YA Week: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of Publication: January 2012

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

As with a lot of second books in a YA trilogies that I have read, I was prepared to be underwhelmed by Hallowed. I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy,  Unearthly (my review), and I was happy to say that I liked Hallowed just as much.  Clara is dealing with the aftermath of not fulfilling her purpose.  She is also now having a new vision and it isn't looking like she will be happy with what it is going to reveal.  

I still like Clara.  I think she matures a lot in this book.  She is faced with some tough challenges and decisions, but those only make her stronger.  She also learns some shocking news about herself and her family.  There were a couple of twists in the book that I didn't predict.  I also had to give her props for  the decision she makes in the end.  I think it was the right choice. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the last book.  

Hallowed still contains a love triangle, but I will admit that it didn't annoy me as much as I thought it would.  Probably because Clara isn't gaga over both boys.  She fights tooth and nail to hold on to Tucker as long as she can. After reading Hallowed though, I have definitely changed over to Team Christian.  As much as I love Tucker, I just think Team Christian is the place to be right now.  I may change over in the next book.  Who knows?

I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, because I don't want to spoil anything.   Hallowed is well written and didn't disappoint.  I ended up listening to the audiobook and I loved Samantha Quan's reading of the book.  The last book, Boundless, comes out in January.  I am looking forward to see what happens next!

Kari's most anticipated of 2012

Most of mine are sequels.Are you looking forward to any of these as well?

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Teen Reads Week: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 2011)


In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .


Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

I wasn't sure what to expect with Unearthly...maybe just an YA angel  book that would inevitably have a love triangle and would be a trilogy.  I must say, that I was very pleasantly surprised.  I really enjoyed this book and I couldn't put it down.  I had to find out if Clara was going to carry out her purpose or not.  I also had to know who she would chose, Christian or Tucker.  Would she follow destiny or her heart?

I really liked Clara.  She has known she is a quarter angel for 2 years.  Her mother is half angel.  There was no surprise as to her identity, so there was not the usual, "what is happening to me" angst.  Clara is a strong willed teen who does has a sense of responsibility as to her "purpose". The thing that appealed to me most about this book is that the boy she falls for isn't who you expect her to.  The one she must save isn't someone that she is hopelessly in love with.  That was refreshing. Between you and me, I'm team Tucker!

While there is some resolution, the ending of the book leaves a lot of unanswered questions, that I hope will be addressed in the next book. I think this is a great book for YA's, maybe 14 and up.  There is some kissing, but other than that, nothing serious.  I look forward to the next book, Hallowed, which is projected to come out in January 2012.

--Kari