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Dead Spell
Meet Harmony Wolcott. Damaged and determined, she'll take you to the wrong side of the tracks and you'll love it.
Harmony's darkest secret has clawed its way back from the grave and only her best friend, Brea believes her.
Adam, Harmony's boyfriend, fears for her safety. Her mentally ill mother is too busy tending her own demons to care. Brea's family, who has denounced Harmony's for years, buried the truth about their shared tragic past along with their former friendship.
Harmony looks for answers about the monster's identity in the wreckage of her abandoned childhood home but when her search leads her down a dark path, Brea and Adam must pick up the crumbs to get much needed closure.
Some secrets you keep, even from yourself. Dead Spell is about a ghost with a past and a girl who would die to forget it.
A Young Adult novel intended for older teens and fans of YA fiction. Some mature themes.
Harmony's darkest secret has clawed its way back from the grave and only her best friend, Brea believes her.
Adam, Harmony's boyfriend, fears for her safety. Her mentally ill mother is too busy tending her own demons to care. Brea's family, who has denounced Harmony's for years, buried the truth about their shared tragic past along with their former friendship.
Harmony looks for answers about the monster's identity in the wreckage of her abandoned childhood home but when her search leads her down a dark path, Brea and Adam must pick up the crumbs to get much needed closure.
Some secrets you keep, even from yourself. Dead Spell is about a ghost with a past and a girl who would die to forget it.
A Young Adult novel intended for older teens and fans of YA fiction. Some mature themes.
198 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2011
9 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Belinda Frisch
14 books327 followersBelinda Frisch has worked as a cosmetologist, a medical records auditor, and a real estate broker, but her lifelong dream is of being a writer. While other kids were passing notes in class, Belinda was writing creatively. She was the only person she knew who asked for the Writer’s Market for Christmas or had any idea what a SASE was. Her journal, and usually an Anne Rice novel, were her constant companions.
She has written poetry, short stories, novels, a textbook, and co-authored a screenplay when her novel, Cure, was optioned for film that one time. When Belinda isn’t writing, she is probably reading one of the many books that she keeps on rotation. She grew up in the Capital District and identifies as a New Yorker, even though she’s spent the last decade living in South Carolina, where she now writes full-time.
She has written poetry, short stories, novels, a textbook, and co-authored a screenplay when her novel, Cure, was optioned for film that one time. When Belinda isn’t writing, she is probably reading one of the many books that she keeps on rotation. She grew up in the Capital District and identifies as a New Yorker, even though she’s spent the last decade living in South Carolina, where she now writes full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 15, 2016
Harmony Wolcott is a self destructing person. Harmony, lives on the wild side and loves to party. Harmony can't get any help from her mother, because she has her own demons to fight off. Harmony's father disappeared when she was very young and was raised by her mother. Brea Miller is Harmony's best friend. Brea's mother, does not want the two of them to hang around. Harmony's, knows one thing, that she can count of Brea no matter what time of day or night it is. Adam, Harmony's boyfriend, is afraid that she will do something drastic to herself. Harmony tells Brea, that she is being haunted by a spirit name Tom. The haunting of Tom and the heavy parting, leads to Harmony's death. Brea, is determined to find out who this Tom is and why he was haunting her friend. There are some secrets, that are better left buried in the past! The characters is this story are well developed and believable. The story grabs you. from the very first page and takes you on a roller coaster ride of Harmony's life. This is the first book that I have read by this author. I plan on checking out other works by this author. I highly recommend this book.
February 22, 2011
...read Dead Spell. Then see if you can get to sleep. I couldn't. Every little noise jarred me awake, heart racing. I kept getting up to check the doors, the closets, behind the shower curtain. I lay awake, mind churning over a novel with a relentless and terrifying grip.
After three hours of nonstop reading, I felt like I'd stepped off a thrill ride that was part world's most bad-assed rollercoaster and part insane house of horrors. Dead Spell carved itself into my muscle memory and won't be shaken off. It's akin to a furious nightmare that electrifies you every time you think of it for the rest of your life.
The technical skill it took to craft such a complex, layered story leaves me awe struck. Frisch wrote from several different perspectives and the shift always felt right and seamless from a technical perspective, gripping and dizzying from an emotional perspective. And the writer sank me into some truly frightening psychologies.
Being inside Harmony's mind was both awful and riveting. What Frisch accomplished, creating this complex, believable "bad girl", is stunning. All too often "bad girls" are rendered cartoonish, as exaggerated caricatures. Harmony is disturbing and compelling because she's real. She's fierce and vulnerable and full of rage and also brimming with need like a terrified little girl. She is so skillfully rendered that part of the heart pounding suspense of the story is waiting to see what Harmony will do or say next.
And you know what's amazing? The beauty of the writing in a story of horror. "She dug her toes into the mud and the surface roots of weeds that she briefly imagined were the tendons and sinew of some half rotten soul." That's exquisite, and also gut-wrenching, and there's something in that contrast that renders it unforgettable. The novel is infused with gorgeous imagery even as it reads like an unstoppable slam against one atrocity after another - and it's the beauty of these details, contrasted with the horror, that contributes to a richly complicated narrative that won't let go.
Yes, this is a story brimming with masterful contrasts. Harmony and her mentally ill mother, Charity. The stark contrast of those gentle names against a backdrop of misery and grotesque despair. Then Brea and Harmony. Brea's fear only serves to intensify Harmony's recklessness. For instance, when Harmony gets arrested for stealing a car. "Harmony was silent, unshaken, cuffed and defiant, and Brea wondered how she could be so strong when she, the innocent one, was scared shitless." Brea's growth from timidity to ferocity for the sake of her friend rivets you to the page. Her whirlwind absorption into the madness adds a mystery element to the thriller/horror/paranormal/romance.
The scenes with Tom are a ghastly nightmare. Try to guess what he's all about. I dare you. The twists come out of nowhere and it's like being on a rollercoaster in pitch black darkness...you never see them coming and you just rise and drop and your soul screams.
The ending was a revelation I never guessed. The most horrifying, exquisitely rendered drop of all, leaving my stomach a tightly constructed pretzel of fear wedged in my throat.
