Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Hallowed


Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)


Publisher's Synopsis: 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

My Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand was a beautifully written sequel to Unearthly. It jumped right back into the action, three days after the ending of the first book, which I really liked because some books start off months later and I read books quickly, one after the other, so I appreciated how seamlessly the story continued in my point of view. The characters had been previously well developed and the book assumed you were old friends, another point I loved, so the story just picked right up.  
At this point I am kind of over love triangles, but there is something fresh about the conflict between Clara, Tucker and Christian that doesn’t induce the same eye rolling as most books of late that I have read. Usually by the end of the first book I am clearly on a ‘team’. With this series though I am so seriously torn, I can’t pick a team!! I love Tucker, everything about him is good, kind selfless and beautiful, and there isn’t much to complain about. Christian is sexy, mysterious, good hearted and Clara’s destiny.. So how’s a girl to choose? I don’t envy her the task and I think that Cynthia really respects each relationships separetly.
The main conflict of this book is a loss that is enormous to Clara. It is one that is so deep and moving and really takes the reader on a deep emotional journey of their own. I thought that the loss Clara suffers was so beautifully written that I didn’t feel devastated after it but content that she is stronger from it and can continue the journey to find her purpose now.
There are many twists and turns in this book, and I’m happy that while it did feel wrapped up for the moment I know there will be more trials for Clara and Christian to face in their future. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I know I will be telling al my friends about these books!!

 5 of 5 stars