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The Claires: An Ascenders Novel
Four beautiful girls. Quadruplets. They are not identical. But each is named Claire. Claire V is Clairvoyant—clear seeing with visions of the future. Claire S is Clairsentient—clear feeling as she embraces another’s pain. Claire A is Clairaudient—clear hearing to tap into the spirit world. Claire C is Claircognizant—clear knowing with 100% accuracy. Born in 1911, they first died together in 1928 at age seventeen. Two months later, they were reborn. And reborn. THE CLAIRES only live to seventeen and then they’re violently murdered. Somewhere in the world, a woman finds out she’s pregnant with quads. The Claires return to a new family as they try to break a curse that guarantees they die young. It’s current-day Los Angeles, and once again, their seventeenth birthday is looming. Can they save themselves, clean up the streets in the name of penance, and crash their own prom? The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga. Also available in paperback starting on January 14, 2020.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2020
About the author
C.L. Gaber
10 books220 followersI’m C.L. Gaber, an author and film journalist for the New York Times Syndicate and Chicago Sun Times. I also co-authored Jex Malone series. Originally from Chicago, I make my home in Nevada with my husband, bonus daughter and two unruly dogs.
My husband knows that Ascenders began with me in bathroom half the night writing on tiny notepads because I didn’t want to wake him. When daylight did roll around, I told him, ”Baby, I had the most incredible dream”.
My husband knows that Ascenders began with me in bathroom half the night writing on tiny notepads because I didn’t want to wake him. When daylight did roll around, I told him, ”Baby, I had the most incredible dream”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 8, 2026
They were the Claires - and they kept coming back.
"Before they were born, the girls were given an expiration date."
These four girls are nonidentical quadruplets and each has an unique power. Claire V is Clairvoyant, Claire S is Clairsentient, Claire A, and Claire C is Claircognizant.
They were born in 1911 and at the end of their seventeenth year, they all died...only to be reborn months later.
Rinse.
Repeat.
The cycle has repeated for as long as they can remember....and they are desperate to break it.
As their deaths draw nearer, they can feel themselves changing. Becoming meaner, desperate and leaning just a bit more towards evil.
But after so many unsuccessful years, is there even a point to trying anymore?
"They were born with ice in their veins..."
Ahhh! This ended up being so good!
"The Claires. We go on - somewhere between psychotic and iconic."
Since this is a companion novel to a four-book series, I really didn't know what to expect going into this book other than the basic premise - quadruplets, curse, gonna die soon.
But what actually happened was so much more.
I was really happy that the book ended up standing on its own two covers - and I really don't think you need to read the rest of the series to enjoy this one (though, after finishing The Claires, I'm extremely tempted to pick up the original series).
"We come out at night to right the wrongs. And what you did was so very, very, very wrong."
Each "Claire" (who are referred to by their middle initial to keep things from being confusing) provided her perspective on a rotating basis throughout the book.
I was a little worried that this would end up confusing but ultimately it wasn't. Each girl was so unique and her take on life was so different that I really didn't have to worry about crossing the storylines at all.
One thing that really surprised me is how much the perspective mattered.
We follow each of the four Claires, and Cass (their "brother" of sorts) throughout the book and once we got to Cass's view point my opinion on the girls completely changed - they went from a little morally grey to surprisingly dark once I got that outside view on them.
All in all - I really enjoyed this one.
"Be careful who you threaten, sister dear,"
Thank you so much to C.L Gaber, and Brianna Robinson who sent me the delightful book box in exchange for an honest review.
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May 24, 2020
December 4, 2020
I was granted complimentary access to a copy of The Claires by the author through YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of my participation in the blog tour for this title. Thank you to both C. L. Gaber and YA Bound Book Tours for the opportunity! This has not swayed my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
The Claires is a fascinating YA novel about a set of non-identical quadruplets, all named Claire, who are brutally murdered on the 17th birthday and then reborn, rinse and repeat forever. This time they’re determined to figure out why and survive.
Knowing I had already accepted more reviews than I should have for my December scheduled I wasn’t sure if I wanted to sign up for this one, but the premise was so fascinating I just had to! I’m glad I did. This is a very enjoyable read, and so unique! I was also hesitant because this is a companion novel to a longer series (Ascenders) that I haven’t read, but fear not, it stands well on its own and can be read separately without feeling lost.
The book is told from the point of view of the sisters plus Cass, one at a time in rotation, and the girls are distinguished by their middle initials. They’re each their own person, and Gaber has done a fantastic job of giving them each a unique voice. This book is absolutely a villain’s story (well, villains’ stories), and I love it! Be warned, however, that means it’s morally grey at the high points, and incredibly dark when the plot thickens. It’s also an origin story for these villains of the larger series and lets us in on why they were cursed to this morbid sisyphean existence.
Normally I don’t comment on editing in these tours reviews because it’s unclear whether or not the copy I received was the unedited manuscript or a more polished proof, but I’ve seen some reviews from recipients and purchasers of final print copies of the book with similar complaints, so I’ll comment. Tense is inconsistent throughout the book, and not in a way that feel intentional. Factual errors are made (such as attributing The Grapes of Wrath to Fitzgerald.)
I was also quite uncomfortable reading the relatioship beteen Claire V and her (not technically related) brother Cass, who she’d like to get to know in an adult fun-time way, if you catch my drift. Was that needed? Really?
Overall, if you ignore that last complaint, it’s an amazing book and so satisfyingly fast-paced. I would recommend it to mature fans of dark fantasy, YA or otherwise, as long as sibling “desire” wouldn’t be a problem for them. Honestly without that and with another editing pass, it might have been a 5. I’m absolutely interested in digging up the series and reading those books, now!
--
I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
The Claires is a fascinating YA novel about a set of non-identical quadruplets, all named Claire, who are brutally murdered on the 17th birthday and then reborn, rinse and repeat forever. This time they’re determined to figure out why and survive.
Knowing I had already accepted more reviews than I should have for my December scheduled I wasn’t sure if I wanted to sign up for this one, but the premise was so fascinating I just had to! I’m glad I did. This is a very enjoyable read, and so unique! I was also hesitant because this is a companion novel to a longer series (Ascenders) that I haven’t read, but fear not, it stands well on its own and can be read separately without feeling lost.
The book is told from the point of view of the sisters plus Cass, one at a time in rotation, and the girls are distinguished by their middle initials. They’re each their own person, and Gaber has done a fantastic job of giving them each a unique voice. This book is absolutely a villain’s story (well, villains’ stories), and I love it! Be warned, however, that means it’s morally grey at the high points, and incredibly dark when the plot thickens. It’s also an origin story for these villains of the larger series and lets us in on why they were cursed to this morbid sisyphean existence.
Normally I don’t comment on editing in these tours reviews because it’s unclear whether or not the copy I received was the unedited manuscript or a more polished proof, but I’ve seen some reviews from recipients and purchasers of final print copies of the book with similar complaints, so I’ll comment. Tense is inconsistent throughout the book, and not in a way that feel intentional. Factual errors are made (such as attributing The Grapes of Wrath to Fitzgerald.)
I was also quite uncomfortable reading the relatioship beteen Claire V and her (not technically related) brother Cass, who she’d like to get to know in an adult fun-time way, if you catch my drift. Was that needed? Really?
Overall, if you ignore that last complaint, it’s an amazing book and so satisfyingly fast-paced. I would recommend it to mature fans of dark fantasy, YA or otherwise, as long as sibling “desire” wouldn’t be a problem for them. Honestly without that and with another editing pass, it might have been a 5. I’m absolutely interested in digging up the series and reading those books, now!
--
I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
February 28, 2020
The Claires story was fascinating. As villains I should hate the girls, but I felt for what they went through over and over. Living life, but barely enjoying it before dying was sad. Sure they were cruel, but they were saviors and made things right for the balance. Their story was sad and dark, but at the same time I got to know their brother Cass and he was a great person who was stuck in the wrong place. Poor guy couldn’t just be, the girls were not nice to him at all. They tormented him in many ways, instead of just being the nice sisters. Cass intrigued me and I wanted to more about him.
