Book Review of Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 4th, 2010

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 it 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 deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: I have been oogling this book from the first time I saw it and read the description.  Thanks to my crazy awesome friends James (from Book Chic) and Susan (from Wastepaper Prose), I got to read a copy early.  I was so stoked when it came in the mail!!  I devoured this book!  I could have read it in one sitting but around 2:00am my hurting eyes won out and I reluctantly put down the book and went to bed.  The next day I immediately grabbed the book and finished it off.

This book delves into a world that is not uncommon in the YA genre, angels, but I think it put a whole new spin on things.  Plus, I am in love with the main character, well not in love, I just really like her a lot.  Clara is an intelligent, funny, a little stubborn, but adorable leading lady.  She does go a little swoony every now and then, but definitely not the damsel in distress and I loved that about her.  She is a breath of fresh air as far as leading roles go and I loved the way Cynthia has written her.

I also thought the time she spent in school was highly amusing.  I know that sometimes when the main characters are in school that can be the part that bores us.  When characters go to classes, it is not the most exciting thing.  However, in this book it is really funny.  Especially in her British History class, the teacher has them all assigned to a “role” from a time period.  For example: a serf or knight and they see if they survive through the semester.  It was hilarious, especially the way Clara and Tucker try to come up with ways to kill each other off, fantastic!  Those were some of my favorite scenes in the book.  I think you will agree once you get there too.

Speaking of Tucker, I don’t know the last time I saw a cowboy type take the lead in a YA book and totally rock at it.  I loved him.  No bad boy, no mysterious past, what you see is what you get with him.  I thought that added an awesome element to the book, a normal teenage boy for once is the one who steals the show for me.  Not an angel, not a vampire, not a demon.  It was nice just to see a little normalcy in a paranormal world.  Plus, I would take him over Christen any day, but I guess you will have to decide for yourself and see where your loyalties lie when you read the book.

Overall, this book captivated me.  There is just enough mystery to keep me intrigued in the plot and always wanting more.  Plus, I loved Clara and being in her world was an amazing ride.  Though the story is about angels, we do get some new mythology that is interesting and I hope will be delved into more in upcoming books.  The ending wrapped things up, for now, but there are some serious unanswered questions which will make waiting for the next book difficult, but I will try my best.

Language Love:

I haven’t done this in a while, because nothing has really jumped out at me.  That changed when I read Unearthly, I knew I was going to love this book from the first page and this line is why.:

“For a moment I’m filled with such a smothering grief that it’s hard to breathe”

I am not sure why I am so captivated by this line, but I am.  I can feel Clara’s grief when I read this and I was immediately sucked into this world and I could not pull myself out.  The book continued to keep a firm grasp on me from this point on.

FTC:  I borrowed this ARC from my fantastically awesome friend James at The Book Chic