Book Review- Unearthly

By: Cynthia Hand

Published by: Harper Teen

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Source: Netgalley and ARC from Harper Teen

5 out of 5 stars - I loved this book and highly recommend it!

Synopsis (from Harper Teen):

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.

I'd like to think that as a Mundie Mom, I'm rather well versed in angel lore and the resulting plot expectations but then a book like Unearthly comes along and just nudges my preconcieved notions out of the way. The primary strength of the book is in Cynthia's characters; both the humans and the angels, are so very credible. Clara's voice is exceptionally well drawn because Cynthia blurs everyday teenage concerns with development of angelic powers and understanding of Clara's true angelic purpose. As a reader,even in the beginning of the book, I felt like I could sit with Clara and her friends at their lunch table and easily join in their conversations.

But then, there is the matter of the Love Triangle. Now, I have to admit a weakness of mine -- I love a well written Love Triangle. And the one in Unearthly is just, well, perfect. On one side you have the unlikely prospect of Tucker who is the brother of Clara's close friend, Wendy, and a rodeo cowboy. I know, I was thinking the same thing. This will not be believable at all. Because on the other hand, you have Christian. The boy in Clara's vision. The very one which defines the goal of her angelic purpose. After all, he is the boy she is supposed to save from a fire. But Christian is also The Boy Every Girl Wants. He is a perfect athlete, student, friend and boyfriend (here comes the complication) to another girl. I hear you sighing, so here's a quote from page 36 and it just happens to be the first time Clara meets Christian:

The bell rings. Suddenly the hallway's deserted. Then from around the corner bustles a plump, yellow-haired woman wearing blue nursing scrubs, walking fast. Behind her is the boy. My boy.

"There she goes again," Wendy says as I wobble into her.

"Christian," orders the nurse quickly as they rush toward me.

Christian. His name.

His arm comes under my knees, and he lifts me. My arm is around his shoulder, my fingers inch away from the spot where his neck meets his hair. His smell, a mixture of Ivory soap and some wonderful, spicy cologne, washes over me. I look up into his green eyes, so close that I can see flecks of gold in them.

"Hi," he says.

Heaven help me, I think as he smiles. It's just too much.

"Hi," I murmur, looking away, flushing to the roots of my loose, very-orange hair.

"Hold on to me," he says, and then he's carrying me down the hall. Over his shoulder I see Wendy watching me, before she turns and walks the other way.

But back to Tucker, you see, just when I had discounted him completely, Cynthia unfolds a perfectly paced, romantic subplot that left this Mundie Mom's heart aching. Trust me on this because your heart will ache as well, in that oh, this is just so perfect way.

I've been telling everyone I know to go and pre-order Unearthly if you enjoy a book where romance, action and a well thought out mythology combine to give you a story that is more than deserving of a 5-star rating.

Unearthly will be featured as Mundie Moms' Debut Book of the Month for January. So, be sure to hop on our Forum during January and add your reviews, comments and join in the discussion. (reviewed by Sophie_