The story of the Claires is nothing at all like the Ascenders Series, it is it’s own story. It is dark, sad and a little depressing at times. I do recommend it to all the Ascenders fans who are curious to know about the Claires.
The story of the Claires is nothing at all like the Ascenders Series, it is it’s own story. It is dark, sad and a little depressing at times. I do recommend it to all the Ascenders fans who are curious to know about the Claires.
Want to Read
February 18, 2020
April 2, 2020
What can I say about The Claires? It cast a spell on me. I couldn't put it down. Was it perfect? Not by a long shot. But it was certainly entertaining and kept me turning pages until the very end.
So, let's talk about some of the negative aspects of the books, so we can end on a good note and get in to the good stuff! There were tons of errors in the book, be it spelling, grammar, and tense hopping in the same sentence, etc. I feel that's important to throw out there because a lot of readers can't get past those type of errors. But, what is reading for, if not for enjoyment? And, despite those errors, I enjoyed the story, so I kept reading.
My other issue was with the story itself. The Claires were cursed to die on their 17th birthday, only to be reborn to die again, and again, because of what they were and the magical abilities they possessed. But, they were cursed by the very man, and organization, that didn't want them to exist in the first place because of witchcraft. If this man, and his organization, were so against witchcraft, magic, whatever, why did they use it themselves? It was a huge conundrum for me throughout the book, and maybe it's part of why I kept reading, because I wanted to know why they used this curse when they were against witchcraft to begin with. And, more importantly, I wanted to know what was so menacing about the Claires that this man and his organization felt threatened by them.
Now, why did I keep reading, despite the flaws in the writing, and story? I had to know more about the sisters! The story and plot just felt so different and unique! I loved that there were elements of the past mixed in with the present and that these sisters were trying so damn hard to live their short lives, knowing that they were doomed to die young, only to be reborn and tortured again and again. Living different lives with different "parents" over and over shaped them in to the bitchy, intelligent, snarky, emotional girls they are at present.
The story gave me The Craft meets Mean Girls vibes. It was a little spooky at times. Majorly angsty at other times, and made me feel nostalgia for high school, while also making me feel glad that I wasn't a hormonal teenage girl any more! And, though sometimes it felt like the author was trying to cram too much of the paranormal and the fantastical in to the story, it also made it that much more intriguing and enchanting!
The story had a lot of comedy to it too. It also really made me feel for the sisters, despite their bad behavior and spiteful actions. I wanted so much for them to figure out the truth behind their curse so they could actually live past 17! I was definitely left wanting another installment in their tale, and I'd recommend reading this if you can get past the flaws. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to Wunderkind PR for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review!
Head over to my blog post HERE for a fun quiz too find out which "clair" ability you might have!
So, let's talk about some of the negative aspects of the books, so we can end on a good note and get in to the good stuff! There were tons of errors in the book, be it spelling, grammar, and tense hopping in the same sentence, etc. I feel that's important to throw out there because a lot of readers can't get past those type of errors. But, what is reading for, if not for enjoyment? And, despite those errors, I enjoyed the story, so I kept reading.
My other issue was with the story itself. The Claires were cursed to die on their 17th birthday, only to be reborn to die again, and again, because of what they were and the magical abilities they possessed. But, they were cursed by the very man, and organization, that didn't want them to exist in the first place because of witchcraft. If this man, and his organization, were so against witchcraft, magic, whatever, why did they use it themselves? It was a huge conundrum for me throughout the book, and maybe it's part of why I kept reading, because I wanted to know why they used this curse when they were against witchcraft to begin with. And, more importantly, I wanted to know what was so menacing about the Claires that this man and his organization felt threatened by them.
Now, why did I keep reading, despite the flaws in the writing, and story? I had to know more about the sisters! The story and plot just felt so different and unique! I loved that there were elements of the past mixed in with the present and that these sisters were trying so damn hard to live their short lives, knowing that they were doomed to die young, only to be reborn and tortured again and again. Living different lives with different "parents" over and over shaped them in to the bitchy, intelligent, snarky, emotional girls they are at present.
The story gave me The Craft meets Mean Girls vibes. It was a little spooky at times. Majorly angsty at other times, and made me feel nostalgia for high school, while also making me feel glad that I wasn't a hormonal teenage girl any more! And, though sometimes it felt like the author was trying to cram too much of the paranormal and the fantastical in to the story, it also made it that much more intriguing and enchanting!
The story had a lot of comedy to it too. It also really made me feel for the sisters, despite their bad behavior and spiteful actions. I wanted so much for them to figure out the truth behind their curse so they could actually live past 17! I was definitely left wanting another installment in their tale, and I'd recommend reading this if you can get past the flaws. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to Wunderkind PR for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review!
Head over to my blog post HERE for a fun quiz too find out which "clair" ability you might have!
February 28, 2020
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own
The Four Claires, as they would come to be known, should never have been known at all...
The Allotment of Life Certificate confirm that all Claire children will be put to a most wretched and painful death...{just to be sure }
on their 17th birthday ..
After the cake..
But before the presents which made sound and wise sense...
Have I got your attention yet?
C. L. Garber, is the acclaimed of the much loved, Ascenders Series.
After reading this incredible book I can see where this author has amassed such a dedicated following.
A dark tale that of Witchery that unfolds as you are thrown into the lives of four fraternal quadruplet girls.
These twisted sisters are each named Claire, but to discord any confusion they all go by their middle name. The Claires were born in 1911, they first died together in 1928 at age seventeen.
The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga. A captivating, highly entertaining book, where four girls, quadruplets, share the name Claire....and nothing else.. They each posses a unique magical ability, but most assuredly will be violently murdered on their 17th birthday. No exceptions. Period case closed..
If that isn’t enough to handle, this continuous cycle has on going since the early 1900’s. Somewhere in the world, a woman finds out she’s pregnant with quads. The Claires return to a new family. This fast paced book will keep you turning the pages to see if they can break a curse that guarantees that they ultimately will die young.
Now it’s current-day Los Angeles, for the girls, and once again, their seventeenth birthday is fast approaching. Will they be able to save themselves?
The Claires, is an stunning novel that gives insight into the lives of four complex teenage girls. A wicked tale with seamless narration, that alternates in between each point of views past and present. As the storyline progresses the characters themselves go from being morally greyish to something more entirely.. Casting a dark ominous light on them.
This can be enjoyed as a stand alone or within The Ascenders Series.
I highly recommend reading this book and it’s been one of my favorites so far this year !,
#yareads #ireadyabooks #booksandmagicarethebest #booksandmagic #magicalbooks #witchybooks #CLGaber #Ascenders #TheClaires
#Paranormal #Suspense
The Four Claires, as they would come to be known, should never have been known at all...
The Allotment of Life Certificate confirm that all Claire children will be put to a most wretched and painful death...{just to be sure }
on their 17th birthday ..
After the cake..
But before the presents which made sound and wise sense...
Have I got your attention yet?
C. L. Garber, is the acclaimed of the much loved, Ascenders Series.
After reading this incredible book I can see where this author has amassed such a dedicated following.
A dark tale that of Witchery that unfolds as you are thrown into the lives of four fraternal quadruplet girls.
These twisted sisters are each named Claire, but to discord any confusion they all go by their middle name. The Claires were born in 1911, they first died together in 1928 at age seventeen.
The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga. A captivating, highly entertaining book, where four girls, quadruplets, share the name Claire....and nothing else.. They each posses a unique magical ability, but most assuredly will be violently murdered on their 17th birthday. No exceptions. Period case closed..
If that isn’t enough to handle, this continuous cycle has on going since the early 1900’s. Somewhere in the world, a woman finds out she’s pregnant with quads. The Claires return to a new family. This fast paced book will keep you turning the pages to see if they can break a curse that guarantees that they ultimately will die young.
