love YA as much as I do! ♥ It was intense and gripping, twisting and totally unexpected, and I'm not even exaggerating when I say it had a mystery that left me guessing until the very end — I didn't expect any of it at all!
Clare has to be my newest hero. Even as a psychic, she's the kind of realistic, down-to-earth, and easy-to-relate-to girl you see everywhere you go. When she received those anonymous notes and flowers, she reacted exactly as any sane girl would have: flattered at first, but then thoroughly creeped out. She was so well-written that I couldn't tell her thoughts from mine.
And yes, there's a love triangle, but it's one that I promise you won't mind it because of how real it is! There's no "I'll die if I don't have Boy 1, but I don't want to leave Boy 2 either!" Instead, the author crafts an insta-love free romance where the girl knows the risk of choosing her attraction for either and that whatever she chooses may not work out anyways.
Part heart-stopping mystery, part intriguing supernatural, and 100% altogether amazing book, Perception is undoubtedly one of the best YA mysteries out there! I'll recommend it to you whether you liked Clarity or not — definitely a book you don't want to miss! :)
BUY or BORROW?: If you have any money left in your wallet, you should go out and buy this book instead. It's guaranteed to keep you up until you finish! ;)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
I have to admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of the first book, Clarity, but Perception makes me remember why I love YA as much as I do! ♥ It was intense and gripping, twisting and totally unexpected, and I'm not even exaggerating when I say it had a mystery that left me guessing until the very end — I didn't expect any of it at all!
Clare has to be my newest hero. Even as a psychic, she's the kind of realistic, down-to-earth, and easy-to-relate-to girl you see everywhere you go. When she received those anonymous notes and flowers, she reacted exactly as any sane girl would have: flattered at first, but then thoroughly creeped out. She was so well-written that I couldn't tell her thoughts from mine.
And yes, there's a love triangle, but it's one that I promise you won't mind it because of how real it is! There's no "I'll die if I don't have Boy 1, but I don't want to leave Boy 2 either!" Instead, the author crafts an insta-love free romance where the girl knows the risk of choosing her attraction for either and that whatever she chooses may not work out anyways.
Part heart-stopping mystery, part intriguing supernatural, and 100% altogether amazing book, Perception is undoubtedly one of the best YA mysteries out there! I'll recommend it to you whether you liked Clarity or not — definitely a book you don't want to miss! :)
BUY or BORROW?: If you have any money left in your wallet, you should go out and buy this book instead. It's guaranteed to keep you up until you finish! ;)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
March 17, 2015
I really do love reading the Clarity books by Kim Harrington. They are quick, fun, and easygoing. I usually polish them off in about a day, to give you an idea of the brevity. They are just pure fun.
In the second book, Perception, Clarity (Clare) Fern is starting school again and adjusting to a few new things. Number one is her new-found popularity with the cool kids. Second is that two attractive, available guys are trying to win her favour. Clare has always been on the outs because of her family's psychic abilities but her abilities are the talk of the town now. Soon a high school girl goes missing and it's all Clare can do to not get involved with the investigation. Again.
I do adore these books. They are not perfect, but they are great in that they are solidly entertaining. My one gripe was that I found this one a bit predictable. That said, I can typically call the baddie from mystery plots right away and, sure enough, it happened here too. However, it didn't decrease my enjoyment of the book. Clare and Perry (her brother) make for a great team and it will be interesting to see who nabs Clare's heart, should more books arise. I already know which way the pendulum seems to have swung, however I can't give up any spoilers. You'll just have to wait and see.
I hope there are more books coming in this series. I appreciate the misadventures of the "sassy psychic girl detective" wannabe very much. 4 out of 5 stars.
- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkkreads.com
March 4, 2012
2.5 stars
I really enjoyed Clarity when it came out and I was hoping that I would feel the same about Perception, sadly it didn't live upto my expectations.
After using her psychic abilities to help solve a murder, Clare is now no longer the unpopular girl at school. Her once enemies, Kendra and Brooke are much to Clare's dismay taking an interest in her and her powers. However not everyone is impressed by Clare's new status, Cody the school bully and Tiffany the girl who slept with Clare's now ex boyfriend are still giving her a hard time at school.
When a girl goes missing from school, Clare is determined to use her abilities to help find the missing girl. On top of juggling school, her new found popularity and investigating the missing girl, Clare is dealing with boy troubles - Justin her ex-boyfriend wants her back, the new guy Gabriel wants to date her and she also has a secret admirer. Clare soon finds out her secret admirer is more sinister than what she first thought.
The main problem I had with this book was Clare, I don't remember her being so insufferable in Clarity. Clare goes around thinking she is better than all the other girls, she makes little effort to make any friends because she claims everyone judges her even though she happily goes around judging everyone too. Clare was so self rigteous and up herself that I couldn't enjoy the story.
The other problems:
- Every teenage girl in the book apart from Clary and Mallory are bitchy, shallow, mean, boy-crazy and 'easy'. No other girl is potrayed well, even Mallory comes across as a pathethic loser. It's ridiculous that Clare is the only girl who's made out to be half decent.
-Any girl who didn't wear a 'chastity belt' either was a victim and ended up dead or were backstabbing bit**es who had no morals. Why do most YA authors demonize girls who are sexually active or girls who like to date a lot??
-Too many guys were in love or obsessed with Clare and I couldn't for the life of me see why. Clare also spends the entire book pretty much stringing along both Justin and Gabriel. It was hinted at that Nick also liked Clare and I actually thought in the first book that Nick and Clare would make the best couple.
-Clare has a few TSTL moments. She's not as bad as most YA heroines though to be fair.
Even though I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I did like the first one and if another book is released I would still to read it. There's definitely potential for more books and I would like certain things to be explored such as what happened to Gabriel's little sister, Nick's interest in Clare but most of all why Clare's father left and also the psychic community where Clare's mum and dad grew up.
I really enjoyed Clarity when it came out and I was hoping that I would feel the same about Perception, sadly it didn't live upto my expectations.
After using her psychic abilities to help solve a murder, Clare is now no longer the unpopular girl at school. Her once enemies, Kendra and Brooke are much to Clare's dismay taking an interest in her and her powers. However not everyone is impressed by Clare's new status, Cody the school bully and Tiffany the girl who slept with Clare's now ex boyfriend are still giving her a hard time at school.
When a girl goes missing from school, Clare is determined to use her abilities to help find the missing girl. On top of juggling school, her new found popularity and investigating the missing girl, Clare is dealing with boy troubles - Justin her ex-boyfriend wants her back, the new guy Gabriel wants to date her and she also has a secret admirer. Clare soon finds out her secret admirer is more sinister than what she first thought.
The main problem I had with this book was Clare, I don't remember her being so insufferable in Clarity. Clare goes around thinking she is better than all the other girls, she makes little effort to make any friends because she claims everyone judges her even though she happily goes around judging everyone too. Clare was so self rigteous and up herself that I couldn't enjoy the story.
The other problems:
- Every teenage girl in the book apart from Clary and Mallory are bitchy, shallow, mean, boy-crazy and 'easy'. No other girl is potrayed well, even Mallory comes across as a pathethic loser. It's ridiculous that Clare is the only girl who's made out to be half decent.
-Any girl who didn't wear a 'chastity belt' either was a victim and ended up dead or were backstabbing bit**es who had no morals. Why do most YA authors demonize girls who are sexually active or girls who like to date a lot??
-Too many guys were in love or obsessed with Clare and I couldn't for the life of me see why. Clare also spends the entire book pretty much stringing along both Justin and Gabriel. It was hinted at that Nick also liked Clare and I actually thought in the first book that Nick and Clare would make the best couple.
-Clare has a few TSTL moments. She's not as bad as most YA heroines though to be fair.
Even though I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I did like the first one and if another book is released I would still to read it. There's definitely potential for more books and I would like certain things to be explored such as what happened to Gabriel's little sister, Nick's interest in Clare but most of all why Clare's father left and also the psychic community where Clare's mum and dad grew up.
March 15, 2012
Review originally posted here at The Book Vault!
Clare's back! I definitely enjoyed reading the second installment of the Clarity series! The writing was as good as the first book. Clare's voice was still pretty strong in this novel, and she's also matured from her experiences in Clarity. It did seem to me, however, that Clare's voice wasn't quite as strong, nor as spirited, as it was in the first novel. Maybe it's because she's matured a bit? But I don't know, it just seemed to lack some of the spunk and brightness she had in the first novel. It was almost as if she was a bit more subdued (her voice at least) in Perception, despite having a more personal mystery to solve.
Another similarity to the first novel was the mystery part of the novel. I don't mean the actual mystery itself--Clare's on a completely new adventure this time!--but like the first novel, the mystery at hand in Perception was a bit predicable. While it was slightly less predictable than the mystery in the first book, I guessed the perpetrator about half way through the novel. The writing is good, however, and doesn't drag, so despite being predicable still, it was an enjoyable read!
Thankfully, there's more character development for Gabriel so he's not just the cookie-cutter handsome, mysterious, good-looking hunk again! I enjoyed learning more about Gabriel, Justin and the other characters in Perception. The writing is well-balanced; it doesn't focus so much on back story that the plot drags but it doesn't constantly throw you into the fray without letting you glimpse at the characters' pasts. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to learn anything more about Clare's father but hopefully there will be more light shed on that subject if there's to be a third novel!
