Book Review: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

 Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: January 17th 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Copy from 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. 


     This was an awesome read I’ll tell you. Hallowed was better than Unearthly in a lot of ways. To tell you honestly, I struggled with a lot of things that happened in the book...but it was all worth it in the end. Kinda like how we have to go through the fire and come out sharpened and mighty! Angel stories has never been this more acceptable to me (considering I’m a Christian. no biases. anyway)

     I am also in awe at how much values and learnings we can get from here, no joke! So much family love and friendship. It made us (me) learn that life is just what it is. We have purposes we each have to fulfill whether we like it or not. Mostly, we don’t like what’s happening in our life, but courage is not about winning the battle, but facing the battle (which Clara obviously did). Okay, I’m getting dramatic and boring here, so let’s move on to the good stuff.

    The story, firstly, went to a higher level of amazingness. It picked off where Unearthly ended, the aftermath of the fire. After that things just got more interesting. I don’t want to spoil you but I have to tell you there is so much (really a lot) revelations in this book. So much that at one time we jump from one to another, Hand didn’t even give me time to breathe and process what’s happening. My eyes just continued to pop out of my sockets every time! It sticked to reality as much as it can, and that’s what I loved most about it. The love triangle constantly squeezes my heart in pain and at times I’m squealing and kicking my bed in glee! :)

    The character developments was just WOW. Clara-from immature to mature. Her mom, Jeffrey, Tucker, Christian, Angela, they all had their own shining moments. Christian! I’m team Christian and I super loved his exposures in this one. :)) Plus new characters you’re all going to love- Billy, and some new characters will have your jaws dropping while other old ones that make you want to crush them so they’ll go away.

    The prose and the pacing was just as good. It slowly went up, stayed average, up , then up, until the climax then steady, then up again. AAAAhh.. it was like a boat that kept on going and going. haha. The timings were not slow, as time went by fast, imagine starting at the end of summer and ending at the start of another summer. NOw, that’s one great pacing! :)

    Lastly, the ending was really satisfying, but then I have to say that I wanna, no NEED to read the next one (still untitled) but I have to have a dose of more Christian! seriously! I can’t wait to know more of what will happen to them!

I need to VENT out my feelings with this one, anyone want to discuss? :)



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