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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Full Review posted at Book Lovin' Mamas
I had a hard time putting down this book just like I did the first. Clara not only has to go through a life-changing event, but she also gets to meet others of her kind in this book. She also finds out a secret, and she also has someone come into her life, she never thought she would see again. Let's say "Hallowed" definitely is an excellent sequel to Unearthly.
Cynthia doesn't disappoint in this book. Yes, she made me cry a few times, but that can be good with an Author who knows how to write a fantastic Angel story.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves YA and loves Angels.
Be prepared to have tissues on hand though.
I had a hard time putting down this book just like I did the first. Clara not only has to go through a life-changing event, but she also gets to meet others of her kind in this book. She also finds out a secret, and she also has someone come into her life, she never thought she would see again. Let's say "Hallowed" definitely is an excellent sequel to Unearthly.
Cynthia doesn't disappoint in this book. Yes, she made me cry a few times, but that can be good with an Author who knows how to write a fantastic Angel story.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves YA and loves Angels.
Be prepared to have tissues on hand though.
This is the second helping in the wonderful Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand, set in a world where an ordinary teenage girl finds out that she is part-angel, and follows her struggles in coping with new powers, the forces of darkness and the agony of grief, while still trying to go through the teenage angst of your average adolescent girl. We also see more of Clara’s internal fight between her boyfriend Tucker and Christian – also part angel who she feels increasingly drawn to despite her best efforts. From the first novel in the series we learn that all angel bloods have a “purpose,” something they are compelled to carry out and cannot escape from as they will have strange, confusing dreams that hint at the task they should complete. At the beginning of this novel, Clara is confused as to whether she has carried out her purpose or not but has started having a different dream, in which someone she loves will die.
I found this to be quite an emotional read and found myself becoming more attached to the characters as Cynthia Hand continues to develop the story in new and exciting ways, so be prepared for a lot of surprises which makes for an intensely enjoyable and readable novel. I think all the characters are interesting or likeable but among my favourites include Clara’s mother and her younger brother, the latter becoming slightly more detached and emotionally unstable as the story continues… perhaps an omen of darker things to come? I’m really looking forward to the final novel in this trilogy – Boundless – I know my sister Chrissi Reads absolutely loved it so it may have to jump up the TBR pile a bit!
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.com
I found this to be quite an emotional read and found myself becoming more attached to the characters as Cynthia Hand continues to develop the story in new and exciting ways, so be prepared for a lot of surprises which makes for an intensely enjoyable and readable novel. I think all the characters are interesting or likeable but among my favourites include Clara’s mother and her younger brother, the latter becoming slightly more detached and emotionally unstable as the story continues… perhaps an omen of darker things to come? I’m really looking forward to the final novel in this trilogy – Boundless – I know my sister Chrissi Reads absolutely loved it so it may have to jump up the TBR pile a bit!
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.com
I liked the first book in this series a pretty good bit. I hated that it ended so poorly though, with such unanswered questions. I wanted to know what Clara's mom thought about the fact that Christian was an angelblood too. But they didn't address that. There's a reason for that later, but even then knowing THAT, I would have been pissed. I got tired of the love triangle bullshit fairly quickly. So, yeah. I don't know. This one was okay. It ended wrapping stuff up fairly well, so I don't think I'm going to read any more.
REVIEW: http://www.theliteraturelion.blogspot.com/2012/06/series-selection-ft-city-of-lost-souls.html
This was part of the Series Selection post in which I do mini-reviews for books that are a part of a series.
I really really liked Unearthly, so I was kind of expecting a lot from this one, but I didn't really get much. I mean, it was still good but it felt more like a dramatic TV show than a good angel book. I know a lot of people really liked this one, but I can't say that I liked it as much as I thought I would. I'll still probably end up reading the third one, just because I love Tucker so much! :)
This was part of the Series Selection post in which I do mini-reviews for books that are a part of a series.
I really really liked Unearthly, so I was kind of expecting a lot from this one, but I didn't really get much. I mean, it was still good but it felt more like a dramatic TV show than a good angel book. I know a lot of people really liked this one, but I can't say that I liked it as much as I thought I would. I'll still probably end up reading the third one, just because I love Tucker so much! :)
I loved it but not as much as the first book. There wasn’t too much going on except it all leading up to her moms death. I’ll admit it made me sad and I cried, I just wish it would’ve been from something other than getting old.
Wow. I haven't read a book that made me go through such a wide range of emotions like this one did in a long long time.
First there was joy at having this new installment in my hands. I haven't even started reading the book before I was giddy! This joy surfaced again when I started because I was back in the beautifully crafted world Hand had created as if I haven't even left.
Sorrow. Oh the sorrow. I cried/teared up at this book 3 times. Either I am getting much softer than usual, or this book was just really good at pulling out responses from me. This book had a much more melancholy tone to it (for obvious reasons if you have read the book) and the middle to the end was just tearing me apart- but in a good way, if that is possible.