Now it’s current-day Los Angeles, for the girls, and once again, their seventeenth birthday is fast approaching. Will they be able to save themselves?
The Claires, is an stunning novel that gives insight into the lives of four complex teenage girls. A wicked tale with seamless narration, that alternates in between each point of views past and present. As the storyline progresses the characters themselves go from being morally greyish to something more entirely.. Casting a dark ominous light on them.
This can be enjoyed as a stand alone or within The Ascenders Series.
I highly recommend reading this book and it’s been one of my favorites so far this year !,
#yareads #ireadyabooks #booksandmagicarethebest #booksandmagic #magicalbooks #witchybooks #CLGaber #Ascenders #TheClaires
#Paranormal #Suspense
June 25, 2020
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Based on the other reviews for this book and the synopses for the original Ascenders series, I have an inkling that I would have enjoyed this read, and certainly the ending, more if I had read the other books first. So...I would advise any potential readers to consider doing so.
As it was, there were several times I nearly DNF'd this book and more than one occasion where I considered throwing it across the room out of frustration. The premise was good and had so much promise, but I felt that it was weakly executed. The plot was fragmented -- with random offshoots to the story that felt awkward and an oddly constructed timeline.
The writing was decent and so the pages moved quickly, but it definitely needed additional editing and polish. There were a LOT of structural, grammatical, and other errors--including blatant historical inaccuracies. (The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, NOT F. Scott Fitzgerald. This bothered me for HOURS after reading it...and still does.) I'm hoping that these inaccuracies would've made sense had I read the other novels first (perhaps an alternate history??), but as I read it these things simply caused me grief.
Perhaps the most jarring portion of the novel (and the thing that made consider DNF on multiple occasions) was the existence of the "incest" plotline between Cass and V. Though he is "technically" not her brother, this portion of the story did not feel necessary and I found it incredibly revolting.
As mentioned earlier, the ending was not helpful either. After reading the synopses for the other books this makes a bit more sense, but without that information the conclusion was simply confusing and left me frustrated. I'm highly disappointed since I really had high hopes for such an interesting premise.
Based on the other reviews for this book and the synopses for the original Ascenders series, I have an inkling that I would have enjoyed this read, and certainly the ending, more if I had read the other books first. So...I would advise any potential readers to consider doing so.
As it was, there were several times I nearly DNF'd this book and more than one occasion where I considered throwing it across the room out of frustration. The premise was good and had so much promise, but I felt that it was weakly executed. The plot was fragmented -- with random offshoots to the story that felt awkward and an oddly constructed timeline.
The writing was decent and so the pages moved quickly, but it definitely needed additional editing and polish. There were a LOT of structural, grammatical, and other errors--including blatant historical inaccuracies. (The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, NOT F. Scott Fitzgerald. This bothered me for HOURS after reading it...and still does.) I'm hoping that these inaccuracies would've made sense had I read the other novels first (perhaps an alternate history??), but as I read it these things simply caused me grief.
Perhaps the most jarring portion of the novel (and the thing that made consider DNF on multiple occasions) was the existence of the "incest" plotline between Cass and V. Though he is "technically" not her brother, this portion of the story did not feel necessary and I found it incredibly revolting.
As mentioned earlier, the ending was not helpful either. After reading the synopses for the other books this makes a bit more sense, but without that information the conclusion was simply confusing and left me frustrated. I'm highly disappointed since I really had high hopes for such an interesting premise.
February 23, 2020
Now, y’all already know that when it comes to anything supernatural, especially witchy, I am all over it. And let me tell you, The Claires did not disappoint. While The Claires is a spin off from The Ascenders series, I read this one as a standalone and still enjoyed every minute.
This story follows the lives of four fraternal quadruplet girls, all named Claire. They go by their middle names to minimize confusion, and each girl possesses a magical ability. They were born in 1911 but died on their seventeenth birthday. The kicker? They are always reborn a few months later just to die again on their seventeenth birthday (think The Witches of East End meets Groundhog’s Day meets Beautiful Creatures).
As their seventeenth birthday draws closer, the girls are aware that they are changing to the point that they are bordering on evil as their desperation to break the vicious cycle becomes palpable.
The Claires is a fast-paced novel that gives insight into the lives of four teenage girls by alternating between each of their POVs in both past and present. Each of the girls’ character is well defined and complex. I always love morally grey characters, which is exactly what you get here, but once we get their brother Cass’s POV, the girls definitely become even darker. I don’t want to give away any more because you definitely want to go into this one blind and absorb every page!
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I honestly can’t wait to go back and read The Ascenders series as well as see what else is to come!
Thank you Wunderkind PR for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
This story follows the lives of four fraternal quadruplet girls, all named Claire. They go by their middle names to minimize confusion, and each girl possesses a magical ability. They were born in 1911 but died on their seventeenth birthday. The kicker? They are always reborn a few months later just to die again on their seventeenth birthday (think The Witches of East End meets Groundhog’s Day meets Beautiful Creatures).
As their seventeenth birthday draws closer, the girls are aware that they are changing to the point that they are bordering on evil as their desperation to break the vicious cycle becomes palpable.
The Claires is a fast-paced novel that gives insight into the lives of four teenage girls by alternating between each of their POVs in both past and present. Each of the girls’ character is well defined and complex. I always love morally grey characters, which is exactly what you get here, but once we get their brother Cass’s POV, the girls definitely become even darker. I don’t want to give away any more because you definitely want to go into this one blind and absorb every page!
Overall, this is a fantastic book, and I honestly can’t wait to go back and read The Ascenders series as well as see what else is to come!
Thank you Wunderkind PR for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2020
5 Cass Influenced Stars for The Claires
It's no secret that The Ascenders series shook up all my preconceived notions about dystopian fantasy in 2019, and though I wasn't a fan of The Claires in it, I was anxiously awaiting any update that would draw me back to The Academy.
Set that notion aside for the moment, but don't hesitate to pick up The Claires. This book takes place mostly in their last lifetime, with nods to their prior times in the physical world, but, and I can hardly believe I'm saying this, you really won't miss being in the afterlife. I couldn't put this one down any more than I could any of the first 4 Ascenders books, and though I will still be first in line for book 5 in the series, I was more than satisfied with this read in the meantime.
I'm writing this review so far from the assumption that the previous 4 books have been read, but I need to step back from that because The Claires could honestly be read as a standalone. As I mentioned, this one doesn't take place in the timelines and worlds Ms Gaber created in the series, and only has a few vague references to it. The oddness that is the 4 sisters isn't really made any simpler by having prior knowledge of them - all you need to know is better explained in this book.
The book does give them more heart than those who are familiar with them would guess them to possess, though don't fool yourself into thinking there is any weakness to be found. It does a great job of making them individuals rather than one four headed entity, and gives us so much more time and knowledge of one of my favorite characters from the Ascenders, Cass.
I don't want to tiptoe into spoiler territory so I will end this review now with my highest recommendations for this one, with or without including The Ascenders series (though I cannot recommend that series more highly. I even recently purchased the first book in that series for my 20 year old son who is generally not a reader when he showed an interest in reading something.) Don't miss anything by CL Gaber sums it all up for me.
It's no secret that The Ascenders series shook up all my preconceived notions about dystopian fantasy in 2019, and though I wasn't a fan of The Claires in it, I was anxiously awaiting any update that would draw me back to The Academy.
Set that notion aside for the moment, but don't hesitate to pick up The Claires. This book takes place mostly in their last lifetime, with nods to their prior times in the physical world, but, and I can hardly believe I'm saying this, you really won't miss being in the afterlife. I couldn't put this one down any more than I could any of the first 4 Ascenders books, and though I will still be first in line for book 5 in the series, I was more than satisfied with this read in the meantime.
