Hallowed (Unearthly #2)

  Just a quick note: I will be on vacation when this review posts. I may not or may not have internet access during vacation, but I will play catch-up with your blogs and comments when I get back. 

 Readers of my blog know that I'm extremely picky when it comes to reading books that feature angels. Most of these books feature a similar plot with generic characters, but Cynthia Hand's Unearthly series stand out from the crowd with great writing, intriguing characters, and a different spin on the age old debate of free will versus fate.

 Description: For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Review: Hallowed beings a few months after the world altering events of Unearthly. I highly suggest reading the first book to become familiar with the characters and the setting before jumping into this sequel. For the most part Hand deftly avoids the middle book syndrome with Hallowed and adds a complex layers to her characters, plot, and tone of the book. Hallowed is a much darker, somber read than Unearthly but I still enjoyed it.
 The likable Clara Gardner faces her senior year with a new set of problems. She is beginning to have nightmares. Each dream ends the same way with the death of a person who is close to her. With the help of some friends, Clara tries to piece together clues and a new purpose from the dreams. At first glance, the person in danger seems to be obvious but I was a bit surprised when the big reveal came and it turned out to be someone completely different. Along with solving the mystery as time ticks away, Clara must also be on constant watch for the evil fallen angel (known as a Black Wing) Samjeeza.
  Unlike most middle books in the paranormal/supernatural romances where nothing new is added, we learn a lot about the lives of angels and Clara's own angel qualities. We meet new and fascinating characters along with surprising revelations. Although it's clear which direction Clara's increasingly petulant younger brother, Jeffrey, is heading, I wanted to learn more about him. He really does seem to have a minor role in this book and I'm wondering if he will play a large part in the third book.
 As in the first novel, the incessant conflict between destiny and free will drives Clara's actions and heart. In Hallowed, Clara receives tough love in coming to terms of being powerless in certain situations. It's a wake-up call for her and it once again makes he wonder if she'll ever have an ordinary life. She begins to question how she's living her life including who she is allowed to love.
  While there is a love triangle in Hallowed, it doesn't present itself in the ordinary ways we seem them in books. Yes, the charming and adorable Tucker Avery is still present but his appearance is limited due to the focus on angels and their lifestyles. Christian, who I thought wasn't a fully developed character to form an opinion of, is fully fleshed out in Hallowed. He doesn't worm his way into Clara's heart and cause a rift with Tucker, but becomes Clara's sounding board when she needs someone to talk to as he has first hand experience of what she is going through. I'm definitely still on Team Tucker, but I can't label Christian as the bad guy nor can I discredit his allure. I'm very anxious to read Boundless to see how everything ends.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There are some disturbing images and suggestions of underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Kiss by an Angel series by Elizabeth Chandler, Halflings by Heather Burch, A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

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Unearthly

  If you've been visiting my blog for the past few months, you've probably noticed that the cover of Unearthly has been in my upcoming review widget for quite sometime. I can explain. I hit a really bad streak of reading pretty bad angel related books with gorgeous covers. I began to think that maybe the subject of angels was turning me off so I was hesitate to pick up Unearthly. Reading glowing reviews about the book around the blogosphere made me to decide to give this book a shot. So I moved it from the bottom of my to be read pile to the top and I can honestly say that I glad I did.

Description: Angels are given a purpose on Earth. Clara Gardner is a Quartarius, a quarter-angel, is about to realize her angel purpose. She is constantly receiving vivid visions of saving a teenage boy from a forest fire in Teton County, Wyoming. Who is this boy? Where is he and why does he need to be saved?

Review: To be completely honest, I had very low expectations for Unearthly. The previous angel novels I read had lots of potential, both plot and character wise, but the writing quickly fell apart. Thankfully, Unearthly made me realize that there are indeed good books about angels. It made me realize that with the previous books, my complaint wasn't necessarily about the subject of the books, but rather how it was written.
   The book begins with Clara receiving a vision of saving a teenage boy from a forest fire. The vision clues that Clara remembers such as a license plate lead her family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Clara has never seen the boy's face in her vision, only the back of his head and body but on her first day of school, she meets the boy of her vision face to face: the super popular and devastatingly handsome Christian. Clara's sole focus is trying to learn as much about Christian as she can in order to make sense of her purpose. Along the way, she befriends with two very different girls: the easygoing, sweet and adorable Wendy (a character I would love to be best friends with), and Angela, the intense loner. Clara fits nicely with both of these girls, who balance her angel and human characteristics. It's really Wendy’s twin brother, Tucker, though who unknowingly seems to change Clara's purpose and makes her question about blindly following her unknown destiny.
  Unearthly does have the usual tropes of a supernatural romance: new girl at a school, two love interests, a secret she can't share, but its Hand's deftly crafted unique angel mythology and interesting characters that held my interest. Though the book is well over 400 pages, I was amazed on how quickly I read it.
  Clara is an endearing heroine who is realistically portrayed, well as realistic as you can get in a supernatural romance. She fears not meeting her mother's expectations of her purpose while desiring to find answers about what it means to be an angel. Is she merely a puppet? What happens if she refuses to accept her purpose once she realizes what it is? Or succeeds? Or even worse fails? Clara is also struggling with her feelings for the two love interests. What I loved about Clara is that she is a honest, ordinary girl who actually interacts with her family, which is composed of  a single mother who is half angel, and her brother, who is also a quarter angel. Readers are spared the "I can't tell you because it's not safe" routine. Clara does tells the truth to those who are important to her and to those who drive the story.
   As for love interests, I'm completely captivated by Tucker Avery. Tuck is someone who exudes natural charm. He is genuinely warm, straight forward, and incredibly funny. I loved how he called Clara "carrots" because it reminded me so much of the banter between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. Tuck and Clara fit perfectly. Watching these two develop from friendship to a potential relationship was definitely a highlight for me. I didn't mind Christian, the boy of Clara's vision, but I didn't really feel like I got to know him. He is much more reserved than Tucker and I had a hunch that he was also holding back a secret, which isn't revealed until later in the story. I'm sure we will get to know him better in the later installment of this series.
  While Unearthly is a trilogy, the ending doesn't leave you with a major cliffhanger. There are enough unresolved questions that will bring readers back for the next book without feeling like we got the carpet pulled out underneath our feet. I'm really curious about Clara's purpose, the information her mother is withholding from her, and of course how a potential love triangle is in the works. I'm glad that I picked up Unearthly and I suggest you should pick it up too if you are in the mood for a relatively clean, sweet romance.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is a very minor scene of underage drinking at a party, but it only lasts for a couple of sentences. Other than that, it's a pretty clean book. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.

If you like this book try: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Dark Divine series by Bree Despain, Halo by Alexandra Adornetto, Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

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