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kara_jane's review against another edition
4.0
this is my first angel novel ive read. I really liked it...but Clara seemed so whinney she liked Christian one second the liked tucker the next....it just got annoying. but other then that I really liked it.
raclausing's review against another edition
4.0
Plot: 1
I loved that it was clear what Clara had to do, but it was given to us in fragments.
Characters: 1
Literally loved all of the characters. They're all so sassy and three dimensional.
Description: 1
I can clearly visualize everything!
Style: 1
Clara is such a great narrator. I love her.
Symbolism: 0
Not much "special meaning" but it isn't needed.
TOTAL: 4
I absolutely loved this book and will be picking up the next right away.
I loved that it was clear what Clara had to do, but it was given to us in fragments.
Characters: 1
Literally loved all of the characters. They're all so sassy and three dimensional.
Description: 1
I can clearly visualize everything!
Style: 1
Clara is such a great narrator. I love her.
Symbolism: 0
Not much "special meaning" but it isn't needed.
TOTAL: 4
I absolutely loved this book and will be picking up the next right away.
bluebeereads's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, here's my third full review to date, yay! It would be nice if you read it, liked it and/or commented. Sorry for faults in my English!
Let's get things straight first. What I thought of this book was that it would be just another angel-story. But this time the girl is the angel. (Like in Halo, and I hated that book a lot, so..) I thought she had to save him and would eventually and they would fall in love and so on.. Then there was a third boy. So I thought 'Geesh, not another love-triangle...'
But nothing in this book came as I expected. Everything was just thrown in my face, exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen. And that is a good thing, really. And then... BAM! It ends. It just ends like that, leaving me hanging there. xD
Okay the characters.
I loved them. They were original and fun. Clara is a great main character and I liked her a lot! Just a (not so) normal teenage girl that has to change homes and try to fit in in an entire new town. Her family is great. She has a good bond with er mom and even with her brother. (Wish I had such a brother.)
I hated Christian for what he did to Clara at the prom. Really. His character is well-written, but I don't like the Christian-types, so I was really glad when I met Tucker in the book. He was a fun guy, someone I would want as a boyfriend.
The relationships are well developed. No instant love (wich I hate)! The love grows over the course of the novel. That is a really good thing!
I don't believe in God, wich is why I hated Halo so much I think. But this novel got it. It is a great story and I recommend it to everyone that loves the genre or just wants to read a good book in the Angel-genre for a change.
That's about it.
Let's get things straight first. What I thought of this book was that it would be just another angel-story. But this time the girl is the angel. (Like in Halo, and I hated that book a lot, so..) I thought she had to save him and would eventually and they would fall in love and so on.. Then there was a third boy. So I thought 'Geesh, not another love-triangle...'
But nothing in this book came as I expected. Everything was just thrown in my face, exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen. And that is a good thing, really. And then... BAM! It ends. It just ends like that, leaving me hanging there. xD
Okay the characters.
I loved them. They were original and fun. Clara is a great main character and I liked her a lot! Just a (not so) normal teenage girl that has to change homes and try to fit in in an entire new town. Her family is great. She has a good bond with er mom and even with her brother. (Wish I had such a brother.)
I hated Christian for what he did to Clara at the prom. Really. His character is well-written, but I don't like the Christian-types, so I was really glad when I met Tucker in the book. He was a fun guy, someone I would want as a boyfriend.
The relationships are well developed. No instant love (wich I hate)! The love grows over the course of the novel. That is a really good thing!
I don't believe in God, wich is why I hated Halo so much I think. But this novel got it. It is a great story and I recommend it to everyone that loves the genre or just wants to read a good book in the Angel-genre for a change.
That's about it.
hdbblog's review against another edition
3.0
How do I start this review? I suppose I'll begin with the characters. I liked Clara. I thought she was very much an average teenage girl who is trying to understand her place in the world. Unfortunately for her, she has the added problem of trying to understand where her angel half fits in as well. Her friendships with Angela and Wendy were cute and believable. Tucker was a sweetheart. Then there's Christian. Perfect, flawless Christian. He was the one character that I really couldn't connect with. I think Cynthia Hand built some fantastic characters, but I feel as though Christian was just too perfect for his own good. Maybe this is setting him up for the next book, I wish I knew!