I'm writing this review so far from the assumption that the previous 4 books have been read, but I need to step back from that because The Claires could honestly be read as a standalone. As I mentioned, this one doesn't take place in the timelines and worlds Ms Gaber created in the series, and only has a few vague references to it. The oddness that is the 4 sisters isn't really made any simpler by having prior knowledge of them - all you need to know is better explained in this book.
The book does give them more heart than those who are familiar with them would guess them to possess, though don't fool yourself into thinking there is any weakness to be found. It does a great job of making them individuals rather than one four headed entity, and gives us so much more time and knowledge of one of my favorite characters from the Ascenders, Cass.
I don't want to tiptoe into spoiler territory so I will end this review now with my highest recommendations for this one, with or without including The Ascenders series (though I cannot recommend that series more highly. I even recently purchased the first book in that series for my 20 year old son who is generally not a reader when he showed an interest in reading something.) Don't miss anything by CL Gaber sums it all up for me.
February 7, 2020
Love, love,love, loved!!
I waited so long for this book to come out! I absolutely love this series!
Claire's.. The Claire's. I really didn't look me them at all in other books. Brats, they are! Lol I really did enjoy learning why they are the way they are. The funny thing is that we had no clue who hey we're, until this book. I get it now, but still want to smack them. Haha.
I can not wait for the next book to come out, even though this one just kind of did....
I waited so long for this book to come out! I absolutely love this series!
Claire's.. The Claire's. I really didn't look me them at all in other books. Brats, they are! Lol I really did enjoy learning why they are the way they are. The funny thing is that we had no clue who hey we're, until this book. I get it now, but still want to smack them. Haha.
I can not wait for the next book to come out, even though this one just kind of did....
February 2, 2020
Excellent read
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next lives to be written. Loved the Claire's and their Journey.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next lives to be written. Loved the Claire's and their Journey.
January 23, 2020
I've been curious about the Claires since I started the Ascenders series. This is a breakdown about where they come from, how they were cursed with the abilities each has, and what they're trying to overcome. My heart went out to Cass, their older brother, who spent his childhood unsure how to handle his sisters or why he was always on the painful end of their whip. We're introduced to some minor characters whom I hope the author expounds on someday, and this glimpse into their lives and the lives of their families only had me wanting more.
Brilliant, frightening, sarcastic, witty, and heartbreaking...
I wasn't ready for the end, and now I'm jonesing for the next chapter in this fantastic story.
Brilliant, frightening, sarcastic, witty, and heartbreaking...
I wasn't ready for the end, and now I'm jonesing for the next chapter in this fantastic story.
January 18, 2020
Wow! This is one of my top ten favorite books of the past year! Cl Gaber knocked it out of the park with this one! We get to dive into the lives of The Claires, and whew! I would not want to be one of those poor girls! They've gone through hell and back in their former lives, but they are still fighting to someday survive past their 17th birthdays.. These girls broke my heart and made me laugh in equal measures.. If you love suspense & paranormal, this book will rock your socks off! CL Gaber is going to change your world with this book! :)
January 18, 2020
The backstory/history of The Claire's is fascinating and an amazing addition to the Acsender's series. If they could ever break the curse and live earthly lives, they could have so much "normal" potential. Cass's backstory is also an eye opener into him. Interaction with Walker and her mom add an interesting twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more Ascender's stories.
January 19, 2020
Despite my aversion to empathy for villains..
I found it easy to sink in to their feelings. Always a team fighting their own individual experience. Trapped in a cycle that seems impossible to overcome. Why does it only take one vindictive patriarchal individual to ruin so much?
I found it easy to sink in to their feelings. Always a team fighting their own individual experience. Trapped in a cycle that seems impossible to overcome. Why does it only take one vindictive patriarchal individual to ruin so much?
March 14, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Claires by C.L. Gaber is surprisingly an extraordinary book that I didn't know if I was going to like it or not. Each of the Claire sisters has a special Clair gift that is basically said in their name.
Will The Claires be able to break their curse?
Claire Violet
Claire Violet (better known as V) is the oldest of the quadruplets and the clairvoyant one. She is the first point-of-view that we enter (after some backstory), and I have to say that as a girl, she has taken to using her gift in 2013 as one would do. She uses her power to get money from her classmates. The one thing that sucks is the dying part and having to be reborn just to do it all over again. V can see the future and uses it to her advantage sometimes.
What I like about V is that despite doing this dance all the time, she is still trying to be smart and break this curse. It just sucks that they are trying too late in their last year to try this. The one thing that I dislike about V is that she can be kind of mean when she really shouldn't be.
Claire Sophia
Claire Sophia (better known as S) is the second born child of the quadruplets and the one that is clairsentient. She is the second point-of-view that we enter, and I have to say that it must suck to feel all the emotions of everyone around you with no way of stopping it. S is the sappy one of the four Claire's and the one that tries to keep the other three on track with their emotions. Except that isn't always an easy feat.
What I like about S is that she tries to see the good in everyone, including her sisters and their current family. Except that sometimes that isn't easy when it comes close to dying. The one thing that I dislike about S is that she didn't try to stick up to V enough.
Claire Alice
Claire Alice (better known as A) is the third born child of the quadruplets and the one that is clairaudient. She is the one that can see ghosts, hear things that no one else should like when she is walking by a house A can listen to their conversation inside, and she can hear if someone is about to crossover into the spirit world. A is the third point-of-view one and the one that is in constant contact with their actual mom. Well, when she isn't talking to any of the other spirits that come a-knockin'. A is more into talking to Cass, their "brother" in this lifetime. None of the other Claire's like him.
What I like about A is that she tries to be a good person in this life even if it isn't working for her. Especially when it's to give Cass the benefit of the doubt, but then again, that could just be the old age getting to her. The one thing that I dislike about A is that instead of being with ghosts, she could meet boys her age, then she may not be sad at the end of this life.
Claire Clover
Claire Clover (better known as C) is the last of the quadruplets and the one that is claircognizant. She is the one that is all-knowing and never guesses wrong. Basically, she's the Yoda of the group. C is a vegan and the one that helps out their current dad with his police work. She is a bit meaner than V when it comes to protecting the other Claires. Or when they like to make their "brother" and his girlfriend that lives next door squirm. C is the one to look out for, especially when it comes close to their death day.
What I like about C is that in this life, she has tried to become a better person, especially with helping out their dad with his cases. The one that I dislike about C is that being all-knowing doesn't mean that she needs to have an attitude all the time.
Cass
Cass, Caspian, is the firstborn child to his mom and dad. He was born a year before his little sisters. He was raised with them being his sisters and tried hard to act like their big brother. That is until the four of them continually try different tactics to get rid of him. He can also talk to spirits and maybe some other things that he hasn't tapped into yet. What I like about Caspian is that he is an excellent character that tries hard not to hate his little sisters even though they test him a lot.
I feel bad for Cass. He has to deal with the Claires, and what they do to his family life makes his head spin. One swift head spin that he has no clue how to stop.
5 Stars
The Claires by C.L. Gaber is a new take on fantasy books. I haven't read Ascenders before but after reading this one it makes me kind of want to read them now. I don't know if we will ever get another book with these four sisters, but I kind of want to see if they do eventually break the curse. Along with what happened between 2013 to 2017, that made them not come back as fast as they usually do. For that reason, I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to anyone that likes to read fantasy books.
A special thank you to Wunderkind PR for the opportunity to review this book.
The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Claires by C.L. Gaber.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will The Claires be able to break their curse?
Claire Violet
Claire Violet (better known as V) is the oldest of the quadruplets and the clairvoyant one. She is the first point-of-view that we enter (after some backstory), and I have to say that as a girl, she has taken to using her gift in 2013 as one would do. She uses her power to get money from her classmates. The one thing that sucks is the dying part and having to be reborn just to do it all over again. V can see the future and uses it to her advantage sometimes.
