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Harmless
Be careful what you wish for.
After moving from Vancouver to isolated Hazelton, BC, high school senior Rachel Barnes hopes she’ll finally find closure and a sense of direction after tragedy has torn her family apart. When she and her friends discover the old spirit box her grandmother gave her, they see it as a chance to wish their troubles away. But the Great Spirits—deer, crow, bear, and the mythical wendigo—give away nothing for free.
So instead of worrying about fitting in and finding a boyfriend, Rachel finds herself in a race to control the malevolent spirit who’s taken up residence in Mason Allen, who she fears and craves in equal measure. What began as a harmless game forces Rachel to confront her past—and offers her a future she never imagined.
After moving from Vancouver to isolated Hazelton, BC, high school senior Rachel Barnes hopes she’ll finally find closure and a sense of direction after tragedy has torn her family apart. When she and her friends discover the old spirit box her grandmother gave her, they see it as a chance to wish their troubles away. But the Great Spirits—deer, crow, bear, and the mythical wendigo—give away nothing for free.
So instead of worrying about fitting in and finding a boyfriend, Rachel finds herself in a race to control the malevolent spirit who’s taken up residence in Mason Allen, who she fears and craves in equal measure. What began as a harmless game forces Rachel to confront her past—and offers her a future she never imagined.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2017
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 22, 2017
I really liked this book – one, because I’m an Australian and I find the Native American culture fascinating; two, because even though I’ve read books containing a wendigo, this one was different and three, because I loved the main character.
This story flowed across the pages and I found it difficult to put down because I really wanted to know how it played out. Did it go the way I expected? No, but that’s a very good thing since a predictable story is one of my pet peeves.
I really hope this is the first book in a series because I felt that there is more to Rachel’s story and I have questions that need to be answered.
Written by Karen from A Thousand Lives Book Blog
This story flowed across the pages and I found it difficult to put down because I really wanted to know how it played out. Did it go the way I expected? No, but that’s a very good thing since a predictable story is one of my pet peeves.
I really hope this is the first book in a series because I felt that there is more to Rachel’s story and I have questions that need to be answered.
Written by Karen from A Thousand Lives Book Blog
July 21, 2022
Sometimes you pick up a book, and as you begin to read, you realize the novel has “it”. The indescribable quality that entrances you and makes you believe you’ve just hooked into an author on the verge of a meteoric rise.
"Harmless" reeks of “it”.
This YA horror is wrapped in a coastal rainforest, haunted by spirit creatures of ancient myth, and entwined with compelling characters. Author to watch, Katherine Dell, has delivered a riveting debut novel that starts with an innocent game and ends in shocking transformation. Worse, it leaves you hungry for more.
I heartily recommend this book.
Elizabeth Whitton
2018 Aurora Award Winner for Best YA Novel
"Harmless" reeks of “it”.
This YA horror is wrapped in a coastal rainforest, haunted by spirit creatures of ancient myth, and entwined with compelling characters. Author to watch, Katherine Dell, has delivered a riveting debut novel that starts with an innocent game and ends in shocking transformation. Worse, it leaves you hungry for more.
I heartily recommend this book.
Elizabeth Whitton
2018 Aurora Award Winner for Best YA Novel
June 20, 2017
I loved this book. It had everything I look for in my pleasure reading from action, tension and suspense to romance and humor. There were twists and turns that I didn't expect, but more than that, the characters pulled me in and I was racing to see what was going to happen next. I don't read a ton of books that have romance, but these characters had me on the edge of my seat! I look forward to the sequel and more from this author.
July 19, 2017
So, I opened up my planner a few days ago and realized that I had written in to try to review the book Harmless this week. I couldn't remember what it was about so I searched for the review request email and read the synopsis. It sounded pretty good so I wasn't worried, but at the same time, I sure was hoping that it would be the kind of book that I would be so into that I would want to put it down (You know, since I didn't have much time to read it being that I'm a procrastinator). Well... It was SO GOOD!
I seriously read it in 2 days. It would have been 1 day if I hadn't started it late at night! I really enjoyed it. Even after reading the synopsis, I was still surprised and kept on the edge of my seat.
Before reading Harmless I had never even heard the word wendigo, much less knew what one was. I really like learning about other cultures and things so I found that pretty cool. I don't know that I would ever want to meet one but learning about them was neat! Lol!
Harmless was left somewhat open ended. Hopefully that means there will be a sequel to this story! I would love to hear more about what happens with Mason and Rachel!
Thank you, Katherine, for sending this book to me! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from you!