In terms of writing, I thought that Unearthly moved along at a very nice pace, and that the writing flowed. I immensely enjoyed the fact that although Hand offers her readers a lot of descriptions, none of them go overboard. She allows you to settle yourself into the scene before taking off again, and I loved that! The best part for me was the romance aspect of the book. I liked that Clara is torn, and that she shows her true colors when she is around Tucker. The inner battle between her angel side and her human side really shows through her time with Tucker, and it makes her so much more deep as a character. This was my favorite part of the book, hands down. If not for Tucker, I would not have been nearly as involved in this book.
The ending is what frustrated me most, and I'm not talking about just the last chapter. The whole end of the book spirals slowly and leaves the reader hanging on a string. I'm not one to be upset about cliffhangers. In fact, I rather love them! However this book just didn't feel finished. By the end of Unearthly my mouth was hanging open and I wanted to cry. There were just too many unfinished story lines, so many things that weren't tied up. It felt like someone handed me half a book and walked away. Perhaps it's just me, and it may well be, but I was a little upset about that. I know this is a series, but I still felt a little cheated.
I'm being honest when I say that my opinion of this book was probably influenced by the fact that it was so over hyped before I read it, and that I had too high of expectations. That's not to say that Unearthly isn't a good read. It truly is! It's sweet, and well-written. However there are a lot of books about angels out there, and that makes it easy to fall into a set of rules that make every book seem like every other book. I liked Clara, I liked her story, I just didn't feel like it was anything that I hadn't read before. Add in the feeling of an unfinished storyline, and I just couldn't fall in love as much as I wanted to. I do recommend you give it a try though. Unearthly is the type of read that will leave you a little frustrated at the end, but hopefully wanting more.
In terms of writing, I thought that Unearthly moved along at a very nice pace, and that the writing flowed. I immensely enjoyed the fact that although Hand offers her readers a lot of descriptions, none of them go overboard. She allows you to settle yourself into the scene before taking off again, and I loved that! The best part for me was the romance aspect of the book. I liked that Clara is torn, and that she shows her true colors when she is around Tucker. The inner battle between her angel side and her human side really shows through her time with Tucker, and it makes her so much more deep as a character. This was my favorite part of the book, hands down. If not for Tucker, I would not have been nearly as involved in this book.
The ending is what frustrated me most, and I'm not talking about just the last chapter. The whole end of the book spirals slowly and leaves the reader hanging on a string. I'm not one to be upset about cliffhangers. In fact, I rather love them! However this book just didn't feel finished. By the end of Unearthly my mouth was hanging open and I wanted to cry. There were just too many unfinished story lines, so many things that weren't tied up. It felt like someone handed me half a book and walked away. Perhaps it's just me, and it may well be, but I was a little upset about that. I know this is a series, but I still felt a little cheated.
I'm being honest when I say that my opinion of this book was probably influenced by the fact that it was so over hyped before I read it, and that I had too high of expectations. That's not to say that Unearthly isn't a good read. It truly is! It's sweet, and well-written. However there are a lot of books about angels out there, and that makes it easy to fall into a set of rules that make every book seem like every other book. I liked Clara, I liked her story, I just didn't feel like it was anything that I hadn't read before. Add in the feeling of an unfinished storyline, and I just couldn't fall in love as much as I wanted to. I do recommend you give it a try though. Unearthly is the type of read that will leave you a little frustrated at the end, but hopefully wanting more.
prested's review against another edition
I've definitely aged out of the demographic for this kind of YA paranormal romances.
mcarmi's review against another edition
4.0
it was a fun read, obviously. almost great for an angel book, and i actually kind of like clara.
also, i am seriously in love with tucker, but something inside of me tells me christian will grow on me. i don't know.
i just have a lot of questions.
also, i am seriously in love with tucker, but something inside of me tells me christian will grow on me. i don't know.
i just have a lot of questions.
ruhi_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
mollylooby's review against another edition
5.0
A Spoiler Free Bit About the Book
'Unearthly' follows Clara, a sixteen year old part angel who's just started to uncover her 'purpose' - what she was put on the earth to do. She knows there's a forest fire and boy and at the beginning that's all she knows.