What I like about V is that despite doing this dance all the time, she is still trying to be smart and break this curse. It just sucks that they are trying too late in their last year to try this. The one thing that I dislike about V is that she can be kind of mean when she really shouldn't be.
Claire Sophia
Claire Sophia (better known as S) is the second born child of the quadruplets and the one that is clairsentient. She is the second point-of-view that we enter, and I have to say that it must suck to feel all the emotions of everyone around you with no way of stopping it. S is the sappy one of the four Claire's and the one that tries to keep the other three on track with their emotions. Except that isn't always an easy feat.
What I like about S is that she tries to see the good in everyone, including her sisters and their current family. Except that sometimes that isn't easy when it comes close to dying. The one thing that I dislike about S is that she didn't try to stick up to V enough.
Claire Alice
Claire Alice (better known as A) is the third born child of the quadruplets and the one that is clairaudient. She is the one that can see ghosts, hear things that no one else should like when she is walking by a house A can listen to their conversation inside, and she can hear if someone is about to crossover into the spirit world. A is the third point-of-view one and the one that is in constant contact with their actual mom. Well, when she isn't talking to any of the other spirits that come a-knockin'. A is more into talking to Cass, their "brother" in this lifetime. None of the other Claire's like him.
What I like about A is that she tries to be a good person in this life even if it isn't working for her. Especially when it's to give Cass the benefit of the doubt, but then again, that could just be the old age getting to her. The one thing that I dislike about A is that instead of being with ghosts, she could meet boys her age, then she may not be sad at the end of this life.
Claire Clover
Claire Clover (better known as C) is the last of the quadruplets and the one that is claircognizant. She is the one that is all-knowing and never guesses wrong. Basically, she's the Yoda of the group. C is a vegan and the one that helps out their current dad with his police work. She is a bit meaner than V when it comes to protecting the other Claires. Or when they like to make their "brother" and his girlfriend that lives next door squirm. C is the one to look out for, especially when it comes close to their death day.
What I like about C is that in this life, she has tried to become a better person, especially with helping out their dad with his cases. The one that I dislike about C is that being all-knowing doesn't mean that she needs to have an attitude all the time.
Cass
Cass, Caspian, is the firstborn child to his mom and dad. He was born a year before his little sisters. He was raised with them being his sisters and tried hard to act like their big brother. That is until the four of them continually try different tactics to get rid of him. He can also talk to spirits and maybe some other things that he hasn't tapped into yet. What I like about Caspian is that he is an excellent character that tries hard not to hate his little sisters even though they test him a lot.
I feel bad for Cass. He has to deal with the Claires, and what they do to his family life makes his head spin. One swift head spin that he has no clue how to stop.
5 Stars The Claires by C.L. Gaber is a new take on fantasy books. I haven't read Ascenders before but after reading this one it makes me kind of want to read them now. I don't know if we will ever get another book with these four sisters, but I kind of want to see if they do eventually break the curse. Along with what happened between 2013 to 2017, that made them not come back as fast as they usually do. For that reason, I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to anyone that likes to read fantasy books.
A special thank you to Wunderkind PR for the opportunity to review this book.
The Claires is the first novel spin-off of the best-selling Ascenders Book Saga.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Claires by C.L. Gaber.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
December 2, 2020
READ FULL REVIEW AND ENTER THE TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG: https://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.c...
The synopsis of The Claires had me immediately hooked up: 4 sisters, 4 different superpowers, all four destined to die at 17. I have to admit, that I was expecting a book filled with darkness and a creepy atmosphere, but I certainly couldn't imagine that the author's style was definitely different! The Claires, in fact, is at times hilarious, at times gruesome, with heroines that are more concerned about losing their virginity instead of breaking an everlasting death curse. For those of you who watched it, I got similar vibes to when I followed the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Spellman - that I loved, by the way!
The most interesting thing about this book is that for once, we have protagonists who are definitely evil, even if they try to make penance through all their lives. The author gives us a clear picture of the complexity of these characters, making me at times pity them, but most of the times hate them. The Claires are teens, and as teens they have their desires and their frustrations, but unlike most teens they also have a deep rage and thirst for revenge that they mostly vent on those who don't deserve it. On this matter, I found it super interesting the fact that the author does not only give us the point of view of all four sisters, but also of one of the main victims of their wrath: Cass, or, their brother of "this" lifetime. Cass was possibly my favorite character and I couldn't stand how he was treated by his sisters. If at times you felt compelled to feel pity or compassion for the Claires, Cass' POV made you immediately acquire an objective opinion of these evil creatures. There are times when their human emotions prevail, and it is exactly during those times that your judgement will mostly swing: when they demonstrate to be just girls looking for love, for example, or when they try to hide how attached they actually feel to their parents. The main thing with these protagonists is that you never know how to judge them, and that's what kept me reading till the ending, to see if redemption was actually possible for the Claires. I will just say that the ending was quite satisfying for me and I liked it how the author managed to put an ending to this story withouth leaving out any character introduced during the narration.
Despite the story being good, there were times when I felt really confused about what was going on and there are several things that might have contributed to my confusion. First, I believe that the fact that the Claires are just called with the initial letter of their names can be quite confusing! At times, I couldn't understand who was speaking, especially because not even their classmates or family called the Claires by name! Second, I believe there were too many elements inserted to the story, making it hard to follow at times. Moreover, with so many things happening, I believe that the part of the curse does not get the importance it deserved and I have to admit that all the part regarding the visit to their ancestral home and all the following, magical events are still a little blurred in my memory. Speaking of the magical and paranormal elements in this book, I always felt like I was missing something and I'm sure that reading the Ascendant series might certainly help in better understanding a supernatural world that is not thoroughly explained here.
Overall, I found the Claires to be an entertaining read, with just the right amount of dark humor that makes it stand out from a romance. I won't lie, I am now curious about the Ascendant series, especially because I just found out that I know the protagonist! So, who knows? Maybe I'll go find some clarity and binge into this new series! For now, it's a 3 stars for the Claires.
The synopsis of The Claires had me immediately hooked up: 4 sisters, 4 different superpowers, all four destined to die at 17. I have to admit, that I was expecting a book filled with darkness and a creepy atmosphere, but I certainly couldn't imagine that the author's style was definitely different! The Claires, in fact, is at times hilarious, at times gruesome, with heroines that are more concerned about losing their virginity instead of breaking an everlasting death curse. For those of you who watched it, I got similar vibes to when I followed the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Spellman - that I loved, by the way!
The most interesting thing about this book is that for once, we have protagonists who are definitely evil, even if they try to make penance through all their lives. The author gives us a clear picture of the complexity of these characters, making me at times pity them, but most of the times hate them. The Claires are teens, and as teens they have their desires and their frustrations, but unlike most teens they also have a deep rage and thirst for revenge that they mostly vent on those who don't deserve it. On this matter, I found it super interesting the fact that the author does not only give us the point of view of all four sisters, but also of one of the main victims of their wrath: Cass, or, their brother of "this" lifetime. Cass was possibly my favorite character and I couldn't stand how he was treated by his sisters. If at times you felt compelled to feel pity or compassion for the Claires, Cass' POV made you immediately acquire an objective opinion of these evil creatures. There are times when their human emotions prevail, and it is exactly during those times that your judgement will mostly swing: when they demonstrate to be just girls looking for love, for example, or when they try to hide how attached they actually feel to their parents. The main thing with these protagonists is that you never know how to judge them, and that's what kept me reading till the ending, to see if redemption was actually possible for the Claires. I will just say that the ending was quite satisfying for me and I liked it how the author managed to put an ending to this story withouth leaving out any character introduced during the narration.
