Unearthly

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

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.

Clara is part angel, giving her special abilities that she must keep in check to keep from notice. Being angel blood means she has a direct purpose in life that is the sole reason she exists. She has visions of a forest on fire and boy she knows she must save. Her family moves to the place from her dreams so she can fulfill her purpose, but things get complicated when she meets the boy from her dreams. The problem is that there is another boy, Tucker, and he just doesn't fit in with her purpose. She thought it would be easy to fulfill her purpose, but she quickly realizes just how wrong she was. There will be sacrifices and an ultimate choice between betraying her purpose, or her heart.

I absolutely loved Clara's character. She is so strong and determined, yet also like any other girl with insecurities. While it is apparent that she is very beautiful to everyone else, Clara stays very humble and just doesn't see herself that way. I was very impressed with her ability to see past the purpose "blinders" she had on in the beginning. While this goes against everything she was taught, it also allowed her to open up to loving Tucker. Going against the grain like she did took immense courage especially since she doesn't know what will happen if she doesn't fulfill her purpose. It is much easier to make a choice when you know the consequences than when you don't and I admire her for that.

For the most part love triangles frustrate me more than they entertain. I've just never been a huge fan of messy teen love angst. However, that being said there are a few books where the "triangle" was so well written that I cannot imagine the book any other way. This was one of them. Clara was definitely torn between the two main guys, but it wasn't your typical "I love them both" story. Suffice it say one she loves due to a sense of duty and honor, and the other is more a of a true love. Only time will tell whether her head or her heart will win in the end. By the end of the book my own preference in her final choice had changed several times, and I cannot wait until the next book to see where things go between the three of them.

To say that I enjoyed this book would be an immense understatement. It has to be one of the most original YA books that I have read in a very long time, especially one with a love triangle. The ending was a major twist that I never saw coming and I cannot wait until the next book to see what is in store for Clara and the boys. I devoured this book in one sitting, I just couldn't get enough. On a side note, the cover is gorgeous on the physical book. The online pictures just do not give it justice. All in all I have to say this would have to be one of my most highly recommended YA books, and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.

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Unearthly (Unearthly - Trilogy)

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