Early Review of Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

• Title: Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)
• Classification: Young Adult (Ages 13 and up)
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (January 17, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0061996181
• ISBN-13: 978-0061996184
• Author's Website: http://cynthiahandbooks.com/

Notes: Contains a shirtless kissing scene and talk of the possibility of more.


What if your life was neatly mapped out and all you needed to "read" it was to wait for a vision to tell you what your "purpose" in life was?  Would you embrace it? Would you welcome the day you'd learn what your future held or dread it? What if your vision had you going against what you wanted? What if what you were supposed to do went against all you believed?  If all these things were foretold to you, would you feel like a marionette whose strings were being controlled by a master puppeteer? What if your vision told you a loved one would die and you couldn't prevent it? Would your "gift" start feeling like a curse? What if you didn't fulfill your "purpose"? What would happen to you?

These are some of the questions Clara and all angel-bloods might need to face at some point in their lives. In, 'Hallowed', the unspoken question, "What if I don't fulfill my purpose?", is finally asked. The fallout from the events that happened in 'Unearthly' are finally revealed, and if you think you know all that went on, you're sorely mistaken.

We're taken farther into the world of angel-bloods, and a new 'vision' has come to Clara. People dressed in suits and their Sunday best are gathering together. There is a sense of great sorrow. When Christian hears the description of the place being described, he immediately knows where the vision is set and what event must be taking place there, for he's been there before. It's the place where his mother is buried. It's a cemetery. Now the only question is who dies?  Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster.

We slowly get hints as to what Angela's, Christian's, and even Avery's purposes are, and let me tell you their visions are as fragmented as Clara's are, yet all their fates seem to be intertwined. I feel a bit like someone following a path of bread crumbs in which some crumbs have been eaten by birds and there's no clear ending in sight. I can't wait to see what comes next.

The love triangle developing between Christian, Clara, and Tucker is heart wrenching. Both are great guys and while I favor Tucker, I can't help but feel for Christian as well. Then there is poor Clara caught in the middle of her feelings for Tucker and her wish to fulfill her purpose. All while she's experiencing the drama associated with knowing someone she cares about will die. 

This book spans Clara's senior year of high school, ending shortly after graduation. We finally meet Avery's and Clara's father, Michael. The elusive man finally makes a full appearance. We also find out  what happened between their parents and why their dad left.

Why is the book entitled 'Hallowed'? Well, I believe it has to do with the fact that hallowed ground has been consecrated, and Dark Wings can't tread upon it. It would be too painful for then. If you're wondering, Samjeeza does make an appearance in this book and stirs up trouble. 

I have to say this was a gut wrenching read. I was moved emotionally and could feel Clara's pain. I'm usually a 'happy ending' type of person, but somehow Ms. Hand pulled this one off in a way that it didn't leave me feeling upset by the outcome. If anything, I'm more intrigued than I was after the first book. I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses.

Pictures of Jackson Hole, Wyoming:

Order of series:

Unearthly (Unearthly, #1) by Cynthia Hand

Title: Unearthly (Unearthly, #1)

Classification: Young Adult (Ages 13 and up)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen; Reprint edition (November 1, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0061996173

ISBN-13: 978-0061996177

Author's Website:  http://cynthiahandbooks.com/

Notes: Contains kissing and a mention of deflowering.

     'I was fourteen when Mom told me about the angels. One morning at breakfast she announced that she was keeping me out of school for the day.'...
     "Am I in trouble?" I asked.
     She started, then laughed nervously.
     "No honey." she said. "I just have something important to tell you."

That was the day Clara Gardner found out she was part angel. Her mom was half angel, a Demidius, and she and her brother were quarter angels, called Quarterius. The more general term being angel-bloods. "All angel-bloods have purposes of different types--some are messengers, some witnesses, some meant to comfort, some just doing things that cause other things to happen." Clara hoped to be a rescuer--a guardian. An angel-blood's purpose/destiny is revealed to them in visions. When Clara has her first vision of her purpose, it looked like her wish to be a guardian may have come true...

From the first page of the prologue, where Clara's vision/purpose was revealed, the book held me captive. The fact her destiny was not clearly laid out by her vision was a great hook. Her whole family needing to move to Wyoming so she can fulfill her destiny was rather shocking. It showed just how self sacrificing an angel-blood must be. Their lives must be put on hold to perform the duty required of them.

Clara has to go from having a well established group of friends to being the new kid in school with ugly orange colored hair. While she finds the boy from her vision, she still doesn't know when or how the events within it will play out. That is the constant mystery.

While Clara attempts to fulfill her destiny, she learns more about angels and finds out not all angel-bloods are good. She also learns there is a war is going on between the good and bad angels. I'm truly enjoying the world Ms. Hand has created and look forward to finding out more.

The book contains humor:
     “I’m flying!”
     Of course, I’m not flying so much as coasting over the treetops like a hang glider or a freakishly large flying squirrel. I think the birds in the area are dying laughing watching me try not to crash.

It also contains romance:
     I've been kissed before. But nothing like this. He kisses me with surprising tenderness, for all his gutsy talk. Still cupping my face, he gently brushes his lips against mine, slowly, like he's memorizing what I feel like. My eyes close. My head swims with his smell, grass and sunshine and musty cologne. He kisses me again, a little more firmly, and then he pulls back to look down into my face.
     I so don't want it to be over. All other thoughts vanish from my brain. I open my eyes. 
     “Again," I whisper.

Plus, there is the drama of Clara trying to fulfill her destiny and the unspoken question of what happens if you don't fulfill your destiny?

Overall, I gave it 4 1/2 roses out of 5. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming, and I adored the romance. It put a smile on my face. I recommended this one to my daughter. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.