Despite the story being good, there were times when I felt really confused about what was going on and there are several things that might have contributed to my confusion. First, I believe that the fact that the Claires are just called with the initial letter of their names can be quite confusing! At times, I couldn't understand who was speaking, especially because not even their classmates or family called the Claires by name! Second, I believe there were too many elements inserted to the story, making it hard to follow at times. Moreover, with so many things happening, I believe that the part of the curse does not get the importance it deserved and I have to admit that all the part regarding the visit to their ancestral home and all the following, magical events are still a little blurred in my memory. Speaking of the magical and paranormal elements in this book, I always felt like I was missing something and I'm sure that reading the Ascendant series might certainly help in better understanding a supernatural world that is not thoroughly explained here.
Overall, I found the Claires to be an entertaining read, with just the right amount of dark humor that makes it stand out from a romance. I won't lie, I am now curious about the Ascendant series, especially because I just found out that I know the protagonist! So, who knows? Maybe I'll go find some clarity and binge into this new series! For now, it's a 3 stars for the Claires.
October 11, 2020
Try to picture yourself as one of a set of quadruplets. Each of you has some sort of paranormal ability – a “Claire”. Clairvoyance. Clairsentience. Clairaudiensce. Claircognizance. Awesome? Or curse? Imagine feeling everyone’s pain, or not being able to shut out their thoughts, or having the dead constantly attempting to get you to deliver messages to the living. OH, and imagine that you are destined to die – all 4 of you – on your 17th birthday, only to be reborn into a new family in a new city, with memories and talents intact and repeat the process again and again …
Does the curse counterbalance this great gift? Or does the curse compound the curse of these “gifts”?
Author C. L. Gaber moves away from her “high school for the departed” series The Ascenders to explore the 16th year of the life of these four girls. Young women who know what is to come, and are both trying to squeeze as much life into that timeframe – and find a way to avoid the curse and add days or decades to their current existence.
Ms. Gaber shows a gift in being able to uniquely identify the 4 sisters, making each a unique individual with their own concepts of morality and mortality, their own wants and desires – while never losing track of the fact that all are sisters AND that they are truly separate from the family into which they were “born”. It was a novel in which I truly did not know what was going to happen next – and when things finally became clear to me, half the time I foresaw the upcoming event(s) wrong!!
My only issue with the book is that I could not truly sympathize with the sisters. Each of them had some aspect of their character that I admired – and something that I detested. Mind you, this is not what I would consider a “fault” in the book, BUT it is something I hope for in the books I read. (A couple of the supporting characters DID manage to catch my eye, but they’re called “supporting” for a reason.) This would NOT stop me from reading the upcoming sequel … uh, Ms. Gaber, there IS a sequel coming, isn’t there??
RATING: 4 ½ stars., rounded down to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
Does the curse counterbalance this great gift? Or does the curse compound the curse of these “gifts”?
Author C. L. Gaber moves away from her “high school for the departed” series The Ascenders to explore the 16th year of the life of these four girls. Young women who know what is to come, and are both trying to squeeze as much life into that timeframe – and find a way to avoid the curse and add days or decades to their current existence.
Ms. Gaber shows a gift in being able to uniquely identify the 4 sisters, making each a unique individual with their own concepts of morality and mortality, their own wants and desires – while never losing track of the fact that all are sisters AND that they are truly separate from the family into which they were “born”. It was a novel in which I truly did not know what was going to happen next – and when things finally became clear to me, half the time I foresaw the upcoming event(s) wrong!!
My only issue with the book is that I could not truly sympathize with the sisters. Each of them had some aspect of their character that I admired – and something that I detested. Mind you, this is not what I would consider a “fault” in the book, BUT it is something I hope for in the books I read. (A couple of the supporting characters DID manage to catch my eye, but they’re called “supporting” for a reason.) This would NOT stop me from reading the upcoming sequel … uh, Ms. Gaber, there IS a sequel coming, isn’t there??
RATING: 4 ½ stars., rounded down to 4 stars where 1/2 stars are not permitted.
March 12, 2020
I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review. What follows is my opinion and mine alone. There was no compensation for this review.
The Claires is a standalone novel that is set in the same world as Gaber's series, The Ascenders. Though I don't know the series or the world, being introduced in this way, through The Claires, didn't confuse me. Let me take a step back. There was some confusion.
At the very beginning of the book, the mention of America was that it was still considered the colonies. However, I'm not entirely sure if that is true. There is also a little bit about burning witches. That said, I chalked this up to world building and an alternate universe to our own. It's not that difficult of a leap.
If anything, once I got past that idea, I realized that The Ascenders probably have more in the history of the world and the paranormal aspects. I grew excited about the idea of reading that series and I do plan to in the future.
Gaber's writing is well done and pulls you into the story. I found myself liking each different point of view and giggling at times. The Claires felt like a band of sisters trying to find a way out of their inevitable end. Each sister had their own personality and it was interesting to see how they played off each other and the world.
It makes me wonder what they are like in the series and once again, I am finding another reason to put it in my TBR.
As if that wasn't enough, can we just take a moment and admire the book cover? My son, Bug, even mentioned its beauty in the middle of him explaining how he should be on YouTube with me. If a book cover does that, it is an amazing book cover.
All in all, the book is good. It pulled me into their story all the while making me want to know more about the books it spun out of. For a fan of Gaber, I can only imagine that this is a good addition to your collection. For me, it looks like I may join the club and read more.
Final Rating: 4/5
The Claires is a standalone novel that is set in the same world as Gaber's series, The Ascenders. Though I don't know the series or the world, being introduced in this way, through The Claires, didn't confuse me. Let me take a step back. There was some confusion.
At the very beginning of the book, the mention of America was that it was still considered the colonies. However, I'm not entirely sure if that is true. There is also a little bit about burning witches. That said, I chalked this up to world building and an alternate universe to our own. It's not that difficult of a leap.
If anything, once I got past that idea, I realized that The Ascenders probably have more in the history of the world and the paranormal aspects. I grew excited about the idea of reading that series and I do plan to in the future.
Gaber's writing is well done and pulls you into the story. I found myself liking each different point of view and giggling at times. The Claires felt like a band of sisters trying to find a way out of their inevitable end. Each sister had their own personality and it was interesting to see how they played off each other and the world.
It makes me wonder what they are like in the series and once again, I am finding another reason to put it in my TBR.
As if that wasn't enough, can we just take a moment and admire the book cover? My son, Bug, even mentioned its beauty in the middle of him explaining how he should be on YouTube with me. If a book cover does that, it is an amazing book cover.
All in all, the book is good. It pulled me into their story all the while making me want to know more about the books it spun out of. For a fan of Gaber, I can only imagine that this is a good addition to your collection. For me, it looks like I may join the club and read more.
Final Rating: 4/5
March 11, 2020
3.5
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
In 1911 fraternal girl quadruplets were born. In 1928 they died. Because the powers they carry together is too much to go unchecked, they’ve been cursed to repeat this cycle every seventeen years. They’re each called Claire. Claire V is clairvoyant—clear seeing of the future, Claire S is clairsentient—clear feeling of other’s emotions, Clair A is clairaudient—clear hearing including tapping into the spirit realm, and Clair C is Claircognizant—clear all knowing.
As they near the end of their sixteenth year in 2013, the Claires are determined that this time will be the time they beat the clock. The time that they get to live. But as the pieces, again, start to fall into place, can they truly outrun their destinies?
The Claires is a spin-off book from C.L. Garber’s Ascenders series. I’ll admit I haven’t read the Ascenders, but I didn’t have any issue following along in The Claires story. I’m really interested in the idea of fate. It’s something that we see so much in fantasy. Fated pairs, destiny, chosen ones. Any time someone wants to mess with that trope, I’m all for it.
But I think I was also hindered by the fact that I hadn’t read the predecessor series as I’m given to understand that The Claires make appearances. I think that I may have missed little nuances of their characters. Because, unfortunately, I didn’t really like them very much.
