Format Read: E-ARC provided by Netgalley
Number of Pages: 435
Release Date: January 4th 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Formats Available: Paperback, Ebook
Purchasing Info: Author’s Website, Goodreads, Amazon
Blurb:
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.
My thoughts:
Unearthly was a book that really surprised me, I initially thought it would be an average book that would have a angsty forbidden love story and that there would be nothing that stood out with the glut of other similar themed YA books out at the moment. But after a slow start I was really pleasantly surprised how the story unfolded in the second half and for me this made the book stand out among its contemporaries.
Clara Gardner along with her brother Jeffery are actually not as normal or as fully human as they appear because they are part angel. Due to this they have powers as well as wings and like all angels are born to have a purpose to help others. Clara is haunted with visions of saving an unknown boy caught up in a forest fire and soon realises this is the purpose that she was born for. Clara finds herself drawn to Wyoming, along with her brother and her mother, Maggie where she tracks him down. Upon discovering the mysterious boy, who she later learns is Christian, is a student at the school she attends, and Clara soon tries to unravel the mysteries about why and how she has to save him from his tragic fate.
Clara was a capable, engaging and determined character and she never fell into the pitfalls of being too perfect or entering too stupid too live moments despite her flaws which were believable. I really enjoyed the mythos behind the angels and demons and how Clara adjusted to this knew knowledge and her angelic abilities. I really liked how she struggled and developed her abilities and worked out her role while at the same time going through school. I especially found the demonic foes that angels have to mostly hide from were pretty scary and at the same time sad, and the scene where Clara has to tackle one was pretty chilling.
However, I think the real highlight for me was how the romance developed in the book. Although the blurb suggests a love story with Christian but midway through the story, a wild-card option for her affections crops up. For me I found this secondary character popping up offers an interesting dynamic as well a love triangle of sorts. I really liked how the love story plot developed because very soon this potential love interest throws a curve-ball into the mix and I so did not see how this tied in with Clara’s quest. Moreover in this book the love triangle does not drag on, but is resolved pretty quickly because Clara deals with it by not leading on the guy who loses out which I found really refreshing although there is hints at the end that it may not be the end of the matter. But how Clara came to this decision and how the relationship panned out surprised me and I loved how that was done. It also showed how Clara was torn between duty and being led by her heart but ultimately made a human decision about her feelings for the guy she loves.
I was really impressed with the mythology and the relationships Clara had with the people she loved. I was really expecting an average read for this book but Cynthia Hand’s multi-layered characterisation, deft plotting which had major twists and turns galore and an engrossing mystery which has definitely kept me hanging for the next instalment. Unearthly is a wonderful debut novel with a capable and relatable heroine that deals with the angels mythos in a fun and absorbing way!
I give Unearthly 4 out of 5 bookies!
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.FYI I bought this book with my own funds.
About Has
Has is a bookaholic and feeds her addiction whenever she can. She usually can be found lost in a Romance or an Urban Fantasy novel. Her favourite sub genres are Paranormal, Fantasy and some Scifi. Her most treasured authors are, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Ann Aguirre, Lisa Kleypas and Tamora Pierce. She loves that discovery of finding a brand new author and falling in love with their books. Has also blogs a The Book Pushers - Book chatter and reviews
Blog RSS Feed
Follow Me on Twitter
My Facebook
I would have thought the same as you did so I am glad it stood out 🙂
Thanks for the review. I wondered about this book.
I think there is so many books out there due to the popularity of Twilight series there has been quite a few similar themed books. But I have to say that Harper Teen releasing some really good books recently. Last few books I have read have been good/great!
Wow this books sounds like it may actually be really good! Stunning cover!
I really wasn't feeling it between Clara and Christian and didnt think that Tucker was a possible love interest for her at first. But in the end I liked how it all panned out. Great review!
The cover for 'Unearthly' is beautiful. Thank you for the review. It's appreciated.
marypres@gmail.com
@JennyN – I was feeling the same way about that but how it panned out and that ending! It made my jaw drop because it was so unexpected and I really felt for Clara because despite being part angel she was still human and I loved that juxtaposition. It was definitely a great debut and approach.
I loved this book! <3 And I loved Tucker and his sister. And the best part was, the romance wasn't that predictable, and it was so cute! I really want to read the second book!