Book Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Finished: January 17, 2012

Pages: 403 (Hardcover)

Author Cynthia Hand

Add It: Goodreads

Series: Unearthly (#2)

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Purchased

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Quote: “Before I moved here, I never got the whole love-triangle thing. You know, in movies or romance novels or whatnot, where there’s one chick that all the guys are drooling over, even though you can’t see anything particularly special about her. But oh, no, they both must have her. And she’s like, oh dear, however will I choose? William is so sensitive, he understands me, he swept me off my feet, oh misery, blubber, blubber, but how can I go on living without Rafe and his devil-may-care ways and his dark and only-a-little-abusive love? Upchuck.”

Cover Love: I still think that the girl on the cover doesn't really look like how I imagine Clara. However, I do like the swirls/feathers and the coloring, particularly how the feather/swirl theme continues at the top of each chapter.

Thoughts: There will be spoilers for the first book in the series: Unearthly. If you haven't read the first book yet and would like to read my review of Unearthly instead you can find it here.

I'm going to be very vague in my review because I don't want to spoil anyone. If I were to write what I really wanted to about this book it would probably look something like this:

#$(#($(LIKE(#$(@#)@WHAT@(#(STOP IT CHRISTIAN@#(@TUCKERRRRRRR@((@#$(#NOOO JEFFREYYYYY@#*!*! and end with me riding off into the sunset with Tucker on the back of Midas in a blaze of Glory.

...thankfully for you, I'm going to write something else and try to make it somewhat composed.

Hallowed is Cynthia Hand's middle child and I liked it even more than her first. Sure, it's got classic middle child syndrome. It doesn't really further the plot along (though there are several new developments) and it ends as a very clear set up for the next book. The story still isn't the most original or groundbreaking thing in the world. There's still a love triangle with a heroine at the middle who is just special and shiny enough to make two men fall desperately in love with her. Yet, I loved this book. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I worried. I stayed up all night with these characters. What kind of book deserves five stars if one that can make me do all of those things does not? I'm not here to be a professional judge of literary merit. Even so, it's like Cynthia Hand said to other authors "Look, you want to include the cliche high-school experience in your story and have a heroine who is being forced to choose between an attractive supernatural being and the boy next door? You can write that story but THIS is how you do it."

As stated in my review of Unearthly I was a little fearful of where book two was going to go. At the start of the book (and random moments throughout) I was worried that the story was going to be taken somewhere very cliche with the love triangle and fall in on itself. It's like I was standing at the edge of a cliff with Cynthia Hand behind me just begging me to trust her and I was saying "But Cynthia, those rocks down there look awfully sharp and I think I see Christian down there trying to give himself Edward Cullen hair..." and she was like "Shut up. I've got this all under control. And you've got to admit his wings are pretty." and guess what? Cynthia Hand never pushed me off that cliff. Although I'm pretty sure I saw her nudge Tucker a few times.

I don't like love triangles. There's usually a very clear winner and the girl ends up with the slightly abusive bad boy, while both boys stand around salivating over her like she's prime rib, and it's sickening. That is not so here. Well, for the most part. Cynthia Hand develops her characters so well that even if you came away from the first book solidly on the Team Tucker side (not that I would, um, ever, ya know, be on a team or anything... cough) that you will likely come to empathize with Clara and the reasons she is drawn to Christian as well. The thing is, Clara never casts Tucker aside. She doesn't look at Christian and say "Oh, but I cannot fight his charms! Look at his dark and smoky features!" and turn into mush in his presence. Though the boys have their cave man moments, they come out of it and apologize and they treat Clara with respect. They treat her as a person who can make her own decisions and don't try to force her hand. As a result, you feel something for everyone involved in the situation. It doesn't feel like a plot device. The love triangle makes sense as part of Clara's story. Clara is a creature with a destiny but she is also a creature with free will and the love triangle was a great way to explore that and help Clara grow.

It also isn't the focus of the whole book. I absolutely loved that Clara's relationship with her family is so developed. I like that the mother gets to have her own story. Too often in YA the adults aren't fleshed out at all and it's often a missed opportunity. Maggie is just as developed as Clara and I love Cynthia Hand for that. I would love to see Hand expand on Maggie's past even further. I also really enjoyed watching Jeffrey's story unfold.

I mentioned in my review of Unearthly that I really appreciate Cynthia Hand's sense of humor. That continues here. Which is good, because without Clara's voice, this book would have been very dark indeed. Clara pokes fun at her life and herself and the situations she finds herself in and it adds a necessary lightness to the story.

I'm glad I stood at that cliff with Cynthia Hand. Though, based on the ending I'm even more concerned for book three. I don't know why, because it's become clear that I should trust her. She has proven herself to be a great storyteller who treats her characters with respect.

