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A review by gabyijo
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
4.0
I am so torn between giving this book a 5-star or a 4-star rating. UGH. But I'll stick to 4 because I'm that mean. MUAHAHAHAHAHA. No. I have strong reasons. Actual rating should be 4.5 because I think 4 is a little bit too low. I really love this book, I swear. It is the kind of book that sticks to your hands like it is your own skin and makes you forget to socialize or feed your fish. It's SO addicting that I can't get enough of it! NEED MORE TUCKER AVERY! AAAAA *runs around room three times then bangs head to wall*
The good thing about this book is the idea. Seriously, Cynthia Hand is insanely genius! After reading all those angel/demon stories, I would never think that this book could be any better. But I was the wrongest of the wrongs because this book kicks ass. The story starts with a girl named Clara Gardner, a quarter angel, who moved all the way from California to Wyoming because she needs to finish her mission: to save Christian. Along the way, she met Tucker Avery, Clara's bestfriend's twin who always messes with her, but can be a real gentlemen at times. Now Clara is torn between choosing the boy of her destiny and the boy she loves.
When I read the blurb, I thought "well, another book about angels. Sounds boring, but it has good ratings so since I'm not doing anything this week I want to read it." Hell, thank God I bought this book because it totally made my day. The concept is SO UH-MAZING to the sense of madness. Who would have thought about glory, shining hair, purpose of life, Black Wings and Cowboys in one package? The story is too brilliant that I am speechless I can't even blink my eyes. Though I do wish the first few chapters were faster paced. I feel like those chapters stray away from the main point, which is about Clara, her purpose and what she truly wants. And I also feel like the characters fall in love too easily and without a strong reason. What makes her want him and vice versa? So I think the love is quite shallow there, though I love the couple and the romance scenes A LOT.
The few last chapters, in contrast, totally made my heart stopped beating. SO FREAKING INTENSE. I really don't know what dangers Clara is facing and how she can survive it or if saving Christian is too late. But I hope that suspenseful moment last a little while longer. It feels like the author ends the tension too fast and abruptly, especially the part in the forest when Clara was looking for Christian. Ugh, it's annoying that I can't really tell the plot because I want my review to be spoiler-free... T^T So I have to leave my arguments at that.
And then there's Avery who makes you get the oh-get-down-to-your-feet-and-drool feeling. He doesn't drink or smoke? BAM, THE PERFECT-EST guy. I think Cynthia Hand has this kind of a i-have-to-have-perfect-characters syndrome, though, because almost all of the characters in the book are flawless. Clara is hot, pretty, smart and nice, Jeffrey can do absolutely anything plus he's good-looking, Christian is popular, Avery is such a gentleman. Gosh, I don't see any negative traits. They're too ideal. And no matter how much I love Avery, I would really appreciate if he has some flaws (excluding his financial condition) because I am leaning towards realistic characters.
So, overall, "Unearthly" really is an unearthly book. Maybe that's why the characters are too perfect... The title itself hints so. But books are still books, opinions are still opinions and turtles are still turtles (well unless they evolve into some mutant orange ninja turtle with no shell). I think no book is perfect, but this book is heading there.
The good thing about this book is the idea. Seriously, Cynthia Hand is insanely genius! After reading all those angel/demon stories, I would never think that this book could be any better. But I was the wrongest of the wrongs because this book kicks ass. The story starts with a girl named Clara Gardner, a quarter angel, who moved all the way from California to Wyoming because she needs to finish her mission: to save Christian. Along the way, she met Tucker Avery, Clara's bestfriend's twin who always messes with her, but can be a real gentlemen at times. Now Clara is torn between choosing the boy of her destiny and the boy she loves.
When I read the blurb, I thought "well, another book about angels. Sounds boring, but it has good ratings so since I'm not doing anything this week I want to read it." Hell, thank God I bought this book because it totally made my day. The concept is SO UH-MAZING to the sense of madness. Who would have thought about glory, shining hair, purpose of life, Black Wings and Cowboys in one package? The story is too brilliant that I am speechless I can't even blink my eyes. Though I do wish the first few chapters were faster paced. I feel like those chapters stray away from the main point, which is about Clara, her purpose and what she truly wants. And I also feel like the characters fall in love too easily and without a strong reason. What makes her want him and vice versa? So I think the love is quite shallow there, though I love the couple and the romance scenes A LOT.
The few last chapters, in contrast, totally made my heart stopped beating. SO FREAKING INTENSE. I really don't know what dangers Clara is facing and how she can survive it or if saving Christian is too late. But I hope that suspenseful moment last a little while longer. It feels like the author ends the tension too fast and abruptly, especially the part in the forest when Clara was looking for Christian. Ugh, it's annoying that I can't really tell the plot because I want my review to be spoiler-free... T^T So I have to leave my arguments at that.
And then there's Avery who makes you get the oh-get-down-to-your-feet-and-drool feeling. He doesn't drink or smoke? BAM, THE PERFECT-EST guy. I think Cynthia Hand has this kind of a i-have-to-have-perfect-characters syndrome, though, because almost all of the characters in the book are flawless. Clara is hot, pretty, smart and nice, Jeffrey can do absolutely anything plus he's good-looking, Christian is popular, Avery is such a gentleman. Gosh, I don't see any negative traits. They're too ideal. And no matter how much I love Avery, I would really appreciate if he has some flaws (excluding his financial condition) because I am leaning towards realistic characters.
So, overall, "Unearthly" really is an unearthly book. Maybe that's why the characters are too perfect... The title itself hints so. But books are still books, opinions are still opinions and turtles are still turtles (well unless they evolve into some mutant orange ninja turtle with no shell). I think no book is perfect, but this book is heading there.