I don't want to give it away, but I for one think Clare made the right choice between the two love interests! The strong character she exhibited in the first book was obvious in Perception as well and I'm happy that this was on YA novel where the female lead truly knows and understands her leading men and chooses between them for their personalities and the way they treat her--not just because his eyes are sooo dreamy, and the kisses are simply world-shattering. Don't get me wrong, those are desirable qualities as well, but they shouldn't be the only factors when agreeing to be someone's girlfriend! I could really feel the chemistry between the two and the development of the romance between them was realistic and believable, which is a breath of fresh air amongst all the 'star-crossed lovers' that have been dominating YA fiction lately!
All in all, it was enjoyable and I certainly appreciated the more realistic romance! I hope to learn more about Clare's family, especially her father, and her past if there's to be another novel!
Clare's back! I definitely enjoyed reading the second installment of the Clarity series! The writing was as good as the first book. Clare's voice was still pretty strong in this novel, and she's also matured from her experiences in Clarity. It did seem to me, however, that Clare's voice wasn't quite as strong, nor as spirited, as it was in the first novel. Maybe it's because she's matured a bit? But I don't know, it just seemed to lack some of the spunk and brightness she had in the first novel. It was almost as if she was a bit more subdued (her voice at least) in Perception, despite having a more personal mystery to solve.
Another similarity to the first novel was the mystery part of the novel. I don't mean the actual mystery itself--Clare's on a completely new adventure this time!--but like the first novel, the mystery at hand in Perception was a bit predicable. While it was slightly less predictable than the mystery in the first book, I guessed the perpetrator about half way through the novel. The writing is good, however, and doesn't drag, so despite being predicable still, it was an enjoyable read!
Thankfully, there's more character development for Gabriel so he's not just the cookie-cutter handsome, mysterious, good-looking hunk again! I enjoyed learning more about Gabriel, Justin and the other characters in Perception. The writing is well-balanced; it doesn't focus so much on back story that the plot drags but it doesn't constantly throw you into the fray without letting you glimpse at the characters' pasts. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to learn anything more about Clare's father but hopefully there will be more light shed on that subject if there's to be a third novel!
I don't want to give it away, but I for one think Clare made the right choice between the two love interests! The strong character she exhibited in the first book was obvious in Perception as well and I'm happy that this was on YA novel where the female lead truly knows and understands her leading men and chooses between them for their personalities and the way they treat her--not just because his eyes are sooo dreamy, and the kisses are simply world-shattering. Don't get me wrong, those are desirable qualities as well, but they shouldn't be the only factors when agreeing to be someone's girlfriend! I could really feel the chemistry between the two and the development of the romance between them was realistic and believable, which is a breath of fresh air amongst all the 'star-crossed lovers' that have been dominating YA fiction lately!
All in all, it was enjoyable and I certainly appreciated the more realistic romance! I hope to learn more about Clare's family, especially her father, and her past if there's to be another novel!
April 2, 2012
4.5 out of 5 stars
Perception is the second book in the Clarity series by Kim Harrington.
Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern has the special ability of retrocognitive psychometry, she can touch an object and see scenes from its past, she has spent her life being bullied because of her families unusual abilities but everyone is behind her now because of events which happened in book one and her helping to solve a murder case.
When a new girl from Clare’s school goes missing Clare is torn between trying to help out or leaving it alone; it is something that plays on her conscience, she has a deep need to help. Not only is she worrying about this but she has also acquired a secret admirer, she is eager to work out who is behind the messages and gifts she is receiving because what started off innocently is becoming more threatening.
I adore Clare as a character, she is so much fun - sassy, witty and switched on, and she also accepts her ability and wants to use it to help others rather than keep it hidden, so long as she is not in the spotlight. I love how she stood up for herself; she grew as a character for me in Perception and I thought each of the decisions she made was thought out well.
I am not a love triangle fan at all and the love interests are Justin and Gabriel who I both thought were great! Justin was in my bad books in Clarity but something was revealed in this book that made me feel really sorry for him. I am relieved with who Clare eventually chose.
I loved the Fern family dynamic, Clare’s brother Perry (who I think is wonderful) is going through a tough time in this book and I was so surprised by him hiding this fact from his family. Each of the secondary characters are great, we have the clichéd popular girls who have latched on to Clare but she was reluctant to get too close, I liked Mallory and the fact she was very similar to Clare; I hope to see their friendship progress – I am curious to see where Ms Harrington will go with Nate, he has me intrigued and I am sure there are feelings there for Clare.
What had me stumped in this book is Clare’s reluctance to inform her mother of her stalker and of the threats; it was out of character for her but thinking about how her mother would react I could possibly understand why.
I adore Ms Harrington’s crisp and engaging writing, the pacing and plot were perfect and I literally devoured this book in one sitting; I didn’t want it to end especially since there are still a number of unanswered questions I have which I am hoping will be answered in the next book.
I love this series and can’t wait to see what Kim Harrington has in store for us next.
Perception is the second book in the Clarity series by Kim Harrington.
Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern has the special ability of retrocognitive psychometry, she can touch an object and see scenes from its past, she has spent her life being bullied because of her families unusual abilities but everyone is behind her now because of events which happened in book one and her helping to solve a murder case.
When a new girl from Clare’s school goes missing Clare is torn between trying to help out or leaving it alone; it is something that plays on her conscience, she has a deep need to help. Not only is she worrying about this but she has also acquired a secret admirer, she is eager to work out who is behind the messages and gifts she is receiving because what started off innocently is becoming more threatening.
I adore Clare as a character, she is so much fun - sassy, witty and switched on, and she also accepts her ability and wants to use it to help others rather than keep it hidden, so long as she is not in the spotlight. I love how she stood up for herself; she grew as a character for me in Perception and I thought each of the decisions she made was thought out well.
I am not a love triangle fan at all and the love interests are Justin and Gabriel who I both thought were great! Justin was in my bad books in Clarity but something was revealed in this book that made me feel really sorry for him. I am relieved with who Clare eventually chose.
I loved the Fern family dynamic, Clare’s brother Perry (who I think is wonderful) is going through a tough time in this book and I was so surprised by him hiding this fact from his family. Each of the secondary characters are great, we have the clichéd popular girls who have latched on to Clare but she was reluctant to get too close, I liked Mallory and the fact she was very similar to Clare; I hope to see their friendship progress – I am curious to see where Ms Harrington will go with Nate, he has me intrigued and I am sure there are feelings there for Clare.
What had me stumped in this book is Clare’s reluctance to inform her mother of her stalker and of the threats; it was out of character for her but thinking about how her mother would react I could possibly understand why.
I adore Ms Harrington’s crisp and engaging writing, the pacing and plot were perfect and I literally devoured this book in one sitting; I didn’t want it to end especially since there are still a number of unanswered questions I have which I am hoping will be answered in the next book.
I love this series and can’t wait to see what Kim Harrington has in store for us next.
March 21, 2012
Ya know, I've never considered myself much of a mystery fangirl.
Sure, I like my paranormal and when I say like I actually mean love and recently I've started to enjoy a lot more contemporary then I use to. But not a lot of mystery/thrillers have landed on my favorite shelf, besides The Body Finder series, Clarity would have to be the other exception and I'm pleased to say Perception is as well.
And I totally blame it on Harrington.
I love the way this women writes! It's addicting and perfectly paced. It doesn't just focus on the whole 'whodunit' mystery. It guides us through Clarity's life, what her family is going through, what life is like at school, new friends and lets not forget her tangled romantic happenings which were the highlight of the story for me. Wrap it all up with glimpses of her gift and hidden clues and you got yourself the makings of a great and fun story!
To say that I loved this book just as much as the first would be an understatement. I'm amazed how attached I felt towards these characters, that doesn't usual happen till the third or forth book, but I genuinely care about Clarity, Perry, their mom, Justin and Gabriel.
Clarity is an awesome protag! She's so leveled headed which is rare for a teenager. She doesn't just jump into a decision but instead waits till her heart is actually ready. She's also quite clever and not afraid to stand up for herself. She's the kind of character I'd love to be friends with.
Perry won me in the first book, so it was hard to see him going through this ordeal. I wasn't use to seeing him look so defeated but I'm glad that we got the old Perry back in the end.
Mallory is a new character and I liked what she brought into the story. I'll admit Harrington did a great job with having the reader guess whether she was friend or stalker. Nice touch.
Now for the boys? Just when I was all prepared to wave the Team Justin flag again, Gabriel had to go all charming, sexy and supportive (dame him). I've always had a soft spot for Justin and believe that he deserved a second chance (and even more so now after reading this book). But it turns out that I liked both guys equally and I'm happy with the choice Clare made.
Nope, I'm not gonna spoil it (Muhaha)
All in all, I absolutely loved this one! It's not predictable, in fact I was pretty shocked who the 'killer' was. It's filled with creepy-suspense but has a great mix of romance and friendship.
This was my idea of a perfect escape and I'm only hoping we're getting more! I never want these books to end!!!
Sure, I like my paranormal and when I say like I actually mean love and recently I've started to enjoy a lot more contemporary then I use to. But not a lot of mystery/thrillers have landed on my favorite shelf, besides The Body Finder series, Clarity would have to be the other exception and I'm pleased to say Perception is as well.
And I totally blame it on Harrington.
