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Jan 12, 2011

Book Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

4 excellent frosted brownies (just like my Grandma used to make).

Cover Love: For sure! What a pretty cover.

Why I Wanted To Read This:
I actually wasn't sold on reading this until all the good reviews started popping up last week. I started and finished it within a day and a half because I couldn't put it down!
Synopsis from Good Reads:
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?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

I Kept Reading Because:
I Couldn't put it down. It was well written and fast paced and there was a twist in there that I really enjoyed.

Romance?: Of course! It's a YA angel book...have you read one of those lately where there isn't romance? But, there are two suitors and they are both great...how could we choose?!

What I Liked (& Didn't):
I liked how Christian and Clara didn't have this extreme connection. That he was really his own person with his own problems that are still there even after he meets Clara.

I liked Clara's voice a lot. This was written from her perspective--from the angel's perspective and I really liked that.

I don't like how secretive Clara's mom was. I realize she didn't want to burden Clara and Jeffery but I didn't like that part of the book.

I wish that authors would stop giving us two good guys that the heroine has to choose between! I want the one to root for to be clear.

The ending! It gave the reader way more questions for the second book, but it made me really look forward to the second book.

What I Would Like To See:
More of Clara's mom's background. She needs to open up and be honest with her children--and SOON (before it's too late...)
And I could see a trilogy about Clara and then another one about her brother Jeffery, who I adored.

To Sum Up:
I will be getting this book for my library and giving to all my readers who want a romance--and in middle school, who doesn't want to read a romance?

Book requested and received from NetGalley.

4 comments:

  1. Oh, I want this one, but NetGalley just shut down the kindle button. Argh!! (they BETTER get it back up soon!)

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  2. Angels in books seem to be the new Vamp... Or maybe it's just that I've recently read a few angel themed ones? I also was not overly excited about this, thinking it was just a reversal of Fallen, but if you say it's good... I'll add it to the list. Glad we have you to sample some of these... ;o)

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  3. I am just not sold on Unearthly... I guess I'm really not particularly interested in angel books in general. But you're giving it your stamp of approval (a day and a half no less!) I might have to give it a shot. And you are for SURE correct about middle schoolers and romance! It's a great suggestion for future recommendations...

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  4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! its good to know im not the only one who feels this way.... like you, i wasnt too sold on Unearthly, but i ended up reading it anyways :)haha! I think it is safe to say that you and i are on the same page!... I HATED the way Clara's mom was so secretive and the ending did not go to well with me. Also, Clara's and Tucker's relationship seemed somewhat rushed to me.... dont get me wrong, i loved every scene Tucker was in, but it felt to me like their relationship needed a bit more development.

    Diana
    ps. you have a very cute blog going on here :) I shall follow!

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