Sue Reviews: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Title: Hallowed Series: Unearthly #2 Author: Cynthia Hand Publisher: HarperTeen Format: Paperpack, 403 pages Published: January 17, 2012 ISBN #: 9780061996184 / 0061996181 Genre: Young Adult My Copy: bought Rating:1/2 Buy: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Hallowed is a natural follow-up to Unearthly. The progression of the story was seamless into this second book in the series. Hand’s writing and voice has definitely improved since the last book. I once again got lost in her precise descriptions of angels, their beauty and their glory.

 The love triangle between Tucker, Christian and Clara is still interesting and relevant. There are no clichéd characters here. Instead, the boys are mature and all likable, making it hard for Clara and the reader to choose which boy is the better match for Clara. Clara struggles with her home life. We glimpse pain, uncertainty, and mistakes, making Clara a relatable teenager. Hand does a wonderful job at dissecting why Clara feels the way she does, enabling the reader to fully understand the reasons for her actions. I’m going against popular belief to say that Tucker struck me as a little sulky in this book. Tucker and Christian have not fully come to grip with Clara and her reality, but that’s what book three will be for!

 I’m definitely team Christian, especially after he and Clara bond over events in the book!

 The pacing is slow just like the last book. Knowing this going in, I was able to savor the character development Hand gives us. The characters continue to be multi-faceted. Clara is accepting of her purpose and experiences such conflict with the fulfillment of it all. She shows maturity and strength when she needs it. She comes to grips with her second vision and purpose and is determined to comprehend what her role is and will be, both on a micro and macro level. The storyline moves along naturally which makes this such an enjoyable follow up to the first book.

 We also get answers regarding Clara’s brother Jeffrey, her mother Maggie and some of her lineage. I was left frustrated with Maggie’s lack of answers to Clara’s questions in the last book, but was satisfied with the way things are handled in Hallowed. Angela is ever present as the snarky, curious friend. I love how she is always on the hunt for answers to her angelic questions. This is a great way to provide the reader with new information and Hand does it seamlessly. She provides us with further information on the enjoyable angel lore she delves into.

 The only (minor) problem I had with this book is that it is quite gloomy and depressing. Early in the book Hand lets the reader know that something awful is inevitable and going to transpire. I personally, had a hard time moving forward in this book because of this. I had no desire to see the end of the book for this looming reason. Hand does however do a great job in how this ending unfolds because it’s not predictable. If you’re prone to shedding a tear or two when invested in a book, considered this your warning!

Hallowed is a necessary part of the journey for Clara and the reader. The events force her character to go places and rise into a new space as a young woman. As a reader we gain valuable knowledge and experience this heartfelt journey with Clara.

Books in this series:

Recommendation:	A great coming of age story for Young Adults and angel fans alike.
Like this, like that:	The Earth, Fire, Wind and Water series by Darby Karchut and the Angelfire series by Courtney Allison Moulton

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