I love the way this women writes! It's addicting and perfectly paced. It doesn't just focus on the whole 'whodunit' mystery. It guides us through Clarity's life, what her family is going through, what life is like at school, new friends and lets not forget her tangled romantic happenings which were the highlight of the story for me. Wrap it all up with glimpses of her gift and hidden clues and you got yourself the makings of a great and fun story!
To say that I loved this book just as much as the first would be an understatement. I'm amazed how attached I felt towards these characters, that doesn't usual happen till the third or forth book, but I genuinely care about Clarity, Perry, their mom, Justin and Gabriel.
Clarity is an awesome protag! She's so leveled headed which is rare for a teenager. She doesn't just jump into a decision but instead waits till her heart is actually ready. She's also quite clever and not afraid to stand up for herself. She's the kind of character I'd love to be friends with.
Perry won me in the first book, so it was hard to see him going through this ordeal. I wasn't use to seeing him look so defeated but I'm glad that we got the old Perry back in the end.
Mallory is a new character and I liked what she brought into the story. I'll admit Harrington did a great job with having the reader guess whether she was friend or stalker. Nice touch.
Now for the boys? Just when I was all prepared to wave the Team Justin flag again, Gabriel had to go all charming, sexy and supportive (dame him). I've always had a soft spot for Justin and believe that he deserved a second chance (and even more so now after reading this book). But it turns out that I liked both guys equally and I'm happy with the choice Clare made.
Nope, I'm not gonna spoil it (Muhaha)
All in all, I absolutely loved this one! It's not predictable, in fact I was pretty shocked who the 'killer' was. It's filled with creepy-suspense but has a great mix of romance and friendship.
This was my idea of a perfect escape and I'm only hoping we're getting more! I never want these books to end!!!
February 24, 2012
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I gushed about CLARITY, the first book in this series, when it came out in 2011 because it was so obviously an homage to underappreciated Veronica Mars TV show. Both featured a socially ostracized but witty teen solving mysteries in her small affluent town. It had style, great pacing, a dishy mystery, and subtle supernatural elements to boot. PERCEPTION, while not as strong as the debut, still delivers a decent wrap up to the series.
At it’s heart, the Clarity series is a mystery, and PERCEPTION kicks off right away with not one but three solid mysteries: a missing teen girl, a stalker, and a traumatized ghost trying to communicate with Clare’s brother Perry. All three mysteries are balanced well throughout the book, and Clare makes a few wrong conclusions while investigating that made her feel all the more real. I also appreciated that the ending was a big surprise on all fronts, but still fit perfectly will all the clues leading up to it.
Sadly, part of the magic that I loved so much in CLARITY was missing for me in PERCEPTION. Literally. Clare’s psychic touch ability was almost like an afterthought this time. It didn’t really play a significant role in the mysteries she was trying to solve. In fact, it could lift out entirely and barely affect the story. My other gripe was with the two love interests. They morphed into one character. They said the same suggestive things, flirted the same way, and basically acted the same way. There was zero tension/anticipation about who she would ultimately choose because I couldn’t tell them apart. It was a big disappointment on that front.
According to the author, there aren’t any more books planned for the Clarity series, but that she would love to write more and already has a few mysteries in mind for Clare. Most of the various plotlines—if not all the character arcs—are wrapped up in PERCEPTION, and it does feel like a satisfying ending for the series. Taken together, if you haven’t given these books a read yet, you’re missing out on a couple fun, fast reads and a truly memorable protagonist. Veronica Mars fans especially should run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex
I gushed about CLARITY, the first book in this series, when it came out in 2011 because it was so obviously an homage to underappreciated Veronica Mars TV show. Both featured a socially ostracized but witty teen solving mysteries in her small affluent town. It had style, great pacing, a dishy mystery, and subtle supernatural elements to boot. PERCEPTION, while not as strong as the debut, still delivers a decent wrap up to the series.
At it’s heart, the Clarity series is a mystery, and PERCEPTION kicks off right away with not one but three solid mysteries: a missing teen girl, a stalker, and a traumatized ghost trying to communicate with Clare’s brother Perry. All three mysteries are balanced well throughout the book, and Clare makes a few wrong conclusions while investigating that made her feel all the more real. I also appreciated that the ending was a big surprise on all fronts, but still fit perfectly will all the clues leading up to it.
Sadly, part of the magic that I loved so much in CLARITY was missing for me in PERCEPTION. Literally. Clare’s psychic touch ability was almost like an afterthought this time. It didn’t really play a significant role in the mysteries she was trying to solve. In fact, it could lift out entirely and barely affect the story. My other gripe was with the two love interests. They morphed into one character. They said the same suggestive things, flirted the same way, and basically acted the same way. There was zero tension/anticipation about who she would ultimately choose because I couldn’t tell them apart. It was a big disappointment on that front.
According to the author, there aren’t any more books planned for the Clarity series, but that she would love to write more and already has a few mysteries in mind for Clare. Most of the various plotlines—if not all the character arcs—are wrapped up in PERCEPTION, and it does feel like a satisfying ending for the series. Taken together, if you haven’t given these books a read yet, you’re missing out on a couple fun, fast reads and a truly memorable protagonist. Veronica Mars fans especially should run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex
February 16, 2012
Perception returns us to the life of Clare Fern, a young woman with an extrasensory gift who, despite having such, does not allow her life to revolve around or be dominated by the paranormal. Instead, we get a very real and down-to-earth girl plagued by insecurities, family troubles, and boy drama who holds us as spellbound as any of her supernatural contemporaries. The mystery element (in this installment a stalker) is nothing new or overly surprising, with a couple red herrings appropriately placed to keep us guessing and a gradual build up of tension that erupts in an action packed conclusion, but it's well executed and highly entertaining nonetheless, woven seamlessly into the trials and tribulations of Clare’s love and home life. Ms. Harrington writes with a fluid grace, characters and events combining and conflicting with an ease that most likely defies the amount of time spent carefully crafting each sentence, and we find ourselves laughing, sighing, and holding our breath as we sit back and thoroughly enjoy the telling of a good story.
Clare is a young woman who feels utterly genuine, her snark and humor prevalent enough to keep us snorting at her one-liners but not so overdone to the point where nothing sincere spills from her mouth, and whose mature handling of various situations turns us into adoring fans for sparing us copious amounts of teenage angst. Her romantic situation with Gabriel and Justin certainly could play out in melodramatic fashion, but both Clare and the boys deal with their love triangle in a way that makes it seem like such a thing may not be as far fetched as other scenarios have made us believe. She is understandably torn between the two, but she doesn’t spend all day every day worrying over making a decision, instead she often stops, catalogs her reactions to both young men, and then realizes she has no idea what she’s feeling or what to do about it; a realization that makes us smile because we know she’s never going to resort to playing romantic games in order to more clearly define those feelings.
On the boys’ side, Justin and Gabriel both make solid cases for themselves, never giving Clare an ultimatum or set amount of time in which she needs to come up with an answer for them, and both continue their pursuit of her without ever pushing her too far. They drop hints and playfully flirt, making us laugh while they continue to confuse us as though we’re the ones caught between them, but never once does their behavior have us rolling our eyes or shaking our heads in dismay. Though the relationship between the three of them is a main element, it’s not the sole focus, and Ms. Harrington proceeds to paint us a picture with more than a single color, bringing in both superficial and more complex issues with regard to both Clare’s mom and brother Perry to give us a complete image rich in tonality that holds us transfixed.
Overall, Perception is a quick and fun read with a spectacularly tangible cast of characters who would have us lining up to move to their small summer-tourist town if it weren’t for the somewhat alarming number of dead bodies that seem to pop up there. With Clare’s romantic decision seemingly made at the end of this story, the coming months for us will be all the more difficult to bear as we wait to see both how the ensuing ripples said decision will cause in her life will play out as well as what trouble will possibly find it’s way to her doorstop next.
Rating: 4/5
Clare is a young woman who feels utterly genuine, her snark and humor prevalent enough to keep us snorting at her one-liners but not so overdone to the point where nothing sincere spills from her mouth, and whose mature handling of various situations turns us into adoring fans for sparing us copious amounts of teenage angst. Her romantic situation with Gabriel and Justin certainly could play out in melodramatic fashion, but both Clare and the boys deal with their love triangle in a way that makes it seem like such a thing may not be as far fetched as other scenarios have made us believe. She is understandably torn between the two, but she doesn’t spend all day every day worrying over making a decision, instead she often stops, catalogs her reactions to both young men, and then realizes she has no idea what she’s feeling or what to do about it; a realization that makes us smile because we know she’s never going to resort to playing romantic games in order to more clearly define those feelings.
On the boys’ side, Justin and Gabriel both make solid cases for themselves, never giving Clare an ultimatum or set amount of time in which she needs to come up with an answer for them, and both continue their pursuit of her without ever pushing her too far. They drop hints and playfully flirt, making us laugh while they continue to confuse us as though we’re the ones caught between them, but never once does their behavior have us rolling our eyes or shaking our heads in dismay. Though the relationship between the three of them is a main element, it’s not the sole focus, and Ms. Harrington proceeds to paint us a picture with more than a single color, bringing in both superficial and more complex issues with regard to both Clare’s mom and brother Perry to give us a complete image rich in tonality that holds us transfixed.
Overall, Perception is a quick and fun read with a spectacularly tangible cast of characters who would have us lining up to move to their small summer-tourist town if it weren’t for the somewhat alarming number of dead bodies that seem to pop up there. With Clare’s romantic decision seemingly made at the end of this story, the coming months for us will be all the more difficult to bear as we wait to see both how the ensuing ripples said decision will cause in her life will play out as well as what trouble will possibly find it’s way to her doorstop next.
