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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
What a great book! I want to read more! And I really want to find out Angela's secrets, it really seems like she has some!!!! I don't want to wait for 2013 to read book 3!!!! But so good!!!!
Wow. Just wow! I can't get enough of this series.
First, I usually hate present tense books. They tend to sound stiff and robotic. Not this time, in both this book and the first one I barely noticed the first person present tense.
The novel definitely reads like a middle book in a trilogy, you can feel the build up to the final installment. It wraps up at the end nicely but still leaves questions that have the reader racing to get the next one.
Secondly, the book feels so real. The parents act like parents, the teenagers act like teenagers, (grounding, curfews), and every character in the book is likable. The villain is even likable at times, which could be seen as a negative but I'm dying to know Samjeeza's history.
By far my favorite part of the story is the unique love triangle. Every paranormal/fantasy has a love triangle but Cynthia Hand has managed to put her own spin on this ancient concept. Tucker is adorable and we all love him but in Clara's core she knows he's just human and her purpose is with Christian. That doesn't mean she can just walk away from her first love. I also appreciate the fact that she is still a virgin. I'm not a prude by any stretch but it is just as common for teenagers to not have sex than it is for them to be sexually active. It's rare to come across a book with juicy intimate scenes that don't involve sex.
I enjoyed every minute of this novel and can't wait for the next one!
****On a side note, I listened to this book as an audio file and Samantha Quan is a fantastic reader! I could tell every character apart without context.
First, I usually hate present tense books. They tend to sound stiff and robotic. Not this time, in both this book and the first one I barely noticed the first person present tense.
The novel definitely reads like a middle book in a trilogy, you can feel the build up to the final installment. It wraps up at the end nicely but still leaves questions that have the reader racing to get the next one.
Secondly, the book feels so real. The parents act like parents, the teenagers act like teenagers, (grounding, curfews), and every character in the book is likable. The villain is even likable at times, which could be seen as a negative but I'm dying to know Samjeeza's history.
By far my favorite part of the story is the unique love triangle. Every paranormal/fantasy has a love triangle but Cynthia Hand has managed to put her own spin on this ancient concept. Tucker is adorable and we all love him but in Clara's core she knows he's just human and her purpose is with Christian. That doesn't mean she can just walk away from her first love. I also appreciate the fact that she is still a virgin. I'm not a prude by any stretch but it is just as common for teenagers to not have sex than it is for them to be sexually active. It's rare to come across a book with juicy intimate scenes that don't involve sex.
I enjoyed every minute of this novel and can't wait for the next one!
****On a side note, I listened to this book as an audio file and Samantha Quan is a fantastic reader! I could tell every character apart without context.
If all Angel books were like this series, I would read them all. All the Angel books! But I suspect its Cynthia Hand and her brilliant imagination and crazy addictive writing skills that have made me love Angels.
Originally at The Secret Life of a Bookworm
After reading Unearthly last month, I've been dying to get around to reading Hallowed. I had so many questions and suspicions at the end of Unearthly that I just HAD to find out what was going to happen next. Hallowed didn't disappoint. I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first book. I found the storyline more interesting and I felt more attached to the characters and grew to love them - including some of the new characters.
Clara is a stronger character in this book after everything she went through in the previous book. She's still struggling with what happened and trying to come to terms with it, but she manages to pull herself out of it when her mother tells her she might not be done. She had a hell of a lot to deal with and understand in this one. She's an incredibly strong and resourceful character. She's always trying to keep her friends out of trouble because she doesn't want them to get hurt, but sometimes it causes her to hurt them.
My love for Tucker kind of started to disappear in this book. I don't know why, but I just didn't feel as strongly towards him or about him and Clara in this one. He was his usual sweet and charming self, but I just didn't feel the same way about him as I did in the first book.
But, my love for Christian grew in this one. I don't know why, but I just started to prefer Christian in this one. Maybe it's because he can help and protect Clara. He's like her so he won't be in as much danger which means he's always there to protect her. Or maybe it's just because he turned out to be such a sweetheart in this one and he helped Clara through something extremely tough. So yeah, I'm 'Team Christian' now!
Clara was having some weird dreams in this one that she wasn't sure whether it was a dream or a vision, and it wasn't until she had a conversation with Christian that she realised she was dreaming about a funeral. Someone she loved was going to die. Clara spent quite a bit of this novel agonizing over who was going to die, and she thought she'd figured it out. But she was wrong, and it was so much worse that she thought. Then there was the fact that Samjeeza was practically stalking her because of what happened in the previous book - Clara went all badass on him again though! There was also all the stuff going on with Jeffrey. I'm seriously worried about that boy, especially after everything he's went though, everything we found out about him and of course, because of the ending. Also, Clara's father showed up in this one with a little surprise of his own! It was nice to see Clara and her father bonding and building a relationship. I do hope that they'll be able to maintain it.