My Review
I knew as I read the blurb of 'Unearthly' that it had the potential to be a book I could really get into. That and the fact that my friend leant it to me to read. This feeling intensified as I read the first chapter. I knew for certain that this book could go one of two ways. I would love it or hate it. It was the former, I adored it and devoured it.
The only thing that I didn't like was at first the present tense caught me out. Not just on the first few sentences. For some reason it was repeatedly during the first chapter and it was beginning to annoy me. I got past it though and then I was free.
I even liked the prologue. Now I'm not usually one for prologues. I don't like them. When I pick up a new book I just want to dive straight in, not faff around somewhere irrelevant - at least for the moment. But 'Unearthly's prologue was short and just from reading the blurb I understood its importance, which satisfied me. It was very effective.
I was also very grateful that Hand trickled information about angel-bloods though the novel at a natural pace. None of the information felt rushed and I was given enough gap between each thing that I could fully wrap my head around it and understand it. We learn information as Clara does which helps the information stream seem natural. It also makes it so much easier to sink into the angel world as though it's real and is completely logical.
While we're on Clara, she was a great protagonist. She was believable as a regular sixteen year old girl and also as an angel-blood. Nothing she did was ridiculous or so over the top it was unbelievable. I found her very relatable. She thought and felt what anyone would think and feel in her situation.
The other characters surrounding Clara and shaping her world were also very believable and relatable. I didn't think they were stereotypes or irritating. I liked them all and found them all charming in their own ways. They were also diverse enough that I could almost see their part in the novel revolving around them. Speaking of this, I was thrilled that all the characters' presence in the book was directly linked to their importance and relevance. I didn't have to hear loads about a character with minimal role, which pleased me to no end as sometimes I feel there are too many characters to worry about. In 'Unearthly' I was glad to only have to care and connect with the main, important ones.
The chapter names were a breath of fresh air. They weren't arty or cryptic or clever. They were simply describing the chapter. It might be one word or a phrase that sums up the chapter in a completely human way. It actually helped me to distinguish between the chapters.
Now for the 'impossible choice'. So many novels, especially teenage fiction, have - or claim to have - an 'impossible choice'. Usually I'm disappointed as there's only one real choice or the right choice is so obvious it's boring. Or it's just clear which one the protagonist will choose. Well, in 'Unearthly' I was pleasantly surprised. I felt that the decision was difficult enough to be classed as 'impossible'. So much so, I didn't know what Clara would pick, or indeed what I would pick in that situation. It was intense, I'll give you that much.
Evaluation
Plot Idea - 6/10 - angels, I remember thinking to myself. It's been done and I've read it. How different can this one be?
Way Plot Was Pursued - 8/10 - Clara's 'purpose' really gave this story its originality. I also enjoyed that she was the powerful one and that she was free to make her own decision.
Characters - 10/10 - all so diverse and charming. I can't fault them.
Style - 9/10 - I loved Clara as a narrator. I loved the way she mulled things over.
Pace - 8/10 - I always knew where we were going but at some points I felt like I had to take a stroll to read it. A pleasant pretty stroll, but one nonetheless.
Would I recommend it? - Oh God, yes. I couldn't put this book down.
Would I look up the author? - Yes. Having being leant 'Hallowed', the sequel, I picked it straight up. Yes please.
'Unearthly' surpassed my expectations by miles and miles and miles.
'Unearthly' follows Clara, a sixteen year old part angel who's just started to uncover her 'purpose' - what she was put on the earth to do. She knows there's a forest fire and boy and at the beginning that's all she knows.
