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loveisnotatriangle 's review for:
Hallowed
by Cynthia Hand
Do not read if you haven’t read Unearthly
I loved this sequel to Unearthly! It completely exceeded my expectations. Thankfully, the book was so different from many paranormal YA second books, which are often some sort of filler before the end. There was a lot of growth that happened here, and we learned a great deal more about Clara and her world, plus we got to know Christian better. The angel lore in these books is rich and beautifully explained. I enjoyed watching Clara grow up throughout the story - even though during the process, she endured some pretty heartbreaking experiences. Tucker was just as sweet; however, I really want to gush about how much I fell in love with Christian in this book. I’ll hold myself back a bit, but. Several themes run through this series, including free will vs. destiny (predestination), which I discuss more at length below. I really liked how the author explored these concepts through Clara’s experiences.
As much as we learn in Hallowed, there is so much more story to go. It makes me excited for the third book. I’m eager to learn more about Angela, Jeffrey and Clara, Christian and Tucker. I’m sure we’ll be seeing Samjeeza again. And I hope we see more of.
More specific discussions and SPOILERS below>>>>>
Free Will vs. Destiny (Predestination)
The Love Triangle
My preference for Clara and Christian, has nothing to do with a preference for Christian over Tucker. They beauty of this story is that they’re both great guys. But I think that Christian has been made for Clara and together they are amazing. Tucker is a normal (albeit HOT) guy, he can’t protect Clara or go where she needs to go to complete her purpose. He can’t even handle being around her when she is in glory, and he will age in a completely different way. He also wants to stay in Jackson Hole. He deserves a human girl that he can protect and love and grow old with. It is a heartbreakingly poignant moment when Clara begins to see and realize this about him. The process of her letting go of Tucker is sad but beautifully done. Christian is a match for Clara, and I hope that we get a chance to see what Clara and he can accomplish together.
I loved this sequel to Unearthly! It completely exceeded my expectations. Thankfully, the book was so different from many paranormal YA second books, which are often some sort of filler before the end. There was a lot of growth that happened here, and we learned a great deal more about Clara and her world, plus we got to know Christian better. The angel lore in these books is rich and beautifully explained. I enjoyed watching Clara grow up throughout the story - even though during the process, she endured some pretty heartbreaking experiences. Tucker was just as sweet; however, I really want to gush about how much I fell in love with Christian in this book. I’ll hold myself back a bit, but
Spoiler
I will say that I was thrilled with the direction of the storyAs much as we learn in Hallowed, there is so much more story to go. It makes me excited for the third book. I’m eager to learn more about Angela, Jeffrey and Clara, Christian and Tucker. I’m sure we’ll be seeing Samjeeza again. And I hope we see more of
Spoiler
Clara’s mom and dad. Her dad showing up as an angel was a great surpriseMore specific discussions and SPOILERS below>>>>>
Free Will vs. Destiny (Predestination)
Spoiler
The book’s inherent discussion of free will vs. destiny/purpose was fascinating and gave the story a rich depth. Watching Hallowed unfold and Clara struggle with what she wants/has chosen vs. what she’s supposed to do (her purpose) made me think a great deal about whether our destiny is something created because it’s the best for us, or whether it limits us. I think the Tucker or Christian debate is a tangible representation of that. Clara has chosen to love Tucker, but she’s being told that Christian is her purpose and future. She resents being told who to love and how to live. But then she starts to know and fall for Christian and she wonders if maybe she is better/stronger with him. And maybe loving him wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe it would be the best thing to happen to her. I just hope that we get to see where this discussion takes us in the third book.The Love Triangle
Spoiler
Even the love triangle feels different in this book. I love that Clara fell in love with Tucker in Unearthly. He was perfect for her at the time, and it was very true to life. In so many of these YA books, the heroine’s first love is the forever kind, and though first love is always important and memorable, it so rarely where a person lands in the end. I like that in this story, it seems like that is where the story is going. Christian isn’t Clara’s first love, but is the one who is better for her in the end. Now I don’t know this for sure, but I’m hoping that the third book continues off the beaten path of the typical paranormal romance and allows Christian and Clara to fall in love and discover what their potential is together. Even she acknowledges that he makes her stronger, and they definitely have a bond that Tucker can’t touch.My preference for Clara and Christian, has nothing to do with a preference for Christian over Tucker. They beauty of this story is that they’re both great guys. But I think that Christian has been made for Clara and together they are amazing. Tucker is a normal (albeit HOT) guy, he can’t protect Clara or go where she needs to go to complete her purpose. He can’t even handle being around her when she is in glory, and he will age in a completely different way. He also wants to stay in Jackson Hole. He deserves a human girl that he can protect and love and grow old with. It is a heartbreakingly poignant moment when Clara begins to see and realize this about him. The process of her letting go of Tucker is sad but beautifully done. Christian is a match for Clara, and I hope that we get a chance to see what Clara and he can accomplish together.