4 Hearts, Reviews
YA book reviews

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Urban FantasyYoung Adult
Author
Cynthia Hand
Series
Unearthly, #2
Publisher
HarperTeen (Imprint of HarperCollins)
Published
January 17th, 2012
Rating
♥♥♥♥♡

View on Amazon

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.In this compelling sequel to “Unearthly,” Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.
My Review:

After finishing Unearthly I was pretty excited to read the next book in the series. I really loved that book. But one of my big loves for the book was Tucker. So I was also really hesitant going into Hallowed because I had heard people say it will turn your feelings around to rooting for Christian more, and I didn’t want that!

As far as the love triangle goes, I’m really torn. I feel like Tucker’s character was changed and purposefully pushed into the background in this book in an effort to draw us to team Christian. But I’m just not feeling the chemistry between him and Clara that I was feeling between her and Tucker. They’re friends, I can see that. But more? I’m not buying it. It feels like they want to be together because they’re supposed to, and that just isn’t enough for me. I can see why they would be good together, but sometimes love isn’t rational or logical. The heart wants what it wants. So it doesn’t seem like Clara is really following her heart, but instead going with what she feels is easy or meant to be.

Aside from the love triangle, a lot happened and at the same time a lot didn’t happen in this book. When I think back on the bigger picture, it seems like Clara didn’t really move forward any as far as her purpose goes. But at the same time, a lot of personal issues (inside and outside the romance) make up the story. This of course is important for Clara’s character to grow and move forward, but I’m hoping sort of a bigger theme will form in the next book. I don’t know if this is supposed to be a trilogy or just ongoing? Either way, it just needs a little something aside from Clara growing into who she is.

But this was a good book. Like with Unearthly I had trouble putting it down. I love the touches of sarcastic humor thrown in and, despite my uneasiness with the love triangle for this one, I do love all the characters individually. Like I said above, I just hope the next book(s) form a larger theme, possibly working off of what Clara’s purpose is, and I’m excited to learn more about that.

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