Rating: 4/5
October 22, 2012
Αχ τι να πω γι'αυτό το βιβλίο!Και μόνο το γεγονός ότι έμεινα ξύπνια μέχρι τις 6 τα ξημερώματα για να το τελειώσω νομίζω πως λέει πολλά!
Για μένα η διαίσθηση ήταν ένα υπέροχο βιβλίο ίσως ακόμη καλύτερο και από το πρώτο.Για ακόμη μια φορά είχε μπόλικο μυστήριο και δράση.Αυτό που λάτρεψα σε αυτό το βιβλίο όπως και στο πρώτο είναι ότι δεν είναι καθόλου προβλέψιμο και μέχρι την τελευταία στιγμή αφήνει όλα τα ενδεχόμενα ανοιχτά και είναι αδύνατον να προβλέψεις τι θα γίνει μετά.
Το τέλος μου άρεσε πολύ χάρηκα που τελικά διάλεξε αυτόν που διάλεξε αλλά το θεώρησα κάπως βιαστικό και η συγγραφέας δεν μας ξεκαθάρισε το μέλλον όλων των χαρακτήρων.Γενικά όμως η Harrigton είχε μια εκπληκτική ιδέα και μακάρι να υπήρχε και τρίτο βιβλίο!δηλώνω πάντως φαν της και θα ήθελα να διαβάσω οπωσδήποτε και κάτι άλλο δικό της!
Για μένα η διαίσθηση ήταν ένα υπέροχο βιβλίο ίσως ακόμη καλύτερο και από το πρώτο.Για ακόμη μια φορά είχε μπόλικο μυστήριο και δράση.Αυτό που λάτρεψα σε αυτό το βιβλίο όπως και στο πρώτο είναι ότι δεν είναι καθόλου προβλέψιμο και μέχρι την τελευταία στιγμή αφήνει όλα τα ενδεχόμενα ανοιχτά και είναι αδύνατον να προβλέψεις τι θα γίνει μετά.
Το τέλος μου άρεσε πολύ χάρηκα που τελικά διάλεξε αυτόν που διάλεξε αλλά το θεώρησα κάπως βιαστικό και η συγγραφέας δεν μας ξεκαθάρισε το μέλλον όλων των χαρακτήρων.Γενικά όμως η Harrigton είχε μια εκπληκτική ιδέα και μακάρι να υπήρχε και τρίτο βιβλίο!δηλώνω πάντως φαν της και θα ήθελα να διαβάσω οπωσδήποτε και κάτι άλλο δικό της!
June 2, 2011
LOVED the ending! Once again Kim Harrington presents us with a fast-faced, fun novel full of romance and crime. This is a must-red for fans of Clarity if you need closure on which boy Clare ends up with!
July 29, 2014
This one hits all the right notes. Fans of Clarity will be very happy with how this one is laid out.
More to come closer to release.
More to come closer to release.
October 26, 2011
EEEEEEE! That is all.
Update. Okay. I loved this book. Clary is such a fun character. Never saw *it* coming. Hoping for a 3rd, 4th and 5th book.
Update. Okay. I loved this book. Clary is such a fun character. Never saw *it* coming. Hoping for a 3rd, 4th and 5th book.
July 23, 2012
the author lives in my hometown, i feel soooo special right now, I'm bursting with pride! and how can a cover be this gorgeous?????
I actually finished this time! :D And I liked it, Review to Come!
I actually finished this time! :D And I liked it, Review to Come!
October 9, 2020
No me duró nada. Quiero más así ligeritos y bastante entretenidos.
March 29, 2013
This book was going so well! Then I felt like things were just spiralling out of control. Ok... So this clearly takes place not too long after the events in Clarity, as she is back at school now. That's fine. Someone is stalking her, also fine (except for the fact that normally stalking isn't cool!). She's making friends, stepping on Nate's heart, the usual stuff. It wasn't until I hit page 205 when I wanted to throw the book across the room or at least try to reach into the book and smack Clare upside the head. Spoilers but I am not hiding them, I'm ranting here people! She has the nerve to push Gabriel about making a decision about whether he will stay in town or head back to New York. Girly, you refuse to choose between Justin and Gabriel, you can't be throwing stones. P.S. Justin is a total sleaze in this book. (worse, she laughs and finds it endearing... Blah.) THEN on page 239 at the dance Gabriel says to her "I'm waiting on you", what does she do? Plays dumb. Her reply "On me to what?" Right there, I went - you don't deserve him (let alone Nate, she's not interested, can I have him?). It is the slow dance, he asked to dance with you, now is the perfect time to tell him that you choose him.
This kind of behaviour is what has pushed it down a whole star for me. Not cool.
Best Line:
What makes you different makes you beautiful
This kind of behaviour is what has pushed it down a whole star for me. Not cool.
Best Line:
What makes you different makes you beautiful
March 13, 2012
Clarity meets Perception, the follow up to Clare Fern’s story, a normal girl with an unusual gift for psychics. It’s delivered in the same made-for-TV-show murder-mystery story style, as I mentioned in my review of the first book in the series.
Kim Harrington's simplistic writing style made this an easy and pretty enjoyable read, managing to captive my attention. This time we have a mystery, that is not so big of a mystery, and a creepy stalker, who is not that creepy. The clues were all over the place, so by the time Clare discovers the identity of her secret admirer I had it all figured out. It didn’t take me long to suspect this subtle and kind of predictable Mr. You-know-who.
The love triangle that surfaced during the first book, much to my discontent, was actually bearable. The author didn’t make it sound cheesy, and I was interested to see how the Gabriel-Clare-Justin relationship developed throughout the book.
I think Perception remains at the same level as Clarity, a nice light read, reminiscent of Veronica Mars, only with red hair. If there’s a third book, I’ll definitely check it out!
Kim Harrington's simplistic writing style made this an easy and pretty enjoyable read, managing to captive my attention. This time we have a mystery, that is not so big of a mystery, and a creepy stalker, who is not that creepy. The clues were all over the place, so by the time Clare discovers the identity of her secret admirer I had it all figured out. It didn’t take me long to suspect this subtle and kind of predictable Mr. You-know-who.
The love triangle that surfaced during the first book, much to my discontent, was actually bearable. The author didn’t make it sound cheesy, and I was interested to see how the Gabriel-Clare-Justin relationship developed throughout the book.
I think Perception remains at the same level as Clarity, a nice light read, reminiscent of Veronica Mars, only with red hair. If there’s a third book, I’ll definitely check it out!
March 30, 2012
Too many things going on for any one of them to be developed. The mystery was kind of a joke and really not actually a big part of the book. Clare's talents seemed unnecessary in this book--she barely used them. The main plot lines were: 1. the love triangle (which may become a square in future books because it seems as though the author is hinting that Nate, brother Perry's bf, has a thing for Clare) and 2. mean girls. One thing about the love triangle that really bugged me was that I thought one of Clare's main hang ups about Gabriel was that he didn't really believe in her powers. This is mentioned once in the beginning of the book then never brought up again. Could she really seriously consider being with someone who didn't believe in something that is fundamental to her being? I was annoyed it was never again addressed. A couple of the others things going one were Perry has developed some sort of agoraphobia and Clare makes a true friend.
I didn't particularly like Clare in this book and I don't think I'll be reading more.
I didn't particularly like Clare in this book and I don't think I'll be reading more.
February 7, 2016
Suka endingnya ❤️❤️
March 4, 2012
Before reading this review, please remember that this is my opinion on Perception by Kim Harrington and I respect any different thought.
Upon solving the great mystery in the last summer, Clare had become a local celebrity in her high school and part of the popular crowd. The one girl she wanted to be friends with, however, was a loner and a nobody called Mallory. She was nice, she was considerate, and she was a close friend to another girl, Sierra, who had recently gone missing. No one was close to Mallory before, so Clare could find nothing to help her with her investigation except for her gift to find out the past of something by touching it. Meanwhile, she recieved cards, notes and gifts from a secret admirer, though neither Justin, her cheating ex-boyfriend, nor Gabriel, her partner in her last case, admitted to have done that, and then her secret admirer turned into a complete stalker and crept her out. Just when Clare thought she had everything figured out, everything went ballistic and seemed to link together, except that maybe this time she really was too late, and none of the boys could stop the tragedy.
Maybe it is my fault to read this book immediately after watching the suspense thriller Identity (a movie adaption of Agatha Christie's And Then There Was None) where the killer was so unpredictable I thought it was all a good joke and that Identity was actually a comedy, but that was what I called a mystery, not a simple story which I knew who the killer was as long as that he or she appeared. For a mystery, there had to be some guessing involved and some proper hints given. The so-called investigation done by Clare was loosely done and was strictly unprofessional. I know she was not a professional, but you would have thought that a girl with her ability would have done thing more smoothly and more maturely, not like a 7-year-old player detective and run around with her halloween costume and magnifying glasses. Nothing Clare did in her investigation was helful or informative, and Perry's discovery was revealed so late into the story it did almost nothing to readers that know nothing because of how little Kim Harrington revealed. And the hints were so vague and scarce it was almost impossible for readers to guess.
Well then, the question is, how did I guess correctly?
