Review of "Unearthly"

"Unearthly"

by Cynthia Hand

My Rating:

Pub. Date: January 4th, 2011

Pages: 435

Publisher: Harper Teen

Source: Purchased

Edition: E-book

Synopsis: When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. 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 the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, 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'm not sure why I didn't pick "Unearthly" up last year.  It has fantastic reviews and is right up my ally.  I think I was just so disappointed with the last few angel books I've read that I just needed a break.  Also, I am not a huge fan of the cover.  I'm not sure I would have read this book if it hadn't been for the $.99 price tag on BN.com.  Seriously, best $.99 ever spent!  I just could not put the book down.  

Clara is a great female character.  She was strong, but didn't always have the answers making her a realistic teenager.  Who doesn't love an athletic girl who can hang with the boys and still look hot at a formal?  I love the fact that typical gender roles were reversed in "Unearthly".  It wasn't the female that needed saving, but the male.  The love triangle in "Unearthly" worked well because it wasn't as generic as in most teen books.  It wasn't just a girl confused between a bad boy and a golden boy, Clara's purpose took it to another level.

The love story and Clara's arcane purpose would have been enough to keep me interested, but Cynthia Hand's angels were very intriguing.  They are very mysterious leaving plenty to learn in the upcoming books.  I am dying to know where Clara and Christian's relationship is headed in "Hallowed".  Although, I think I am on team Tucker... but in a pinch I wouldn't mind curling up with Christian.  Let's be serious, both guys are totally swoon worthy.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of "Twilight", "Shiver", and all those other wonderful paranormal books, especially if you are into angels.