amarylissw's review
5.0
Great read. Perhaps not one of my absolute favorites, but definitely deserving of five stars.
The author throws a lot of awesome twists and turns in here, which really made the story enjoyable. Setting became more developed and Clara's relationship with her family is brilliantly written — tender, loving, heartbreaking.
The only thing I didn't really like is the development of the love interests. I still don't really feel like I know them that well, so I just like them both. Like, not love. I'm not quite sure which one I even "like" better.
So, yes. Great writing and story. I would recommend this book.
The author throws a lot of awesome twists and turns in here, which really made the story enjoyable. Setting became more developed and Clara's relationship with her family is brilliantly written — tender, loving, heartbreaking.
The only thing I didn't really like is the development of the love interests. I still don't really feel like I know them that well, so I just like them both. Like, not love. I'm not quite sure which one I even "like" better.
So, yes. Great writing and story. I would recommend this book.
krish_'s review
5.0
My reaction to this book is fittingly more sombre than my reaction to Unearthly. I almost wish it came with a warning for how emotional this was going to be. Read enough YA and you become conditioned, most times, to expect "okay" to "fun" books. But its the likes of Marchetta, for myself anyway, and with books like Jellicoe Road, that I keep taking the plunge, flipping the covers hoping that the story contained in them is something worthwhile. Which is why it surprised the hell out of me when I was left feeling both slightly numb but also winded, not knowing quite where it came from but hitting me, nonetheless, all in a sudden rush.
Its funny how Hallowed is a book about angels yet the message in it (excuse the pun) is unabashedly human. It calls to the forefront of the mind the very human eventualities we must all bear in the short span of our mortal lives. Hand chooses, maybe selectively but perhaps not, some of the more difficult life obstacles. It weighs you down with the impending doom that is Clara's apparent future. And even though her troubles are in the forms of heavenly destiny, visions and fallen angels, they stand as no more than metaphors to the battles we fight very similarly in our everyday lives.
There's a certain grandness to the way Hand presents the hardships of life, the painful decisions that will one day be called upon us, that makes it all somehow seem endurable. Its a determined grandness, slightly romantic but definitely resolute, like finally dusting yourself off, lifting your head and taking that first step towards what's coming; some of that may even be defeat, a resignation to the trials of life because you can't always fight against what the universe throws at you. Accept and persevere and your true character will be decided. But Hand writes in a way that envisions within me a warrior that faces suffering head-on, and one that delights in silent confidence at the mission of overcoming it. Hallowed may not be heavy-handed or preachy, but it does compel us to hold faith, and it also explores the virtue of long-suffering in all its layers of meaning and manifestations.
She brings up so many things in this book both adolescent and mature; appropriately so as Clara is on the verge of adulthood. Some things are so nostalgic and innocent like the fantasy of having Superman and Superwoman for parents, so childlike. Having the memory of looking up at our parents as children and thinking they can do anything, to have that realized is so sweet and comforting. Others are more serious and cautionary like finally growing up and owning up to our responsibilities. Knowing that Hand is a college professor, it seems reasonable that this book might also be a gentle, reassuring nudge to young adults. A small life is hard, but you can do it pat on the back kind of thing. It is possible to brave death and loss, maneuver one's way through confusion and uncertainty and, finally, to figure out things like what we want to be when we grow up. But of course it isn't just for the young. These messages are universal. Regardless of age and experience, I don't think we ever thwart fear when in the threshold of change. We just bear it better as we live longer.
But aside from that, it was just good storytelling. Its an interesting story with great characters that you come to care for. Its refreshing as well that it doesn't fall under the usual traps of this genre, as many reviews have pointed out. They're there but they're done well. The parents are present and loving, the best friends are honest and true, the bitchy popular girl even has some unexpected depth. And yes, yes, I love me some Tucker and Christian. But I am, forever, Tucker's girl. I'll go no further -- but if Hand is reading this, I am staring daggers at you, wagging a very threatening finger and wearing a shirt that says I'll be watching. Just sayin'.