There are three reasons. First, I learned something after reading this and Pandemonium this week, and that is, if one part of a book reminds me some much of a similar plot in another media, it will very likely adapted the rest of the story as well. For example, in Pandemonium, I think the love triangle reminded me of that in Chuck, the tv series, so I know Alex was alive like Bryce was. In Clarity, this reminded me of Mercy, where the killer was specialized in capturing gifted musicians. I will give Clarity some credit for being a better mystery than Mercy because that was really badly done, but the plot matched so well I doubted why did no one informed Kim Harrington that she should avoid the clash and possibly being accused of plagiarizing. Mercy and Clarity both were not the most popular of all YA, but still there are a lot that read them. Why couldn't she write something else? At least change the prisoners' connection if you are going to write a book. I do not want to read the same book twice published under another author's name, people.
Second of all, when that character was introduced, it was stuffed so forcefully I wondered why is Clarity describing this, and then it all clicked. Of course, she must introduce the killer for a while first before revealing who he or she was. When I read that part, I almost laughed because of the ridiculousness of it and how obvious Kim Harrington is being. There is no fun in the entire mystery now, is there? Third, there are no new characters introduced in this that actually had any line to say except for three, Sierra's mother, Mallory and our killer. It would be too easy if it was Mallory, Sierra's mother had zero personality and almost no extra description was made for her, and we have a winner.
At first when I saw the number of pages this book had I thought there was going to be more to the last Justin/Gabriel love triangle going on, and there was, but most of the thing here is complete useless and the biggest mystery of this book remained to the reason why Kim Harrington had to spend so many paper on her high school life. Don't get me wrong, I love stories set in high school, I am a huge fan of John Hughes, I don't mind reading about girls using facebook and twitter to gossip. What I do mind, though, is when too many side plots I do not care about dominate most part of the book. While both Clarity and Perception did not focus on the actual thing going on which is the mystery, Clarity leaned more on the love triangle while Perception almost abandoned the entire thing and took up the high school gossips. I enjoyed reading the bits and box of high school triviality in Deadly Cool because it felt like part of the novel, it was funny and it built the characters' personalities. In Perception, however, it was a complete mess. She did not focus on anything to talk about. I could be reading about Kendra, a rich blonde I did not care about because of how fake and stupid she was, in one paragraph and then in the next one I could be hearing about Brendan, a popular guy I also did not care about because he was there solely in fill in the blanks in the Kendra/Tiffany love triangle, another relationship I did not understand. And then several consecutive chapters would be dedicated to Clare and her toys, aka Justin and Gabriel. Why they were so obsessed with getting Clare and no other was beyond me, I guess I would have to believe that Clare was really hot, but all I knew about her appearance was that she was a short redhead. Nothing else. At least in Clarity I was mildly interested in Clare's exchange with Gabriel because he had a fascinating grudge for psychics, but here I do not care about anything at all. Fine, I am quite intrigued by Perry's panic attacks and Mallory's crush on him, despite how little those two parts were taken. And then it was silence, again.
There are a lot of holes opened here and left untouched in the end, which I guess would have to wait for the next book to be filled. Not that I cared, but there is enough side plots and potential relationships here I do not think it is necessary for Kim Harrington to write about new characters and stuff. In fact, I am going to say it right here right now that the new love triangle in the next book in the series will be surrounding Clare's mom with her dad taking a strange role in her life again, maybe in disguise, and Nate, Perry's best friend, might confess with Clare or he would be the hero and steal Clare away from her toys. Those were only a few of the things I do not give a flying fever about to be introduced in the coming book, the rest are even more horrible.
1 eye out of five, I seriously must say I am surprised to be giving this such a low rating because I actually waited for this book to release. I quite enjoyed Clarity, and this is the disappointment of the year with Clarity wasting all her energy on shopping and gossiping with friends instead of trying to make herself useful with her handy gift. I know this sounded bad, but I hope something will happen between this and the coming book that transform her into a more matured person with a faint idea of being responsible.
Upon solving the great mystery in the last summer, Clare had become a local celebrity in her high school and part of the popular crowd. The one girl she wanted to be friends with, however, was a loner and a nobody called Mallory. She was nice, she was considerate, and she was a close friend to another girl, Sierra, who had recently gone missing. No one was close to Mallory before, so Clare could find nothing to help her with her investigation except for her gift to find out the past of something by touching it. Meanwhile, she recieved cards, notes and gifts from a secret admirer, though neither Justin, her cheating ex-boyfriend, nor Gabriel, her partner in her last case, admitted to have done that, and then her secret admirer turned into a complete stalker and crept her out. Just when Clare thought she had everything figured out, everything went ballistic and seemed to link together, except that maybe this time she really was too late, and none of the boys could stop the tragedy.
Maybe it is my fault to read this book immediately after watching the suspense thriller Identity (a movie adaption of Agatha Christie's And Then There Was None) where the killer was so unpredictable I thought it was all a good joke and that Identity was actually a comedy, but that was what I called a mystery, not a simple story which I knew who the killer was as long as that he or she appeared. For a mystery, there had to be some guessing involved and some proper hints given. The so-called investigation done by Clare was loosely done and was strictly unprofessional. I know she was not a professional, but you would have thought that a girl with her ability would have done thing more smoothly and more maturely, not like a 7-year-old player detective and run around with her halloween costume and magnifying glasses. Nothing Clare did in her investigation was helful or informative, and Perry's discovery was revealed so late into the story it did almost nothing to readers that know nothing because of how little Kim Harrington revealed. And the hints were so vague and scarce it was almost impossible for readers to guess.
Well then, the question is, how did I guess correctly?
There are three reasons. First, I learned something after reading this and Pandemonium this week, and that is, if one part of a book reminds me some much of a similar plot in another media, it will very likely adapted the rest of the story as well. For example, in Pandemonium, I think the love triangle reminded me of that in Chuck, the tv series, so I know Alex was alive like Bryce was. In Clarity, this reminded me of Mercy, where the killer was specialized in capturing gifted musicians. I will give Clarity some credit for being a better mystery than Mercy because that was really badly done, but the plot matched so well I doubted why did no one informed Kim Harrington that she should avoid the clash and possibly being accused of plagiarizing. Mercy and Clarity both were not the most popular of all YA, but still there are a lot that read them. Why couldn't she write something else? At least change the prisoners' connection if you are going to write a book. I do not want to read the same book twice published under another author's name, people.
Second of all, when that character was introduced, it was stuffed so forcefully I wondered why is Clarity describing this, and then it all clicked. Of course, she must introduce the killer for a while first before revealing who he or she was. When I read that part, I almost laughed because of the ridiculousness of it and how obvious Kim Harrington is being. There is no fun in the entire mystery now, is there? Third, there are no new characters introduced in this that actually had any line to say except for three, Sierra's mother, Mallory and our killer. It would be too easy if it was Mallory, Sierra's mother had zero personality and almost no extra description was made for her, and we have a winner.
At first when I saw the number of pages this book had I thought there was going to be more to the last Justin/Gabriel love triangle going on, and there was, but most of the thing here is complete useless and the biggest mystery of this book remained to the reason why Kim Harrington had to spend so many paper on her high school life. Don't get me wrong, I love stories set in high school, I am a huge fan of John Hughes, I don't mind reading about girls using facebook and twitter to gossip. What I do mind, though, is when too many side plots I do not care about dominate most part of the book. While both Clarity and Perception did not focus on the actual thing going on which is the mystery, Clarity leaned more on the love triangle while Perception almost abandoned the entire thing and took up the high school gossips. I enjoyed reading the bits and box of high school triviality in Deadly Cool because it felt like part of the novel, it was funny and it built the characters' personalities. In Perception, however, it was a complete mess. She did not focus on anything to talk about. I could be reading about Kendra, a rich blonde I did not care about because of how fake and stupid she was, in one paragraph and then in the next one I could be hearing about Brendan, a popular guy I also did not care about because he was there solely in fill in the blanks in the Kendra/Tiffany love triangle, another relationship I did not understand. And then several consecutive chapters would be dedicated to Clare and her toys, aka Justin and Gabriel. Why they were so obsessed with getting Clare and no other was beyond me, I guess I would have to believe that Clare was really hot, but all I knew about her appearance was that she was a short redhead. Nothing else. At least in Clarity I was mildly interested in Clare's exchange with Gabriel because he had a fascinating grudge for psychics, but here I do not care about anything at all. Fine, I am quite intrigued by Perry's panic attacks and Mallory's crush on him, despite how little those two parts were taken. And then it was silence, again.
There are a lot of holes opened here and left untouched in the end, which I guess would have to wait for the next book to be filled. Not that I cared, but there is enough side plots and potential relationships here I do not think it is necessary for Kim Harrington to write about new characters and stuff. In fact, I am going to say it right here right now that the new love triangle in the next book in the series will be surrounding Clare's mom with her dad taking a strange role in her life again, maybe in disguise, and Nate, Perry's best friend, might confess with Clare or he would be the hero and steal Clare away from her toys. Those were only a few of the things I do not give a flying fever about to be introduced in the coming book, the rest are even more horrible.