Excitement. This book is really good at getting my heart pounding. I felt overjoyed for Clara and was cheering with and for her throughout. I love when books make me care!
Then finally, there was acceptance.
My only qualms with this book was that it seemed like a huge info-dump throughout and sometimes I felt the information was slightly rushed, even if it is necessary for the final installment- which I cannot wait to get my hands on!
First there was joy at having this new installment in my hands. I haven't even started reading the book before I was giddy! This joy surfaced again when I started because I was back in the beautifully crafted world Hand had created as if I haven't even left.
Sorrow. Oh the sorrow. I cried/teared up at this book 3 times. Either I am getting much softer than usual, or this book was just really good at pulling out responses from me. This book had a much more melancholy tone to it (for obvious reasons if you have read the book) and the middle to the end was just tearing me apart- but in a good way, if that is possible.
Excitement. This book is really good at getting my heart pounding. I felt overjoyed for Clara
Spoiler
When her dad arrived finallyThen finally, there was acceptance.
Spoiler
I was and am Team Tucker all the way, but the way she ended it with him and the buildup to that moment left me satisfied. Sure, it was pretty predictable from book one that she was going to choose Christian, but I feel like Tucker and her parted on semi-ok terms. It was also realistic in the fact that it wasn't a sudden choice made by the MC at the last minute. I hate when the author makes a character do a complete U-turn.My only qualms with this book was that it seemed like a huge info-dump throughout and sometimes I felt the information was slightly rushed, even if it is necessary for the final installment- which I cannot wait to get my hands on!
Middle books in a series are hard. Especially in romantic YA series. The first book sets up the romance and it’s all exciting-new-beginnings and will-they, won’t-they. The last novel is when the heroine finally has to make a freaking decision. And the middle book is all about the indecision – usually the heroine breaks up (or is broken up with) the boy she chose/got with in book 1. It is beyond frustrating.
I do not care about Tucker v. Christen. This is stupid. You are stupid, Clara. Tucker and Clara got barely any cute scenes together. They were pretty much angsty the entire time. All the chemistry from last summer had dissipated, because Clara spent all year worried about Tucker dying then worried about Tucker finding out how much she’s still tied to Christen then Tucker being angry that Clara’s been keeping secrets from him and her entanglement with Christen. They’ve had a very strained relationship and I’m actually glad they broke up because I couldn’t take the angst any more.
It would’ve been better if Clara wasn’t so stupid and self-involved. She’s all, “Why would God care who I fall in love with?” but then spends the entire book angsting about how it’s her purpose to fall in love with Christen. WHY DOES NO ONE IN THIS SERIES EVEN TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION. Clara’s mom totally think she’s meant to be with Christen. Clara’s mom got with her husband eventually when she was supposed to. Clara's mom acts like it was REALLY BAD that she "fought her destiny" and that she shouldn't have done it, because it was FATE. Maybe she wasn’t fighting her destiny and causing grief! Maybe she was supposed to struggle for that long! Because if she hadn’t, wouldn’t Clara and Jeffrey been born too soon? If Clara is indeed supposed to be with Christen, would it make sense for her to be like 50 when they first met (which would have happened if Clara's mom had gotten married to her fated man and settled down to have children earlier)? Would that have worked in the timeline?
So even IF Clara and Christen are FATED to be romantically together, why does it have to be right now instead of later on in their lives? And why does no one consider that their relationship is meant to be in a platonic best-friends-forever sense. You can have intensely deep relationships with your friends. I guess there’s that “I saw us kissing!” crap. But maybe that’s for the future.
And why didn’t Jeffrey tell anyone about his Purpose. His mom would’ve understood and supported him. Also then Clara wouldn’t have felt the need to save Tucker in Book 1. GOD THIS FAMILY IS SO BAD AT SHARING IMPORTANT SHIT. Even when she was dying Clara’s mother refused to be helpful. So much pain could be avoided if everyone just TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
Clara is 99% incurious and never bothers to pump people for information (like, hello, her father, who is almost incapable of lying and inclined to be helpful). Clara had an angel who she could have ASKED about her Purpose - the thing that drove like 80% of the book - and she never did. Why not? I mean, her mom knows a lot, but she is also wrong a lot and it’s not like there’s a handbook to being an angelblood. It seems to me that it is 90% guess work. But maybe a frickin’ ANGEL would know more about it and maybe tell you what it’s all about. This lack of seeking information is tied together with Clara's tendency to jump to conclusions - always the wrong one. I mean, she’s a little primed for it by her loving but frustrating mother. Like maybe the reason that Tucker wasn’t at the funeral in her vision was that THERE WAS A GODDAMN BLACKWING PRESENT. And even when she knew it, Clara was still all "the only possible reason the Tucker could not be at the funeral is if we broke up." No sweetie. NO.