Recommendation: If you liked Unearthly I think you should move right on to Hallowed. The same humor and suspense can be found in this second installment. Just don't come here looking for the plot to move forward a hell of a lot. This book focuses a great deal of its time on relationships (not just romantic ones) and character development. I wish there had been a little bit more resolved (particularly with Angela - you know something is going on there!) but I don't think fans of book one will be very disappointed.

Rating:

Five out of Five Coffees

Hallowed is on sale now in hardcover. You can purchase it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository and other retailers.

Extras: Looking for other books similar to this one? You might also like Angelfall. It's a lot darker and dystopian instead of paranormal romance, but the angel mythology is top notch. These two series are the only angel books I've loved... so far. Have any suggestions for other great series I should check out that are focused on angels? Suggest away!

Review: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

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.

Finished: December 11, 2011

Pages: 464

Author: Website

Book: Goodreads

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: Unearthly

Quote: “I won’t be that girl who lets the guy treat her like crap and still fawns all over him.”

Thoughts: Unearthly is a great example of a book I found and really liked that was entirely out of my comfort zone. From the synopsis, I didn't think I would like it, but I pushed forward due to all of the reviews saying the same thing I'm saying to you now. People seem to be surprised that this novel worked. On the surface, Unearthly is very much a novel that relies on your usual cliche YA paranormal elements. The angel mythology didn't really offer anything different, and I didn't feel that Hand brought anything new to the table there, such as Susan Ee did with Angelfall. This is by no means a life changing read, at least not for me. That is why I was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much that I was unable to put it down.

While not exactly offering anything new, Cynthia Hand's writing and the great care she gives to crafting her entire cast of characters, make this an easy book to fall in love with. Clara's inner voice is sarcastic and self-deprecating. I never thought I would like a book that included a word like adorkable, but here we are. Despite being a supernatural being predisposed to being great at things, Clara still manages to be a normal and awkward teenage girl. I especially enjoyed Clara's interaction with her family. Her relationship with her younger brother was entirely realistic and reminded me of the relationship I have with my eldest younger brother. Her relationship with her mother was also nice to see; it's nice to see a badass supernatural parent for a change.

My favorite part of this novel was the romance between Clara and Tucker. Perhaps I am just a little sick of the bad boy trope that runs rampant in YA these days; but it was nice to see a nice guy finally win the day for a chance. Tucker is a southern gentleman, and not one that would usually appeal to me, but oh how he does. He is playful and sweet and it seems like he could be any guy you meet on the street. See, YA authors, the guy doesn't have to be a mysterious supernatural being to be attractive to your readers! The romance was realistic and slow to develop. No Instalove! I will say that I do not like the implications of a love triangle presented toward the end. I dislike it so much I wrote it in my notes twice. Who knows, maybe the overused love triangle will be another thing that becomes enjoyable to read in Cynthia Hand's capable hands.

Another thing worth mentioning is the love I have for Cynthia Hand's sense of humor. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, which is not something that happens often for me. I love that this book doesn't take itself too seriously, which is a trap that a lot of these sorts of books seem to fall into nowadays. I hope the same holds true for the rest of the series and am very much looking forward to picking up the sequel.

Recommendation: Anyone looking for a light and fun read.

Rating:

Four out of Five Coffees

Unearthly is on sale now in paperback. You can purchase it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository and other retailers. The sequel, Hallowed, will be released January 17, 2012.

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Finished: December 28, 2011

Pages: 255

Susan Ee: Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Series: Penryn & the End of Days (#1)

Synopsis: It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back. Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel. Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl. Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

You can read the first five chapters of Angelfall at Susan’s website.

Quote:

“Angels are violent creatures.”

“So I noticed. I used to think they were all sweet and kind.”

“Why would you think that? Even in your Bible, we’re harbingers of doom, willing and able to destroy entire cities. Just because we sometimes warned one or two of you beforehand doesn’t make us altruistic.” 

Thoughts: So many rave reviews have been posted for this book in the past few days, that I’m probably just preaching to the choir at this point, but I enjoyed this book so much that I want to promote it so others can find it too. So here I am, adding to the praise!

I devoured this book so quickly, I almost wonder if I’m capable of writing a detailed review about it. I walked away from it in a sleepy and satisfied daze, though shocked at the ending. I love a book that is unpredictable, and this book was certainly that. If you think you know exactly what is going to happen in the end, you’re probably wrong.