1 eye out of five, I seriously must say I am surprised to be giving this such a low rating because I actually waited for this book to release. I quite enjoyed Clarity, and this is the disappointment of the year with Clarity wasting all her energy on shopping and gossiping with friends instead of trying to make herself useful with her handy gift. I know this sounded bad, but I hope something will happen between this and the coming book that transform her into a more matured person with a faint idea of being responsible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2018
4.5 αστεράκια
Βρήκα τη "Διαίσθηση" καλύτερη ακόμα από το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς "Διαύγεια". Οι χαρακτήρες έχουν ωριμάσει μετά τις περιπέτειες του Καλοκαιριού που εξιστορούνται στο πρώτο βιβλιο, και τώρα τέλη Φθινοπώρου πλέον έχουν περάσει πάλι στο σχολικό περιβάλλον με όλα όσα αυτό συνεπάγεται.
Τι μου άρεσε:
1. Οι ενήλικοι τις υπόθεσης φέρονται πράγματι ως ενήλικοι. Οι μητέρα της Κλάριτι ανησυχεί για εκείνη και της απαγορεύει να γυρίζει από 'δω κι από 'κει παίζοντάς το ντεντέκτιβ με την αστυνομία ή χωρίς.
2. Γίνεται και πάλι αναφορά στον σχολικό εκφοβισμό, στη συχνότητα του φαινομένου, τα τραύματα που κρύβουν οσοι τον εξασκούν. Προσεγγίζει το θέμα λίγο πιο βαθιά στο δεύτερο μέρος της σειράς καθώς πλέον βρισκόμαστε όντως μέσα στον χώρο του σχολείου.
3. Το μυστήριο που κυριαρχεί είναι έντονο καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια. Έτσι το βιβλίο διαβάζεται πολύ εύκολα, ενώ καταφέρνει να αποπροσανατολίσει τον αναγνώστη από το βρει "ποιός το έκανε". Ομολογώ πως ενώ τα στοιχεία ήταν μπροστά μου, εγώ δε τα κατάφερα.
Τι δε μου άρεσε:
1. Δικαιολογώ πως ένα κορίτσι στην ηλικία της πρωταγωνίστριας ξοδεύει πολύ χρόνο στα ερωτικά ζητήματα, όμως η Κλάριτι από τη μία εμφανίζετα�� εκείνο το κοριτσάκι που απλώς ζητά τη προσοχή των αγοριών, από την άλλη φέρεται με περίσσια ωριμότητα - κάτι που διακρίνεται και μέσα από τις σκέψεις που είναι εμφανείς στον αναγνώστη. Εντάξει, αφαιρώ μόνο μισό αστεράκι στη πραγματικότητα από εδώ γιατί όπως είπα, είναι λογικό από τη μία και σίγουρα το πιο νεανικό κοινό θα το εκτιμήσει.
Συνολικά η σειρά μου άφησε πολύ καλές εντυπώσεις και με προβληματίζει επίσης, όπως και σε άλλους αναγνώστες, το γεγονός πως δεν υπάρχει 3ο μέρος. Δεν είναι πως άφησε τις καστάσεις μετέωρες ακριβώς, αλλά έχτισε κάποιες πλευρές που πίστευα πως θα τις εξερευνούσε. Ααααν κυκλοφορήσει κάποια στιγμή, προσωπικά θα το αγοράσω.
Βρήκα τη "Διαίσθηση" καλύτερη ακόμα από το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς "Διαύγεια". Οι χαρακτήρες έχουν ωριμάσει μετά τις περιπέτειες του Καλοκαιριού που εξιστορούνται στο πρώτο βιβλιο, και τώρα τέλη Φθινοπώρου πλέον έχουν περάσει πάλι στο σχολικό περιβάλλον με όλα όσα αυτό συνεπάγεται.
Τι μου άρεσε:
1. Οι ενήλικοι τις υπόθεσης φέρονται πράγματι ως ενήλικοι. Οι μητέρα της Κλάριτι ανησυχεί για εκείνη και της απαγορεύει να γυρίζει από 'δω κι από 'κει παίζοντάς το ντεντέκτιβ με την αστυνομία ή χωρίς.
2. Γίνεται και πάλι αναφορά στον σχολικό εκφοβισμό, στη συχνότητα του φαινομένου, τα τραύματα που κρύβουν οσοι τον εξασκούν. Προσεγγίζει το θέμα λίγο πιο βαθιά στο δεύτερο μέρος της σειράς καθώς πλέον βρισκόμαστε όντως μέσα στον χώρο του σχολείου.
3. Το μυστήριο που κυριαρχεί είναι έντονο καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια. Έτσι το βιβλίο διαβάζεται πολύ εύκολα, ενώ καταφέρνει να αποπροσανατολίσει τον αναγνώστη από το βρει "ποιός το έκανε". Ομολογώ πως ενώ τα στοιχεία ήταν μπροστά μου, εγώ δε τα κατάφερα.
Τι δε μου άρεσε:
1. Δικαιολογώ πως ένα κορίτσι στην ηλικία της πρωταγωνίστριας ξοδεύει πολύ χρόνο στα ερωτικά ζητήματα, όμως η Κλάριτι από τη μία εμφανίζετα�� εκείνο το κοριτσάκι που απλώς ζητά τη προσοχή των αγοριών, από την άλλη φέρεται με περίσσια ωριμότητα - κάτι που διακρίνεται και μέσα από τις σκέψεις που είναι εμφανείς στον αναγνώστη. Εντάξει, αφαιρώ μόνο μισό αστεράκι στη πραγματικότητα από εδώ γιατί όπως είπα, είναι λογικό από τη μία και σίγουρα το πιο νεανικό κοινό θα το εκτιμήσει.
Συνολικά η σειρά μου άφησε πολύ καλές εντυπώσεις και με προβληματίζει επίσης, όπως και σε άλλους αναγνώστες, το γεγονός πως δεν υπάρχει 3ο μέρος. Δεν είναι πως άφησε τις καστάσεις μετέωρες ακριβώς, αλλά έχτισε κάποιες πλευρές που πίστευα πως θα τις εξερευνούσε. Ααααν κυκλοφορήσει κάποια στιγμή, προσωπικά θα το αγοράσω.
April 10, 2020
Clare still lives at home with her family of psychics, but this episode emphasizes suspense more than the supernatural. She’s torn between ex-boyfriend Justin and hottie newcomer Gabriel (and will decide between them by the end of the book), but now she’s more interested in her new friend Mallory and the disappearance of a local girl. Her mom forbids her to help with the case, but Clare can’t stop herself from investigating. Mallory, a formerly shy girl who seems to be coming out of her shell, struggles to cope with events in their new friendship. Meanwhile, Clare worries that someone might be stalking her. The family’s psychic abilities, especially Clare’s ability to “read” objects, certainly play a part in the narrative, but Harrington more closely follows a standard mystery plot, tossing in some tasty red herrings, sprinkling clues throughout, building suspense and turning the tale at just the right time to keep readers involved. The supernatural element may entice some young readers to the book and then turn them into mystery fans. In any case, the believable characterizations, the suspense and the well-crafted plot twists score.
A smart, paranormal mystery ride.
A smart, paranormal mystery ride.
October 23, 2022
Let's pretend this sequel did not exist😔 to be very honest, it's mostly crappy except for Perry's after-effect of the murder case in book 1. The plot is interesting, BUT it's too messy with pranks, another murder (that's actually kinda boring) and flirting attempts by the boys. The character that I want to give a hug the most is Perry because he's so relatable and my poor bb is struggling but he keeps it to himself 🥺 imagine yourself getting caught with a murder mystery and accused as the top suspect, HORRIFYING. And the fact that he's unsure of what he wants to pursue and what he wants to be in the future IS UNDERSTANDABLE😭
And this is biased opinion I think hahaha but Justin is so out-of-character this time. In the first book, he's like this innocent lover boy (even though he loves parties and socializing) trying his best to make up w Clare. But, in this one, he's like a completely different person, so naughty and actually feels like a stalker... Where did my lover boy go?😭
And again, my 16-year-old-me might fall head over heels for Gabriel, but the present me is not amused, I'm sorry~
And this is biased opinion I think hahaha but Justin is so out-of-character this time. In the first book, he's like this innocent lover boy (even though he loves parties and socializing) trying his best to make up w Clare. But, in this one, he's like a completely different person, so naughty and actually feels like a stalker... Where did my lover boy go?😭
And again, my 16-year-old-me might fall head over heels for Gabriel, but the present me is not amused, I'm sorry~
June 9, 2017
I can see why the publisher gave up on this series. :/
March 17, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The funny conversations and good tension in the story make up for some of its predictable plot points and the romance triangle continuing from Clarity.
Opening Sentence: I stepped forward with forced confidence.
The Review:
So Clare’s life at Eastport has gotten a little easier. Since she caught a killer last summer, she’s stopped being the town’s psychic freak and turned into a hero. The popular girls–at least some of them–want to be her friends. But while not being bullied makes for a nice change of pace, being the center of attention is still uncomfortable for Clare. When Sara Waldman disappears, supposedly running away, Clare wonders if she should use her powers to find her or just leave well enough alone. She’s a fun (and funny) narrator to have, because she’s honest and up front about everything. Clare has no pretensions and is definitely the sort of girl I’d have been friends with.
Justin is fighting his newly regulated friend status, wanting to go back to the way they were before. Before he cheated on her with Tiffany, her biggest tormenter. While stepping in front of a bullet for her has definitely put him back on her good side, Clare’s not ready to let him back in. And then there’s Gabriel, the skeptic who may or may not be boyfriend material. I mean, it would be hard to date a guy who thought you were a fraud, but the hot factor, as well as the steamy looks, might just make up for it. Gabriel’s dad is one of Eastport’s finest, and with Sara Waldman missing his connections come in handy as Clare works to find what really happened.
