Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly #3

Release Date: January 22^nd, 2013

Number of Pages: 438

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Bought

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The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life. 

 Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
 

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal. 

 In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

There is always this bittersweet feeling when you start reading the final book in a series you’ve loved. Letting go isn’t easy. After all, there isn’t a next book coming next for you to pine after. I had enjoyed both Unearthly and Hallowed, and it left me a little terrified to see where Cynthia Hand would be taking us next with this final installment. Would she break my heart? Boundless brought me so many feelings, and yes heartbreak was one of them. It is hard to feel nothing when the characters you met and learned to love are torn.

Clara’s life isn’t any easier than it was before. She still has many things to face, and she is still broken over her feelings for Tucker. She is pushed into doing so many dangerous situations to save those she cares about. She can’t see to catch a break. Despite being a little tires of the whole love triangle thing, I could understand why she feeling the way she was. Even if I wasn’t a big fan of Tucker, I could get why she liked him, and why she couldn’t move on. Even if he was sometimes a jerk, he can still be a really good guy with her.

Christian was certainly my favorite, and I felt so bad for the way Clara treated him, as he could see how broken she was over Tucker. Yet, he was always there for her, even if it sometimes kills him. Angela is still, in a way, by Clara’s side, but she has her own things to think about. She has her own story going on, and she has her bigger part to play I this book. I was so happy to see more of her, since I find her to be a really interesting character.

Boundless was a heartbreaking, but satisfying ending. There were a few twits that will keep you hooked into the story. Of course, this book also comes with the knowledge of who Clara will finally end up with, and I think that most will be satisfy on a certain level, even if Clara doesn’t end up with your favorite.

About the Author:

From GoodReads

Cynthia Hand grew up in southeast Idaho (very near the Wyoming border). Currently she lives in southern California with her husband and two small children. She teaches courses in creative writing at Pepperdine University. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Unearthly series with HarperTeen: UNEARTHLY, published in 2011, HALLOWED published January 17, 2012, and BOUNDLESS, due out in January 2013.

Her Website

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Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Title: Hallowed

Author: Cynthia Hand

Series: Unearthly #2

Release Date: January 17^th 2012

Number of Pages: 416

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: NetGalley

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.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

I really enjoyed the first book of this series, so when I saw that the sequel was available on NetGalley I had to have it. I love the story Cynthia Hand created and I simply couldn’t wait to know what would happen to Clara. After the first book, I was really curious to see where the story would go. I was a little scared that the sequel wouldn’t live up to the first book in the series, but I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. I love where she took the story.

One of the thing I really loved about this book is seeing a little more of Christian. This book made me team Christian all the way. Tucker really annoyed me in this book. I was more excited when Clara was with Christian. Christian simply was more mature than Tucker in this book, which is something I like in a male character (as long as they don’t sound like a forty years old man, instead of a seventeen years old mature man, of course.) The love triangle is getting more present in this book, but I really like how Cynthia Hand is really making them both really as great for Clara, making it really hard for us to decided who she should be with.

I love the interaction between Clara and her mother. We learn a lot more about her and his father, and it explains a lot about who she is. Her mother has been keeping secrets forever from her children, so seeing her revealed some of them to Clara and her brother was interesting. I really can’t wait to see where all this new information will get both siblings (because yes, I’m really curious about her brother too!)

Cynthia Hand did a marvelous job at writing this sequel. Where many authors fail to impress with their sequel, this one really amazed me. I already can’t wait to read the third book!

Review : Unearthly

Title: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Number of Pages: 435

Publisher:Harper Teen

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Debut Author Challenge

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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.

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Unearthly was such a good book. I had heard so many good comments about this book; I just couldn’t wait to read it. First of all, how pretty is the cover. It is such a beautiful book, and in this case, you can judge this book by its cover.

The plot was excellent. I just couldn’t put it down. I started reading it a 9:30, before going to bed, and I couldn’t stop reading until I was done with it (meaning 1:30. Which is not good when you have to get up a 6 am for your gym class). I love how Clara already knew about being an angel-blood, because I didn’t feel like going through the rollercoaster of emotions she would have gone through he we had to follow her through that. (And don’t think it would have been as good as this book was). The ending was good, but left me craving for more (and I really really hope there will be a sequel. Please please pretty please?)

I ended up really liking the characters. I liked that Clara didn’t seem to know everything. That would have taken so much away form the beauty of her character. The characters work well with the story. I just couldn’t keep myself from liking Clara (and Christian….) or from completely hating Kay (but loving that).

Hand’s style was captivating. I couldn’t put it down. I just can’t wait to read more stuff from her. One amazing debut.

Worth a good 10/10, and if you haven’t read it, you should really do pick it up!