So, I loved the book. I took away a lot from the book. I won't say OMG its the bestest of all YA's ever in life like ever!! It isn't as openly profound as others I've read. Some may even see nothing more than a run-of-the-mill teen fantasy book. But I am at the moment blind to all its faults (if I cared to count any). I don't know if this review gives enough sufficient information, instead of just another rambling post of my incoherent thoughts. But I don't want to say anymore, mainly because its a feeling I want to keep for myself. And I don't want to sell this book too hard...because if you don't give it a try, believe me, its your loss.
Its funny how Hallowed is a book about angels yet the message in it (excuse the pun) is unabashedly human. It calls to the forefront of the mind the very human eventualities we must all bear in the short span of our mortal lives. Hand chooses, maybe selectively but perhaps not, some of the more difficult life obstacles. It weighs you down with the impending doom that is Clara's apparent future. And even though her troubles are in the forms of heavenly destiny, visions and fallen angels, they stand as no more than metaphors to the battles we fight very similarly in our everyday lives.
There's a certain grandness to the way Hand presents the hardships of life, the painful decisions that will one day be called upon us, that makes it all somehow seem endurable. Its a determined grandness, slightly romantic but definitely resolute, like finally dusting yourself off, lifting your head and taking that first step towards what's coming; some of that may even be defeat, a resignation to the trials of life because you can't always fight against what the universe throws at you. Accept and persevere and your true character will be decided. But Hand writes in a way that envisions within me a warrior that faces suffering head-on, and one that delights in silent confidence at the mission of overcoming it. Hallowed may not be heavy-handed or preachy, but it does compel us to hold faith, and it also explores the virtue of long-suffering in all its layers of meaning and manifestations.
She brings up so many things in this book both adolescent and mature; appropriately so as Clara is on the verge of adulthood. Some things are so nostalgic and innocent like the fantasy of having Superman and Superwoman for parents, so childlike
Spoiler
not to mention bad ass! Like woah, Clara's dad is a full on Angel, like no kidding, holy awesome (thanks, Angela) and Mr. Phibbs, like what!! I knew I liked him!!!But aside from that, it was just good storytelling. Its an interesting story with great characters that you come to care for. Its refreshing as well that it doesn't fall under the usual traps of this genre, as many reviews have pointed out. They're there but they're done well. The parents are present and loving, the best friends are honest and true, the bitchy popular girl even has some unexpected depth. And yes, yes, I love me some Tucker and Christian. But I am, forever, Tucker's girl. I'll go no further -- but if Hand is reading this, I am staring daggers at you, wagging a very threatening finger and wearing a shirt that says I'll be watching. Just sayin'.
So, I loved the book. I took away a lot from the book. I won't say OMG its the bestest of all YA's ever in life like ever!! It isn't as openly profound as others I've read. Some may even see nothing more than a run-of-the-mill teen fantasy book. But I am at the moment blind to all its faults (if I cared to count any). I don't know if this review gives enough sufficient information, instead of just another rambling post of my incoherent thoughts. But I don't want to say anymore, mainly because its a feeling I want to keep for myself. And I don't want to sell this book too hard...because if you don't give it a try, believe me, its your loss.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Liked this even better than the first one, so that's good. Review to come!
Clara has an unusual problem: unlike most girls her age who are stressing about SAT scores and getting into the college of their dreams, Clara has a celestial-ordained purpose (with a capital P) hanging over her angelic head --like the proverbial Damocles sword AND a Black Wing who has marked her out as an enemy. What's a Black Wing you say? It's pretty much as it sounds -- Fallen Angels (exiles from Heaven thrown out after the War whose wings have lost their majestic white hue).
I ♥♥♥ some of the myth-building in this one -- Black Wings are awesome and I hope to get much more of who they actually are and what they want in Book 3. Earthly angel-bloods -- the offspring of full blood Angels mixing with humans -- are fascinating too. They represent a pseudo-superhero mystique that I can get behind. There are no tights involved, or capes, but they can fly and leap tall buildings. Clara is one of these and we learn much more about her parentage -- and the angel-bloods themselves -- this time around, and I found all of it to leave me wanting more. In a good way though, not a "will you get to the point" way.
There was still more adolescent angst in this one than I can normally tolerate, and I could actually have done without the puppy love story. I appreciate that Clara is desperately trying to cling to some normalcy in a life that has spun hazardously out of control, but jeesh ... with everything that's going on maybe making out with your super hot, super sweet boyfriend shouldn't be such a priority. In Clara's defense, she's doing the best she can under the circumstances, and as a believable and likable heroine I am cheering for her.