What starts out as sweet notes quickly escalates to creepy emails and phone calls. Clare’s hunt for Sara Waldman goes slowly and when she finally starts looking for a stalker, the investigation goes nowhere. This is one of the plot lines I had a hard time investing in, if only because of Clare’s reaction to having a secret admirer. The fact is, there really isn’t much of one. And when the situation begins to escalate–to emails, pictures, and so on–she doesn’t tell anyone. Not her mom, who’s she’s worried will stop her from investigating Sara’s disappearance, or her brother, because he’s been acting like a total douche recently. The fact is, it was the one point in the story where I though Clare was out of character. Throughout the book she’s a smart heroine, even if she is swamped with cliché high school and boy problems. So why doesn’t she notice it’s actually really, really creepy?
This was a very classic young adult paranormal. While not exactly a bad thing, a lot of the high school experiences–bonfires, house parties–came off as cliché and contrived. The plot, however, does have a twist that I didn’t see coming. Though Clare’s new popular friends aren’t exactly the most engaging characters, I did come to like Mallory, Clare’s new, outcast friend. I loved the way their friendship developed and the dynamics it opened up. The conversations were funny and Harrington built some really great tension into the story–both romantic and scary. One thing I really did love was the Fern family, because they’re quirky and yet relatable at the same time, which is always a hard thing to do with characters that have supernatural powers. Overall, Perception was an easy read, and not a bad sequel. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book Harrington comes out with.
Notable Scene:
I clicked.
I hope you liked my flowers. You deserve to be lavished with gifts. Because you are unique. You are special.
Still anonymous.
I read it over three or four times. The note in my locker and the flowers had made my stomach do little flips over the unexpected flattery. But now I felt a bit nervous. The email was all complimentary. There was nothing threatening about it. But it didn’t seem right. I hemmed and hawed for a few minutes about whether or not to write back and finally decided to do it.
Thanks for the compliments, but I’m at the point now where I want to know who you are. Please tell me.
I hit SEND, and only a minute later, I got a mailbox error in return. The email address did not exist.
The Clarity Series:
1. Clarity
2. Perception
FTC Advisory: Scholastic/Point provided me with a copy of Perception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: The funny conversations and good tension in the story make up for some of its predictable plot points and the romance triangle continuing from Clarity.
Opening Sentence: I stepped forward with forced confidence.
The Review:
So Clare’s life at Eastport has gotten a little easier. Since she caught a killer last summer, she’s stopped being the town’s psychic freak and turned into a hero. The popular girls–at least some of them–want to be her friends. But while not being bullied makes for a nice change of pace, being the center of attention is still uncomfortable for Clare. When Sara Waldman disappears, supposedly running away, Clare wonders if she should use her powers to find her or just leave well enough alone. She’s a fun (and funny) narrator to have, because she’s honest and up front about everything. Clare has no pretensions and is definitely the sort of girl I’d have been friends with.
Justin is fighting his newly regulated friend status, wanting to go back to the way they were before. Before he cheated on her with Tiffany, her biggest tormenter. While stepping in front of a bullet for her has definitely put him back on her good side, Clare’s not ready to let him back in. And then there’s Gabriel, the skeptic who may or may not be boyfriend material. I mean, it would be hard to date a guy who thought you were a fraud, but the hot factor, as well as the steamy looks, might just make up for it. Gabriel’s dad is one of Eastport’s finest, and with Sara Waldman missing his connections come in handy as Clare works to find what really happened.
What starts out as sweet notes quickly escalates to creepy emails and phone calls. Clare’s hunt for Sara Waldman goes slowly and when she finally starts looking for a stalker, the investigation goes nowhere. This is one of the plot lines I had a hard time investing in, if only because of Clare’s reaction to having a secret admirer. The fact is, there really isn’t much of one. And when the situation begins to escalate–to emails, pictures, and so on–she doesn’t tell anyone. Not her mom, who’s she’s worried will stop her from investigating Sara’s disappearance, or her brother, because he’s been acting like a total douche recently. The fact is, it was the one point in the story where I though Clare was out of character. Throughout the book she’s a smart heroine, even if she is swamped with cliché high school and boy problems. So why doesn’t she notice it’s actually really, really creepy?
This was a very classic young adult paranormal. While not exactly a bad thing, a lot of the high school experiences–bonfires, house parties–came off as cliché and contrived. The plot, however, does have a twist that I didn’t see coming. Though Clare’s new popular friends aren’t exactly the most engaging characters, I did come to like Mallory, Clare’s new, outcast friend. I loved the way their friendship developed and the dynamics it opened up. The conversations were funny and Harrington built some really great tension into the story–both romantic and scary. One thing I really did love was the Fern family, because they’re quirky and yet relatable at the same time, which is always a hard thing to do with characters that have supernatural powers. Overall, Perception was an easy read, and not a bad sequel. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book Harrington comes out with.
Notable Scene:
I clicked.
I hope you liked my flowers. You deserve to be lavished with gifts. Because you are unique. You are special.
Still anonymous.
I read it over three or four times. The note in my locker and the flowers had made my stomach do little flips over the unexpected flattery. But now I felt a bit nervous. The email was all complimentary. There was nothing threatening about it. But it didn’t seem right. I hemmed and hawed for a few minutes about whether or not to write back and finally decided to do it.
Thanks for the compliments, but I’m at the point now where I want to know who you are. Please tell me.
I hit SEND, and only a minute later, I got a mailbox error in return. The email address did not exist.
The Clarity Series:
1. Clarity
2. Perception
FTC Advisory: Scholastic/Point provided me with a copy of Perception. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Read
May 9, 2012Read this review at Smash Attack Reads
Smashtastic Entertainment Quickie:Another great installment into the fun, mysterious, spooky world of Clarity Fern!
Interest in the book: I adored Clarity. I love the simple, snarky, to-the-point voice Kim Harrington has given Clarity. It is a lot fun to experience the world through Clare's eyes.
Characters: Kim Harrington keeps Clare firmly nestled in her touristy Cape Cod town (though her mother comes quite close to changing this), but Clarity is anything but comfortable. Clare's world was turned upside down in Clarity, so she seems a bit more apprehensive and tentative in this book. However, her need to help others is as strong as ever, and she puts herself out there. Being that her natural talents turned her into a town hero in book one, Clarity is experiencing some newly unwanted popularity. I think Clarity would rather stick pins in her eyes then be thrust into the limelight, but she handles it with outward grace, even though internally, she is a tsunami.
Clare's relationship with her brother, Perry, is just beautiful. Perry has difficulty acclimating to life after his negative experiences in Clarity, and Clare is quite observant, catches on and wants to help him in any way she can. Perry isn't the easiest person to love during this tumultuous time in his life, but Clare puts on her big-girl panties and remains a solid foundation for her brother. ♥
GABRIEL! OMG! I forgot how much I adore this guy. Clare is in quite the pickle trying to figure out if she wants to rekindle the relationship with her first love, Justin, or embark on new experiences with Gabriel. Gabriel always came across as more mature and invested, and it was easy to see that Justin and Clare definitely have some differences in who they are and what they want in this installment. Not to say that Justin is wrong for Clare. They have history, and certain events are brought to light that once tarnished their relationship. I have to say, I was impressed with the time and thought Clare put into her decision. She is definitely more mature and level-headed than your typical teenager.
Lasting Impressions: The mystery in this book brought the spook factor, but it seemed a bit easier to piece together. I enjoyed Clare's internal struggles when she was dealing with the popular girls who once ridiculed her, and are now inviting her to parties and lunch gatherings. I also enjoyed Clare's compassionate attitude towards an outcast in school. She befriends this person with ease, though she constantly questions her friendly motives. All in all, a fine installment in the series.
I enjoy this series because they are easy and quick to read, with likable, real characters and a fun, mysterious plots.
Favorite Scene:
Smashtastic Entertainment Quickie:Another great installment into the fun, mysterious, spooky world of Clarity Fern!
Interest in the book: I adored Clarity. I love the simple, snarky, to-the-point voice Kim Harrington has given Clarity. It is a lot fun to experience the world through Clare's eyes.
Characters: Kim Harrington keeps Clare firmly nestled in her touristy Cape Cod town (though her mother comes quite close to changing this), but Clarity is anything but comfortable. Clare's world was turned upside down in Clarity, so she seems a bit more apprehensive and tentative in this book. However, her need to help others is as strong as ever, and she puts herself out there. Being that her natural talents turned her into a town hero in book one, Clarity is experiencing some newly unwanted popularity. I think Clarity would rather stick pins in her eyes then be thrust into the limelight, but she handles it with outward grace, even though internally, she is a tsunami.
Clare's relationship with her brother, Perry, is just beautiful. Perry has difficulty acclimating to life after his negative experiences in Clarity, and Clare is quite observant, catches on and wants to help him in any way she can. Perry isn't the easiest person to love during this tumultuous time in his life, but Clare puts on her big-girl panties and remains a solid foundation for her brother. ♥
GABRIEL! OMG! I forgot how much I adore this guy. Clare is in quite the pickle trying to figure out if she wants to rekindle the relationship with her first love, Justin, or embark on new experiences with Gabriel. Gabriel always came across as more mature and invested, and it was easy to see that Justin and Clare definitely have some differences in who they are and what they want in this installment. Not to say that Justin is wrong for Clare. They have history, and certain events are brought to light that once tarnished their relationship. I have to say, I was impressed with the time and thought Clare put into her decision. She is definitely more mature and level-headed than your typical teenager.