*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I seriously read it in 2 days. It would have been 1 day if I hadn't started it late at night! I really enjoyed it. Even after reading the synopsis, I was still surprised and kept on the edge of my seat.
Before reading Harmless I had never even heard the word wendigo, much less knew what one was. I really like learning about other cultures and things so I found that pretty cool. I don't know that I would ever want to meet one but learning about them was neat! Lol!
Harmless was left somewhat open ended. Hopefully that means there will be a sequel to this story! I would love to hear more about what happens with Mason and Rachel!
Thank you, Katherine, for sending this book to me! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more from you!
*Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2017
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Rachel Barnes’ life seemed to change forever after her elder brother Eric was killed in a car crash, when she was just fourteen; her parents divorced and she and her Mum set about moving house, time after time, trying to find a place to settle down again. In Harmless, by Katherine Dell, they’ve now left Vancouver and settled in her Mother’s small home town, with Rachel’s grandmother – a full-blooded native of the area. Despite being there for five months already, Rachel has yet to even unpack her boxes of stuff that she brought with them. When Rachel and her friends open a spirit box given to her by her Grandmother, strange things begin to occur. The spirits released; the white deer, crow and bear offer wishes to the young people, but also released is the evil “soul reaper”, the mythical black Wendigo. Rachel just wants to find her place in the world – can the spirits help her in that?
Aimed fairly and squarely at the young adult market, Harmless finds its mark. The characters of Rachel and her friends are clearly archetypical high-school seniors, unsure of where there lives will head after school and nervous about the prospects of leaving their home town and their friends to venture out into the world. Dell has done a good job of building the characters. Rachel especially was easy to identify and empathise with. Her angst over her brother’s loss is the centre of this story and Rachel’s friends merely bit players who aid her in her quest for freedom from the pain of her loss. I particularly enjoyed the supernatural portion of the story and the exploration of the Native myths and legends that created the spirit box and its contents. From a target audience perspective, this is a very readable book, with the usual teenage angst and love interests. I did enjoy the tenseness and conflict of Rachel’s relationships with the two male characters in her life; Mason and Nate. I think Katherine Dell has related an interesting and easily read tale here in Harmless and as the first book in a planned series, it’s a good start.
Rachel Barnes’ life seemed to change forever after her elder brother Eric was killed in a car crash, when she was just fourteen; her parents divorced and she and her Mum set about moving house, time after time, trying to find a place to settle down again. In Harmless, by Katherine Dell, they’ve now left Vancouver and settled in her Mother’s small home town, with Rachel’s grandmother – a full-blooded native of the area. Despite being there for five months already, Rachel has yet to even unpack her boxes of stuff that she brought with them. When Rachel and her friends open a spirit box given to her by her Grandmother, strange things begin to occur. The spirits released; the white deer, crow and bear offer wishes to the young people, but also released is the evil “soul reaper”, the mythical black Wendigo. Rachel just wants to find her place in the world – can the spirits help her in that?
Aimed fairly and squarely at the young adult market, Harmless finds its mark. The characters of Rachel and her friends are clearly archetypical high-school seniors, unsure of where there lives will head after school and nervous about the prospects of leaving their home town and their friends to venture out into the world. Dell has done a good job of building the characters. Rachel especially was easy to identify and empathise with. Her angst over her brother’s loss is the centre of this story and Rachel’s friends merely bit players who aid her in her quest for freedom from the pain of her loss. I particularly enjoyed the supernatural portion of the story and the exploration of the Native myths and legends that created the spirit box and its contents. From a target audience perspective, this is a very readable book, with the usual teenage angst and love interests. I did enjoy the tenseness and conflict of Rachel’s relationships with the two male characters in her life; Mason and Nate. I think Katherine Dell has related an interesting and easily read tale here in Harmless and as the first book in a planned series, it’s a good start.
November 27, 2017
Harmless by Katherine Dell
This story has a little bit of everything. native myths that aren't myths, mysteries, suspenseful twists and turns, friendships, love and loss and a little bit of romance for the romantics out there.
I am an adult that loves young adult novels. I wish they had these books when I was a teen. I'm always on the hunt for the next awesome read and this didn't disappoint.
You do not find many books about wendigos so this was a great change of pace. Some times I just get plain tired of vamps and wolves give me something original. Well Katherine did just that, I'm waiting in anticipation for the next installment!
This story has a little bit of everything. native myths that aren't myths, mysteries, suspenseful twists and turns, friendships, love and loss and a little bit of romance for the romantics out there.