I was also very moved by the death scene (even while feeling a little emotionally manipulated). It rang true and I did cry. The last scene where Clara's father takes her to "heaven" to witness her mother running across a gorgeous landscape towards who knows what made me smile through my tears too. Kudos to the author for pulling that off.
So I did enjoy this one, even more than the first, and I am looking forward to Book 3, where my hope is Hand pulls out all the stops and we get some heavy angel-on-angel action, a Heavenly War on Earth where the stakes are A LOT higher than merely who Clara chooses to love for the rest of her life.
Liked this even better than the first one, so that's good. Review to come!
Clara has an unusual problem: unlike most girls her age who are stressing about SAT scores and getting into the college of their dreams, Clara has a celestial-ordained purpose (with a capital P) hanging over her angelic head --like the proverbial Damocles sword AND a Black Wing who has marked her out as an enemy. What's a Black Wing you say? It's pretty much as it sounds -- Fallen Angels (exiles from Heaven thrown out after the War whose wings have lost their majestic white hue).
I ♥♥♥ some of the myth-building in this one -- Black Wings are awesome and I hope to get much more of who they actually are and what they want in Book 3. Earthly angel-bloods -- the offspring of full blood Angels mixing with humans -- are fascinating too. They represent a pseudo-superhero mystique that I can get behind. There are no tights involved, or capes, but they can fly and leap tall buildings. Clara is one of these and we learn much more about her parentage -- and the angel-bloods themselves -- this time around, and I found all of it to leave me wanting more. In a good way though, not a "will you get to the point" way.
There was still more adolescent angst in this one than I can normally tolerate, and I could actually have done without the puppy love story. I appreciate that Clara is desperately trying to cling to some normalcy in a life that has spun hazardously out of control, but jeesh ... with everything that's going on maybe making out with your super hot, super sweet boyfriend shouldn't be such a priority. In Clara's defense, she's doing the best she can under the circumstances, and as a believable and likable heroine I am cheering for her.
Spoiler
I laugh every time Clara lights up like a super nova when things get hot and heavy with Tucker. I'm also not surprised the way their relationship fizzles from hot to not. Grief has a way of doing that, and if that weren't enough of a wedge, there's Christian. I don't know how I feel about this guy yet -- he's soooo perfect and such an obvious angelic ally for Clara, perhaps even a pre-ordained celestial match -- but I still want her to choose Tucker in the end because I'm a proponent of free-will vs. destiny every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Christian appears to be the one Clara is supposed to be with, therefore it makes me resist the match. Christian is beginning to manifest some interesting characteristics though, that I hope Hand continues to build on in Book 3.I was also very moved by the death scene (even while feeling a little emotionally manipulated). It rang true and I did cry. The last scene where Clara's father takes her to "heaven" to witness her mother running across a gorgeous landscape towards who knows what made me smile through my tears too. Kudos to the author for pulling that off.
So I did enjoy this one, even more than the first, and I am looking forward to Book 3, where my hope is Hand pulls out all the stops and we get some heavy angel-on-angel action, a Heavenly War on Earth where the stakes are A LOT higher than merely who Clara chooses to love for the rest of her life.
samiism's review
3.0
Really slow, boring start. At least 65% of the book was.
Then it got good. Then sad. The last few chapters were very well-written. I could feel the sorrow during the event.
A lot of characters got annoying. I already have an idea how this story will end. But I'm scared to start on the third book, because I wasn't too pumped with this second one. But why delay it, you know? I'm two-thirds done with this trilogy. I'm almost there.
Then it got good. Then sad. The last few chapters were very well-written. I could feel the sorrow during the event.
