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letsreadwithcats 's review for:
Hallowed
by Cynthia Hand
Like Unearthly, Hallowed is mostly about interpersonal relationships but with plenty of engaging plot twists and turns that-- whether predictable or not-- always felt like a natural progression of the story. The most striking difference between Unearthly and Hallowed, is that Hallowed places a lot more of it's focus on world building. I personally liked that the world of angel-bloods became a lot more fleshed out and complex, however, it did come at the expense of some of the fun school plots that were in Unearthly. Most noticeably, Wendy is barely in Hallowed. She does have a great "Think about your future" scene with Clara, but that's about it. I might not have notice so much if Wendy's place as best friend wasn't primarily taken by Angela. Merely irritating bordering on annoying in Unearthly, she is flat out obnoxious in Hallowed. I don't understand why everyone seems to trust her-- I didn't trust her in Unearthly or in Hallowed. Well intentioned, maybe, but she loves a good boast, loves gathering information, and loves her angel powers a little too much. The boom may never fall, and I may be off on this character, but I just don't find her admirable. Her bossing everyone around was just too much. No wonder Clara's her only friend!
Overall, Hallowed seemed like it was primarily about Clara realizing she needs to grow up (not actually growing up mind you... hopefully that will happen in the third book). Unfortunately, I think Clara spent a lot of Hallowed acting like a petulant child. While Clara is still an interesting and admirable character, the extreme annoyance I felt with her at the end of Unearthly when she seemingly messes up her purpose is pretty much how I felt toward her the entire book. And, by the end of Hallowed the true impact that Clara's choices in Unearthly had on other characters begins to become clear.
Okay, here's the part where I weigh in on the love triangle-- since it's kind of the focus of the book. If my annoyance towards Clara is any hint, as of now I'm totally Team Christian. Though I like Tucker, and in a lot of ways like him better than Christian, I think that Christian is the better match for Clara. Honestly, I can't shake the feeling that Tucker is just in the way of Clara and Christian getting together-- the Kay of Hallowed. Really for as much of the book that Tucker and Clara spend drooling over each other, there are just as many signs pointing to them not being happy together in the long run. Christian and Clara's "We belong together" aside (which I'll get to), Tucker and Clara are not right for each other. For one, they want totally different things out of life. It's fine that Tucker wants to live and die in Jackson Hole, (I have similar aspirations about my own hometown), but can anyone seriously picture Clara-- who will live and be young and beautiful for well over 100 years-- wanting the same thing? She's meant for something bigger than what Tucker can offer. For another thing, Clara can't ever truly be who she is around Tucker. She has to suppress her glory and her other angel powers just to be around him romantically. Neither of these points she would have to worry about with Christian. In all seriousness, after you have read the book, think about Clara's glory scene with Tucker versus her glory scene with Christian. Big. Difference. Clara's glory is part of who she is, she shouldn't have to hide it, at least not from her significant other.
Also, Clara and Christian's whole "we belong together" feeling. Usually, I get annoyed at this idea being used as a way to force a romantic connection between two otherwise unconnected characters (Twilight, Starcrossed), but in Hallowed, it works. It was the same in Unearthly, Clara and Christian really do feel like they belong together when they interact. Their chemistry is off the charts. I have to credit this otherworldly connection to Hand's lovely writing style. She turned something I hate in other stories into something I love in Hallowed. Christian certainly isn't perfect-- he's very detached from other people and he's a touch arrogant and condescending, but ultimately I think he is the better choice for Clara. He can understand her in a way that Tucker just can't, and frankly, shouldn't have too. I think by the end of Hallowed, Clara has started to realize this. I think her mother's story, which we finally get to hear, will have a big impact on Clara going forward.
Here's the thing though...I'm really not sure who Clara is going to end up with. Personally, I think the signs point to Christian, but I wouldn't put anything past Hand and her skillful plotting. And I love that about Hallowed. How many series are there, where by the end of the second book it wasn't incredibly obvious who the heroine would choose in the love triangle? But I just don't know, I still think it could go either way. In other words, I can't wait for that third book to come out!
Overall, Hallowed seemed like it was primarily about Clara realizing she needs to grow up (not actually growing up mind you... hopefully that will happen in the third book). Unfortunately, I think Clara spent a lot of Hallowed acting like a petulant child. While Clara is still an interesting and admirable character, the extreme annoyance I felt with her at the end of Unearthly when she seemingly messes up her purpose is pretty much how I felt toward her the entire book. And, by the end of Hallowed the true impact that Clara's choices in Unearthly had on other characters begins to become clear.
Okay, here's the part where I weigh in on the love triangle-- since it's kind of the focus of the book. If my annoyance towards Clara is any hint, as of now I'm totally Team Christian. Though I like Tucker, and in a lot of ways like him better than Christian, I think that Christian is the better match for Clara. Honestly, I can't shake the feeling that Tucker is just in the way of Clara and Christian getting together-- the Kay of Hallowed. Really for as much of the book that Tucker and Clara spend drooling over each other, there are just as many signs pointing to them not being happy together in the long run. Christian and Clara's "We belong together" aside (which I'll get to), Tucker and Clara are not right for each other. For one, they want totally different things out of life. It's fine that Tucker wants to live and die in Jackson Hole, (I have similar aspirations about my own hometown), but can anyone seriously picture Clara-- who will live and be young and beautiful for well over 100 years-- wanting the same thing? She's meant for something bigger than what Tucker can offer. For another thing, Clara can't ever truly be who she is around Tucker. She has to suppress her glory and her other angel powers just to be around him romantically. Neither of these points she would have to worry about with Christian. In all seriousness, after you have read the book, think about Clara's glory scene with Tucker versus her glory scene with Christian. Big. Difference. Clara's glory is part of who she is, she shouldn't have to hide it, at least not from her significant other.
Also, Clara and Christian's whole "we belong together" feeling. Usually, I get annoyed at this idea being used as a way to force a romantic connection between two otherwise unconnected characters (Twilight, Starcrossed), but in Hallowed, it works. It was the same in Unearthly, Clara and Christian really do feel like they belong together when they interact. Their chemistry is off the charts. I have to credit this otherworldly connection to Hand's lovely writing style. She turned something I hate in other stories into something I love in Hallowed. Christian certainly isn't perfect-- he's very detached from other people and he's a touch arrogant and condescending, but ultimately I think he is the better choice for Clara. He can understand her in a way that Tucker just can't, and frankly, shouldn't have too. I think by the end of Hallowed, Clara has started to realize this. I think her mother's story, which we finally get to hear, will have a big impact on Clara going forward.
Here's the thing though...I'm really not sure who Clara is going to end up with. Personally, I think the signs point to Christian, but I wouldn't put anything past Hand and her skillful plotting. And I love that about Hallowed. How many series are there, where by the end of the second book it wasn't incredibly obvious who the heroine would choose in the love triangle? But I just don't know, I still think it could go either way. In other words, I can't wait for that third book to come out!