A Review for Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

Posted by Donna
Expected Published Date: 17th January, 2012
Finished Date: November 6th, 2011
Publishers: HarperCollins
Source: ARC For Review
Format: E-Galley
Pages: 416

The Blurb from Goodreads: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her 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.

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The Review: 3.5 out of 5: When I found out Hallowed was available on NetGalley, I immediately went and snatched it up because I’ve been dying to find out what happens. After reading it, I’ll admit I’m not as excited to read the third book as I would have hoped and here’s why.

After failing at her purpose, Clara doesn’t know what’s next. All she knows is that it isn’t over especially with the recurring dreams she’s getting. She knows someone is going to die, someone close to her and she knows the Black Wing will be back for her. So she has to prepare herself. Now torn between her feelings for Christian and for Tucker, Clara struggles to come to terms with who she should be with along with what she really is and isn’t prepared for the secrets to infold.

Like I said I was really excited to start Hallowed but it just felt like a second book to me. When I say second book, I mean the one that kind of just plod along and not much happen book. I kept reading  hoping something was going to happen and all though Clara does lose someone close to her that’s pretty much about it. I was left with more answers than I would have liked and I guess the author has set it up that way for book three in the series but I just can’t honestly see how everything will be tied together in just one more book and I’m left wondering if I can be pulled off. I guess we will see.

Even though I had a few problems with the book I still enjoyed parts. Mostly I enjoyed the relationship between Christian and Clara develop. Even though I’m totally Team Tucker, it is easy to fall in love with Christian during this story. In Unearthly we never really got to find out who he was so I’m glad we seen more of him in Hallowed. I also felt the love triangle was done very well even though I’m not happy with how it effected Clara and Tucker’s relationship, I can’t wait to find out more and in the end I do believe it will all work out how I’d like, because I think it will come down to Clara’s choice and her free will. I believe she will choose the right person.

We also got to see a whole new set of emotions during this book too and there were some pretty emotional scenes. What I didn’t expect was for the story with Clara’s brother, it was a huge twist but I honestly can’t see why it was put there. I’m hoping that will get explained a little better soon.

Overall Hallowed wasn’t as good as I was hoping but it was still good and I’ll still read book three and hopefully everything will tie together nicely.

Thank you HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

A review for Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Posted by Donna

Published Date: January 4th, 2011
Finished Date: May 4th, 2011
The Blurb: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees 

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

The Review: I'd so many great things about this book before I started so I was praying it lives up to its expectations. In the end, it did and it was a really good read. 

The story follows Clara who is a quarter angel. An quarter angel with a purpose. At sixteen she is starting to figure out her powers and her purpose. Her vision always starts with seeing the same boy, in the same woods with the same fire. With each vision, she sees a little more leaving Clara with clues as to what needs to happens. After moving to Wyoming, Clara finally finds the boy from her visions but trying to solve her purpose is a little harder than she ever imagined especially when she starts to fall in love with a boy called Tucker.

I'll be honest when I say I struggled with the first few chapters of the story. I've always enjoyed Angel stories but I just felt this book was a little slow to start with. Once we got the first half the book, things picked up ALOT! In the end, what I enjoyed about this story was the characters. Clara was a great character, strong minded, beautiful and a joy to read about. Christian, a hot boy, one with a lot of mystery and finally, all I have to say about Tucker, WOW! ;)

I loved the whole Angel's have a purpose. Its not a story line that I have read before but I really enjoyed the new take. I loved the love triangle although I'm interested to see what happens between Clara & Christian, I think I maybe be leaning towards Tucker more. I enjoyed him a little more, maybe that's because we got to see the fun side of Tucker through out the story. Overall, both boys were great. The only thing that annoyed me a little was Clara's mother. I think she's hiding something up her sleeve and if she is, then I'm eager to find out what it is.

Overall, a little slow to start with but the story does pick up, keeping you interested and living you wanting more.  One last thing......Whose team are you on? :)