After three hours of nonstop reading, I felt like I'd stepped off a thrill ride that was part world's most bad-assed rollercoaster and part insane house of horrors. Dead Spell carved itself into my muscle memory and won't be shaken off. It's akin to a furious nightmare that electrifies you every time you think of it for the rest of your life.
The technical skill it took to craft such a complex, layered story leaves me awe struck. Frisch wrote from several different perspectives and the shift always felt right and seamless from a technical perspective, gripping and dizzying from an emotional perspective. And the writer sank me into some truly frightening psychologies.
Being inside Harmony's mind was both awful and riveting. What Frisch accomplished, creating this complex, believable "bad girl", is stunning. All too often "bad girls" are rendered cartoonish, as exaggerated caricatures. Harmony is disturbing and compelling because she's real. She's fierce and vulnerable and full of rage and also brimming with need like a terrified little girl. She is so skillfully rendered that part of the heart pounding suspense of the story is waiting to see what Harmony will do or say next.
And you know what's amazing? The beauty of the writing in a story of horror. "She dug her toes into the mud and the surface roots of weeds that she briefly imagined were the tendons and sinew of some half rotten soul." That's exquisite, and also gut-wrenching, and there's something in that contrast that renders it unforgettable. The novel is infused with gorgeous imagery even as it reads like an unstoppable slam against one atrocity after another - and it's the beauty of these details, contrasted with the horror, that contributes to a richly complicated narrative that won't let go.
Yes, this is a story brimming with masterful contrasts. Harmony and her mentally ill mother, Charity. The stark contrast of those gentle names against a backdrop of misery and grotesque despair. Then Brea and Harmony. Brea's fear only serves to intensify Harmony's recklessness. For instance, when Harmony gets arrested for stealing a car. "Harmony was silent, unshaken, cuffed and defiant, and Brea wondered how she could be so strong when she, the innocent one, was scared shitless." Brea's growth from timidity to ferocity for the sake of her friend rivets you to the page. Her whirlwind absorption into the madness adds a mystery element to the thriller/horror/paranormal/romance.
The scenes with Tom are a ghastly nightmare. Try to guess what he's all about. I dare you. The twists come out of nowhere and it's like being on a rollercoaster in pitch black darkness...you never see them coming and you just rise and drop and your soul screams.
The ending was a revelation I never guessed. The most horrifying, exquisitely rendered drop of all, leaving my stomach a tightly constructed pretzel of fear wedged in my throat.
June 1, 2011
I would like to be up front about something before I go forth with this book review: I am not a book reviewer. There are reasons for this. One reason is that when I am editing others' work, I am often a bit harsh. On occasion, writers of those works at those moments didn't care much for how I went about explaining things. I used to be soft of folks so it took a while for me to be brutally honest about someone's work. I've found sometimes you have to be a little rough on folks to get their attention, to make them listen. While I do tend to be hard on folks, I rarely ever end an editing job without something positive to say. For me, I try to balance the negatives with the positives in order that the writer can see that, even if he/she is struggling with a particular issue, there is hope and giving up should not be an option.
With that in mind, I don't review many books simply because, though I know I can give fair and impartial thoughts, sometimes the writer simply can't handle my opinion or the way I give it. The key word there is opinion. The other reason is I am a notoriously slow reader. It's not that I can't read fast--I can when I have to--but I don't like to breeze through stories and not get the full effect the writer intended.
However, I got my keyboard calloused fingers on a book about six or so weeks ago and, after reading the first couple of pages, I was engrossed in the story. Ten minutes and twenty-five pages later I stopped reading. Did you catch that? Twenty-five pages in ten minutes (or maybe fifteen, but definitely no more than that). That's a lot for me in such a small span of time.
I set the book down just long enough for my wife to pick it up and begin reading it. In my household that is all of about three seconds. She read it in a couple of hours and told me, "You really need to finish this book." Finishing the book was my intention before the lovely lady picked it up.
I turned back to the first page and started over. I read through half the book that night and finished it the next day. For a person who takes six months to finish a three hundred page book, that's quite an accomplishment.
Five paragraphs in to this, one would think I would have already offered up the title of the book and the author or even a little bit about this novel, but I havenn't. On purpose. Remember, I'm not a book reviewer. So, I need you, the reader, to understand that though I am a writer, I am a reader (just like you) and I like to be engrossed in what I am reading. Understand? Good.
Dead Spell, by Belinda Frisch, is my type of book. It's quick paced, but not all action all the time. There are enough descriptions to get the feel of the scenery and the people in it without overdoing it. And it has something that not many stories have (at least for me): a few really good cringe-worthy scenes. If you can make me squirm just a little, then you've done your job, and Belinda Frisch did her job.
A brief synopsis without giving too much away: Teen-aged Harmony struggles with living in a world where her mom has issues of her own and a ghostly figure named Tom haunts her on a regular basis. Her best friend, Brea, also has problems, but not nearly to the extent as Harmony. Brea has to help Harmony figure out who Tom is before it's too late--for both of them.
I can't really say too much more without spoilers, so I'll try and talk around it a little.
As the story unfolds we find out how tight the bond is between the two girls and how Brea's mother wants nothing more than for her to stay away from Harmony. There is a bit of mystery behind her reasons, which in the end, make complete sense. We also get to see more of Tom, the apparition tormenting Harmony, as well as Brea's boyfriend and mother, who are somewhat over protective and, in the mother's case, overbearing.
Again, I am not one to give away all the information, but in the end, the story takes an unexpected turn that gave me a satisfying smile. And that's pretty hard to do these days.
This book could have easily taken that turn into young adult horror, but it stayed in the more adult arena. That is my opinion. Others may disagree and I'm fine with that. It does have the feel of a young adult title, but it also has things in there that definitely fit the more adult crowd. There are drugs, a bit of sex (and who doesn't like them a bit of sex?), some paranormal activity, some violence, both inflicted upon and self-inflicted by the characters. There are lies and deceit and… gasps… a little bit of romance as well, but not too much and not enough to make me gag, thankfully. There is heartache and a bit of redemption as well. There are no glittery vampires or hunky werewolves and that made me a happy reader.
The real key to this book is not only the story, but the ease at which it was written. There is no flowery language to wade through, no purple prose. The characters come to life and, believe me, when certain events happen, you feel it. There is no extra padding of descriptions in order to make the story longer. It comes in at a relatively modest 198 pages, which is right around the forty to fifty thousand word mark. Belinda Frisch's writing in Dead Spell is simple and easy to read.