Clara also never bothers to really support Jeffrey when he is obviously going through a hard time. No, she’s too involved with herself. This is also shown by how she keeps calling Grace her best friend even though (a) they never talk (b) they never hang out. Angela is clearly her actual bestie. Grace is just kind of there – and frankly, she’s mostly around because she’s Tucker’s sister.
The flaws in this story tend to be extra frustrating because Hand is an overall great writer. The scenes with the Blackwing are terrifying. There’s some real fear and horror elements going on there. The whole Clara’s-mother-is-dying plot is beyond heartbreaking. Hiccupy-breathing and tears-in-the-eyes heartbreaking. The grief and pain and devastation is all there and beautifully dealt with. And I love a bunch of the side characters – Jeffrey might actually be my favorite, but I also love Tucker and Angela and even Christen. And Clara can be good but she is just SO GOD DAMN FRUSTRATING by her willingness to just go along with everything instead of thinking outside the box and trying to get answers.
I do not care about Tucker v. Christen. This is stupid. You are stupid, Clara. Tucker and Clara got barely any cute scenes together. They were pretty much angsty the entire time. All the chemistry from last summer had dissipated, because Clara spent all year worried about Tucker dying then worried about Tucker finding out how much she’s still tied to Christen then Tucker being angry that Clara’s been keeping secrets from him and her entanglement with Christen. They’ve had a very strained relationship and I’m actually glad they broke up because I couldn’t take the angst any more.
It would’ve been better if Clara wasn’t so stupid and self-involved. She’s all, “Why would God care who I fall in love with?” but then spends the entire book angsting about how it’s her purpose to fall in love with Christen. WHY DOES NO ONE IN THIS SERIES EVEN TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION. Clara’s mom totally think she’s meant to be with Christen. Clara’s mom got with her husband
Spoiler
the archangel Michael (and he’s definitely THE archangel Michael and why does no one comment on this fact)So even IF Clara and Christen are FATED to be romantically together, why does it have to be right now instead of later on in their lives? And why does no one consider that their relationship is meant to be in a platonic best-friends-forever sense. You can have intensely deep relationships with your friends. I guess there’s that “I saw us kissing!” crap. But maybe that’s for the future.
And why didn’t Jeffrey tell anyone about his Purpose. His mom would’ve understood and supported him. Also then Clara wouldn’t have felt the need to save Tucker in Book 1. GOD THIS FAMILY IS SO BAD AT SHARING IMPORTANT SHIT. Even when she was dying Clara’s mother refused to be helpful. So much pain could be avoided if everyone just TALKED TO EACH OTHER.
Clara is 99% incurious and never bothers to pump people for information (like, hello, her father, who is almost incapable of lying and inclined to be helpful). Clara had an angel who she could have ASKED about her Purpose - the thing that drove like 80% of the book - and she never did. Why not? I mean, her mom knows a lot, but she is also wrong a lot and it’s not like there’s a handbook to being an angelblood. It seems to me that it is 90% guess work. But maybe a frickin’ ANGEL would know more about it and maybe tell you what it’s all about. This lack of seeking information is tied together with Clara's tendency to jump to conclusions - always the wrong one. I mean, she’s a little primed for it by her loving but frustrating mother. Like maybe the reason that Tucker wasn’t at the funeral in her vision was that THERE WAS A GODDAMN BLACKWING PRESENT. And even when she knew it, Clara was still all "the only possible reason the Tucker could not be at the funeral is if we broke up." No sweetie. NO.
Clara also never bothers to really support Jeffrey when he is obviously going through a hard time. No, she’s too involved with herself. This is also shown by how she keeps calling Grace her best friend even though (a) they never talk (b) they never hang out. Angela is clearly her actual bestie. Grace is just kind of there – and frankly, she’s mostly around because she’s Tucker’s sister.
The flaws in this story tend to be extra frustrating because Hand is an overall great writer. The scenes with the Blackwing are terrifying. There’s some real fear and horror elements going on there. The whole Clara’s-mother-is-dying plot is beyond heartbreaking. Hiccupy-breathing and tears-in-the-eyes heartbreaking. The grief and pain and devastation is all there and beautifully dealt with. And I love a bunch of the side characters – Jeffrey might actually be my favorite, but I also love Tucker and Angela and even Christen. And Clara can be good but she is just SO GOD DAMN FRUSTRATING by her willingness to just go along with everything instead of thinking outside the box and trying to get answers.
Another good book. This one brings back a lot of things from the first book, so be sure to read Unearthly before starting this. A big secret is revealed in this book, which held my attention. I love the romance, though I hate the love triangle. Sometimes I just wanted to put this book down and not want to pick it back up. The writing was done well though, and overall I was satisfied.