Creative Reviews discussion

Review for Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning there’s a boy standing in the trees….

Clara Gardner is part human, part angel and that means she is on earth for a reason…a purpose. It is this purpose that leads her to a new town with new faces and new friends. But there is also someone who she has seen but never met. The boy in her visions. The boy she thinks has something to do with her purpose.

It turns out that discovering what her visions mean and what role this boy plays in her life is a lot harder than she hoped it would be. To make matters more difficult she meets Tucker, a boy who she knows can only distract her from her purpose but who is a distraction that she really likes.
Will Clara be able to follow the rules that apply to an angel blood or will her heart lead her astray?

I LOVED this book. I give it 5 stars. Unearthly took hold of me from the beginning and did not let go until after I had put it down. There is not one character in this book that I did not like-which is rare for me. Every single one of them had characteristics that I could relate to or admire. I even understood Kay and her snooty attitude toward Clara. Clara was a great character. She was strong even when she was unsure about herself.

The setting of this book is fabulous as well. I loved the snow and the way that the log home Clara moves to is described. The outdoor activities that the characters do add a natural element to the story and I loved reading about all the outdoor sports that Clara tried (i.e.: fly fishing, skiing, hiking).

This book just seemed different and fresh from every other book that I have read. I think sometimes that paranormal YA can get a little redundant (even though I love it) but this book really kept me guessing. I would sit and try to figure out how I thought it would end or what Clara’s purpose might be but I wasn’t ever right. I loved that it wasn’t predictable. And the possibilities for the next book seem endless. I cannot wait to figure out Jeffery, Clara’s mom and who Clara’s heart ultimately picks. I know who I am rooting for to win….

Do you?

Cambria! This is great! I agree with your opinion of the book, I read this one as well, and I was entranced with it from start to finish. This is one I will be following through the series!

Me too! I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Um, yes I know who I'm rooting for...(view spoiler)[TUCKER of course! (hide spoiler)]

I loved this one, too.

LOL! Yup, we are rooting for the same guy. :) and if Clara doesn't like him then I'll take him off her hands. :)

She'd better not break his heart!

Amy wrote: "Cambria! This is great! I agree with your opinion of the book, I read this one as well, and I was entranced with it from start to finish. This is one I will be following through the series!"

Aw, no comments to any of my reviews? :(

I think sometimes that paranormal YA can get a little redundant...

I don't think I agree fully, that the paranormal YA can get a bit redundant, I think that some of them are similar yes, but they also come with their own stories to tell and characteristics as well. Sometimes I find that people are a little bit harder on YA books than they are other books from different genre's, like more is expected from them.

But, this is a book that I am seriously excited about reading, and one that I've had sitting on my shelf for the last few months. I need to hurry up and get to it, but I have so many other's that I'm reading for review right now, plus library books it's crazy. Great review though.

Wendy Darling wrote: "She'd better not break his heart!"

I usually don't like the whole "shipping" thing, but sometimes you just can't help but fall for a certain guy can you??? LOL

Wait, what shipping thing?? :) I have a whole shelf for crush-worthy guys, and the cutie in Unearthly totally made that list.

Shipping is when people want certain characters to end up together...for example I will use the Harry Potter series (I hope you have read these! LOL)

There were "shippers" who wanted Harry and Hermione together...Other "shippers" wanted Hermione and Ron together...Just people wanting certain relationSHIPS to happen.

And totally agreed on Unearthly - NICE!!! :)

Wendy Darling wrote: "Wait, what shipping thing?? :) I have a whole shelf for crush-worthy guys, and the cutie in Unearthly totally made that list."

I think my first experience with shipping had more to do with television couples, than it did with books. I remember talking about shipping back when people wanted Mulder/Scully from The X-Files to get together - that's actually where shipping originated: http://wiki.fandomwank.com/index.php/... - true facts. Or way back in the Buffy fandom when you had Buffy/Angel and Buffy/Spike fans and they could get pretty rowdy and then I think from there, it sort of migrated over to the books and the movies.

Amy wrote: "Shipping is when people want certain characters to end up together...for example I will use the Harry Potter series (I hope you have read these! LOL)."

That's so odd, after many years of working in bookstores (and a number of years writing reviews for Publishers Weekly) I've never heard that! Thanks for explaining that. Kind of a weird term.

So when you say you're against it, though, does that mean you usually don't take sides? I can't help BUT. :)

Wendy Darling wrote: "So when you say you're against it, though, does that mean you usually don't take sides? I can't help BUT. :)"

I usually try to avoid taking sides, and not get upset when things go one way or the other. But sometimes you just can't help but REALLY get involved and just keep HOPING that what we want happens with our favorite characters.

You are a more reasonable woman than I am, Amy! Hah. I do really enjoy when the author does such a great job with both choices that you're torn between them, just like the girl is, though. Doesn't happen that often, but occasionally the choice is really tough.

Wendy Darling wrote: "You are a more reasonable woman than I am, Amy! Hah. I do really enjoy when the author does such a great job with both choices that you're torn between them, just like the girl is, though. Doesn't ..."

There are definitely times where I can't tell which one I would want someone to be with more...I can see the good things about being with both...then I am just happy when a choice is made, even though I am disappointed only one can be chosen!!

Wendy Darling wrote: "She'd better not break his heart!"

I know or I will break her!! :)

Suz wrote: "I think sometimes that paranormal YA can get a little redundant...

I don't think I agree fully, that the paranormal YA can get a bit redundant, I think that some of them are similar yes, but they ..."
Thanks Suz! You should definitely read this it is awesome!

Amy wrote: "Shipping is when people want certain characters to end up together...for example I will use the Harry Potter series (I hope you have read these! LOL)

There were "shippers" who wanted Harry and He..."

Huh. this is a new term for me. You learn something new everyday!
I loved this book and I am shipping for some people to get together in it!

Well i totally pick sides all the time. LOL. Hey, some guys are just hotter than the others. Usually, they are all werewolves. :)

Cambria wrote: Huh. this is a new term for me. You learn something new everyday!

The term shipping actually originated in The X-Files fandom back in the day, when people started referring to Mulder/Scully as their "ship" and usually it was the main het couple of whatever show of the moment. It didn't originate in Harry Potter fandom, lol. But, it moved from television to books and then to film.

And I'm totally going to read this. :)

i read your earlier post about it originating on X-files. that is pretty neat!
Let me know how you like Unearthly when you read it!

Cambria wrote: "i read your earlier post about it originating on X-files. that is pretty neat!
Let me know how you like Unearthly when you read it!"

Yeah, I remember it happening all those years ago, and I figured that most people didn't realize that's where the term "shipping" actually came from. It was a pretty good show, if you ever feel the need to watch something sci-fi. Scully was my favorite character and she was the skeptic. lol.

Ooh, I definitely will. I'll probably be writing my own review for it as well. :)

i never watched the x-files but I know it was a very popular show!

Cambria wrote: "i never watched the x-files but I know it was a very popular show!"

Oh man, you missed out on a great show. It was EPIC in a word. I'd totally recommend it, if you like sci-fi.

I think i would probably like it. :)

Cambria wrote: "I think i would probably like it. :)"

Yeah, you should definitely give the first season a try sometime. I think, they have sales on the occasionally, where you can get a set for like $19.99 here and there, that's how I got some of mine. :)