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From the Bookshelf of YAholics Anonymous!…

Unearthly (Unearthly, #1)

Cynthia Hand

Start date: January 1, 2014

Finish date: January 30, 2014

Discussion: Group Read

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What Members Thought

Nov 09, 2011 Annie Brewer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, nook-books, favorite, absolutely-amazingly-awesome, fell-in-love-with-the-cover, favorite-book-covers-of-2011, irresistable-hot-guys, favorite-authors, favorite-series, angels

Wow where to start!! First I gotta say I wanted to read this book for months now. I finally bought it on my nook last week and had to wait til a few other books were read first. I am so glad I read it!!! This is definitely one of my new favorite angel books!! OMG it was amazing!!!

The characters:

Each of the characters bring something special and unique to this story. Clara is a strong and brave heroine (who is also part angel) that you can relate to if you ever felt like you didn't fit in. Move Wow where to start!! First I gotta say I wanted to read this book for months now. I finally bought it on my nook last week and had to wait til a few other books were read first. I am so glad I read it!!! This is definitely one of my new favorite angel books!! OMG it was amazing!!!

The characters:

Each of the characters bring something special and unique to this story. Clara is a strong and brave heroine (who is also part angel) that you can relate to if you ever felt like you didn't fit in. Moved to a new state and a new school. It's all very scary. But eventually she finds that it's a place she can not only call her home but it's where she belongs.

Christian. He's a popular sexy sweet guy that all the girls flock to. Including Clara. But you find that he's too perfect. I mean I was in love with him and all. IBut he changed my mind during their prom scene. But there are also secrets about him too.

Jeffrey....Clara's brother is a neat kid. He is pretty popular and fits in right away. Kinda interesting.

Angela...she is one of Clara's best friends and a little different like Clara. She is so welcoming and accepting of her once she realizes the truth about Clara. I would love her as a best friend.

Wendy, Clara's first best friends who truly is amazing. Though she is kept in the dark about all of Clara's secrets. But she is someone who can be trusted although I wonder if she ever finds
out anything in the next book.

And last but not least......there's Tucker Wendy's brother. I don't know how to describe him. He is just Tucker. Perfect in every way. At first I didn't like him. He was an ass to Clara, very sarcastic and mean. But wow he showed me a different side to him I never knew existed. He swept me off my feet. He is one of the only ones who knows the truth about Clara and yet he loves her still. He is romantic, charismatic and melting. Ahhhh he is just so indescribable. Though all the girls flock to Christian because of his hotness. Tucker is loved and respected because of his personality which makes him way more hotter than Christian.

With that being said, I highly recommend this book to everyone!! This is a MUST READ angel book!! I was on the edge of my seat most of the time. I found myself gasping for breath, crying, laughing out loud, going "Awwwwwwwwww" in many parts with Tuck!! I felt every emotion these characters felt. It was truly so magical. Now I am pining for Hallowed, the sequel that comes out in January. I wish I had it now but I will be patient. If you haven't read it, do so. If you have, I'd love to hear your opinion and thoughts. ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Justin rated it really liked it

I've had Unearthly recommended to me for quite awhile now. I wasn't quite sure what I would think, I had heard a lot of great things about it and I really enjoyed the sound of it based on the description .I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Not in any major way, as you can tell by the fact that I feel that Unearthly is still worth four stars. I guess it's just one of those time that you have such high hopes for something and then little things throughout the book can bring that down a l I've had Unearthly recommended to me for quite awhile now. I wasn't quite sure what I would think, I had heard a lot of great things about it and I really enjoyed the sound of it based on the description .I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Not in any major way, as you can tell by the fact that I feel that Unearthly is still worth four stars. I guess it's just one of those time that you have such high hopes for something and then little things throughout the book can bring that down a little.