They are a very singular group. Having gone through so many lives, they’ve come to understand that they can rely on no one but each other. While they don’t often actively push outsiders away, they also aren’t welcoming. They reminded me of the sisters and the crows in Shelly Laurenston’s Call of Crows and Honey Badger Chronicles except with less redeemable qualities. This is especially true of the relationship with their “brother” Cass. I use quotations because, as we’re repeatedly told, he’s not really their blood brother since the mother they are born from is only a vessel. Which is supposed to mean that it’s okay for Claire V to harbor amorous feelings for Cass—let me shout it here that it’s NOT and never will be okay—even after she’s dissuaded from her feelings she never acknowledges that it was just plain wrong. I guess we’re lucky that it’s only one-sided.
Getting past that (although it’s difficult), I’d say what intrigued me the most was their history. Where they originally came from and the idea of a mysterious entity known as the Order that keeps watch on the Claires. It’s ultimately the Order the decided their powers were too dangerous and cursed them to die every seventeen years from birth. It’s here that I can’t tell if I’m at a loss for not having read the predecessor series or if we can expect a confrontation and more reveals in future books. I can say that there definitely needs to be a confrontation and the door is left open for future books, I mean reincarnation, yeah.
I’d say minus the whole inappropriate sibling love first and getting over the oft unfriendly main characters second, the story as a whole has a lot of interesting qualities and potential to go places, and I’m intrigued enough to want to pick up Ascenders.
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
In 1911 fraternal girl quadruplets were born. In 1928 they died. Because the powers they carry together is too much to go unchecked, they’ve been cursed to repeat this cycle every seventeen years. They’re each called Claire. Claire V is clairvoyant—clear seeing of the future, Claire S is clairsentient—clear feeling of other’s emotions, Clair A is clairaudient—clear hearing including tapping into the spirit realm, and Clair C is Claircognizant—clear all knowing.
As they near the end of their sixteenth year in 2013, the Claires are determined that this time will be the time they beat the clock. The time that they get to live. But as the pieces, again, start to fall into place, can they truly outrun their destinies?
The Claires is a spin-off book from C.L. Garber’s Ascenders series. I’ll admit I haven’t read the Ascenders, but I didn’t have any issue following along in The Claires story. I’m really interested in the idea of fate. It’s something that we see so much in fantasy. Fated pairs, destiny, chosen ones. Any time someone wants to mess with that trope, I’m all for it.
But I think I was also hindered by the fact that I hadn’t read the predecessor series as I’m given to understand that The Claires make appearances. I think that I may have missed little nuances of their characters. Because, unfortunately, I didn’t really like them very much.
They are a very singular group. Having gone through so many lives, they’ve come to understand that they can rely on no one but each other. While they don’t often actively push outsiders away, they also aren’t welcoming. They reminded me of the sisters and the crows in Shelly Laurenston’s Call of Crows and Honey Badger Chronicles except with less redeemable qualities. This is especially true of the relationship with their “brother” Cass. I use quotations because, as we’re repeatedly told, he’s not really their blood brother since the mother they are born from is only a vessel. Which is supposed to mean that it’s okay for Claire V to harbor amorous feelings for Cass—let me shout it here that it’s NOT and never will be okay—even after she’s dissuaded from her feelings she never acknowledges that it was just plain wrong. I guess we’re lucky that it’s only one-sided.
Getting past that (although it’s difficult), I’d say what intrigued me the most was their history. Where they originally came from and the idea of a mysterious entity known as the Order that keeps watch on the Claires. It’s ultimately the Order the decided their powers were too dangerous and cursed them to die every seventeen years from birth. It’s here that I can’t tell if I’m at a loss for not having read the predecessor series or if we can expect a confrontation and more reveals in future books. I can say that there definitely needs to be a confrontation and the door is left open for future books, I mean reincarnation, yeah.
I’d say minus the whole inappropriate sibling love first and getting over the oft unfriendly main characters second, the story as a whole has a lot of interesting qualities and potential to go places, and I’m intrigued enough to want to pick up Ascenders.
March 17, 2020
Oh man, I'm not even sure where to start. First of all the premise of this store was very intriguing. 4 clairients, a set of quadruplets. Each with their own power. They don't live past their 17th birthday...ever! Then they are reborn from yet another host. A curse they are born into and forced to die through every 17 years. They don't get close to the host and the host families. They don't pretend to belong. They make their own rules along the way. This includes their own set of justices for those who are evil and wrong doers.
Though don't get the idea they are your typical do gooder heroines of the story either. There were times I loved them and rooted for them, then there were times that I was blown away by the pure mean girls they were.
This book was so unique from the likable and unlikeability of the characters to the shock of the ending.
This isn't the typical over in a blink YA fantasy. There are many layers to the story. While the girls and their not blood/dna brother navigate highschool and all the horrors that naturally cold with that, they also are trying to find the fix for the curse. When I say the horrors of high school, I mean ramped up horrors. Could you imagine navigating hs with the ability to see the future? Feel every hormonal emotion of every teen going through puberty? Yea neither can I! And add to this the girls in their own way are trying to do good. Hoping good points will level out the curse. All the while knowing the days are running out for them.
This is a well written, multilayer story with twists and turns and some paranormal weirdness thrown in for an extra bump.
The only regret I have is I don't have the next one available to read. I really really need a second story!!
Though don't get the idea they are your typical do gooder heroines of the story either. There were times I loved them and rooted for them, then there were times that I was blown away by the pure mean girls they were.
This book was so unique from the likable and unlikeability of the characters to the shock of the ending.
This isn't the typical over in a blink YA fantasy. There are many layers to the story. While the girls and their not blood/dna brother navigate highschool and all the horrors that naturally cold with that, they also are trying to find the fix for the curse. When I say the horrors of high school, I mean ramped up horrors. Could you imagine navigating hs with the ability to see the future? Feel every hormonal emotion of every teen going through puberty? Yea neither can I! And add to this the girls in their own way are trying to do good. Hoping good points will level out the curse. All the while knowing the days are running out for them.
This is a well written, multilayer story with twists and turns and some paranormal weirdness thrown in for an extra bump.
The only regret I have is I don't have the next one available to read. I really really need a second story!!
February 29, 2020
4.5 Stars...
What kind of person would you be if you were continually subjected to the same outcome, the same fate, over and over and over....
That is the nexus of this novel.
Let me tell you what I loved, which was almost everything. The Claires, referred to by their middle initial in the story thank god, are young and kind of brilliant, but also slightly jaded and dare I say, wicked. But if you'd spent the last century living your life until the age of seventeen and then just gone only to be reborn to go through it all over again, you'd probably be bitter as well. Then you have their.... brother(?) Cass, who gives an outside perspective of the four young women and their journey which not only shows them through a different set of eyes, it makes them marginally darker characters.
Here we go with the girls most recent reincarnation, and as their seventeenth birthday draws nearer, what won't they do to break the cycle, to stay alive?
Fast paced and well written, alternating not only the POV but the past and present, The Claires will have you on the edge of your seat teetering between, what the hell just happened? and, rooting for the villians! I think my favorite aspect of this story was how the Claires are a four leaf clover created as a group, sisters that are bound to this tormented fate, and yet, the Author gives each one of them their own individuality.
My only hiccup was some similarities between this story and an older series that I've read, loved and enjoyed. It pulled me out of the story a couple of times, but aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
What kind of person would you be if you were continually subjected to the same outcome, the same fate, over and over and over....
That is the nexus of this novel.
Let me tell you what I loved, which was almost everything. The Claires, referred to by their middle initial in the story thank god, are young and kind of brilliant, but also slightly jaded and dare I say, wicked. But if you'd spent the last century living your life until the age of seventeen and then just gone only to be reborn to go through it all over again, you'd probably be bitter as well. Then you have their.... brother(?) Cass, who gives an outside perspective of the four young women and their journey which not only shows them through a different set of eyes, it makes them marginally darker characters.
Here we go with the girls most recent reincarnation, and as their seventeenth birthday draws nearer, what won't they do to break the cycle, to stay alive?