If you like heavy descriptions and a lot of fluff, then this book is not for you. However, if you like a quick paced, easy to read story, you've found your book of choice in Dead Spell.
Will everyone like this book? Probably not. Nothing is ever liked by everyone. Will the majority enjoy Dead Spell? I am going to say they would. What I find refreshing about this novel is that it was written with the reader in mind, not the editor, not the publisher. It's a story that the reader can understand without having to go back and reread portions of it just to 'make sure.' You don't get lost when the plot takes an unexpected turn. I like that.
Pick up a copy of Dead Spell. I don't believe you will regret it.
With that in mind, I don't review many books simply because, though I know I can give fair and impartial thoughts, sometimes the writer simply can't handle my opinion or the way I give it. The key word there is opinion. The other reason is I am a notoriously slow reader. It's not that I can't read fast--I can when I have to--but I don't like to breeze through stories and not get the full effect the writer intended.
However, I got my keyboard calloused fingers on a book about six or so weeks ago and, after reading the first couple of pages, I was engrossed in the story. Ten minutes and twenty-five pages later I stopped reading. Did you catch that? Twenty-five pages in ten minutes (or maybe fifteen, but definitely no more than that). That's a lot for me in such a small span of time.
I set the book down just long enough for my wife to pick it up and begin reading it. In my household that is all of about three seconds. She read it in a couple of hours and told me, "You really need to finish this book." Finishing the book was my intention before the lovely lady picked it up.
I turned back to the first page and started over. I read through half the book that night and finished it the next day. For a person who takes six months to finish a three hundred page book, that's quite an accomplishment.
Five paragraphs in to this, one would think I would have already offered up the title of the book and the author or even a little bit about this novel, but I havenn't. On purpose. Remember, I'm not a book reviewer. So, I need you, the reader, to understand that though I am a writer, I am a reader (just like you) and I like to be engrossed in what I am reading. Understand? Good.
Dead Spell, by Belinda Frisch, is my type of book. It's quick paced, but not all action all the time. There are enough descriptions to get the feel of the scenery and the people in it without overdoing it. And it has something that not many stories have (at least for me): a few really good cringe-worthy scenes. If you can make me squirm just a little, then you've done your job, and Belinda Frisch did her job.
A brief synopsis without giving too much away: Teen-aged Harmony struggles with living in a world where her mom has issues of her own and a ghostly figure named Tom haunts her on a regular basis. Her best friend, Brea, also has problems, but not nearly to the extent as Harmony. Brea has to help Harmony figure out who Tom is before it's too late--for both of them.
I can't really say too much more without spoilers, so I'll try and talk around it a little.
As the story unfolds we find out how tight the bond is between the two girls and how Brea's mother wants nothing more than for her to stay away from Harmony. There is a bit of mystery behind her reasons, which in the end, make complete sense. We also get to see more of Tom, the apparition tormenting Harmony, as well as Brea's boyfriend and mother, who are somewhat over protective and, in the mother's case, overbearing.
Again, I am not one to give away all the information, but in the end, the story takes an unexpected turn that gave me a satisfying smile. And that's pretty hard to do these days.
This book could have easily taken that turn into young adult horror, but it stayed in the more adult arena. That is my opinion. Others may disagree and I'm fine with that. It does have the feel of a young adult title, but it also has things in there that definitely fit the more adult crowd. There are drugs, a bit of sex (and who doesn't like them a bit of sex?), some paranormal activity, some violence, both inflicted upon and self-inflicted by the characters. There are lies and deceit and… gasps… a little bit of romance as well, but not too much and not enough to make me gag, thankfully. There is heartache and a bit of redemption as well. There are no glittery vampires or hunky werewolves and that made me a happy reader.
The real key to this book is not only the story, but the ease at which it was written. There is no flowery language to wade through, no purple prose. The characters come to life and, believe me, when certain events happen, you feel it. There is no extra padding of descriptions in order to make the story longer. It comes in at a relatively modest 198 pages, which is right around the forty to fifty thousand word mark. Belinda Frisch's writing in Dead Spell is simple and easy to read.
If you like heavy descriptions and a lot of fluff, then this book is not for you. However, if you like a quick paced, easy to read story, you've found your book of choice in Dead Spell.
Will everyone like this book? Probably not. Nothing is ever liked by everyone. Will the majority enjoy Dead Spell? I am going to say they would. What I find refreshing about this novel is that it was written with the reader in mind, not the editor, not the publisher. It's a story that the reader can understand without having to go back and reread portions of it just to 'make sure.' You don't get lost when the plot takes an unexpected turn. I like that.
Pick up a copy of Dead Spell. I don't believe you will regret it.
July 20, 2012
Dead Spell ( Belinda Frisch)
Harmony is a misunderstood troubled teen. Her best friend Brea is quiet and shy and forbidden to hang with her, her mother does not like the wild and mentally unstable Harmony. When Harmony is convinced she is being stalked by a ghost, no one believes her. Her mother is a paranoid schizophrenic and it is assumed that Harmony inherited this disease.
But one thing Harmony knows for sure, she can count on her best friend Brea to help her solve this mystery that has been surrounding her for as long as she can remember.
Fast paced, nail biting page turner. Filled with secrets and surprises and some shocking twists and turns. I truly enjoyed this read from the first page up until the satisfying last page. I look forward to more work by;
Belinda Frisch
Harmony is a misunderstood troubled teen. Her best friend Brea is quiet and shy and forbidden to hang with her, her mother does not like the wild and mentally unstable Harmony. When Harmony is convinced she is being stalked by a ghost, no one believes her. Her mother is a paranoid schizophrenic and it is assumed that Harmony inherited this disease.
But one thing Harmony knows for sure, she can count on her best friend Brea to help her solve this mystery that has been surrounding her for as long as she can remember.