I found myself close to tears quite a lot at the end of the book. It was extremely sad, but I did enjoy seeing those last moments and seeing everyone together. It was very sweet, but very sad. The last chapter was especially sad.
Overall, this was such an amazing sequel. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book. The characters were better, the storyline was deeper and there was definitely a lot more going on. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in store for these characters in the final installment of this trilogy.
After reading Unearthly last month, I've been dying to get around to reading Hallowed. I had so many questions and suspicions at the end of Unearthly that I just HAD to find out what was going to happen next. Hallowed didn't disappoint. I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first book. I found the storyline more interesting and I felt more attached to the characters and grew to love them - including some of the new characters.
Clara is a stronger character in this book after everything she went through in the previous book. She's still struggling with what happened and trying to come to terms with it, but she manages to pull herself out of it when her mother tells her she might not be done. She had a hell of a lot to deal with and understand in this one. She's an incredibly strong and resourceful character. She's always trying to keep her friends out of trouble because she doesn't want them to get hurt, but sometimes it causes her to hurt them.
My love for Tucker kind of started to disappear in this book. I don't know why, but I just didn't feel as strongly towards him or about him and Clara in this one. He was his usual sweet and charming self, but I just didn't feel the same way about him as I did in the first book.
But, my love for Christian grew in this one. I don't know why, but I just started to prefer Christian in this one. Maybe it's because he can help and protect Clara. He's like her so he won't be in as much danger which means he's always there to protect her. Or maybe it's just because he turned out to be such a sweetheart in this one and he helped Clara through something extremely tough. So yeah, I'm 'Team Christian' now!
Clara was having some weird dreams in this one that she wasn't sure whether it was a dream or a vision, and it wasn't until she had a conversation with Christian that she realised she was dreaming about a funeral. Someone she loved was going to die. Clara spent quite a bit of this novel agonizing over who was going to die, and she thought she'd figured it out. But she was wrong, and it was so much worse that she thought. Then there was the fact that Samjeeza was practically stalking her because of what happened in the previous book - Clara went all badass on him again though! There was also all the stuff going on with Jeffrey. I'm seriously worried about that boy, especially after everything he's went though, everything we found out about him and of course, because of the ending. Also, Clara's father showed up in this one with a little surprise of his own! It was nice to see Clara and her father bonding and building a relationship. I do hope that they'll be able to maintain it.
I found myself close to tears quite a lot at the end of the book. It was extremely sad, but I did enjoy seeing those last moments and seeing everyone together. It was very sweet, but very sad. The last chapter was especially sad.
Overall, this was such an amazing sequel. I enjoyed it a lot more than the first book. The characters were better, the storyline was deeper and there was definitely a lot more going on. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in store for these characters in the final installment of this trilogy.
I stayed up last night to finish this one. Its one of this books that you can't put down even when you know you need sleep. All of the events happened perfectly and now I don't know who I want Clara to end up with and my heart is utterly confused.
Where the first book was light and cute, HALLOWED was much darker and more heartfelt.
It doesn't take a lot to make me cry in a book--really though. However, it does take me a lot to make me feel like everything the MC is experiencing is happening to me. And, this book did that. I knew from the opening page what was going to happen-or I assumed, so I dreaded each and every page because I thought, like the first book, this wasn't going to come into play until the very end.
I was wrong. The secret is out in the middle of the book and from there, you really watch Clara develop as a girl. This book wasn't about a racing plot or impending doom--it was about real life situations and a girl and others dealing with them. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of angel-blood info and what-not, but the book uses them to highlight the obstacles in life.
Speaking of that--I am conflicted. Throughout the first book, my stance was solid. Now, in the second book, Well played, Cynthia Hand. Well played. It takes a lot for me to ping-ping back and forth, but I felt Clara's guilt, oh did I ever. And, that's what I love about the writing--I'm so connected to Clara because the world is so vivid and her voice just brings you in.
I guess my only little wish is that I would be surprised. The big reveal towards the end--called it the beginning of UNEARTHLY. The other big reveal towards the end, called in from the end of UNEARTHLY. Maybe I'm read to many murder mysteries, but it takes a lot to shock me now, and I like that HOLY SHIT moment where everything is turned on its head, including you as you flip out on your bed, shaking the book while spurting a strand of inconstant noises. Hopefully, in the next book, I get that moment.
In all, this book touched my heart and squeezed. I laughed, but cried even more. And, still, I just want to know more about what we learned this book and what happens in the aftermath as a result. There are mysteries still left open, and I can't wait to figure them out. I do have my theories though ;)
It doesn't take a lot to make me cry in a book--really though. However, it does take me a lot to make me feel like everything the MC is experiencing is happening to me. And, this book did that. I knew from the opening page what was going to happen-or I assumed, so I dreaded each and every page because I thought, like the first book, this wasn't going to come into play until the very end.