I've talked about it before in another review, but I feel like the Angel sub genre is becoming one of the better YA genres. Unearthly has a really interesting premise, I really enjoyed the idea of the "Purpose" I knew it was going to play an important part in the story, since it's basically the main focal point but I was impressed by how it all played out. Once Clara learns more about her purpose and everything it actually entails is when the book really starts to get good. There are several big plot twists thrown at you, especially towards the end that you don't really see coming. Is Clara's purpose really what it seems to be? What if everything she thought might not be wrong, but simply misunderstood?

Clara was great, I really liked her personality and everything throughout the book. Maybe it's a little cliche to say the main character is your favorite, but I really became attached to Clara and wanted to see where her story went. I was disappointed with some of the other characters though. Clara's mom had to be my second favorite. Christian and Tucker play huge parts in the book, they aren't bad characters by any means I really enjoyed the roles they played in the story I just couldn't really become attached to them as characters. Wendy, Angela and all of the other characters were really great though. There were very few characters in this book that didn't really bring anything major to the story, which I really liked. It's nice when you have a lot of great characters that all bring something important to the story, and not just a lot of fillers that you won't ever remember once you close the book.

The ending was slightly confusing at first. Everything in the story leads up to Clara's "Purpose" but it's not what you might think. Some things do play out the way you would expect them to, but there are a few huge twists that take place in the last few chapters. You're introduced to a new character, and you learn some very interesting information about characters you already know. It's just really interesting to see how things play out, I can honestly admit I had no idea it would end the way it did, so I would really be shocked to see if people could figure out the true meaning behind the Purpose and everything else before the end.

All in all Unearthly is a wonderful book, while I was a little disappointed with some of the characters I can't really complain to much. Everything else in the book made up for those small issues. I could easily recommend this book to people that enjoy the Angel sub genre. It's also another great entry book to the Angel sub genre, it has everything you would want to see in my opinion and it's written very well which makes make it even better. Cynthia is a talented writer, and I will definitely be reading Hallowed soon. ...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Autumn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: y-a, banner-challenge-yaholics

I had the day off and picked up this book. So glad I did.

Clara is an angel-blood. A angel-blood in her junior year of high school (Or, it should be her junior year). Her and her family move to Wyoming (I think. I get the W states confused. but there were Cowboys and skiing. Should be right and I'm too lazy to check) after she begin seeing visions - her divine Purpose in life. Which... tadaaaa... include a boy. (I am aware that I can't sum stuff up well, but, it is necessary in this case)

I read H I had the day off and picked up this book. So glad I did.

Clara is an angel-blood. A angel-blood in her junior year of high school (Or, it should be her junior year). Her and her family move to Wyoming (I think. I get the W states confused. but there were Cowboys and skiing. Should be right and I'm too lazy to check) after she begin seeing visions - her divine Purpose in life. Which... tadaaaa... include a boy. (I am aware that I can't sum stuff up well, but, it is necessary in this case)

I read Hush, Hush and Fallen. And wanted to throw them across the room. For so many reasons. Mainly, though, because OH MY GOODNESS! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ANGELS HERE! ANGELLLSSSS! LIKE, HEAVENLY BEINGS! GET THE MYTHOLOGY RIGHTTTT!!!!! Really, people, it's not that hard. Pick up the freaking book you are basing this on and, oh, I don't know, use what it gives you! Especially since you are using references to the Bible and even verses. And then to have these angels work in ways that are not accurate with the Bible and there if there is a God He is obviously not that important to the angels - Gahhhh!!

Unearthly was NOT like that. I grew up in church hearing about angels and have dug all around the Bible for angelic references. Unearthly was pretty darn accurate. Some of the things were, of course, not from the Bible necessarily, as, well, the Bible doesn't go that deep into angels and Nephilim, but none of them were AGAINST the Bible. I think I might have cried tears of joy. Seriously - it was wonderful!

Clara is a Nephil and as such, technically isn't an angel. But is angel blood. So things work a bit differently for her than, say, Micheal and Lucifer. But, they still follow similar guidelines and whatnot. *claps happily and really wants to stalk Cynthia Hand to hug her*

Okay, enough with that. As I could go on and on and on about how flipping happy about the correct angel mythology I am.