Fast paced, nail biting page turner. Filled with secrets and surprises and some shocking twists and turns. I truly enjoyed this read from the first page up until the satisfying last page. I look forward to more work by;
Belinda Frisch
April 26, 2011
It’s so hard to review a good book without giving the game away. For me, the pleasure in this book was being taken to unknown places: flawed yet endearing characters with broken pasts and hidden secrets and a plot that twists through a few unexpected curves. So, I don’t want to spoil someone else’s pleasure by taking away those unknown places. Dead Spell is a quick read – mainly because it pulls you in; you want to finish it, to not put it down. It mixes paranormal threat with the grim reality of living for people who have to get by with very little – keeping the whole read hair-raising but grounded.
March 16, 2011
In Frisch's debut novel, she offers a paranormal mystery/suspense involving two teenage girls, both with their own troubles at home--one far worse off than the other, though. Brea is shy, insecure, and under the thumb of a rather snobbish and intrusive mother. Harmony, on the other hand, is tormented by what she describes as a spirit named Tom, and has wound up with a reputation as a crazy bad-girl. Her schizophrenic mother and long-running depression don't help matters, either.
The focus of the first half of the story is on Harmony and her escalating encounters with Tom. Her mother is too out of touch to really care or even know what Harmony is going through, as her mind continues to get worse through refusing to take her medication. Her psychiatrist suspects "Tom" is an early warning sign that she could wind up like her mother, especially with previous suicide attempts, cutting, and other self-destructive behavior. And her relationships with boys isn't exactly healthy, with an abusive pseudo-boyfriend named Lance, and an unconditional consort with a fellow broken wing named Adam.
Harmony at times comes across as a very amped up emo girl, with a fascination with her Ouija board, as she tries to find out the secrets behind who Tom really is. But there is something about how tragic she is portrayed that makes her a sympathetic sort despite her constant lashing out at those who care about her. And the abuse she endures from Tom, who appears in mirrors and as an invisible force in the room with her, are some genuinely tense scenes.
But halfway through the novel, the focus shifts to Brea and how she acts as a linchpin to everything going on in the novel. Her mother is supposedly helping a land developer commit a land grab and take Harmony's mother's property away from her, a lone house in a rundown neighborhood on the outskirts of a small town. Brea also has a suitor who is the son of the land developer and the ex-boyfriend of her school bully, which leads Harmony to insist that the guy only spends time with Brea to help with the land grab by isolating the two friends from each other.
Bits of the novel come off as convoluted with the whole background conspiracies and haunting phenomena, and the sudden shift at the midway point was a bit jarring for me. The mystery behind Tom and the subplot of Brea's love life did offer some intrigue, though. A lot of the dialogue between the two girls feels real enough, and it's easy to imagine them behaving in such a way. And Harmony comes across as the most intriguing character of the bunch.
Hardly a flawless effort, but this novel shows some real promise from Frisch and I'll be curious to see how she steps it up in her second novel. Where I had the preconceived notion of this being a more straight-up horror novel, it would up being something closer to a YA paranormal mystery. Kind of like Dawson's Creek meets The Ring. In that regard, I thought it worked okay and was certainly as pleasurable a read as some other books I've read from that sub-genre. If you enjoy reading about teenagers and their weighty issues, mixed with a stark supernatural element, you might want to give this book a try.
The focus of the first half of the story is on Harmony and her escalating encounters with Tom. Her mother is too out of touch to really care or even know what Harmony is going through, as her mind continues to get worse through refusing to take her medication. Her psychiatrist suspects "Tom" is an early warning sign that she could wind up like her mother, especially with previous suicide attempts, cutting, and other self-destructive behavior. And her relationships with boys isn't exactly healthy, with an abusive pseudo-boyfriend named Lance, and an unconditional consort with a fellow broken wing named Adam.
Harmony at times comes across as a very amped up emo girl, with a fascination with her Ouija board, as she tries to find out the secrets behind who Tom really is. But there is something about how tragic she is portrayed that makes her a sympathetic sort despite her constant lashing out at those who care about her. And the abuse she endures from Tom, who appears in mirrors and as an invisible force in the room with her, are some genuinely tense scenes.
But halfway through the novel, the focus shifts to Brea and how she acts as a linchpin to everything going on in the novel. Her mother is supposedly helping a land developer commit a land grab and take Harmony's mother's property away from her, a lone house in a rundown neighborhood on the outskirts of a small town. Brea also has a suitor who is the son of the land developer and the ex-boyfriend of her school bully, which leads Harmony to insist that the guy only spends time with Brea to help with the land grab by isolating the two friends from each other.
Bits of the novel come off as convoluted with the whole background conspiracies and haunting phenomena, and the sudden shift at the midway point was a bit jarring for me. The mystery behind Tom and the subplot of Brea's love life did offer some intrigue, though. A lot of the dialogue between the two girls feels real enough, and it's easy to imagine them behaving in such a way. And Harmony comes across as the most intriguing character of the bunch.
Hardly a flawless effort, but this novel shows some real promise from Frisch and I'll be curious to see how she steps it up in her second novel. Where I had the preconceived notion of this being a more straight-up horror novel, it would up being something closer to a YA paranormal mystery. Kind of like Dawson's Creek meets The Ring. In that regard, I thought it worked okay and was certainly as pleasurable a read as some other books I've read from that sub-genre. If you enjoy reading about teenagers and their weighty issues, mixed with a stark supernatural element, you might want to give this book a try.
November 15, 2012
This book has been billed as a 'YA Horror Novella'..in a way I think that's selling it short. It's almost difficult to categorize. Are there horror elements? Yes as the book is partially a ghost story. Is it creepy? Yep. Some of the events and the reveals pretty twisted. In fact, most of the reveals and twists are just that: twisted. At it's heart though I think Dead Spell is more about mistakes, regrets and not being able to chose your family more than anything else.
Harmony is one of the most disturbed characters I've read in a while. She's promiscuous, uses drugs, she's manipulative, but she's had a hard time in life. Not always an excuse but by the time you're done reading it you'll find no fault with how she acts. Even so, she's genuine. Brea, her best friend since kindergarten is more of the goody two shoes. She also reads quite real. Their relationship is an interesting one giving how diametrically opposite their personalities are.
The real conflict in the relationship comes from Harmony's tendency to hurt herself and her self destructive tendencies. But there's a reason for that. She's haunted by a ghostly apparition only known as Tom. Tom comes around when she's under extreme duress and he forces her to do these things to herself. Harmony can get no help from her mother, a mentally troubled woman who practically runs a brothel out of her house and rarely takes her meds.