I am an adult that loves young adult novels. I wish they had these books when I was a teen. I'm always on the hunt for the next awesome read and this didn't disappoint.
You do not find many books about wendigos so this was a great change of pace. Some times I just get plain tired of vamps and wolves give me something original. Well Katherine did just that, I'm waiting in anticipation for the next installment!
January 9, 2018
I. Loved. This. Book! There are so many different elements within the pages that have been beautifully blended together to create such a compelling read. I really enjoyed the hints of myths, mystery, paranormal, suspense, and a love triangle like no other. At the end, you will definitely pick a team and I’m unapologetically Team Nate (sorry Mason).
The main character Rachel has a lot of layers to her, which I found interesting. The writing style is really engaging. It puts you right into the action as it unfolds. The pacing is great. It delivers that page turner syndrome where you can’t put it down. I am eager to check out the second book. While the ending leaves you satisfied, I still want to uncover a few gems in the next book.
The main character Rachel has a lot of layers to her, which I found interesting. The writing style is really engaging. It puts you right into the action as it unfolds. The pacing is great. It delivers that page turner syndrome where you can’t put it down. I am eager to check out the second book. While the ending leaves you satisfied, I still want to uncover a few gems in the next book.
June 19, 2017
Fascinating story about the mythical wendigo. I really enjoyed, and recommend, this story of a young woman in a small town who inadvertently discovers the world of nature spirits, and triggers the release of a wendigo into our world. Beautifully written, and full of very real characters, whose lives and relationships we get immersed into. I found myself routing for the main character and hooked to find out which of the two men in her life she'd choose, and how the problem of the wendigo would get resolved. I wasn't disappointed, though now I need to read the sequel.
Great subject matter, great characters, great voice. A super debut book.
Great subject matter, great characters, great voice. A super debut book.
November 27, 2017
Harmless is a fast paced, exciting book that has just the right balance of romance and action. The mysterious Indigenous based legends within the story are creepy and really pull you in as a reader. The characters feel real and by the end of the book you feel as if you're a part of their little group. I've never been to the small town in the novel, but the setting still felt real, I feel like I've been there.
I actually had the chance to meet Katherine Dell. She is so nice and amazing. Anyone looking for a good young adult book with some myths and old magic would absolutely love Katherine's novel. I can't wait for the sequel!
I actually had the chance to meet Katherine Dell. She is so nice and amazing. Anyone looking for a good young adult book with some myths and old magic would absolutely love Katherine's novel. I can't wait for the sequel!
November 22, 2018
After reading the summary I was excited to start this book, and of course my anticipation was fulfilled and I just didn't want to stop reading. There would be times that I would tell myself to stop reading till a certain chapter but I would loose track and just be so into the book that I forget. I loved all the characters, but I really wanted the main girl to be with Mason.. although I did indeed like Nate's character. But throughout the entire story, Mason was my favorite.
I really hope to see the second book, I will be patiently waiting till there is one. Good Job!!
I really hope to see the second book, I will be patiently waiting till there is one. Good Job!!
June 11, 2018
Katherine Dell's novel, Harmless, was a thrilling page-turner. I was very intrigued by the Native American folklore and by the mystery that surrounded the spirit box. It was a pleasure to read, as Katherine is a great storyteller; she has crafted a work that piqued my curiosity at every chapter. A very memorable reading experience.
September 29, 2022
I wasn't expecting much when I picked up this novel, perhaps that's why I was so blown away by it. I was hooked from the beginning, and couldn't wait to see what would happen. I found the characters felt real and relatable. Looking forward to the next book in the series and to read anything else she publishes!
June 17, 2017
The book was a page turner. If you enjoy stories about the Natives, spirits and mystical powers, you're at the right place. The story will keep you on your toes. The characters grows navigating between love, friendships, losses, and mystical. Can't wait for the next installment. :)
January 21, 2018
A very enjoyable book with likeable characters and I look forward to reading more, as the author is writing another in the series. A strong first novel, I also got a copy for my niece. The supernatural elements feel appropriate but not overdone and left me wanting to know more.
December 23, 2018
This book is absolutely captivating. I had a hard time putting it down. Katherine Dell has put such an exciting book together that brought me back to my teen years. Looking forward to more from Katherine.
November 17, 2017
Harmless by Katherine Dell gives us the story of a teenage girl living in a small town in British Columbia, Canada. We follow her life and the lives of her friends as they tamper with powers around them that are best left untampered with... A Young Adult novel dealing with paranormal activity, romance and a bit of suspense, Harmless promised and delivered.
