Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication date: February 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

The past few years held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner ever could have anticipated. Yet through the dizzying high of first love to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she could no longer deny was that she was never meant to have a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seemed like the best option, so she’s headed back to California—and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must choose her fate once and for all.

I have put reviewing this off for weeks so I can prepare my thoughts. This sure was a roller-coaster of a trilogy. It has its ups and downs. Twists and turns. Characters do things you don't expect or wish they didn't do, but all in all, it was a pretty good story set over three wonderful books.

Cynthia has done a marvelous job at these characters, the mythology and the setting of each of the three books.

In this conclusion, Clara finally comes face to face with everything she has been preparing for since the day she got her first vision. Everything has been building up to this point.
The decisions she makes, and the consequences could have the impact to change everything forever. Clara finds herself in  Stanford, with Christian and Angela as they try to battle every-day life as normal teenagers into a new college.   But they all know that at some point, something huge will happen, and that moment will be sooner than they may think.

I really enjoyed many aspects of this novel. From the moments between Clara and her brother, Jeffery, to the Clara and Christian scenes(were of course my favourite), to her friendship with Angela and moments between herself and her dad.
We do find ourselves fighting a battle, as each of their visions start to come to light, and end up being connected to one anothers in a way they never thought possible.

While I had my complaints... and let me rant for a little bit.

The ending....

I don't agree with. It seemed to come from out of nowhere, it's as if Boundless never existed. As if Christian never fell in  love with Clara, as if her feelings for him didn't exist. It felt, Cynthia just changed the ending to something that would satisfy most fans, and didn't care what Christian fans felt about it. He really got jipped in this book. If the ending was planned all along... why even have Christian love her.. why not just have CC as best friends and that be it.  He really got the short end of the stick and I don't think it is fair, especially with their last scene together.. I really want him to have the happiness that he so deserves, so I hope that at some point, Cynthia does decide to write a novella for him and give him the happy ending he should have had in this book.

Sure, Tucker does show up in this book.. I did felt it was out of place of everything we knew about him. But I guess the reasons doesn't matter, as long as it serves its purpose, eh?
Well, Tucker fans should be happy with how it ends for his character, even though I felt.. if everything was leading up to the ending... then he should have been included more in the plot and in the book, where to me.. it felt all of a sudden, and random.. But of course, I'll always feel different about this kind of thing to others.

I enjoyed Angela's story, even though I picked up on a few things. There was also some foreshadowing in terms of Angela and Christian. A little bit that I felt was nice for them that came into play in this book. We also got to understand him more, and learn more about his father, and who he is. Some have pretty much guessed this before now, but it was nice seeing some things confirmed.

I do think this series could have gone for one more book, but since it wasn't to be, I guess.. overall, this was a pretty good conclusion. I just don't feel the epilogue was needed at all. Some people get their happy ending.. and some, well, don't.

Sometimes, not all authors know how to write a proper triangle. Someone always seems to get the wrong end of the stick.

Verdict: 4/ 5

Teaser Tuesday 17

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Want to play along?

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author

I'm still not over Boundless by Cynthia Hand. Here's one of my favorites from the book.

I meet Tucker's eyes and swallow. This is the lie I'm not going to get away with. Because he's my home. 

Swoon Thursday 01

Swoon is a weekly meme hosted by YA Bound.

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! We want to know :-)

A day later, after finishing Boundless by Cynthia Hand and I can't stop swooning over Tucker and Clara. I've always had a thing to cowboys/country boys. Here are some awesome swoon worthy quotes from Boundless. 

"It's you, Clara You're the only one, from the first day he saw you. He looks at you exactly the same way my daddy looks at my mom." 

"No, it's not," he says. "It doesn't have to be. What we have, that's divine. It's beautiful and good and right. I feel it..." He presses his hand to his chest, over his heart. "I feel it all the time. You're in here, part of me. You're what I go to bed thinking about and what I wake up to in the morning." 

"I should have fought for you, Clara, even if I would have had to fight you to fight for you. I should never have let you go." 

I meet Tucker's eyes and swallow. This is the lie I'm not going to get away with. Because he's my home.

If you haven't checked out the Unearthly series, you should do it now. Tucker Avery is perfection. 



 

Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 448
Format: Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

The final book in Hand's Unearthly series picks up right before Clara heads back to California to attend Stafford.  I wasn't too sure what to expect from this book since I knew it would heavily focus on Clara, Christian, and Angela. Jeffery is still missing and nobody seems to know where he has gone.

I noticed off hand that there's a lot of pop culture references in this book including Vampire Academy, That 70s Show, Star Trek, and one concerning dystopian books. Not too sure how I feel about a lot of references like that. Sometimes too much details isn't necessary. I'm a little disappointed that Clara and Angela aren't roommates, I would figure they would be. Also disappointed that we didn't see a lot of their friendship. Angela finally realizes her purpose, but it doesn't turn out like she thinks. We see a different Angela in this book as she takes a different road. Her Italian boyfriend even shows up again, and his true nature is exposed.

Jeffery shows up and would visit Clara. And we even see him meeting his "soul mate". From the beginning I knew something wasn't right about her. Clara's purpose is finally revealed. And it seems that everyone around her, Angela, Christian, and even Jeffery, their purposes are all tied together. I'm so glad that it turned out that Clara's purpose wasn't to be with Christian.