The book was very well written. Frisch has a very fluid writing style that's descriptive and fast reading. Even though the book is short she was able to flesh out her characters well, even the minor players. That's no small feat given the brevity of the book.
I will say that I wish it was a little longer and I found the ending to be a little less shocking than I was hoping for but still, this is a great read that shouldn't go overlooked. Sometimes the Young Adult category can make older readers shy away from reading something but that would be a mistake here. This isn't your run of the mill angsty teenager story.
Very good. I look forward to reading more by Frisch!
Harmony is one of the most disturbed characters I've read in a while. She's promiscuous, uses drugs, she's manipulative, but she's had a hard time in life. Not always an excuse but by the time you're done reading it you'll find no fault with how she acts. Even so, she's genuine. Brea, her best friend since kindergarten is more of the goody two shoes. She also reads quite real. Their relationship is an interesting one giving how diametrically opposite their personalities are.
The real conflict in the relationship comes from Harmony's tendency to hurt herself and her self destructive tendencies. But there's a reason for that. She's haunted by a ghostly apparition only known as Tom. Tom comes around when she's under extreme duress and he forces her to do these things to herself. Harmony can get no help from her mother, a mentally troubled woman who practically runs a brothel out of her house and rarely takes her meds.
The book was very well written. Frisch has a very fluid writing style that's descriptive and fast reading. Even though the book is short she was able to flesh out her characters well, even the minor players. That's no small feat given the brevity of the book.
I will say that I wish it was a little longer and I found the ending to be a little less shocking than I was hoping for but still, this is a great read that shouldn't go overlooked. Sometimes the Young Adult category can make older readers shy away from reading something but that would be a mistake here. This isn't your run of the mill angsty teenager story.
Very good. I look forward to reading more by Frisch!
March 9, 2011
Belinda Frisch's "Dead Spell" Grabs the reader by the collar from the start and never lets go!
Brea Miller is straddling the social lines of her small town high school. Her mother is a control freak, her father moved away under mysterious circumstances years ago, and her best friend, Harmony, is haunted by Tom, the evil spirit that came through her Ouija board.
Harmony is a bad girl who lives a life that is constantly out of control. She thrives on a destructive party lifestyle that she feels numbs the evil that haunts her life. Together with her best friend Brea the good girl who seems to be the only one who accepts Harmony for who she really is, they begin to discover the secret behind the demonic force that craves to torture and torment Harmony the closer they get to a danger that could both of them in their graves!
"Dead Spell" is exceptionally well written and moves at a wonderful pace that never lags. Frisch's command of dialogue makes her characters real and never feel manufactured. You can quickly identify with Harmony because she feels like someone you know. Her attention to detail of a character so tormented by an entity known only as Tom can only be equalled by performances such as Ann Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" or Sandra Bullock in "28 Days". Dead Spell gives you that small town creepy feeling that on the surface everything looks fine on those cozy looking sofa furnished verandas and white picket fences but a closer look behind the curtained windows tells you something more sinister is at work in Brea Millers little town. This was a single sitting read. I can't remember the last time I read an entire novel in a day.
This is for certain, Belinda Frisch is easily going to become a name we all will know quite well and sooner than we all think. I for one am looking forward to WHATEVER she writes next! 5 STARS WITHOUT A DOUBT!
Brea Miller is straddling the social lines of her small town high school. Her mother is a control freak, her father moved away under mysterious circumstances years ago, and her best friend, Harmony, is haunted by Tom, the evil spirit that came through her Ouija board.
Harmony is a bad girl who lives a life that is constantly out of control. She thrives on a destructive party lifestyle that she feels numbs the evil that haunts her life. Together with her best friend Brea the good girl who seems to be the only one who accepts Harmony for who she really is, they begin to discover the secret behind the demonic force that craves to torture and torment Harmony the closer they get to a danger that could both of them in their graves!
"Dead Spell" is exceptionally well written and moves at a wonderful pace that never lags. Frisch's command of dialogue makes her characters real and never feel manufactured. You can quickly identify with Harmony because she feels like someone you know. Her attention to detail of a character so tormented by an entity known only as Tom can only be equalled by performances such as Ann Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" or Sandra Bullock in "28 Days". Dead Spell gives you that small town creepy feeling that on the surface everything looks fine on those cozy looking sofa furnished verandas and white picket fences but a closer look behind the curtained windows tells you something more sinister is at work in Brea Millers little town. This was a single sitting read. I can't remember the last time I read an entire novel in a day.
This is for certain, Belinda Frisch is easily going to become a name we all will know quite well and sooner than we all think. I for one am looking forward to WHATEVER she writes next! 5 STARS WITHOUT A DOUBT!
May 28, 2012
I had high hopes going in reading Dead Spell by Belinda Frisch. I had heard a lot of good about it, and I have to say I was not disappointed! I could not put this book down!
Dead Spell follows teenagers Harmony Wolcott and Brea Miller as they attempt to figure out why a seemingly malicious spirit is haunting them, particularly Harmony. The deeper they go, the more confounding the mystery becomes. As I said, this book sinks its claws in and won’t let go, and it’s exciting to watch this mystery unfold. It always keeps you guessing.
What I have to give this book the most kudos for is how many chances it takes. For example, Harmony is an abusive and manipulative girl, and she easily could’ve been too unlikeable to be a protagonist, but you can’t help but feel for her and want to know what is happening to her. Frisch writes her incredibly well, in general. She isn’t your standard teen protagonist in a YA novel; she’s very real.
In fact, all of the characters in this book are real and relatable. My favorite is Adam, Harmony’s boyfriend. He’s a truly multi-layered character, and it’s really interesting to see him expand as a character throughout the book.
The story itself, however, is the strongest element. Frisch’s tale is well-constructed and quick-paced and will always keep your attention. If you haven’t picked up the book yet, definitely give it a read!
Dead Spell follows teenagers Harmony Wolcott and Brea Miller as they attempt to figure out why a seemingly malicious spirit is haunting them, particularly Harmony. The deeper they go, the more confounding the mystery becomes. As I said, this book sinks its claws in and won’t let go, and it’s exciting to watch this mystery unfold. It always keeps you guessing.