A lot of characters got annoying. I already have an idea how this story will end. But I'm scared to start on the third book, because I wasn't too pumped with this second one. But why delay it, you know? I'm two-thirds done with this trilogy. I'm almost there.
catpingu's review
5.0
So I finished reading the second book in the Unearthly series, "Hallowed". The ending was so surprising! I never expected that
Spoiler
Clara's Dad was an Integlare-or-something, which makes Clara and Jeffrey Triplare. Christian, too! (I don't intend on giving away anymore a out their bloodlines)Still one of the most amazing flying-kid angel-thing ever! I need to find the 3rd.
qdalessio's review
5.0
So, I read it and loved it and can't wait to read the next one, but if Clara does not end up with Tucker, I'm gonna cry. Yes, the Christian-Tucker-Clara love triangle is great and fun, but everyone knows Christian is an ass, so there.
cupcakegirly's review
3.0
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. "Hallowed", the second book in the "Unearthly" series picks up where the first book leaves off which is shortly after the two fires, one of which destroyed Tucker's land and claimed both his truck Bluebell and his beloved horse, Midas. Clara, feeling conflicted about having not fulfilled her purpose when she flew off to save Tucker begins to wonder if she'll be punished in some way as a result. She's also become more aware of the tension brewing between the White Wings and the Black Wings but is unsure how she fits into it all.
Clara would like nothing more than for everything to go back to the way it was before the fires and though she knows that's not possible, she can't even get her hair to to co-operate. (That's why God invented hats girlfriend!) It's developed a mind of it's own and is determined to stay it's luminous blonde self despite Clara's efforts to dye it back to the red Tucker loves so much. He still calls her "Carrots" but other people seem drawn to her hair in a creepy, "scratch & sniff" sort of way.
Angela is back from Italy and even more determined to seek out all angel-bloods in the vicinity as well as any information she can get her hands on about the Black Wings. (She's seems to have developed a condition known as OBW - Obsessive Black Wing). Clara's brother Jeffrey is more aloof than ever and seems to be playing the role of angst ridden half angel teen to a "t". He's still not dishing on exactly where he was the night of the fires, claiming he was out looking for Clara and their Mom but Clara thinks there's more to what he's told them, but so far, that's his story and he's sticking to it.
Christian's interest in Clara has increased, making both she and Tucker uncomfortable. (Seems his Heavenly Hotness and Clara have switched roles with him stalking her now instead of vice versa like in Book 1). He seems genuine in his interest which makes it hard for Clara to put aside her growing feelings for him. To top things off, her Mom still hasn't fully recovered from her run-in with Samjeeza which only adds to Clara's anxiety.
When Clara begins to have visions again, the turmoil surrounding her life escalates and the only thing she can be certain of is someone she loves will die. Her feelings for Christian become more complicated as she discovers that not only do they share visions, (talk about being on the same page) but they're connected in another way too, one that could seal their fate. Clara's once again torn between Tucker, the boy she loves and wants to have a future with and Christian, the boy she's told she belongs with.
It doesn't help matters when Angela decides to start an "Angel Club" with Clara, Jeffrey and Christian as a way to share information and to help and protect each other. (First rule of Angel Club? No one talks about Angel Club.) The extra time spent with Christian and Angel Club equals even more time away from Tucker. They both begin to feel the strain and in an attempt to strengthen their relationship, Clara decides to keep no secrets from him even if it means breaking the super secret angel code. She doesn't consider the danger she's putting Tucker in by sharing everything with him until Samjeeza shows up again and the lives of those she loves hangs in the balance. In order to protect those she loves, Clara will have to choose between the life she wants to live and the one that's been chosen for her. Can she make the right choice if it means losing Tucker forever?
This story is filled with love, devastating loss and heartbreak but it's not without hope and the promise of future happiness. While it does have a few unexpected twists, if you're expecting fast paced action or steamy romance then this book isn't for you. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of kissing, the kind that will fog up your glasses (assuming you wear glasses) but most of the romantical stuff is the heart wrenching kind.
***SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.
Here's what I think we'll see or I'd like to see in Book 3. Please remember this is just MY opinion.
*Something tells me Jeffrey is gonna go all Black Wing on us...as is Angela.
*Samjeeza will turn out to be Angela's Dad.
*Christian will be killed therefore eliminating the love triangle scenario. (Before the hate comments start...I'm not saying I want him too.)
*Tucker will discover that he has angel-blood in him too (YAY!) & then he and Clara can live happily ever after or until they're 120 yrs old whichever comes first. (He seemed to be holding his own against Christian when they were fighting over Clara or am I the only on who picked up on that?)