I was wrong. The secret is out in the middle of the book and from there, you really watch Clara develop as a girl
Spoiler
who is going to lose her mother and where she wants to go from thereSpeaking of that--I am conflicted. Throughout the first book, my stance was solid.
Spoiler
Tucker. I loved Tucker.Spoiler
Damn you, Christian. Don't get me wrong, I still love me my Tucker. But, the fun of their relationship was sucked out in this book and we got to see Christian as the sincere and comforting guy.I guess my only little wish is that I would be surprised. The big reveal towards the end--called it the beginning of UNEARTHLY. The other big reveal towards the end, called in from the end of UNEARTHLY. Maybe I'm read to many murder mysteries, but it takes a lot to shock me now, and I like that HOLY SHIT moment where everything is turned on its head, including you as you flip out on your bed, shaking the book while spurting a strand of inconstant noises. Hopefully, in the next book, I get that moment.
In all, this book touched my heart and squeezed. I laughed, but cried even more. And, still, I just want to know more about what we learned this book and what happens in the aftermath as a result. There are mysteries still left open, and I can't wait to figure them out. I do have my theories though ;)
Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.
Unearthly was my first review kicking off my blog, and I really enjoyed it. Cynthia Hand's intro into the paranormal YA world was a great one, a great take on angels and a romance (even love triangle, gasp!) I could truly get into. Hallowed follows up on all the things I loved about Unearthly, but it doesn't quite hit the same mark Unearthly did for me.
It's still a great second book in a series, don't get me wrong. We focus on Clara and her visions of her new purpose, a vision of a funeral. Someone she loves is going to die, and that sorrow she feels in her vision permeates the entire book. For that reason alone, I had to read this slowly; I couldn't take the constant sadness that Clara has to deal with. I loved her too much to read it in one go.
We do get a lot more information on the angels, which I really appreciated and enjoyed, as it picked up the book and gave it some of the energy it was missing in the first quarter. New characters were delightful, and the secret Clara and Jeffrey discover are pretty good.
As for the love triangle...I'm still not sure how I feel about it in this installment. I appreciated it in the first because there were reasons why Clara would fall for Tucker or Christian, and they're both really good guys. It felt like the love triangle was amped up a little in Hallowed, but it never went too over the top. It was still balanced and kept me invested in who Clara would end up with.
Hallowed does really well at what it set out to do. I might not have enjoyed it as much as I did Unearthly, but that doesn't mean it isn't a great book. I simply prefer not to cry into my pillow without trying to wake my boyfriend at one in the morning because the last 30 pages kept me in tears.
Can't believe I have to wait forever for the next book.
Unearthly was my first review kicking off my blog, and I really enjoyed it. Cynthia Hand's intro into the paranormal YA world was a great one, a great take on angels and a romance (even love triangle, gasp!) I could truly get into. Hallowed follows up on all the things I loved about Unearthly, but it doesn't quite hit the same mark Unearthly did for me.
It's still a great second book in a series, don't get me wrong. We focus on Clara and her visions of her new purpose, a vision of a funeral. Someone she loves is going to die, and that sorrow she feels in her vision permeates the entire book. For that reason alone, I had to read this slowly; I couldn't take the constant sadness that Clara has to deal with. I loved her too much to read it in one go.
We do get a lot more information on the angels, which I really appreciated and enjoyed, as it picked up the book and gave it some of the energy it was missing in the first quarter. New characters were delightful, and the secret Clara and Jeffrey discover are pretty good.
As for the love triangle...I'm still not sure how I feel about it in this installment. I appreciated it in the first because there were reasons why Clara would fall for Tucker or Christian, and they're both really good guys. It felt like the love triangle was amped up a little in Hallowed, but it never went too over the top. It was still balanced and kept me invested in who Clara would end up with.
Hallowed does really well at what it set out to do. I might not have enjoyed it as much as I did Unearthly, but that doesn't mean it isn't a great book. I simply prefer not to cry into my pillow without trying to wake my boyfriend at one in the morning because the last 30 pages kept me in tears.
Can't believe I have to wait forever for the next book.
Book 2 of the Unearthly series. This book took me for a ride on an emotional roller coaster. I laughed, I cried, I got depressed. This is definitely one of those books where people take sides. Team Tucker/Christian anyone? Some may even switch sides after this book(of course I remain team Tucker, just sayin).
We get some major character development in this book along with many questions answered. We find out more about Clara and Jeffery, their parents, Christian, other angel-bloods and what it means to be an angel. We find out more about purposes and all.
Other than the fact that this book made me angry-I possibly liked it more than Unearthly. This book was written so beautifully-almost heavenly.
We get some major character development in this book along with many questions answered. We find out more about Clara and Jeffery, their parents, Christian, other angel-bloods and what it means to be an angel. We find out more about purposes and all.
Other than the fact that this book made me angry-I possibly liked it more than Unearthly. This book was written so beautifully-almost heavenly.