What I have to give this book the most kudos for is how many chances it takes. For example, Harmony is an abusive and manipulative girl, and she easily could’ve been too unlikeable to be a protagonist, but you can’t help but feel for her and want to know what is happening to her. Frisch writes her incredibly well, in general. She isn’t your standard teen protagonist in a YA novel; she’s very real.
In fact, all of the characters in this book are real and relatable. My favorite is Adam, Harmony’s boyfriend. He’s a truly multi-layered character, and it’s really interesting to see him expand as a character throughout the book.
The story itself, however, is the strongest element. Frisch’s tale is well-constructed and quick-paced and will always keep your attention. If you haven’t picked up the book yet, definitely give it a read!
January 5, 2012
Great, fast read. Very well written, the story moves along at a great pace and keeps the reader engaged and involved.
Dead Spell is a ghost story about a 17 year old troubled girl with a schizophrenic mother and a dark secret. Harmony is a troubled girl, does drugs, comes from a broken home and has a best friend and a boyfriend who tries to help.
Brea has a mom who does not want the girls to hang out and tries to keep the girls separated.
Throw in a ghost, a graveyard and a mystery and you have all he ingredients of a creepy story.
Dead Spell is a ghost story about a 17 year old troubled girl with a schizophrenic mother and a dark secret. Harmony is a troubled girl, does drugs, comes from a broken home and has a best friend and a boyfriend who tries to help.
Brea has a mom who does not want the girls to hang out and tries to keep the girls separated.
Throw in a ghost, a graveyard and a mystery and you have all he ingredients of a creepy story.
September 26, 2012
Dead Spell will likely beguile you from the beginning as you learn the dark secret of a tragic past is back from the grave. I believe you will look for the identity and search for answers of the ghostly monster just as Harmony (the main character did and almost went crazy doing so).
I thought Dead Spell was a good book and I encourage others to read it and decide for yourself.
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
I thought Dead Spell was a good book and I encourage others to read it and decide for yourself.
Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
May 30, 2011
This book sucks you in from the start. I feel very honored to be one of the first to read it. Brea and Harmony are dealing with a violent ghost named Tom and neither knows why he is haunting them until one of them dies... I haven't read a horror book in a while. This book did have me scared and thinking about stuff for a while. Thanks Belinda, for such a great read.
May 10, 2011
I won Dead Spell in a Goodreads giveaway and I am so lucky to have won such a great book. I couldn't put it down. Great mix of suspense and just good story telling. Love this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
January 19, 2013
Really good novella! The story was really powerful, and although I wasn't crazy about the way it ended, it kept me intrigued the whole time. Just a slight touch of paranormal, but that's not really what the story is about. Definitely recommended!
May 10, 2011
A captivating read. Once I started, I didn't want to stop. The story kept me pulled in and I had to just keep going until I finished. A great story of the paranormal
May 11, 2011
Good read with delightful prose. Watch this author.
February 21, 2012
Pretty good story. Fast capturing read.
November 29, 2012
Loved this book! So many twists and turns I couldn't put the book down.
February 15, 2013
realism in her characters and fast pacing make this one good read and time well spent
March 17, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book. The story was pretty good. The characters were great, despite their flaws. The story itself was well thought out. A very good read. Recommended
September 30, 2020
It did not turn out how I thought it would and something unfortunate happened to a major character which changed the whole feel of the story. There were a lot of twists and turns plus unexpected developments which changed the direction of the story and not always in better ways which explains the three stars that I gave it (more like 2.5 if I could).
January 11, 2018
Wow this book was incredible. A real page turner. I went through many emotions with this one, happy, sad, mad and it was so relevant to how this world is today. I would highly recommend this book.
June 5, 2011
This was a really good story with lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. 17-year-old Harmony has a pretty sad life. Her mother suffers from schizophrenia, is a drug addict, and sleeps with men for money. They often have no power in the run-down trailer they live in. Harmony does not know who her father is and seems to be the parent in what little relationship she has with her mother. And now, Harmony is beginning to have issues of her own.
She is being haunted by a ghost named Tom, who forces her to self-injure. She is scared people will think she is crazy like her mother if she tells anyone so the only other person who knows is her best friend since childhood, Brea. Harmony and Brea couldn’t be more different. Brea’s family is influential and she lives in a nice house. She is a good girl who doesn’t smoke, do drugs, or have sex. These are all things that Harmony does on a regular basis. And she doesn’t seem to mind getting Brea in trouble.
Harmony’s boyfriend, Adam, is older than Harmony but is trying to save her from herself and provide the stability she needs. The harder he tries to help her, the harder she pushes back.
Harmony knows the only way she can try to save herself from Tom is by trying to figure out who he was and what he wants from her. But time is running out and each attack is bringing her closer to death. And then it is too late.
Adam and Brea are left to figure out what has happened and why. And the story got more exciting and interesting the closer I got to the end. It ended really good, and not at all how I thought it would go.
The only trouble I had was relating to some of the characters. I guess the fact that Brea and Adam seemed to take so much crap from Harmony, and just kept coming back for more, was something I couldn’t relate to that well because I don’t know anyone who would put up with so much or continually put themselves out for someone like that. It just seemed unrealistic. But, at the same time, Harmony was so mentally out of it towards the end that I was happy someone was there for her and stuck by her side, though she didn’t seem to appreciate any of it.
This is apparently a first book in a series and I’m curious as to where the story will go from this point. I would really be interested in reading anything by the author that furthers the story.
I really liked Frisch’s style of writing which was easy to follow and alternated between Brea and Harmony narrating. It’s great for those of you who like an exciting, mysterious, and scary book that is a quick and easy read. I read it in one sitting because, once I’m involved in a story, I have to know what is going to happen next!
She is being haunted by a ghost named Tom, who forces her to self-injure. She is scared people will think she is crazy like her mother if she tells anyone so the only other person who knows is her best friend since childhood, Brea. Harmony and Brea couldn’t be more different. Brea’s family is influential and she lives in a nice house. She is a good girl who doesn’t smoke, do drugs, or have sex. These are all things that Harmony does on a regular basis. And she doesn’t seem to mind getting Brea in trouble.
