Review: Unearthly

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Synopsis (From Goodreads): 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 knows what she is, and ever since she found out that she's an angel-blood she has been waiting until her purpose is made clear, then she starts having visions of a boy surrounded by a forest fire. After finding the location of the forest from her vision, her mother moves her brother and her to the small community of Jackson Hole where Clara meets Christian, the boy from her vision.

Besides being the new girl and struggling to fit in at school, she also has her purpose to work out. If that's not bad enough, there's also a second boy, Tucker, who Clara can't get out of her mind. Clara has to make the choice between following her heart or completing her destiny.

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Unearthly, and I was pleasantly surprised. Cynthia Hand has created a unique spin on the Angel story. I was happy that Clara knew she was part-angel and that she had a mother who was there to help her daughter, even if that mother didn't want to tell her daughter any information on the angels until Clara had figured it out for herself or was ready.

The relationships between Clara, Christian and Tucker were built on and were more believable than most stories that have love triangles. This story really showed Clara losing her heart to the guy and being torn up with decision that she had to make.

The plot was fast with plenty of twists and turns to keep me reading. I look forward to when the next one comes out.

Cover: This is a beautiful cover. Australia got the red cover which looks exactly like how the vision plays out. Even without knowing what it was about, I'm sure I would have picked it up based on that cover.


Plot: 5/5 stars
Ending: 5/5 stars
Cover: 5/5 stars
Overall: 5/5 stars
Recommend: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
2011 Debut Author Challenge: #1 of 20
2011 YA Reading Challenge: #2 of 50