Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Release Day: January 4th, 2011

Publisher: Harperteen

Pages: 435 pgs

The Story

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, strongers, 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

Nowadays, it's really hard to find a good, interesting and original angel book...but clearly Cynthia Hand has written one! From the very beginning, the storyline got straight to point and kept the reader engaged until the very end, with a few great twists and turns along the way.

---

Clara, the main heroine of the Unearthly, was easy to like and despite her "part-angel" self, she was very much an average teenage girl. She was a little insecure - but again, who isn't - and sometimes she underestimates herself...which I guess, makes her a little more human and another reason to really like her as a character. The way the author weaves the angel mythology was very cool and I was glad it wasn't so complicated...which was good for a change. As for the whole love interests thing (cause what's a YA novel without love interests), I didn't really like Christian since he wasn't so great...but OH MY GOD I love Tucker! The chemistry between him and Clara seemed much more purer than the whole "I-want-Christian-to-notice-me" thing.

---

The only let down of the book was the ending. I know you can't exactly open up a huge can of worms in the first book of the series and reveal all of the secrets...but still, the ending seemed to end a little bit TOO quickly. Another thing, I didn't like Angela's character because I didn't trust her AT ALL...so I think there's something about her, something darker perhaps. Anyway, getting to the point, I enjoyed the book and can't wait to see what else Cynthia Hands brings to this refreshing series! If you loved Fallen and appreciate a blend of realism and an angelic supernatural twists, then pick a copy up! It's well worth it! :)

The Rating

4/5