Harmony’s boyfriend, Adam, is older than Harmony but is trying to save her from herself and provide the stability she needs. The harder he tries to help her, the harder she pushes back.
Harmony knows the only way she can try to save herself from Tom is by trying to figure out who he was and what he wants from her. But time is running out and each attack is bringing her closer to death. And then it is too late.
Adam and Brea are left to figure out what has happened and why. And the story got more exciting and interesting the closer I got to the end. It ended really good, and not at all how I thought it would go.
The only trouble I had was relating to some of the characters. I guess the fact that Brea and Adam seemed to take so much crap from Harmony, and just kept coming back for more, was something I couldn’t relate to that well because I don’t know anyone who would put up with so much or continually put themselves out for someone like that. It just seemed unrealistic. But, at the same time, Harmony was so mentally out of it towards the end that I was happy someone was there for her and stuck by her side, though she didn’t seem to appreciate any of it.
This is apparently a first book in a series and I’m curious as to where the story will go from this point. I would really be interested in reading anything by the author that furthers the story.
I really liked Frisch’s style of writing which was easy to follow and alternated between Brea and Harmony narrating. It’s great for those of you who like an exciting, mysterious, and scary book that is a quick and easy read. I read it in one sitting because, once I’m involved in a story, I have to know what is going to happen next!
June 19, 2012
Harmony is hearing voices and as the daughter of a paranoid schizophrenic no one is surprised, but unfortunately for Harmony the voice she’s hearing is real. She is being haunted by the ghost of a man named Tom who seems to be trying to kill her for reasons Harmony just doesn’t understand. Harmony’s best friend Brea is the only one who knows what’s going on and she takes on the task of trying to figure out just who this ghost might be. As Brea gets deeper into the case she begins to discover that Tom and Harmony may have been closer in life than in death, and Harmony and Brea might share more than Brea’s mother is letting on.
I had a difficult time deciding how to rate this book, there are things it does fantastically, and places where it could have been done better. While this book is being marketed to the supernatural horror crowd I didn’t find the ghost story aspect very intriguing, in fact, the whole supernatural element really falls flat after the first several chapters. What Frisch does well in this book is the relationship element between Harmony and Brea. The friendship of these two girls is true to live and the grief Brea feels when that friendship is lost is described beautiful. I almost wish Frisch had turned this into more of a YA mystery than a supernatural tale because the real-life dynamics of this book are by far the strong point.
The book takes a few interesting turns near the end and while they aren’t quite as well developed or foreshadowed as they could have been they do not disappoint. A little more care could have been taken with the editing and there are quite a few typos, misplaced quotation marks, and some issues with tense switching. If these are issues that would distract you from the plot you may want to pass on this one. However, I think Frisch has shown some great potential with this book and there are quite a few touching moments throughout the text that make reading it worthwhile.
I had a difficult time deciding how to rate this book, there are things it does fantastically, and places where it could have been done better. While this book is being marketed to the supernatural horror crowd I didn’t find the ghost story aspect very intriguing, in fact, the whole supernatural element really falls flat after the first several chapters. What Frisch does well in this book is the relationship element between Harmony and Brea. The friendship of these two girls is true to live and the grief Brea feels when that friendship is lost is described beautiful. I almost wish Frisch had turned this into more of a YA mystery than a supernatural tale because the real-life dynamics of this book are by far the strong point.
The book takes a few interesting turns near the end and while they aren’t quite as well developed or foreshadowed as they could have been they do not disappoint. A little more care could have been taken with the editing and there are quite a few typos, misplaced quotation marks, and some issues with tense switching. If these are issues that would distract you from the plot you may want to pass on this one. However, I think Frisch has shown some great potential with this book and there are quite a few touching moments throughout the text that make reading it worthwhile.
July 15, 2012
BEC'S REVIEW
Dead Spell is a bit of a strange book, for while the synopsis talks of Harmony, only half of the story is really hers. The other half is narrated by her best friend Brea who does not rate a mention on the synopsis for some reason. Dead Spell is a novel that is supposed shock you with its twists and turns, and yet I felt at times that the past and truth waiting to be dug up did not justify the events in the first half of the book. This is particularly true for Tom, one of the characters whose past you find out and who I feel, given that past, would not have acted in the way he did. I was left with a funny feeling after finishing this book as if the twist did not quite fit the start of the book, like the two halves were mismatched puzzle pieces being forced to connect.
I wasn’t totally sold on the characterisation either. Harmony seems like a stereotypical bad girl and while some of that may have been deliberate it was hard to see if there was another side to her beyond the stereotype. Another character, Adam, also seemed to be lacking that something that would make him seem realistic and there were times I felt his actions were completely against his character. Even Brea did not seem fully formed as a character and I struggled to gain a sense of who she really was beyond Harmony’s friend and her mother’s daughter.
However despite these problems Dead Spell had me along for the ride. The book moved along at a rapid pace and while I did not feel the twist fit the situation or the characters there may be others that enjoy it. Overall the book is different from many of the young adult books that are flooding the market at the moment which is always refreshing to find. If you enjoy a fast paced book with twists, then this one’s for you.
Dead Spell is a bit of a strange book, for while the synopsis talks of Harmony, only half of the story is really hers. The other half is narrated by her best friend Brea who does not rate a mention on the synopsis for some reason. Dead Spell is a novel that is supposed shock you with its twists and turns, and yet I felt at times that the past and truth waiting to be dug up did not justify the events in the first half of the book. This is particularly true for Tom, one of the characters whose past you find out and who I feel, given that past, would not have acted in the way he did. I was left with a funny feeling after finishing this book as if the twist did not quite fit the start of the book, like the two halves were mismatched puzzle pieces being forced to connect.
I wasn’t totally sold on the characterisation either. Harmony seems like a stereotypical bad girl and while some of that may have been deliberate it was hard to see if there was another side to her beyond the stereotype. Another character, Adam, also seemed to be lacking that something that would make him seem realistic and there were times I felt his actions were completely against his character. Even Brea did not seem fully formed as a character and I struggled to gain a sense of who she really was beyond Harmony’s friend and her mother’s daughter.
However despite these problems Dead Spell had me along for the ride. The book moved along at a rapid pace and while I did not feel the twist fit the situation or the characters there may be others that enjoy it. Overall the book is different from many of the young adult books that are flooding the market at the moment which is always refreshing to find. If you enjoy a fast paced book with twists, then this one’s for you.