Angelfall starts off and reminds me a lot of both The Hunger Games and Daughter of Smoke and Bone right away. The main character is fiercely independent and tough when it comes to making hard decisions, very reminiscent of Katniss, and the setting is dark and gritty and easy to imagine. The author crafts her words in a way that allow you to fully envision the world, which I’ve found is not something every author does for me. Penryn also has a mother and sister that she is responsible for, but their relationships are deeply twisted. Despite the comparisons to the aforementioned books, this book is a whole other animal entirely. I don’t claim to know the publishing world, but I almost wonder if one reason this book is so good is because the author self-published the novel, and didn’t have anyone she had to please. There are some things in this book so horrific that it’s shocking, and there are some uses of language by male soldiers that you wouldn’t expect to see in a YA novel, but they work. They feel real in this world that is supposed to be the end of days. Some post-apocalyptic novels don’t manage to capture the feeling that the world has gone completely mad, they don’t want to make things too gritty and dark for their heroine even if that is what would be realistic, but in this book, Susan Ee accomplishes just that. Cannibals, anyone?

The romance in this book is A+. While at times it does stray into the cliche of Penryn obsessing over the angel’s beauty in her private thoughts, it never really became annoying, and she stayed focused on the task at hand. The romance in this book takes a backseat to the story, as it should in a world where so many things are happening, and as a result the end feels all the more heart-wrenching and real. You could actually feel this love develop, see how it might have become what it is, and you don’t feel manipulated. This is important.

I’ve never been a fan of books centered around angels, but it seems after 2011, I can no longer say that is so. I enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Unearthly, and now Angellfall immensely. I even think the angels in Angelfall were the most interesting. They are evil (but not all) and their wings and skin are unnatural colors. The author also takes the mythology and sticks close to it but spins it into something truly exciting. I don’t know much about religion, but after the end of the book, I looked up the things referenced here and appreciated the book even more when I was through.

Self-published? Yes. I’ve never really read self-published books. I simply do not have the time to sift through for the hidden gems, when I’ve got so many other books on my shelves already, but this novel stands as proof that these gems are out there, and they need to be noticed. This was truly one of my favorite novels of the year and I could easily see it as a movie. It is better than several of the other hyped dystopian novels I’ve read and far more deserving of recognition. I truly hope the author receives it.

Recommendation: Dystopia lovers, Fantasy lovers, Angel lovers, Mythology lovers, Instalove haters, seekers of badass protagonists.

Rating:

Five out of Five Coffees

Angellfall is on sale now only (currently) in Ebook format. You can purchase it right now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for only 99cents! You do not need to have a Kindle device to purchase from Amazon. You can download the Kindle App on to your Apple device or computer.

Extras: Want to check out some other perspectives on Angelfall? Find other reviews at The Nocturnal Library and The Midnight Garden.

Looking for other books similar to this one? You might also like The Hunger Games, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Pure.

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Finished: October 30, 2011

Synopsis: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Quote: “It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry ‘Monster!’ and looked behind him.” 

Thoughts: Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of the most talked about new YA releases of the year. It is getting rave reviews across the board. For me, personally, this was a hard book to rate. The things that I loved in this book I really LOVED and the things I disliked… well, they irritated me to no end! At different sections of this book I found myself jumping back and forth on my rating. Anywhere from 2-5 stars. I decided to settle somewhere in the middle with a 3.5. This review will be somewhat disjointed. Not only because my feelings for this book are so all over the place, but also because of the secrecy involved in the plot, that I don’t want to spoil for anyone.

The Good: I was absolutely fascinated by chimera. I’ve never read a book about them before. In a YA market over-saturated with vampires, the story of chimera was refreshing, and fun to read about. I was pulled in from the very beginning by the strange teeth collecting creatures, and their art student/orphan assistant, Karou. Karou had lots of personality and I liked her from the start. I loved her independence and willingness to fight. I have to say that toward the end I found Madrigal to be an even more interesting character, and would have loved to read more about her. The world building in this novel was also fantastic. I can see why so many have fallen in love with this book, because the world Taylor has built truly is that great, and worth the read.

The Bad: I’ve never been interested in angels, except for Castiel (Supernatural), and even that may have something to do with Misha Collins’ face. I never really took to Akiva and could have done without all the inner musings of the characters thinking about how beautiful and attractive the other is. While there may have been reasoning for the “instant love” in this case, that doesn’t mean it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I thought the prose in the book was great, but in the romance parts? I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. The writing was too sugary sweet. It was too much. Perhaps I am just sick of the Romeo and Juliet type romance, and have little tolerance for it now, but it did feel a little cliche, and detracted from what was an otherwise very original story. Plus Karou seemed more interested in Akiva than she was in finding out who she was. Normally an amazing ending can cause me to overlook things like this, but since this is the first in the series, not much was resolved at the end.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! The story is worth it, and if you’re less annoyed by star-crossed lovers than I am, you’ll probably love it.

Rating: 

Three out of Five Coffees