Lasting Impressions: The mystery in this book brought the spook factor, but it seemed a bit easier to piece together. I enjoyed Clare's internal struggles when she was dealing with the popular girls who once ridiculed her, and are now inviting her to parties and lunch gatherings. I also enjoyed Clare's compassionate attitude towards an outcast in school. She befriends this person with ease, though she constantly questions her friendly motives. All in all, a fine installment in the series.
I enjoy this series because they are easy and quick to read, with likable, real characters and a fun, mysterious plots.
Favorite Scene:
"Welcome to Lorelei's." A saleslady glided up to us. She had white foundation pancaked skin, and went heavy on the eyeliner and red lipstick. She wore a corset that barely contained...I'm gonna say it...her swelling bosom. If she had to sneeze, I was covering my eyes because even a slight cough could pop one of those suckers free.
October 24, 2019
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
Clarity has gotten even more famous after what happened during the summer, with all the murders and how she helped catch the killers. That book was amazing, by the way, and this one was no different!
I had read a particularly disappointing book before this one, but I knew I could count on Kim Harrington to deliver an amazing read and cheer me up! Perception was actually kind of creepy, seeing as how Clare has a rather obsessed stalker... So creepy! At first Clare dismisses all the little gifts as pranks or maybe from one of her two suitors, Gabriel and Justin. But soon, said "gifts" turn more, well, creepy. And then a girl goes missing and she becomes more paranoid. I honestly thought these two things weren't connected but boy was I wrong!
I love me some good mysteries, and I thought this one was pretty great! However, the more clues we got the more I started to put the pieces together and I ended up putting the puzzle together before Clare, unfortunately. It was good, but I wasn't all that surprised at the plot twist when it came. But can I just say how twisted this person is (Clare's stalker)! Dude! Get a grip you freakin' psychopath!
Moving on to the romance... Love triangles, tsk tsk. You guys know I'm not a big fan of these, but surprisingly enough, I didn't mind this one so much! I actually found it amusing seeing Clare's reaction to both these guys! At the beginning of this book, and even through out all of the last book, I was neutral, not really sure whether I liked Justin or Gabriel more. In the end, I was totally Team Gabriel! I love that guy to pieces! He was just so protective of Clare and kind of cocky but totally swoon-worthy! At one point in the book, I did feel like she was leading both of the guys on... Making them both wait for her. It's so not cool, Clare!
Another guy I liked was Clare's brother, Perry. He was just so much fun, but in this book there is something off about him... Something that worries Clare. Because she doesn't have enough on her plate, right? *sarcasm*
Anyway, overall, I really enjoyed the read! I loved the mysteries, especially how they intertwined with one another, the Fern's cool abilities, the Gabriel ;) and Clare's new girlfriend, Mallory. I'm so sad that there are only two books in the series because I just love this world so much! But I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Kim Harrington! They are definitely some you do not want to miss!
Clarity has gotten even more famous after what happened during the summer, with all the murders and how she helped catch the killers. That book was amazing, by the way, and this one was no different!
I had read a particularly disappointing book before this one, but I knew I could count on Kim Harrington to deliver an amazing read and cheer me up! Perception was actually kind of creepy, seeing as how Clare has a rather obsessed stalker... So creepy! At first Clare dismisses all the little gifts as pranks or maybe from one of her two suitors, Gabriel and Justin. But soon, said "gifts" turn more, well, creepy. And then a girl goes missing and she becomes more paranoid. I honestly thought these two things weren't connected but boy was I wrong!
I love me some good mysteries, and I thought this one was pretty great! However, the more clues we got the more I started to put the pieces together and I ended up putting the puzzle together before Clare, unfortunately. It was good, but I wasn't all that surprised at the plot twist when it came. But can I just say how twisted this person is (Clare's stalker)! Dude! Get a grip you freakin' psychopath!
Moving on to the romance... Love triangles, tsk tsk. You guys know I'm not a big fan of these, but surprisingly enough, I didn't mind this one so much! I actually found it amusing seeing Clare's reaction to both these guys! At the beginning of this book, and even through out all of the last book, I was neutral, not really sure whether I liked Justin or Gabriel more. In the end, I was totally Team Gabriel! I love that guy to pieces! He was just so protective of Clare and kind of cocky but totally swoon-worthy! At one point in the book, I did feel like she was leading both of the guys on... Making them both wait for her. It's so not cool, Clare!
Another guy I liked was Clare's brother, Perry. He was just so much fun, but in this book there is something off about him... Something that worries Clare. Because she doesn't have enough on her plate, right? *sarcasm*
Anyway, overall, I really enjoyed the read! I loved the mysteries, especially how they intertwined with one another, the Fern's cool abilities, the Gabriel ;) and Clare's new girlfriend, Mallory. I'm so sad that there are only two books in the series because I just love this world so much! But I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Kim Harrington! They are definitely some you do not want to miss!
August 7, 2012
Disclaimer: I thought Clarity was quite a likable character in the first installment of this series/whatever it is. Whatever happened between the first and second book, I am not sure but what I do know is that I no longer like Clarity as much as I did.
Maybe it’s the sophomore syndrome that causes authors to take characters who were perfectly awesome in the first book and turn them into really unlikable and annoyingly Mary Sue-ish characters in the second book. Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is that Clarity now sits in the ranks of the heroines in books by Lili St. Crow (Defiance etc) and Jaclyn Dolamore (Under the something something). Forgive the flippancy but ohmygollygoodness. I liked the first novel in the series (I am calling it that) because at the heart of it, it was a mystery and I have a thing for mysteries.
Perception tries to be a mystery. No…well…not really. It doesn’t. It pretends it’s a mystery. It’s not. What it is is a soap opera with Clarity in the lead and several eligible, smoking hot boys orbiting her. There are four boys who have a thing for Clarity in this novel. One of them stalker so I guess he only counts half as much. One of them is her best friend’s brother who has not yet made his intentions and attentions explicit. One is Gabriel who is hot hot hot and did I mention, hot? The other is Justin who is hot as well but not as hot as Gabriel and has the distinction of being cheating on Clarity when they were going out together. Right. There is a mother with a loud personality and a tendency to read her daughter’s mind, privacy be damned. A brother who is kinda intriguing. A girl who becomes Clarity’s best friend but has shades of lesbian-ish feelings (which is just a decoy because really, she only loves Clarity for her friendship and not, as is insinuated at several instants, her body).
Into this cast, you throw in some missing people, a spirit and Clarity’s desire to play Veronica Mars and you get Perception. This still may have been half entertaining had Clarity not been so sanctimonious. Everyone wants to be her friend, now, see, and Clarity, well, she’s just so cool and all she doesn’t need friends. There are lots of mean girls in this one who want to steal either Justin or Gabriel, I’m not sure. There is Clarity who doesn’t try to be different but just is because she’s a special snowflake. Did I mention that someone is stalking her? Which is the whole mystery but is not really because you figure it out the exact moment the new character is introduced because why else would he be introduced?
You may have not noticed it but I was displeased by this book. A lot. As such I can’t recommend it to you. Read the first one and pretend it ends there. It’ll be good for you.
Maybe it’s the sophomore syndrome that causes authors to take characters who were perfectly awesome in the first book and turn them into really unlikable and annoyingly Mary Sue-ish characters in the second book. Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is that Clarity now sits in the ranks of the heroines in books by Lili St. Crow (Defiance etc) and Jaclyn Dolamore (Under the something something). Forgive the flippancy but ohmygollygoodness. I liked the first novel in the series (I am calling it that) because at the heart of it, it was a mystery and I have a thing for mysteries.
Perception tries to be a mystery. No…well…not really. It doesn’t. It pretends it’s a mystery. It’s not. What it is is a soap opera with Clarity in the lead and several eligible, smoking hot boys orbiting her. There are four boys who have a thing for Clarity in this novel. One of them stalker so I guess he only counts half as much. One of them is her best friend’s brother who has not yet made his intentions and attentions explicit. One is Gabriel who is hot hot hot and did I mention, hot? The other is Justin who is hot as well but not as hot as Gabriel and has the distinction of being cheating on Clarity when they were going out together. Right. There is a mother with a loud personality and a tendency to read her daughter’s mind, privacy be damned. A brother who is kinda intriguing. A girl who becomes Clarity’s best friend but has shades of lesbian-ish feelings (which is just a decoy because really, she only loves Clarity for her friendship and not, as is insinuated at several instants, her body).
Into this cast, you throw in some missing people, a spirit and Clarity’s desire to play Veronica Mars and you get Perception. This still may have been half entertaining had Clarity not been so sanctimonious. Everyone wants to be her friend, now, see, and Clarity, well, she’s just so cool and all she doesn’t need friends. There are lots of mean girls in this one who want to steal either Justin or Gabriel, I’m not sure. There is Clarity who doesn’t try to be different but just is because she’s a special snowflake. Did I mention that someone is stalking her? Which is the whole mystery but is not really because you figure it out the exact moment the new character is introduced because why else would he be introduced?
You may have not noticed it but I was displeased by this book. A lot. As such I can’t recommend it to you. Read the first one and pretend it ends there. It’ll be good for you.
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