Summary Provided by Goodreads:
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?
Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
My Thoughts:
Let’s start by saying that I LOVED Unearthly! I thought it was very original. I enjoyed the writing, the plot, and the characters! What made Unearthly different from other paranormal YA books is that the main character, Clara, already knew she was part angel. She has known for many years. It was refreshing reading a book where the first half of it isn’t spent having the protagonist figure out who he or she really is.
For Clara, and others who are half-angel, she has a Purpose that must be fulfilled. When Clara realizes her purpose is to save a boy from dying in a forest fire, her mother, who is also part angel, moves the family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here, Clara will fulfill her Purpose. Being the new girl is hard enough, but now she has to befriend the boy she is supposed to save, and try not to act like a complete loser in her new school.
Clara was an awesome protagonist! She might be a quarter angel, but she was still an insecure, “normal” teenager. Add the boy she has to save, Christian, and her new friends, Wendy, Tucker, and Angela, and you truly have a great group of characters! There was also a love triangle forming between Clara, Tucker, and Christian. I’m usually not a fan of the love triangle dynamic, but this one is very interesting! Clara is faced with an impossible decision towards the end. Should she choose her Purpose, or do what her heart tells her. It was probably one of the most nerve racking things I have ever read!
I enjoyed everything about Cynthia Hand’s angelic world. I loved reading her take on angels and their backgrounds! I can not wait until the second installment. I have a feeling this series is only going to get better!
Also, how gorgeous is the cover! I loved it, and it is what first drew me to this book.
We do see character growth in Clara as she deals with loss, and a realization that sometimes; loving someone isn't enough. Jeffrey struggles with issues and is much darker in this novel. He distances himself from Clara and her Mom. It isn't until the end, that we begin to understand his struggle.
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