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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I cannot even begin to describe my overwhelming feelings about this beautiful book/series. It's an amazing story and Ms. Hand has the ability to launch me straight into the book as though I'm actually there. On one hand I can't wait to read the third/final book. On the other I don't want it to end. Just lovely.
This book was much better than the first one. The first one had it's moments of predictability (Tucker/Clara, Angela being an angel-blood) and a bunch of other little things but the turns in this book were big and unexpected. Like Clara's father being a full-blooded angel. I wasn't really expecting that, I didn't see any hints of it either unless through my fast reading of the first book I might've missed something small. But that was a nice twist, and shows why Clara is much more powerful than Angela. The other big shock to me was that Jeffrey started the fire that Tucker was in! Man, how stupid does Clara feel, messing that up for everyone. If only she hadn't been second guessing everything. The major plot in the story however, is Clara's 'dream' which turns out to be a vision of the future of a funeral that turns into her Mother's. It's a bit shocking that she would loose her Mother especially when she needs her but alas, the 120 year rule. It'll really be interesting to see where this goes since the third book will most likely be about Angela's purpose and Christian and Clara will probably be together.
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Middle books are infamous for being the worst part of a trilogy; they're almost always a good deal slower, with a far less prominent and individual plot. Oftentimes, they're mostly a link between the first book and the third.
That said, this is one of the best middle books I've ever read.
Things are slower. Don't go into this expecting a crazy, never-ending ride full of nonstop action and drama. There is action, there is drama, but there's far more focus on understanding relationships between the characters, uncovering the secrets that were barely touched upon in Unearthly, and, to a certain extent, Clara discovering who she is along with it all.
I am going to say this upfront: I typically loathe love triangles. To me, they often feel so painfully forced, an obvious plot device to add "drama" and "tension," etc. etc. It's as if most authors think it's now expected of them, that there book wouldn't be whole without one. There are many reasons that these bother me a good deal:
-I have literally never seen multiple guys chasing after one girl
-Oftentimes, the girl in question is unremarkable in every way, so the idea that several boys are interested in her is laughable, to put it mildly
-It is used as an opportunity for angst throughout the entire book/series
-It is often painfully obvious who the girl will choose, to the point that it's almost insulting the reader's intelligence to pretend they don't realize
-Typically, love triangle leads to shenanigans that result in me despising the main character
So, as you can see, I'm not a fan. But the thing is?
This love triangle is possibly the best I've ever seen.
I could detail all the reasons it defies the numerous problems I've listed above, but all I'm going to say is this: I can understand perfectly how Clara could love them both, because I love them both. I can understand perfectly how difficult it is for her to choose, because I couldn't choose. I adore both of the boys, in all their loveliness and idiocy, all their macho acts and genuine sensitivity. I truly love them both, and she truly loves them too.
Aside from beautifully tackling the dreaded love triangle, Hand also deals expertly with themes of family, rocky friendship, rebellion, and grief. I think my favorite part of the novel was simply the emotions. I can't really express their brilliance any better than this: Cynthia Hand gets it. She gets people. Sometimes, when I read about joy, indecision, wonder, crippling grief, I feel like they are pretty words on paper, a description of how these things are supposed to feel. When I read through Clara, I thought, This is it. This girl, in this situation, that is exactly how she would think, how she would feel, what she would say. And that, above all else, is what really made this book for me.
It wasn't flawless. There was a reveal that seemed almost like a repeat of the last book, a bit contrived. There were some genuinely fascinating backstories that I think more time should've been devoted to, though I suspect at least some will be embellished in the final installment. Occasionally, the descriptions would earn a raised brow.
But in the end, this is a book that made me laugh, and almost made me cry, and I really, really loved it. 4.5 again. If Mrs. Hand keeps this up, I suspect the conclusion will earn a glowing 5.
That said, this is one of the best middle books I've ever read.
Things are slower. Don't go into this expecting a crazy, never-ending ride full of nonstop action and drama. There is action, there is drama, but there's far more focus on understanding relationships between the characters, uncovering the secrets that were barely touched upon in Unearthly, and, to a certain extent, Clara discovering who she is along with it all.
I am going to say this upfront: I typically loathe love triangles. To me, they often feel so painfully forced, an obvious plot device to add "drama" and "tension," etc. etc. It's as if most authors think it's now expected of them, that there book wouldn't be whole without one. There are many reasons that these bother me a good deal:
-I have literally never seen multiple guys chasing after one girl
-Oftentimes, the girl in question is unremarkable in every way, so the idea that several boys are interested in her is laughable, to put it mildly
-It is used as an opportunity for angst throughout the entire book/series
-It is often painfully obvious who the girl will choose, to the point that it's almost insulting the reader's intelligence to pretend they don't realize
-Typically, love triangle leads to shenanigans that result in me despising the main character
So, as you can see, I'm not a fan. But the thing is?
This love triangle is possibly the best I've ever seen.