My impression of the book was fairly positive. If you're the type who is interested in small town legends, pointy love triangles, piqued by Native American lore (I wasn't before, but I am now!), ponder issues about mental health, observing dynamics in teenage social circles, like to read about super attractive guys, or just plain like reading about the great Canadian outdoors, then give this book a go!
SETTING
The book takes place in Hazelton, B.C. While I have not lived in a small town at all, Dell is really able to capture what I imagine to be a small town vibe. There are always snippets here and there that remind us were exactly we are: either the post office is a five minute walk away, or that people have an open door policy, or that news spreads like wildfire, or that the outdoors is nothing but all around us. In this, I think she does a fantastic job with setting up the scenery, and immersing ourselves in this small town in the middle of nowhere.
PLOT
From the small blurb, we see that our main character, Rachel Barnes, is running up against First Nations spirits both benevolent and malign. What I think that Dell does really well with this is that the main plot is very much two sided: everything has a price. Even the good things have the potential to affect the characters in some unforeseen way that, while ultimately for the better, end up being bittersweet in some instances.
What I don't agree with is that some of the subplots feel a bit worked over, either as the result of being a bit overdone in the genre, or that sometimes it feels like some of the plot points are a bit stuck; at some points, it feels as though we aren't really moving forward. This being said, some of these criticisms lie moreso in the genre than the book itself, so take with a grain of salt!
All said and done, I absolutely loved the main plot of the book concerning spirits, and would love to see more of it in the future! This is where Dell really hits the nail on the head, and is able to bring us around in a satisfying, holistic way.
CHARACTERS
I think that this was another strongpoint in the novel: I felt that I was really able to connect with a lot of the characters fairly quickly. Dell does a great job of giving us exactly who someone is, what it is they want from this world, and why they want it. In a lot of the actions that Rachel's friends do, they are clearly guided by their own pathos. Julie, for example, is a truly good person, and we see her doing everything in her power to be loyal to her friends and to her community. Some characters are less savoury, but we see a driving force behind their actions: perhaps a traumatic past. Either way, Dell is very good at letting us know who we should be rooting for.
My only gripe is Rachel. I feel that for the vast majority of the book, we don't really get to see her change too too much. A lot of the events I feel happen to her instead of because of her, and for that, I didn't feel quite as sympathetic towards her as I wish I was. We're given a very good reason as to why Rachel is the person that she is, but I just feel as though I wasn't her cheerleader so much as for the rest of the cast. I really enjoyed reading about her in the first half of the book, however, and she was still fun to try and figure out in the second half.
The Good
I think that Katherine Dell really nails it on the setting as well as with the main plot. I would love to know more about the lore behind the book, going more into Native stories and their mythology.
Otherwise
I do wish that some of the subplots and our main character were a bit more engaging.
In conclusion
I met Katherine at one of her book signings a couple of weeks ago, and it was a delight talking to her about her debut novel: she even had a book trailer set up at her table, which I thought was really cool. Overall, the main plot was compelling, the setting was fantastic, and for the most part, the characters were very inspired. I'll definitely keep you on my radar Katherine!
My impression of the book was fairly positive. If you're the type who is interested in small town legends, pointy love triangles, piqued by Native American lore (I wasn't before, but I am now!), ponder issues about mental health, observing dynamics in teenage social circles, like to read about super attractive guys, or just plain like reading about the great Canadian outdoors, then give this book a go!
SETTING
The book takes place in Hazelton, B.C. While I have not lived in a small town at all, Dell is really able to capture what I imagine to be a small town vibe. There are always snippets here and there that remind us were exactly we are: either the post office is a five minute walk away, or that people have an open door policy, or that news spreads like wildfire, or that the outdoors is nothing but all around us. In this, I think she does a fantastic job with setting up the scenery, and immersing ourselves in this small town in the middle of nowhere.
PLOT
From the small blurb, we see that our main character, Rachel Barnes, is running up against First Nations spirits both benevolent and malign. What I think that Dell does really well with this is that the main plot is very much two sided: everything has a price. Even the good things have the potential to affect the characters in some unforeseen way that, while ultimately for the better, end up being bittersweet in some instances.
What I don't agree with is that some of the subplots feel a bit worked over, either as the result of being a bit overdone in the genre, or that sometimes it feels like some of the plot points are a bit stuck; at some points, it feels as though we aren't really moving forward. This being said, some of these criticisms lie moreso in the genre than the book itself, so take with a grain of salt!
All said and done, I absolutely loved the main plot of the book concerning spirits, and would love to see more of it in the future! This is where Dell really hits the nail on the head, and is able to bring us around in a satisfying, holistic way.