Oh! Wait. Side note! There's this thing called glory that angel-bloods can attain. When Clara fully attains this, she realizes that it is due to love. Okay, it happened while she was kissing a certain someone, but... I actually didn't mind that. Mostly because the relationship was built on a friendship. Also because she owns it up to Love. Glory is supposed to be attributed to connection with God. Well, God is love. So, while slightly ridiculous, I winded up liking it.

Clara was a great character. Not always super strong but definitely not a meek little twerp. She was pretty normal, minus the whole part-angel thing. She made decisions and reacted in ways that the non-complete freak side of me would have reacted. I loved the scene where she was mad at Christian ( a Dude, by the way), thought it over, realized he did the right thing, and is still mad at him because she needs to be. She didn't justify herself. And she didn't throw herself at his feet in apology for being mad. Go Clara!!

Clara had awesome, interesting friends. Their friendships weren't boring. Her family members were also well done. ohmybabies - there was a mother actively involved!!! And her mother was interesting. I wanted to know more about her. And her brother. Coolness.

Then... the, of course, romance. There, le sigh, was something of a love triangle. But then again, it wasn't entirely a love triangle. Or, if it was, it was such an unusual, awesome one that... um... I think I totally loved it. Go read it to see what I mean.

So obviously, there was romance. Well done romance, to be exact. Like I said already, the guy she kisses - they were friends first. It wasn't an "Oh, look pretty eyes. I want to have your babies. Oh, you give me moody stares. You're a jerk. Let's kiss and kiss and kiss. I will never leave youuuuu!!!" *Autumn slams her head into the wall multiple times and tries to refrain from burning the book* Nooopppeee. Not this time. Sure, with Christian and Tucker, they look good. But, Christian is the guy from her visions. She's pretty sure she is meant to be with him from those alone. And while she does think about him a lot and tries to be near him, the whole I-think-I-have-to-save-your-life-but-not-sure-how thing excuses her. Then Tucker, she totally blows off. They exchange amusing banter but that's it. Until his sister makes him show her around the area and they become friends. FRIENDS. As in talk and hang out and get to know each other. How beautiful. And he doesn't just totally except that his girlfriend is an angel like all the girls who find out their obsession isn't human do. Go Tucker!

And, just because I have to be somewhat not so entirely thrilled about a book, it wasn't exactly action-packed. It was kinda slow. BUT it did not drag, it helped develop the story and characters, and when the end comes, it makes sense. Everything comes together. ...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Christine Manzari rated it it was amazing

It started off good but right around the middle of it I couldn't put it down. I was up until 3am and then finished it this afternoon. Lots of interesting twists and turns. Still plenty of mystery for another book. ...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Tiana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-stars

One of my favourites. One of the best books I've ever read. Amazing, captivating character's, an amazing, unique plot line. Unique concepts. Humour. Cynthia Hand has such a sophisticated writing style; it's gripping, and it hooks you in instantly. The descriptive language was spot on and used effectively; I could picture everything taking place as if I were there with the character's. Clara has a relatable, lively, friendly personality - she's humourous, and had me smiling at her thoughts and co ...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

**mild insinuations, which could be construed as spoilers...just saying!**

Wow. I really really enjoyed this. It started out a little slow for me because I wasn't sure what was going on, but as it built momentum, it really started to draw me in completely.

I love angel books. I love how authors think of these awesome concepts to describe angels in modern-day writing and I love to see where they go with it every time and Unearthly was no exception.

My favorite part of the whole concept of the book ...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Claudia the Night Owl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, pnr, read-more-than-once, devoured-it, hot-guy, beautiful-cover, can-t-get-enough, love-triangle, nephilim, save-a-horse-ride-a-cowboy

i was a bit sceptic at first but it turned out to be a really great read

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