Speaking of Christian, let's get to the love triangle. Even though Clara has broken up with Tucker to protect him she hasn't stopped loving him. I had fell in love with Tucker and Clara from book one. But I won't deny there's a connection between her and Christian. But I never bought for one moment that Clara is in love with Christian. She's attracted to him, but her heart belongs to Tucker. This series is a good example of how a love triangle should go. There were no clear "winner" until the end. In the beginning I was kind of digging her and Christian, even though it's such a cliche. But then Tucker won me over, and even though in book two it seems like Clara and Tucker were growing apart, I've discovered that I really didn't like Christian. The end of the second book made me think she would end with Christian. And with this book kept you on your toes. At one point it seemed like Tucker and then the next Christian. One of the abilities Clara learned in this book was how to use glory to transport from place to place. Majority of the time she found herself in Tucker's barn. Even after her date with Christian when she left, she ended up at Tucker's. No matter what she did, she couldn't get him out of her system. I learned to like Christian better in this one. He really does love Clara, and that made me sad. Even told her that he would wait around 100 years for her. Which doesn't really make sense because of the 120 year rule. It would be the end of the time for them.

A few awesome quotes:

And now, almost two years later, I realized why. Tucker, never put any rum in my rum and Coke. That little stink. That overly protective, impossible, infuriating, and utterly sweet little stink.

"It's you, Clara. You're the only one, from the first day he saw you. He looks at you exactly the same way my daddy looks at my mom."

"I saw your face," he says. He means earlier. I stare at him. "I was surprised, that's all." He shakes his head. "No. You still love me."

I meet Tucker's eyes and swallow. This is the lie I'm not going to get away with. Because he's my home.

Even though Angela and even her brother thinks Christian is her soul mate, Clara has to make the final decision for herself. I think one of my favorite parts is that facing the evil chasing her they all wonder who is Christian, knowing she's in love with Tucker.

This book was almost perfect. It had some sweet moments. My only downside is that we never fully learned why Jeff's purpose was to set a fire to Tucker's land. And the lack of Clara and Angela's friendship. Or how little Wendy is mentioned. She after all Clara's original best friend. The epilogue was a little sketchy too. Wished it went into more detail. But overall the book was one wild ride. An awesome angel series.

Rating: 4/5

 

Review: Radiant by Cynthia Hand

Radiant (Unearthly #2.5) by Cynthia Hand
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 94
Format: Ebook
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met a mysterious guy in Italy two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.

This short story takes place between Hallowed and Boundless, to get away from everything Clara has joined Angela on her summer trip to Italy. It was very short and sweet, alternating between Clara and Angela POV. The book wasn't what I was expecting.

We finally get to meet Angela's mysterious Italian boyfriend. I always had a feeling he was some kind of an angel, neither a good or bad angel having no allegiance to either side. Clara can see inside him and tell that he's isn't good enough for Angela. But Angela isn't hearing any of it. She's already madly in love with Phen.

The book doesn't have any new information, and isn't really necessary to read before Boundless. But it's nice to know this backstory, and Phen's character shows back up again. I do wish we got to see more of Clara and Angela friendship and finding out more angel stuff.

Rating: 3/5

  

April's review of 'Hallowed' by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Number of Pages: 403
Format: Hardback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Description:  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.

I love reading books in series back to back. You pick up a lot from the first book. That being said, the person who died I saw the signs in the first book. But it doesn't make it less devastating. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, mainly because Clara and Tucker are drifting apart which makes my heart break. But at the same time it doesn't put me on Team Christian. I really though Christian was being an ass in the book when it came to Clara. He knew how she feels about Tucker and should of just left those feelings alone for the time being. 

Angela is still a little bit of mystery. Even though I get a kind of a bad vibe from her. She's a little too obsessed with the Black Wings. And her mysterious boyfriend from Italy. I have a feeling that he might be a Black Wing. And we finally get to meet Clara's dad, and everything seems to fall in place and start to make a little sense.

In the end we find out what Jeff's purpose is/was. And it's a twist. I'm still trying to work out in my head why they would want him to do that. It makes no sense. 

I can't wait for the last book to come out. There's so much that needs to be resolved. And I'm hoping/praying that Clara ends with Tuckers. 

Rating: 4/5 

 

April's review of 'Unearthly' by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Publication Date: Jan 4, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Number of Pages: 435

Format: Hardback

Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Description:  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.

I was a little weary about the book at first. It went very slow and at the first the writing almost seemed childish. I soon got over that. I ended up loving it. Switching schools can't be easy for any teen. But when a dye job goes wrong and Clara's hair turns out an orange color is going to make it much harder. Sticking to typical YA genre it doesn't take long for Clara to fall for Christian. I was wary about this pairing to begin with. I felt like I should ship them, but my heart was never in it. 

It didn't take long for me to fall in love with Tucker. Maybe it's the whole country boy appeal. While Clara was falling in love with him, I fell in love with them. There's nothing like first love romance, especially when it happens during the summer. When school goes back Clara has a hard time refocusing on her purpose. Her mom isn't all too please with her relationship with Tucker. But when it comes to fulfilling her purpose, Clara is faced with the ultimate decision, should she follow her destiny or follow her heart? 

Forbidden love, dangerous fallen angels, friendship, family, destiny. This book is mixed with it all. 

                                                                        Rating: 4/5

 

More Cover Reveals [Destroy Me, Unravel Me, Boundless]

It seems like its cover reveal week, and while I did post some... a few more have come out of the work.

Do NOT have this series to turn into a love triangle between Adam/Juliette/Warner.  Adam and Juliette are made for one another.
End of story. 
But I am looking forward to his story.

My only complaint. The change in style. Does not match my Shatter Me paperback. Which means one thing: I need to give my copy to April and I shall re-buy it in this new style when it comes out.

I do not do well with change.

PRETTY. I am more so looking forward to the Australian cover, as those are my favourite (plus with me being aussie), but this is great!