hoosgracie's review
3.0
Decent mystery featuring a librarian and her grandmother who have psychic powers. The characters weren't terribly appealing though.
emilygaynier's review
3.0
So this is probably more like a 2.5
There were some elements I liked, but the stuff I disliked were bad. As a librarian, I had a hard time reading about the main character at her job. Being mad about overdue library books is not something a sane librarian does. It's such an everyday thing. It's like a construction worker being mad they have to use a hammer.
The mystery was good up until we found out Davis's secret.
I loved Abby and Darci!
Ophelia sucks
It's honestly super hard to tell when this book is set. If it's set when the book was published in '05, I can kind of believe that the library still has the card catalog and has a computer. But even when the internet was still that new, the library would've had more then one patron computer. Also a library only having two employees is not smart or safe. Even if they were only briefly mentioned here and there, there should've been two or more other librarians. Also the author is confused about what the title of librarian and assistant librarian actually do. Calling Darci an assistant was just weird.
Also Abby promising the bees that she keeps that they'll get gallons of sugar water come spring isn't something a good beekeeper would do. Sugar water is not something you should give bees with any kind of regularity
There were some elements I liked, but the stuff I disliked were bad. As a librarian, I had a hard time reading about the main character at her job. Being mad about overdue library books is not something a sane librarian does. It's such an everyday thing. It's like a construction worker being mad they have to use a hammer.
The mystery was good up until we found out Davis's secret.
I loved Abby and Darci!
Ophelia sucks
It's honestly super hard to tell when this book is set. If it's set when the book was published in '05, I can kind of believe that the library still has the card catalog and has a computer. But even when the internet was still that new, the library would've had more then one patron computer. Also a library only having two employees is not smart or safe. Even if they were only briefly mentioned here and there, there should've been two or more other librarians. Also the author is confused about what the title of librarian and assistant librarian actually do. Calling Darci an assistant was just weird.
Also Abby promising the bees that she keeps that they'll get gallons of sugar water come spring isn't something a good beekeeper would do. Sugar water is not something you should give bees with any kind of regularity
hooknthorn's review
2.0
For a book that I would consider to be in the fluffy easy to read mystery/paranormal genre, I found myself struggling to finish this. Overall it was fine, but I found myself disliking most of the characters and found the plot to be mediocre.
jackirenee's review
3.0
Ophelia Jensen leads a fairly normal life in small town Iowa, if you think having a witch for a grandma, possessing pyschic abilities, and getting caught up in murder cases are normal, that is. Five years prior, Ophelia has a premonition of her best friends murder, however, it doesn't help her save his life. Now rejecting her gift could cost her own life.
Damsgaard's story if fun with a town full of great characters, recoginizable in just about any small Iowa town. However, some of those characters are bit over done, creating stereotypes and cliches rather than true people. The story is fast paced and enjoyable, although a bit predictable at times.
All in all, this is a great summer read and enjoyable enought that I am looking forward to following along in further adventures as I am sure that Damsgaard will mature as a writer, creating even better storylines.
Damsgaard's story if fun with a town full of great characters, recoginizable in just about any small Iowa town. However, some of those characters are bit over done, creating stereotypes and cliches rather than true people. The story is fast paced and enjoyable, although a bit predictable at times.
All in all, this is a great summer read and enjoyable enought that I am looking forward to following along in further adventures as I am sure that Damsgaard will mature as a writer, creating even better storylines.
hoperu's review
2.0
I tried this because the main character is a librarian, and it is a murder mystery. Unfortunately, this was very much a first book. Ophelia, the main character, is rather unlikable, and her grandmother, Abby, is too nice and perfect. The writing is rather uneven, and the mystery takes forever to really appear, with lots of red herrings. There is promise there, but I doubt I will be reading any more of the series any time soon.
irurian's review
1.0
Ended up abandoning a third of the way in. Oh & btw at that point there should be some hint of a decent mystery. Instead, we get a few lines about some thefts and a fire in a trash can. I should have been hooked by that point in the story.
And of course there's the main character. Ophelia is one of the biggest and most unlikeable bitches I have seen in fiction in a very long time. She seems to do nothing but criticise everything and everyone around her. Why Damsgaard decided to start off her series with this, I have no idea.
The "love interest" is creepy as fuck as well. Especially with his weird insistence that he follow her home the first time he meets her. Ugh.
Definitely not continuing on with this series.
And of course there's the main character. Ophelia is one of the biggest and most unlikeable bitches I have seen in fiction in a very long time. She seems to do nothing but criticise everything and everyone around her. Why Damsgaard decided to start off her series with this, I have no idea.
The "love interest" is creepy as fuck as well. Especially with his weird insistence that he follow her home the first time he meets her. Ugh.
Definitely not continuing on with this series.
luckyliza13's review
3.0
Not the most well written book, but an entertaining story. I wonder if the characters get better developed in later books.
slferg's review
4.0
Ophelia Jensen is a small town librarian. She has been living here several years near her grandmother Abby. Abby is a witch, healing woman, whatever. Ophelia, too, has the gift but doesn't want to use it. She feels betrayed since her best friend was killed and her grandfather died. After all, what's the use of magick if you can't save those you love? Why should the visions of death cause such pain, and you can't do anything about it. So she quit her library job at the University and moved to this small town since they needed a librarian. She has shut out everyone except her grandmother, not wanting to feel such pain again. Then a "chemical salesman" (that's what he claims) comes to town, Rick asks lots of questions and goes through the archives of the local paper. Abby "reads" him and decides that he's a good person, but there is a circle of evil drawing closer around him and Ophelia and Ophelia will have to acknowledge her powers and use them to save the both of them. Ophelia goes to the woods to think and discovers a body - that she had dreamed of a few days before. She was very upset and her assistant at the library, Darcy, had asked Rick to follow her and be sure she was alright.
Things keep happening. And Ophelia is surprised to learn that she is loosening up and starting to let people in. Darcy refuses to be shut out and offended when Ophelia is rude to her and Ophelia learns to accept people caring for her. Her cat Queenie and her dog Lady (part wolf) are very protective of her and knows when she's had disturbing dreams and needs soothing.
Delightful tale. I'll probably read more of them and watch Ophelia's continuing development and acceptance of her magickal powers.
Things keep happening. And Ophelia is surprised to learn that she is loosening up and starting to let people in. Darcy refuses to be shut out and offended when Ophelia is rude to her and Ophelia learns to accept people caring for her. Her cat Queenie and her dog Lady (part wolf) are very protective of her and knows when she's had disturbing dreams and needs soothing.
Delightful tale. I'll probably read more of them and watch Ophelia's continuing development and acceptance of her magickal powers.
lisaarnsdorf's review
2.0
I read this book several years ago, but remembered next to nothing about it. After a second read, I know why. It took 100 pages for the plot to really get moving. Ophelia, our main character, was so whiny and contrary, it was hard to find sympathy for her struggles. And Ophelia's magick doesn't follow any rules.
The supporting characters were interesting.
The supporting characters were interesting.