Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Review: Hallowed

HALLOWED (Unearthly #2)
Cynthia Hand
Paranormal Young Adult
416 pages
HarperTeen
Available January 17th
Received from NetGalley for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves 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.

MY THOUGHTS
Hallowed is the type of book we can't wait to start reading, yet our hands remain frozen at our sides and we find we're unable to force them to break the spine knowing that what awaits us will not be a lighthearted jaunt full of whimsy and achingly adorable romance. Instead, we know darkness and pain will most likely be waiting to greet us when we finally work up the courage to open the front cover, delving us deeper into the complex world of the angel-bloods and challenging both us and our beloved characters in ways that are uncomfortable but so very poignant and moving at the same time. Ms. Hand certainly has no interest in leading us along the path of least resistance, throwing down the gauntlet in this second installment and waiting to see if we’ll be strong enough to pick it up and walk alongside Clara, Tucker, and Christian as times get tougher.

A joy to read about, Clara reminds us in this tale of all the reasons why we fell in love with her in Unearthly, continuing to show us her ability to create her own light amidst the stifling darkness of the unknown world she is an intrinsic part of when no one else, not even her own mother, will help her find her way. Her love for Tucker consists of both sweetness and shadows, her seemingly unshakeable confidence that who she is going to be with is going to be her choice–and hers alone–paired in this tale with a nagging doubt that her purpose and her role as an angel-blood might prove to be the blade that slices her free will to ribbons. While she hates the idea that her life isn’t entirely of her own making, she never rages against it or lashes out at those around her at the injustice of it all, instead she quietly mourns the life she might have had were circumstances a bit different, and puts on her game face before she tackles what’s thrown her way with verve.

The love triangle is crafted in a painfully stunning way, the case for both Christian and Tucker hauntingly laid out for us as we feel Clara’s confusion and distress when she looks at them both. What sets this love triangle apart from some of its more frustrating counterparts is that Clara is not one to waffle, never sitting back and studying her feelings for both young men or weighing the pros and cons of each to help her reach a decision. Instead, she’s already chosen, and her choice is Tucker. She chooses to love him with everything she has despite Christian’s presence in her life, so her struggle then becomes not one of dual attraction, but one of choice versus duty, want versus greater purpose, and personal will versus divine will. She wants a life with Tucker, but her angel-blood draw to Christian is too powerful to simply ignore, and as a result we all find ourselves in a twisting, churning emotional maelstrom from which there’s no way to walk away unscathed.

Despite this being the second book in the series, we are not simply sucked into the story in the middle of events and made into pack mules forced to bear the weight of numerous unanswered questions carried over from book one even as new ones are sprung on us, but rather we are given many of the answers we seek by the end to help ease our mental burden even as the heavy presence of our emotional one settles down on our shoulders. Ms. Hand knows just how to appease us enough that we don’t end this installment with a sense of emptiness at having merely been prepped for the following book, but she keeps enough out of reach to have us salivating for book three now that we’ve had a little taste of enlightenment.

Rating: 4/5

39 comments:

  1. Oooh, oooh, oooh! I can't wait for this. It's waiting for me at Netgalley. I can't wait to read more Tucker. I'm interested to see how the choice between Tucker and Christian gets complicated. At the end of the first book, I was 100% team Tucker.

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  2. Thanks for the wonderful review of Hallowed, Jenny! I'm very excited to read the novel and I'm glad the wait will soon be over. I'm glad to hear that we get some more answers in this one. One of the aspects I loved about the first book was the way Cynthia Hand wrote the love triangle!

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  3. Aaaaah, so glad to hear this is just as good as I'm hoping it will be!

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  4. Thank you quite considerably for that complete information.I agree with all the factors pointed out right here and noticed all your essential points.I am appreciated much more.

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  5. Seriously, I think this one was even better than the first. I can't say why but I really LOVED Hallowed...

    Also, although I love Tucker, I totally fell in love with Christian in this book - which was great since I didn't care so much for him in the first book.

    Gee, now we have to wait for the next one;((

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  6. Alison - I was 100% Team Tucker too, and as much as I like Christian, I'm still all about Tucker:):)

    Liz - You're welcome! I was really glad we got some answers too and she didn't just dangle them in front of us and then end the story. There are definitely more questions, but I feel good about what we learned:)

    Chantaal - I really enjoy this series! I didn't love it as much as Unearthly, but it was still a fabulous read:)

    Danny - Christian definitely made huge strides with me in this book, but I'm still all about Tucker. I just love him so much:)

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  7. I know!!!! I need to read Unearthly!!!! Although I am glad to hear in this one she isn't all wishy-washy and trying to figure out WHO she loves!!! That kills me!!!

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  8. I had a major crush on Tucker in this book and the fact that I pictured Taylor Kitsch as him in my head made it even more impossible not to swoon every time he appeared on page. I'm really curious to learn more about Christian and get to know him. I'm also very curious as to the story of her brother. I can't wait to read this one! Thanks for a non-spoilery review, Jenny!

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  9. Oh man! I still have yet to read Unearthly, though I did just buy a copy for my Kindle (PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If y'all haven't seen yet, Epic Reads has a ton of the most popular 2011 YA E-reads on sale for 99 cents!).

    Anyways, ;) I love the sound of this love triangle- despite what many think I do believe that a successful love triangle is possible!

    Thanks for the great review Jenny! I can't wait to delve into this!