CHARACTERS
I think that this was another strongpoint in the novel: I felt that I was really able to connect with a lot of the characters fairly quickly. Dell does a great job of giving us exactly who someone is, what it is they want from this world, and why they want it. In a lot of the actions that Rachel's friends do, they are clearly guided by their own pathos. Julie, for example, is a truly good person, and we see her doing everything in her power to be loyal to her friends and to her community. Some characters are less savoury, but we see a driving force behind their actions: perhaps a traumatic past. Either way, Dell is very good at letting us know who we should be rooting for.
My only gripe is Rachel. I feel that for the vast majority of the book, we don't really get to see her change too too much. A lot of the events I feel happen to her instead of because of her, and for that, I didn't feel quite as sympathetic towards her as I wish I was. We're given a very good reason as to why Rachel is the person that she is, but I just feel as though I wasn't her cheerleader so much as for the rest of the cast. I really enjoyed reading about her in the first half of the book, however, and she was still fun to try and figure out in the second half.
The Good
I think that Katherine Dell really nails it on the setting as well as with the main plot. I would love to know more about the lore behind the book, going more into Native stories and their mythology.
Otherwise
I do wish that some of the subplots and our main character were a bit more engaging.
In conclusion
I met Katherine at one of her book signings a couple of weeks ago, and it was a delight talking to her about her debut novel: she even had a book trailer set up at her table, which I thought was really cool. Overall, the main plot was compelling, the setting was fantastic, and for the most part, the characters were very inspired. I'll definitely keep you on my radar Katherine!
April 13, 2022
General: I just finished reading a book where the author tried to take down rape culture... and here I am a day later, reading a book that seems harmless but has packaged up and served rape culture on a silver platter. Is this better than Twilight? Yes. Is it without problems? Hell no.
Who it's for: If you liked Twilight (supernatural romance) and a surface-level reading this is a good book for you.
As a Gr. 7-9 teacher: I will put it in the classroom library but I would be less likely to recommend it. I will give it to young readers that ask for supernatural romance books. It would be accessible to most students as the vocabulary is not too hard. If you're reading at gr 6 or below it may be hard to understand.
Characters: The characters follow the basic Twilight premise: a clumsy, tragic, "plain Jane" girl who is not aware of her attractiveness; a popular boy who seems like a jerk who ends up becoming a controlling love interest; a "Native" boy who is beautiful and helps the main character bridge worlds. The characters are stock characters. Rachel (main character) is a moderately well-developed character that has a storyline outside of the main romance. However, I did not like the first-person perspective. She read as vapid, weak, shallow, and pitiful. Even her tragic backstory garnered no sympathy from me. I couldn't stand being in her head throughout the book. The inane questions were driving me mad. Truly, most characters are forgettable. If you don't need a lot of description and are ok with filling in the blanks your self, then you won't mind it. However, if you struggle with stock writing then this will likely bother you.
Plot: I was gifted this book from my friend who met the author. I would not normally reach for this. However, I decided to read it with an open mind for my classroom. My mind was open, even though I know it doesn't seem like it. I tried. So damn hard. But boy oh boy, let me just say I had to resist rolling my eyes through the majority of the book. The plot was predictable and lacked tension. It was weightless. It opened all these doors and left them open. It felt like the story was just going through the motions, like a tumbleweed being blown through the street. It just... happened. There wasn't anything that forced me to turn the page. Is it original? No. However, if you're cool with a predictable supernatural romance then you'll love this.
Quality of Writing: Pretty average, but not as good as other YA books out there. There were a couple of lines of poetry that stuck out beautifully, and some moments had real potential. I'm finding it hard to explain... it felt like someone was saying "and then" between all the sentences. It just mowed on.
Concerns: Yikes. Yikes, yikes, yikes. As you know I read literature through many different lenses. I will say there were two major problems with this novel. The first was the treatment of female characters, and the other was the Orientalist take towards "Native" culture.
