Review: Unearthly

One of the trends we have seen in the last year of Paranormal YA has been the idea of the Angel. I have read a few of these (Hush, Hush and The Fallen) and have enjoyed the interesting take on mythology and religion that they present. I think the most fascinating thing about this genre is the way authors are able to take something as obviously religious as an Angel and separate it from the doctrine that it is affiliated with. Christianity is by no means shoved in your face when you read these stories, it is simply a means to tell an interesting story. After reading several fantastic reviews I decided to pick up Cynthia Hand's Unearthly. I am always a sucker for a beautiful cover and couldn't resist reading another take on this subgenre. 

Clara Gardner is one-quarter angel, a Quartarius. From an early age Clara has been fully aware of her identity and her role as an angel. Her mother, a half angel, has never hidden Clara and her brother from their destinies. In California, Clara has a vision-- a reoccuring dream revealing her "purpose" on Earth and a mission that will relocate her family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. When Clara starts school she meets Christian, the boy from her vision. The problem is, he is popular, dreamy and already in a relationship with the queen bee of Jackson High. While trying to figure out the meaning of her visions and get closer to the elusive Christian, Clara meets an annoying, but hunky cowboy named Tucker. In addition to juggling her burgeoning angelic powers, being the new girl and fufilling her purpose, Clara must make sense of her romantic life. The day of her purpose comes, and Clara must make a life altering decision, fufill her destiny, or create her own.

Let me start out by saying that there is nothing, and I mean nothing that I hate more than the insta-love relationships that pervade YA. In a matter of pages our hero and heroine are ready to die for their love, there is nothing more important than one another. GAG! I know that most romantic young adult literature features this, and I have come to terms with it, however Hand proves that it is not a necessary plot device. This may be spoilery but I just have to say that Clara falls in love the good old fashion way, through friendship, spending time with her guy and learning who he is. It is sooo refreshing.  She is a down to Earth girl, complete with insecurities and intelligence. She is definitely the type of girl you would want to be friends with. Which brings me to the boys...oh the boys! Both of these guys are fabulous, but I have to admit, I completely fell in love with Tucker. There is something ridiculously sexy about a guy who knows his way around the wilderness--so completely swoon-worthy. Overall, Hand's writing is very conversational, it flows well and leaves the reader wanting more. Unearthly is  a fantastic debut and I can't wait for the sequel!