July 11, 2011
This book automatically started with a punch. Opening scene of a crazy girl was just grabbing at you. As I continued to read I saw the world in a whole new way.
I think the craziness of this book it was got me hooked. Seeing ghosts, going crazy, is a great plot line. But I had a hard time connecting with the main character Harmony. I saw that she had a troubled life but the way she went about it made me shake my head. I understood that she is trying to get away from certain things, but still some of it is too much. I did however connect more with Brea her friend. I loved this girl. She is the type that I want for a best friend. Someone loyal, trusting , and always there for you.
The whole plot line of the ghost I did enjoy. I like seeing how the ghost drove someone crazy. As the reader continues to read, you began to see how everything is connected. That right there gave me some serious goosebumps. I mean, it was just freaky. Playing with the Quijia board is not cool people!
The love interest in the story drove me mad. Here this girl had such a great guy and she just threw him away! I mean, really chic! I think the way it played out with all of the characters involved it did bring more to the story.
Overall, this is good book to read. But beware there is a whole lot of freaky ghost and messed up stuff going on. *There is sex, cursing, drinking, and drugs.*
I think the craziness of this book it was got me hooked. Seeing ghosts, going crazy, is a great plot line. But I had a hard time connecting with the main character Harmony. I saw that she had a troubled life but the way she went about it made me shake my head. I understood that she is trying to get away from certain things, but still some of it is too much. I did however connect more with Brea her friend. I loved this girl. She is the type that I want for a best friend. Someone loyal, trusting , and always there for you.
The whole plot line of the ghost I did enjoy. I like seeing how the ghost drove someone crazy. As the reader continues to read, you began to see how everything is connected. That right there gave me some serious goosebumps. I mean, it was just freaky. Playing with the Quijia board is not cool people!
The love interest in the story drove me mad. Here this girl had such a great guy and she just threw him away! I mean, really chic! I think the way it played out with all of the characters involved it did bring more to the story.
Overall, this is good book to read. But beware there is a whole lot of freaky ghost and messed up stuff going on. *There is sex, cursing, drinking, and drugs.*
July 19, 2013
Dead Spell is about a troubled "broken" teenager that is seeing a ghost Tom who makes her cut herself. I believe it is supposed to be a horror book but I didn't find it the least scary.
This book could have been really good but it just fell flat for me. I never was able to connect to Harmony and I wanted more of her background, which you do get a tiny bit more at the end but still not enough.
Dead Spell was not a true horror for me I would say it was more of a mystery but some reviews said it did scare them so I suppose I just read to many horror novels and am picky on that.
Overall a interesting read and would consider more books from the author.
This book could have been really good but it just fell flat for me. I never was able to connect to Harmony and I wanted more of her background, which you do get a tiny bit more at the end but still not enough.
Dead Spell was not a true horror for me I would say it was more of a mystery but some reviews said it did scare them so I suppose I just read to many horror novels and am picky on that.
Overall a interesting read and would consider more books from the author.
May 28, 2011
Dead Spell by Belinda Frisch is a story that comes from a writer’s dark heart. There is a light in this tale but it is like the sun trying to shine through a curtained window in a slight breeze.
Harmony, Brea, Adam, Jaxon and the others join in trying to discover a secret that has the potential to destroy many lives as they try to survive life itself.
Belinda Frisch has written an urban tale so real, hard and dark it will have you cringing, wide-eyed and looking over your shoulder. I wonder with amazement at how the author brought all this forward without being swallowed up in it. That is where the talent of an outstanding author comes to bare.
If you enjoy reading believable, dark tales of people living on the hard crust of reality then Dead Spell is the book for you.
My hat is off to Belinda Frisch, whose sweet smile and dark writing left me with tears, of pain and joy, for those that made up this great story.
Harmony, Brea, Adam, Jaxon and the others join in trying to discover a secret that has the potential to destroy many lives as they try to survive life itself.
Belinda Frisch has written an urban tale so real, hard and dark it will have you cringing, wide-eyed and looking over your shoulder. I wonder with amazement at how the author brought all this forward without being swallowed up in it. That is where the talent of an outstanding author comes to bare.
If you enjoy reading believable, dark tales of people living on the hard crust of reality then Dead Spell is the book for you.
My hat is off to Belinda Frisch, whose sweet smile and dark writing left me with tears, of pain and joy, for those that made up this great story.
July 7, 2011
This is a great book that pulled me in from the beginning pages and would not let go until the end.
This book was gripping. I felt all of the pain that Harmony had to go through. There were some very graphic parts, but they were very pertinent to the story. The ghost story added another obstacle for the characters to overcome.
I could not believe the shock toward the end! I so was not expecting it and totally blew me away…twice! Harmony and Adam must have really been meant to be together after all. I enjoyed the story of Jaxon and Brea. I am glad that Brea had stuck up for herself in the end. She needs to learn how to stand up to that mother of hers also. hee hee hee!
This was a great story and a recommended read. With only 192 pages, it makes for a quick book, but I loved every chapter!
This book was gripping. I felt all of the pain that Harmony had to go through. There were some very graphic parts, but they were very pertinent to the story. The ghost story added another obstacle for the characters to overcome.
I could not believe the shock toward the end! I so was not expecting it and totally blew me away…twice! Harmony and Adam must have really been meant to be together after all. I enjoyed the story of Jaxon and Brea. I am glad that Brea had stuck up for herself in the end. She needs to learn how to stand up to that mother of hers also. hee hee hee!
This was a great story and a recommended read. With only 192 pages, it makes for a quick book, but I loved every chapter!
October 22, 2013
Harmony is a troubled teen who is misunderstood. Brea her best friend is shy and quiet and forbidden to hang out with Harmony. Her Mother doesn't like the mentally unstable wild Harmony. Harmony believes she is being stalked by a ghost, no one believes her. Her mother is a parnoid schizophrenic and they believe Hrmony has inherited the disease. Harmony knows she can count on Brea her best friend to help her solve the mystery that has been surrounding her for as long as she can remember. A real fast paced, page turner filled with surprises and secrets, shocking twists and turns . I look forward to reading more books by Belinda Frisch.
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