Females in this book are given the typical misogynistic treatment. Especially when Rachel describes Julie, Chloe, and Sheri-Lynn. Holy. Without giving too much away Rachel definitely was written with Bella-syndrome. Not only is there slut-shaming, there is good old girl-hate. Every typical negative confine that is placed on women is in this book: irrational, weak, needing to be saved by a man, over-dramatic, can't make decisions, only care about looks, other girls are always threats, only good for gossip, good girls vs. bad girls, smart girls vs. dumb girls. Perhaps most irritatingly, is the fact that she can't even dress herself. Yup. That's a quality given the main character. Just take a look at some of the following:
Also, there is a strong sense of rape culture in this book. Without giving too much away, one of the main characters is described as a typical emotionally abusive and sexually intimidating character. Such as, . He is described as a predator. Not to mention
Then there is the treatment of the "Native" culture and folklore. I can't comment too much on this without knowing which First Nations, Metis, or Inuit group the author spoke to - if the author spoke to one. Either way, the Native group was tokenized in the text. The indigenous group in the novel serves to only serve the main character's purposes and acts as a rung in a ladder to get to the main story. Eventually, the main indigenous characters are haphazardly written out of the story; because they get in the way. Furthermore, they are painted with one brushstroke, where nothing but the idea of being "Native" is glorified. This is the idea of the noble savage given to us in a 2017 platform. He will be a young, strapping, god-like man that will be treated as a such and put on a pedestal. Here's a good question, why are all the Indigenous men who are given airtime described with long dark black hair in a ponytail? There is is no diversity or responsibility in representation. I also did not find any specific acknowledgment given to any group or person who may have related these stories to the author. As far as it looks, their story was simply a means to sell this book. I struggled with this part the most because from my limited knowledge/lack of public information it appears to be cultural appropriation. Which, I have no time for.
Final thoughts: This is 2018. I am not impressed.
Who it's for: If you liked Twilight (supernatural romance) and a surface-level reading this is a good book for you.
As a Gr. 7-9 teacher: I will put it in the classroom library but I would be less likely to recommend it. I will give it to young readers that ask for supernatural romance books. It would be accessible to most students as the vocabulary is not too hard. If you're reading at gr 6 or below it may be hard to understand.
Characters: The characters follow the basic Twilight premise: a clumsy, tragic, "plain Jane" girl who is not aware of her attractiveness; a popular boy who seems like a jerk who ends up becoming a controlling love interest; a "Native" boy who is beautiful and helps the main character bridge worlds. The characters are stock characters. Rachel (main character) is a moderately well-developed character that has a storyline outside of the main romance. However, I did not like the first-person perspective. She read as vapid, weak, shallow, and pitiful. Even her tragic backstory garnered no sympathy from me. I couldn't stand being in her head throughout the book. The inane questions were driving me mad. Truly, most characters are forgettable. If you don't need a lot of description and are ok with filling in the blanks your self, then you won't mind it. However, if you struggle with stock writing then this will likely bother you.
Plot: I was gifted this book from my friend who met the author. I would not normally reach for this. However, I decided to read it with an open mind for my classroom. My mind was open, even though I know it doesn't seem like it. I tried. So damn hard. But boy oh boy, let me just say I had to resist rolling my eyes through the majority of the book. The plot was predictable and lacked tension. It was weightless. It opened all these doors and left them open. It felt like the story was just going through the motions, like a tumbleweed being blown through the street. It just... happened. There wasn't anything that forced me to turn the page. Is it original? No. However, if you're cool with a predictable supernatural romance then you'll love this.
Quality of Writing: Pretty average, but not as good as other YA books out there. There were a couple of lines of poetry that stuck out beautifully, and some moments had real potential. I'm finding it hard to explain... it felt like someone was saying "and then" between all the sentences. It just mowed on.
Concerns: Yikes. Yikes, yikes, yikes. As you know I read literature through many different lenses. I will say there were two major problems with this novel. The first was the treatment of female characters, and the other was the Orientalist take towards "Native" culture.
Females in this book are given the typical misogynistic treatment. Especially when Rachel describes Julie, Chloe, and Sheri-Lynn. Holy. Without giving too much away Rachel definitely was written with Bella-syndrome. Not only is there slut-shaming, there is good old girl-hate. Every typical negative confine that is placed on women is in this book: irrational, weak, needing to be saved by a man, over-dramatic, can't make decisions, only care about looks, other girls are always threats, only good for gossip, good girls vs. bad girls, smart girls vs. dumb girls. Perhaps most irritatingly, is the fact that she can't even dress herself. Yup. That's a quality given the main character. Just take a look at some of the following:
- "You're too pretty for wrinkles."
- "And there it is. I don't even technically have a boyfriend yet, and she's trying to steal him. Bitch."
- "Typical Grams, always probing for more gossip."
- "Should I be a good girl and get a Pepsi - or something else?"
- "Julie is the girliest girl of us all. Her hair is always done, nails always painted, and even though most of her jewelry is cheap costume stuff, she never steps out without being perfectly accessorized."