Fast paced and well written, alternating not only the POV but the past and present, The Claires will have you on the edge of your seat teetering between, what the hell just happened? and, rooting for the villians! I think my favorite aspect of this story was how the Claires are a four leaf clover created as a group, sisters that are bound to this tormented fate, and yet, the Author gives each one of them their own individuality.
My only hiccup was some similarities between this story and an older series that I've read, loved and enjoyed. It pulled me out of the story a couple of times, but aside from that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
March 1, 2020
Four girls are born together but, they are not identical. They are named Claire and each has a different ability. One can see visions of the future, another can feel another person's pain, one can tap into the spirit world, and other has clear knowing.
They were originally born in 1911 and first died together in 1928. The Claires are a victim of a curse where they perish at the age of seventeen and are reborn two months later. The Claires are always violently murdered and then reborn to a woman who finds out she is pregnant. The Claires try to break the curse that ensures they die young. Can they find a way to break the curse?
This novel was my foray into the Ascenders series. The writing style was engaging and easy to get into. I was in between loving this novel and liking it. The story was very engrossing read about four young women trying to change their destiny. Since I am new to the series, I felt like I was missing some story nuances on the characters. There were some portions of the novel that felt strange and completely unbelievable. For example, the way Claire C. slaps a student on the face in front of the school's administration. Instead of being punished, I felt like the Claires could do whatever they want. I had a hard time understanding how they can try to do nice acts to save themselves but, be so cruel to people. Then they start becoming annoyed when someone was being cruel to them but, they are cruel to other people for no reason. I think if I read that other books in the series, the Claire characters would be more clear to me. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.
They were originally born in 1911 and first died together in 1928. The Claires are a victim of a curse where they perish at the age of seventeen and are reborn two months later. The Claires are always violently murdered and then reborn to a woman who finds out she is pregnant. The Claires try to break the curse that ensures they die young. Can they find a way to break the curse?
This novel was my foray into the Ascenders series. The writing style was engaging and easy to get into. I was in between loving this novel and liking it. The story was very engrossing read about four young women trying to change their destiny. Since I am new to the series, I felt like I was missing some story nuances on the characters. There were some portions of the novel that felt strange and completely unbelievable. For example, the way Claire C. slaps a student on the face in front of the school's administration. Instead of being punished, I felt like the Claires could do whatever they want. I had a hard time understanding how they can try to do nice acts to save themselves but, be so cruel to people. Then they start becoming annoyed when someone was being cruel to them but, they are cruel to other people for no reason. I think if I read that other books in the series, the Claire characters would be more clear to me. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.
December 2, 2020
An ancient curse. A death sentence at 17.
Holy cow! What an astonishing YA paranormal suspense novel. I haven't read the Ascenders series so I don't have a preconceived notion of The Claires and their messed up prophecy. Stories told in different POVs are not my favorite way to read a book, but Gaber does it very well.
The four Claires are a nasty bunch of mean girls. Especially when it comes to their poor unsuspecting older brother Cass who has a special gift of his own that is apparently not being used effectively. However, as the sisters' stories unfold and they are determined to break the ancient curse, we surprisingly see some depth and feeling there. And let's not forget their goal to do-good this time with their "post-midnight monster hunting" before their time is up.
The sisters have their own quirky personalities along with their abilities ranging from a mission to lose their virginity to the ill effects of Post Traumatic Family Disorder (PTFD). And from using spiritual GPS to conjuring up hot ghost boyfriends.
The supporting characters are a great addition to the story including the Claires' current host family unit and Annie, the next-door neighbor.
This is a very dark and fast-paced YA paranormal tale that has many shocking and extreme moments as well as some of the vilest characters ever created. With that being said, I'm going to pick up the Ascenders series to see how it all pans out.
Thank you to Ms. Gaber for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Holy cow! What an astonishing YA paranormal suspense novel. I haven't read the Ascenders series so I don't have a preconceived notion of The Claires and their messed up prophecy. Stories told in different POVs are not my favorite way to read a book, but Gaber does it very well.
The four Claires are a nasty bunch of mean girls. Especially when it comes to their poor unsuspecting older brother Cass who has a special gift of his own that is apparently not being used effectively. However, as the sisters' stories unfold and they are determined to break the ancient curse, we surprisingly see some depth and feeling there. And let's not forget their goal to do-good this time with their "post-midnight monster hunting" before their time is up.
The sisters have their own quirky personalities along with their abilities ranging from a mission to lose their virginity to the ill effects of Post Traumatic Family Disorder (PTFD). And from using spiritual GPS to conjuring up hot ghost boyfriends.
The supporting characters are a great addition to the story including the Claires' current host family unit and Annie, the next-door neighbor.
This is a very dark and fast-paced YA paranormal tale that has many shocking and extreme moments as well as some of the vilest characters ever created. With that being said, I'm going to pick up the Ascenders series to see how it all pans out.
Thank you to Ms. Gaber for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
May 21, 2020
C.L. Gaber just opened up a whole new world with The Claires.
At first i was sure that i knew everything about those "girls" that i had met in The Ascenders Saga, and lets get real, i had not liked them at all (In a good way you know how we love to hate the "bad guys"). I did know nothing!
The book was surprising and intriguing. It starts slow but that is a good thing because when the speed picks up its a crazy ride!
Loved this book that is a spin off but can easily be read as a stand alone.
The Claires are sure to make you ask for more !!!
At first i was sure that i knew everything about those "girls" that i had met in The Ascenders Saga, and lets get real, i had not liked them at all (In a good way you know how we love to hate the "bad guys"). I did know nothing!
The book was surprising and intriguing. It starts slow but that is a good thing because when the speed picks up its a crazy ride!
Loved this book that is a spin off but can easily be read as a stand alone.
The Claires are sure to make you ask for more !!!
Read
August 22, 2020Amazing!
I love C.L Gaber's books, so when the "The Claires" came out, saying I was beyond excited is an under statement. The Claires were fascinating in the other Asxenders books. I was extremely curious about them and this book answered a lot of my curiosity. Now I'm here wait for the next book to fill my cup again! I loved that I was loving and hating The Claires throughout the book.
Favorite part: when they actually felt really feelings
Not so Favorite part: V's fascination with Cass and trying to follow along with who was who talking
I love C.L Gaber's books, so when the "The Claires" came out, saying I was beyond excited is an under statement. The Claires were fascinating in the other Asxenders books. I was extremely curious about them and this book answered a lot of my curiosity. Now I'm here wait for the next book to fill my cup again! I loved that I was loving and hating The Claires throughout the book.
Favorite part: when they actually felt really feelings
Not so Favorite part: V's fascination with Cass and trying to follow along with who was who talking
January 13, 2023
Awesome!
I love the Ascenders series of books and this spin-off is just as good. The only thing that lets them down is the editing. Far too many typos and spelling mistakes (50+) got through the editing process that I feel sorry for the author as she's being done a disservice! The story itself is fantastic but please, please, please get a new editor!! One that won't let you down quite so badly as the current one is.
I love the Ascenders series of books and this spin-off is just as good. The only thing that lets them down is the editing. Far too many typos and spelling mistakes (50+) got through the editing process that I feel sorry for the author as she's being done a disservice! The story itself is fantastic but please, please, please get a new editor!! One that won't let you down quite so badly as the current one is.
August 12, 2023
I give it 3.5 stars. This was a very interesting read and I enjoyed it. I got to meet the author at The Festival of Books. She's so nice and I'm glad I got her book. The characters were run and unique. There were some points in the plot that I feel could have been done better and sewn together better. I feel like some parts were really blocky and could have been rounded out better.
September 8, 2020
Sensational Supernatural Sass
Wonderful book. I’m excited about more to come. Just the right combination of sass and supernatural. This is my first time reading this author’s work. I’m curious to check out her other books.
Wonderful book. I’m excited about more to come. Just the right combination of sass and supernatural. This is my first time reading this author’s work. I’m curious to check out her other books.
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