*Clara's vision of she and Tucker, married, on the ranch with the little boy comes true. AWESOMESAUCE! (She outlives him and THEN she and Christian can be together. They're gonna live for a loooong time and it was awhile before her parents got together.)
BTW - If Clara is really giving Tucker up, I'll take him! Shoot, I'll dye my hair red/orange (this time it'll be on purpose - don't ask), let him call me "Carrots" and gladly spend my days wearing flannel shirts, fishing and horseback riding on the Lazy Dog Ranch. I'll have to check with my husband first, but I'm pretty sure he won't mind. ;)
Clara would like nothing more than for everything to go back to the way it was before the fires and though she knows that's not possible, she can't even get her hair to to co-operate. (That's why God invented hats girlfriend!) It's developed a mind of it's own and is determined to stay it's luminous blonde self despite Clara's efforts to dye it back to the red Tucker loves so much. He still calls her "Carrots" but other people seem drawn to her hair in a creepy, "scratch & sniff" sort of way.
Angela is back from Italy and even more determined to seek out all angel-bloods in the vicinity as well as any information she can get her hands on about the Black Wings. (She's seems to have developed a condition known as OBW - Obsessive Black Wing). Clara's brother Jeffrey is more aloof than ever and seems to be playing the role of angst ridden half angel teen to a "t". He's still not dishing on exactly where he was the night of the fires, claiming he was out looking for Clara and their Mom but Clara thinks there's more to what he's told them, but so far, that's his story and he's sticking to it.
Christian's interest in Clara has increased, making both she and Tucker uncomfortable. (Seems his Heavenly Hotness and Clara have switched roles with him stalking her now instead of vice versa like in Book 1). He seems genuine in his interest which makes it hard for Clara to put aside her growing feelings for him. To top things off, her Mom still hasn't fully recovered from her run-in with Samjeeza which only adds to Clara's anxiety.
When Clara begins to have visions again, the turmoil surrounding her life escalates and the only thing she can be certain of is someone she loves will die. Her feelings for Christian become more complicated as she discovers that not only do they share visions, (talk about being on the same page) but they're connected in another way too, one that could seal their fate. Clara's once again torn between Tucker, the boy she loves and wants to have a future with and Christian, the boy she's told she belongs with.
It doesn't help matters when Angela decides to start an "Angel Club" with Clara, Jeffrey and Christian as a way to share information and to help and protect each other. (First rule of Angel Club? No one talks about Angel Club.) The extra time spent with Christian and Angel Club equals even more time away from Tucker. They both begin to feel the strain and in an attempt to strengthen their relationship, Clara decides to keep no secrets from him even if it means breaking the super secret angel code. She doesn't consider the danger she's putting Tucker in by sharing everything with him until Samjeeza shows up again and the lives of those she loves hangs in the balance. In order to protect those she loves, Clara will have to choose between the life she wants to live and the one that's been chosen for her. Can she make the right choice if it means losing Tucker forever?
This story is filled with love, devastating loss and heartbreak but it's not without hope and the promise of future happiness. While it does have a few unexpected twists, if you're expecting fast paced action or steamy romance then this book isn't for you. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of kissing, the kind that will fog up your glasses (assuming you wear glasses) but most of the romantical stuff is the heart wrenching kind.
***SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.
Here's what I think we'll see or I'd like to see in Book 3. Please remember this is just MY opinion.
*Something tells me Jeffrey is gonna go all Black Wing on us...as is Angela.
*Samjeeza will turn out to be Angela's Dad.
*Christian will be killed therefore eliminating the love triangle scenario. (Before the hate comments start...I'm not saying I want him too.)
*Tucker will discover that he has angel-blood in him too (YAY!) & then he and Clara can live happily ever after or until they're 120 yrs old whichever comes first. (He seemed to be holding his own against Christian when they were fighting over Clara or am I the only on who picked up on that?)
*Clara's vision of she and Tucker, married, on the ranch with the little boy comes true. AWESOMESAUCE! (She outlives him and THEN she and Christian can be together. They're gonna live for a loooong time and it was awhile before her parents got together.)