- "Gin?" ... "I'm just trying to loosen her up, not feed her liquid panty remover."
- "You girls twist everything."
- "God, she's just so dumb though."... "She told me she was going to beauty school. Now all I can think of is her painting other people's nails while chewing gum so loudly you can hardly understand a word she's saying."
- ""Are you still wearing yesterday's clothes?" Only Julie would notice that. To her, that's a fashion felony."
- ""Don't be so dramatic."... "Don't be so dramatic?" The words come out of me with a seething hiss."
- "He's probably in my head right now listening to my girly thoughts."
- "Why even bother with her then?" ... "Because she's a distraction."
Also, there is a strong sense of rape culture in this book. Without giving too much away, one of the main characters is described as a typical emotionally abusive and sexually intimidating character. Such as, . He is described as a predator. Not to mention
Then there is the treatment of the "Native" culture and folklore. I can't comment too much on this without knowing which First Nations, Metis, or Inuit group the author spoke to - if the author spoke to one. Either way, the Native group was tokenized in the text. The indigenous group in the novel serves to only serve the main character's purposes and acts as a rung in a ladder to get to the main story. Eventually, the main indigenous characters are haphazardly written out of the story; because they get in the way. Furthermore, they are painted with one brushstroke, where nothing but the idea of being "Native" is glorified. This is the idea of the noble savage given to us in a 2017 platform. He will be a young, strapping, god-like man that will be treated as a such and put on a pedestal. Here's a good question, why are all the Indigenous men who are given airtime described with long dark black hair in a ponytail? There is is no diversity or responsibility in representation. I also did not find any specific acknowledgment given to any group or person who may have related these stories to the author. As far as it looks, their story was simply a means to sell this book. I struggled with this part the most because from my limited knowledge/lack of public information it appears to be cultural appropriation. Which, I have no time for.
Final thoughts: This is 2018. I am not impressed.
October 19, 2017
A family tragedy has shaken up Rachel Barnes’ life. With her parents divorced and the loss still fresh, Rachel moves with her mother to Hazelton, BC and her grandmother’s house. Although she has been lonely she has found a little group of friends since the first day of school. We start with them partying at Rachel’s house and the discovery of the spirit box her grandmother gave her.
The teens make wishes on the box and end up releasing a wendigo. Strange things start happening in Hazelton and Rachel notices that her friends are starting to act strangely. The wendigo is not a genie in the bottle granting wishes and to stop it a high price must be paid. It is up to Rachel to stop the wendigo and save her friends and family.
Rachel has gone through hell and is getting a reluctant fresh start with her grandmother. She has been so lonely that she is excited for friends. The problem is that she is having a hard time adjusting to people and is also kind of interested in a guy that hardly ever speaks to her. I can see where the spirit box lures her and the rest in. But there is no such thing as a free meal and gifts are not given away for free.
The summary to this book caught my attention and I was excited to find out what was going on. I loved the idea of the wendigo and paying the price to stop it. You don’t really see many wendigo stories but ironically I am reading another one at this time, Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire, make sure to check this one out. This is a great story although there are somethings left unanswered. I do hope that there will be a second book.
I received Harmless from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
The teens make wishes on the box and end up releasing a wendigo. Strange things start happening in Hazelton and Rachel notices that her friends are starting to act strangely. The wendigo is not a genie in the bottle granting wishes and to stop it a high price must be paid. It is up to Rachel to stop the wendigo and save her friends and family.
Rachel has gone through hell and is getting a reluctant fresh start with her grandmother. She has been so lonely that she is excited for friends. The problem is that she is having a hard time adjusting to people and is also kind of interested in a guy that hardly ever speaks to her. I can see where the spirit box lures her and the rest in. But there is no such thing as a free meal and gifts are not given away for free.
The summary to this book caught my attention and I was excited to find out what was going on. I loved the idea of the wendigo and paying the price to stop it. You don’t really see many wendigo stories but ironically I am reading another one at this time, Deadlands: Boneyard by Seanan McGuire, make sure to check this one out. This is a great story although there are somethings left unanswered. I do hope that there will be a second book.
I received Harmless from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
December 20, 2017
Harmless, yeah not so much. Amazing. Captivating. Terrifying, maybe. Thought provoking. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. But not Harmless.
Harmless is the story of Rachael, a young woman that is about to graduate from high school. From the first page you know she has dealt with a lot of pain in her young life. And she is trying to deal with it, or maybe she's only looking for a way to learn to deal with it. At the beginning of the book all she has learned to do so far is label the way she feels in a very unique way.