My Review
I knew as I read the blurb of 'Unearthly' that it had the potential to be a book I could really get into. That and the fact that my friend leant it to me to read. This feeling intensified as I read the first chapter. I knew for certain that this book could go one of two ways. I would love it or hate it. It was the former, I adored it and devoured it.
The only thing that I didn't like was at first the present tense caught me out. Not just on the first few sentences. For some reason it was repeatedly during the first chapter and it was beginning to annoy me. I got past it though and then I was free.
I even liked the prologue. Now I'm not usually one for prologues. I don't like them. When I pick up a new book I just want to dive straight in, not faff around somewhere irrelevant - at least for the moment. But 'Unearthly's prologue was short and just from reading the blurb I understood its importance, which satisfied me. It was very effective.
I was also very grateful that Hand trickled information about angel-bloods though the novel at a natural pace. None of the information felt rushed and I was given enough gap between each thing that I could fully wrap my head around it and understand it. We learn information as Clara does which helps the information stream seem natural. It also makes it so much easier to sink into the angel world as though it's real and is completely logical.
While we're on Clara, she was a great protagonist. She was believable as a regular sixteen year old girl and also as an angel-blood. Nothing she did was ridiculous or so over the top it was unbelievable. I found her very relatable. She thought and felt what anyone would think and feel in her situation.
The other characters surrounding Clara and shaping her world were also very believable and relatable. I didn't think they were stereotypes or irritating. I liked them all and found them all charming in their own ways. They were also diverse enough that I could almost see their part in the novel revolving around them. Speaking of this, I was thrilled that all the characters' presence in the book was directly linked to their importance and relevance. I didn't have to hear loads about a character with minimal role, which pleased me to no end as sometimes I feel there are too many characters to worry about. In 'Unearthly' I was glad to only have to care and connect with the main, important ones.
The chapter names were a breath of fresh air. They weren't arty or cryptic or clever. They were simply describing the chapter. It might be one word or a phrase that sums up the chapter in a completely human way. It actually helped me to distinguish between the chapters.
Now for the 'impossible choice'. So many novels, especially teenage fiction, have - or claim to have - an 'impossible choice'. Usually I'm disappointed as there's only one real choice or the right choice is so obvious it's boring. Or it's just clear which one the protagonist will choose. Well, in 'Unearthly' I was pleasantly surprised. I felt that the decision was difficult enough to be classed as 'impossible'. So much so, I didn't know what Clara would pick, or indeed what I would pick in that situation. It was intense, I'll give you that much.
Evaluation
Plot Idea - 6/10 - angels, I remember thinking to myself. It's been done and I've read it. How different can this one be?
Way Plot Was Pursued - 8/10 - Clara's 'purpose' really gave this story its originality. I also enjoyed that she was the powerful one and that she was free to make her own decision.
Characters - 10/10 - all so diverse and charming. I can't fault them.
Style - 9/10 - I loved Clara as a narrator. I loved the way she mulled things over.
Pace - 8/10 - I always knew where we were going but at some points I felt like I had to take a stroll to read it. A pleasant pretty stroll, but one nonetheless.
Would I recommend it? - Oh God, yes. I couldn't put this book down.
Would I look up the author? - Yes. Having being leant 'Hallowed', the sequel, I picked it straight up. Yes please.
'Unearthly' surpassed my expectations by miles and miles and miles.
bookishwonderlandco's review against another edition
5.0
I was excited to read this book because I this was a whole new book with new characters and it sounded really good. This book didn't let me down! I don't know why but I was captivated by the first page and had a really hard time stopping reading to do my everyday life, all I wanted to do was get lost in this book again and again! I fell in love with this book in the first few pages, which normally never happens to me! It was just that good! I also love Tucker, though I have mixed feelings on Christian. The characters in this book are really well-rounded, and I loved them all as if they were my best friends! I honestly can't even say how good this book was! I am so excited for the next book because I want more Tucker! This has to be one of the best books I have read in quite a while!