I could detail all the reasons it defies the numerous problems I've listed above, but all I'm going to say is this: I can understand perfectly how Clara could love them both, because I love them both. I can understand perfectly how difficult it is for her to choose, because I couldn't choose. I adore both of the boys, in all their loveliness and idiocy, all their macho acts and genuine sensitivity. I truly love them both, and she truly loves them too.
Aside from beautifully tackling the dreaded love triangle, Hand also deals expertly with themes of family, rocky friendship, rebellion, and grief. I think my favorite part of the novel was simply the emotions. I can't really express their brilliance any better than this: Cynthia Hand gets it. She gets people. Sometimes, when I read about joy, indecision, wonder, crippling grief, I feel like they are pretty words on paper, a description of how these things are supposed to feel. When I read through Clara, I thought, This is it. This girl, in this situation, that is exactly how she would think, how she would feel, what she would say. And that, above all else, is what really made this book for me.
It wasn't flawless. There was a reveal that seemed almost like a repeat of the last book, a bit contrived. There were some genuinely fascinating backstories that I think more time should've been devoted to, though I suspect at least some will be embellished in the final installment. Occasionally, the descriptions would earn a raised brow.
But in the end, this is a book that made me laugh, and almost made me cry, and I really, really loved it. 4.5 again. If Mrs. Hand keeps this up, I suspect the conclusion will earn a glowing 5.
This series has been such a guilty pleasure for me. Only God can judge me.
AGAIN 3.5
SHIT. Now I have feelings for Christian too. KILL ME.
At the end, hope that Clara choose well.
SHIT. Now I have feelings for Christian too. KILL ME.
At the end, hope that Clara choose well.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh, I say, meh. I liked this book alright, but I was a little put off by Clara’s constant “I didn’t complete my purpose what does that mean” whining that seemed to permeate the entirety of this book. Every time she brought up the indecisiveness of her choice at the end of “Unearthly” I just wanted to shake her. How can she think her life is meaningless when she did what she did? How could she think that God would wish her to make a different choice in the end?
Although that frustration was excessive throughout the book, it didn’t take away my feelings on it completely. I did still find myself thoroughly engrossed in the situations in the second book of the series.
I absolutely loved the blossoming romance between Clara and Tucker. The little things they did together that I found so completely perfect for them. I almost wished the book was entirely about Clara and Tucker and all the other stuff with Christian and her destiny fell away. I was steadfast in my determination to read every word of the book instead of just skipping all but the Clara and Tucker bits. Cynthia Hand writes good love scenes.
When I realized that Clara was going to lose someone close to her I ran through all the characters feverishly. Tucker? Jeffrey? Christian? Wendy? Angela? Who could she lose that would rock her so heavily. I came to the conclusion at the same moment that Clara did and I wept. I openly and without shame wept. My sobs generated a bit of an unease within my house, but such is the problem of a bookworm. We care about our fictional characters and don’t want any of them every to do… Unless they are exceedingly annoying and in that case, we pray for them to die.
A new evil that was vaguely mentioned in “Unearthly” is discussed more openly in this book by way of leading up to the grand finale of the third book. I loved that Cynthia Hand trickled information about the “big baddies” slowly throughout the three books instead of shoving it down our gullets in the first book and just casually reminding us of them in the subsequent books.
I devoured Hallowed in a matter of hours. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning following Christian, Clara, Tucker, and the various other characters down a road of weakness, strength, and love. I never expected to love Christian since, being a team Tucker member, he was the enemy, but I started to really start liking Christian. Why, Cynthia?! Why do you have to make the third in the love triangle almost as endearing as the one I love?! Starting to understand why Clara is having such issues.
“Hallowed” was the perfect middle book in the trilogy. It introduced the “big baddies” that will be the focal points of the last book, it caused it’s reader to feel heartbreak in preparation for the (most likely) happy ending of the final book in the trilogy, and it showed a few characters that were not the main protagonists to have deeper sides to them that originally thought. I think Cynthia did an excellent job with “Hallowed”… despite Clara’s constant turmoil over her purpose, her heart, and her existence in general.
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I liked it so much more than book 1. Still rooting for the "meant to be" guy, I always will and the parental relationships are pretty emotional scenes. Even though I think Clara is still bananas, she's more mature and not obsessively whining, "why me" through the entire book. Kudos to Cynthia Hand for writing such a beautiful death scene. Maybe it hit too close to home, but when that moment came, so did the tears..
This was the best second book in any trilogy. It built up fast, and still had drama and action in EVERY SINGLE PAGE! And not to mention Tucker... I love him.. like if Clara could just.. maybe.. give him to me :) I'd die happy. You find out A LOT of stuff in this book, more so then the first. I liked this book slightly better then the first only because, again, you find out so much stuff. And that stuff is what makes you craving for the third book. Literally. Cynthia Hand did an outstanding job in this book and kept you interested from start to finish. Definitely on my "Favourite" list. Not much more to say in this review except that it picks up right when their senior year begins and they all see each other and new drama that involves the love triangle. I can't really explain what happens after because well DUH that just ruins everything. The summary says it all, and it's a MUST read. You will all be shocked at what you find out!