After experiencing the loss of her brother this is how she has learned to at least identify her feelings, by stating them to herself as a weather forecast. And her weather forecast makes Seattle look balmy. Practically tropical. But she is trying. Or trying to try depending on her weather. But poor Rachael is rootless. She has no real support. Shortly after her brother died and her mother fell into depression her parents separated. Living with her mother she still wasn't able to put down any roots. Her mother's way of dealing with the loss of her child was to constantly move and look for new things. Which left young Rachael desperately holding onto the past trying to keep that connection to the brother she loved and looked up to.
Another loss sends her packing again when her grandfather dies and her mother moves them back to her old hometown to live with her mother, Rachael's grandmother. Here she is assured repeatedly that they are going to stay. But Rachael doesn't trust it, and she holds onto her past, and all the memories she has packed away and kept hidden.
Harmless is the story of Rachael, a young woman that is about to graduate from high school. From the first page you know she has dealt with a lot of pain in her young life. And she is trying to deal with it, or maybe she's only looking for a way to learn to deal with it. At the beginning of the book all she has learned to do so far is label the way she feels in a very unique way.
After experiencing the loss of her brother this is how she has learned to at least identify her feelings, by stating them to herself as a weather forecast. And her weather forecast makes Seattle look balmy. Practically tropical. But she is trying. Or trying to try depending on her weather. But poor Rachael is rootless. She has no real support. Shortly after her brother died and her mother fell into depression her parents separated. Living with her mother she still wasn't able to put down any roots. Her mother's way of dealing with the loss of her child was to constantly move and look for new things. Which left young Rachael desperately holding onto the past trying to keep that connection to the brother she loved and looked up to.
Another loss sends her packing again when her grandfather dies and her mother moves them back to her old hometown to live with her mother, Rachael's grandmother. Here she is assured repeatedly that they are going to stay. But Rachael doesn't trust it, and she holds onto her past, and all the memories she has packed away and kept hidden.
October 6, 2017
I'm not one to write a review normally but I felt compelled to do so for this book. I picked it up not really sure what to expect as it had come recommended by a friend. Young Adult isn't my usual genre but am I ever glad I took a chance! I was captivated from the first chapter and spent a few nights staying up too late because I couldn't put it down. Mystery, fantasy, romance... this book has a little bit of everything. Harmless is a fantastic novel by a new author and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
September 12, 2017
Harmless is a book that contains everything I enjoy in YA books: a little bit of fantasy, a strong leading character, a bit of love and some intrigue. It hooked me right in and left me wanting more. Great opener to a series and I look forward to the next!
October 7, 2017
I enjoyed this supernatural young adult story. Rachel's pain and confusion added connection to the story. I would have liked more indigenous story and explanation in the book but maybe that is coming in the next!
October 19, 2017
Review to come...
July 15, 2017
As much a sprititual journey as a thriller, Harmless intrigued me. A family tragedy sent Rachel spiraling out of control. She hopes the move to Hazelton will help her find closure and maybe find herself again.
When an innocent game between Rachel and her new friends releases a Wendigo, what they thought was a genie in a bottle turns out to be a dangerous path as they make their wishes to the mythical being.
I thought this was going to be a horror story. Mind you, it does kind of go there, but the psychological aspect makes it more of a thriller. Strange animal deaths and sightings build a disquieting atmosphere and the author’s twist on the Wendigo spirit kept the story moving forward and made this a much deeper read than I expected.
According to the legend, a price must be paid to rid the town of the Wendigo. A huge one. Wondering who would pay that price added to the suspense and made the ending, though a cliff hanger, a fun surprise.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
When an innocent game between Rachel and her new friends releases a Wendigo, what they thought was a genie in a bottle turns out to be a dangerous path as they make their wishes to the mythical being.
I thought this was going to be a horror story. Mind you, it does kind of go there, but the psychological aspect makes it more of a thriller. Strange animal deaths and sightings build a disquieting atmosphere and the author’s twist on the Wendigo spirit kept the story moving forward and made this a much deeper read than I expected.
According to the legend, a price must be paid to rid the town of the Wendigo. A huge one. Wondering who would pay that price added to the suspense and made the ending, though a cliff hanger, a fun surprise.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
September 17, 2017
Katherine Dell’s debut YA novel Harmless is fresh and enjoyable paranormal read. The author’s use of spirit animals gives the book a beautiful mythical quality that makes the journey all the more intriguing. The protagonist, Rachel Barnes, is an engaging character and her grandmother (who is not your stereotypical grandmother) is a particularly fun character.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series from this author.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series from this author.
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