BTW - If Clara is really giving Tucker up, I'll take him! Shoot, I'll dye my hair red/orange (this time it'll be on purpose - don't ask), let him call me "Carrots" and gladly spend my days wearing flannel shirts, fishing and horseback riding on the Lazy Dog Ranch. I'll have to check with my husband first, but I'm pretty sure he won't mind. ;)
kblincoln's review
5.0
This is one of the cases where I liked the sequel even more than the first book. And why? Well it had to do with three things; meta references, pathos, and pushing the main character out of the YA romance-triangle-Mary Sue-heroine into trying to figure out a complex destiny.
Clara is dealing with the aftermath of having saved Tucker instead of Christian (the boy from her vision) from a forest fire and coming to the attention of a Black Wing.
She and her pack of angel-blood friends form an Angel Club (the first rule of Angel Club is not to talk about Angel Club) to try to figure out more of the history of angel-bloods, what their destinies mean, and how to deal with the Black Wings.
And all through this, Clara deals with her brother's constant anger, Christian sitting on the eaves of her house, her anxiety for Tucker's safety, and her own fears about what it means that she's rejected the destiny her vision in the first book showed her.
What she will find out about her father, her newest vision, and the destinies of those she loves most will change her life and her future forever.
Loved the meta references. (See Angel Club reference above) Also appreciated how Clara at one points thinks about how she doesn't understand how heroines from YA romances always get involved in love triangles but here she is in one herself. Instead of blindly following popular tropes, the author of this series acknowledges with a wink at the reader that she is using those tropes, but not to the point where you want to throw the book across the room.
There's some heavy pathos here. Clara has to deal with intense grief, huge metaphysical questions about what it means to be an angel-blood and what it means to have free will, and then wrestles with her feelings about human Tucker verses his safety when she's around. When I was reading it, part of me was all like "OMG this is so over the top sentimental" and the other part of me was quietly sobbing into a hankerchief.
Finally, what makes me want to continue on with Clara's story isn't so much the romance (strangely enough) but the questions surrounding what will happen to everyone's destiny now that Clara's choice of saving Tucker changed everything. Will she be doomed to make the same mistakes her mother did?
Anyway, this is a great series. Although it depicts Clara in a physical relationship, there's nothing said that would make me hesitate to let my fifth grader read it.
This Book's Snack Rating: Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for the yummy flavor of YA tropes and heroine on a thick-cut slice of angel mythos and weighty pathos
Clara is dealing with the aftermath of having saved Tucker instead of Christian (the boy from her vision) from a forest fire and coming to the attention of a Black Wing.
She and her pack of angel-blood friends form an Angel Club (the first rule of Angel Club is not to talk about Angel Club) to try to figure out more of the history of angel-bloods, what their destinies mean, and how to deal with the Black Wings.
And all through this, Clara deals with her brother's constant anger, Christian sitting on the eaves of her house, her anxiety for Tucker's safety, and her own fears about what it means that she's rejected the destiny her vision in the first book showed her.
What she will find out about her father, her newest vision, and the destinies of those she loves most will change her life and her future forever.
Loved the meta references. (See Angel Club reference above) Also appreciated how Clara at one points thinks about how she doesn't understand how heroines from YA romances always get involved in love triangles but here she is in one herself. Instead of blindly following popular tropes, the author of this series acknowledges with a wink at the reader that she is using those tropes, but not to the point where you want to throw the book across the room.
There's some heavy pathos here. Clara has to deal with intense grief, huge metaphysical questions about what it means to be an angel-blood and what it means to have free will, and then wrestles with her feelings about human Tucker verses his safety when she's around. When I was reading it, part of me was all like "OMG this is so over the top sentimental" and the other part of me was quietly sobbing into a hankerchief.
Finally, what makes me want to continue on with Clara's story isn't so much the romance (strangely enough) but the questions surrounding what will happen to everyone's destiny now that Clara's choice of saving Tucker changed everything. Will she be doomed to make the same mistakes her mother did?
Anyway, this is a great series. Although it depicts Clara in a physical relationship, there's nothing said that would make me hesitate to let my fifth grader read it.
This Book's Snack Rating: Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips for the yummy flavor of YA tropes and heroine on a thick-cut slice of angel mythos and weighty pathos