Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Release date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 435
Format: Hardcover
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Ebook available from: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

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?

WHY, OH WHY, DIDN'T I READ THIS EARLIER?? I heard about it and I heard about it, and yet I thought I was too cool. Where did I get this pretense? My mind. Obviously, I am not too cool for hype. OBVIOUSLY. I thought I'd learned this lesson, but I've been schooled again. Okay, my rant is over, I swear.

Unearthly was just as wonderful as everyone has said it is. I read three angel novels within three weeks, and Unearthly is by far the best of the three. I loved the way Ms. Hand dealt with fallen angels, always an interesting subject, and the idea of children of angels. You always think angels are perfect, and therefore immune to things like lust and the ties of mortal relationships, but that is not the case here.

Little did I know that a novel full of things I dislike doing would appeal to me so. I dislike fishing and dances, for example, and yet I enjoyed those scenes. Bravo. It's a little thing, but important in my opinion. Though these may have had something to do with Clara's companion... Mmmmm.

I am dying to learn more about Jeffrey and Clara's mom. There's tons more to learn about them, and I hope that will be explored in Hallowed. Even though we don't know a whole ton about them, Clara's mother is as normal as she can be, given that she's half angel. There's tension between the two, but that's totally normal for teenagers. She's present and worried, and that's really how families in their situation are. There are many exceptions, but for the most part.

There are so many things I could talk about from this book, but I fear my articulation will not be as good as normal. Already, reading this back, I can tell it's not as good and for that I'm sorry. I will say you should read Unearthly as soon as you can. It is a wonderfully executed paranormal romance that doesn't rely on swoon-worthy love interests--though they're there--to keep its readers interested.

Risk a paper cut? While Unearthly is about angels, it is anything but a fluffy, disposable teen paranormal romance.