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  10. Ashley - YOU DO! So good, I know you'll love it:) I really liked how the triangle in this one is set up, it's not all angst and drama, it feels a lot more real:)

    Rummanah - ME TOO! I could so see Taylor Kitsch as Tucker and that's more than enough to make me swoon as well:)

    Avery - Really? Thanks! *runs to Epic Reads* I think a successful love triangle is possible as well, I've read a few but they are definitely far between:)

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  11. Can't wait to appease my crush lust with this one!!!

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  12. I really liked that Cynthia Hand kept revealing information, like you said. It definitely kept me reading. I was a little bummed at the love triangle, though! Ah, well. Hallowed was still enjoyable for me. Thanks for the review! :)

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  13. I ended up loving this one though if I'd known about the twists I would have been more afraid to pick it up. Good thing I didn't because I absolutely loved it and while it certainly had sad parts I think I'm okay with the direction it's started to take. I'm very anxious to see where things go!

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  14. Aah, I still haven't read Unearthly and you're making me want to read Hallowed! I like the sound of the love triangle; usually I hate them but the one in this series sounds well-done and I think it's great that Clara knows exactly who she wants to be with if she had a choice.

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  15. Emme - Yay! I have a hardcore crush on Tucker, I love him:)

    Lauren - I was bummed with how things went in the love triangle as well, but mostly because I harbor some intense feeling for one guy in particular. I thought it was a well written triangle though:)

    Candace - I knew things wouldn't be all sunshine and roses in this one so it took me a little while to work up the courage to read it. Glad I did though, I adore these books:)

    Zahida - I hope you get a chance to read them soon! They're great reads:) I liked that Clara knew exactly who she wanted too, things just get complicated for her because of her angel heritage:)

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  16. It seems like everyone has read Hallowed lately so it jut makes me even more eager to read it myself. I remember the love triangle was one of the highlights of book 1 so I can't wait to read more of it.

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  17. I love your last words :D What an I say you just have the best reviews around

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  18. Answers are good, esp. when she still leaves more to be answered! love an author who knows how to balance the two! I got Unearthly a while back from the lib, but had to return it before I got a chance to read it - thanks for the lovely review, Jenny - you've rekindled my interest.

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  19. Oh wow! Great to hear. Unearthly is on my list for the best books of 2011. I'm excited to read Hallowed. I might have to read Unearthly before - just to refresh my memory. I remember the end. It was quite powerful and I was very surprised. Yay for questions from Book 1 being answered! Great review :)

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  20. Wonderful review I really enjoyed this on and the love triangle is one of the best ever written I love it!!

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  21. Jenny - It's a great love triangle, I love that Clara's not wishy-washy, she knows what she wants, she's just not sure she's allowed to have it.

    Blodeuedd - Thanks! I appreciate that:):)

    Linds - Answers are good! It was nice to get a few before we got new questions. Made me feel like I accomplished something by reading.

    Julie - It makes my best of 2011 list as well, loved it! I reread the ending of Unearthly beforehand too, it helped:)

    Giselle - Thanks! And I agree, she wrote a brilliant triangle:)

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  22. Such a fantastic review Jenny!!! This is why I love this series; it is so real and doesn't shy away from anything. I was so sad about the ending but happy at the new doors that are opened. =)

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  23. What an awesome review, Jenny! I feel like I'm really in for a treat when I read this second book. You have such a way with words! I haven't even finished the first and I want this one already!

    Heather

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  24. Im going to be reading unearthly soon. I didnt read ure review because of that. Im sorry ive been mia. I finally got a job and been busy with the holidays. Hope you had a wonderful christmas. Im hoping to be back on my blog in jan. Talk to u soon :)

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  25. I still have yet to read Unearthly (but I hope to remedy this soon after buying it for $.99), but it's still so good to hear people say how much they love this series as I am constantly wary of angel books. I think I will like it a lot. And it's especially good knowing that the second book isn't one of those frustrating sequels where we don't get any answers to the questions posed in book one. I hate that.

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  26. I FINALLY BOUGHT Unearthly :)
    Now I can see what everyone is talking about! :)


    Krazyyme @ Young Readers

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  27. I'm so happy you liked this, Jenny. "painfully stunning" is exactly right for this book, I thought it was so incredibly touching in the most unexpected ways.

    Now we just have to wait a whole year for the next one! :(

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  28. EEPPP! I'm reading this book next! I am so excited! Love the review!

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  29. I really enjoyed the first in this series, I really need to read this one soon! I do love the MC, when many would rage against their pre-determined destiny, like you said, she does put on her game face and do what she's got to do. Appreciate that.

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  30. I enjoyed Unearthly so glad this sequel lives up to the first. And I'm a total Tucker fan!

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  32. OMG, Jenny, you certainly know how to make ME salivate. I'm already needy for this book, but this review took that feeling and sent it soaring. I'm so desperate for this installment!

    - Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)

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  33. I totally loved this one as well. It was so satisfying and yet incredibly emotional. I know I am completely dying for Book 3, and this one technically isn't even released yet!! Either way this is a fabulous series. I am generally not a fan of angel books, but these ones are GOOD.

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  34. I just finished this one last night and loved it! It made me cry and I cannot wait for book 3.

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  35. You are SO right about the love triangle! After I reading Unearthly, I didn't know a love triangle existed, but then more people read it, and then there were Team Christian fans out there! I was shocked, lol. Anyway, after reading Hallowed, I'm still Team Tucker! My post today is full of Team Tucker love!

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  36. This sounds like a very good sequel! I'm glad the love triangle is a bit different than normal too,

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  37. Agreed! Hallowed was a great second book and it had just the right amout of tension between characters to keep me interested and leave me waiting for book three. I'm so Team Tucker and the second book didn't change anything!:P

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