Finding Your Wings

"So often we only do what we think is expected of us, 

when we are capable of so much more."

--Cynthia Hand, Unearthly

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Harper Teen, 435 pages

Publication Date: January 4th, 2011

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Goodreads 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?

My Thoughts

This review is gonna suck. Oh and all future reviews of Hallowed and Boundless will also suck. Sorry. Fair Warning. This is why: These books are amazing and no review can do them justice. I feel this way about reading and reviewing the Delirium series as well. I cannot say enough to be verbally eloquent to the point of doing these books justice. It won't happen. I am not a writer. So I will do my best...*sigh*

This is not the first time I have read Unearthly. In line with my 2013 Bookish Goals I am re-reading all books before the sequel or final book comes out. Thus starts my binge read of the entire Unearthly series from start to finish...EEP!! Also, I'm doing a cleanse right now so I need distraction from my hunger and reading is my drug of choice. So anways. I LOOOOOOVE this book! Love love love! The first time I read it I was BLOWN away. I NEVER expected to like it as much as I did. The entire book is based around the idea of destiny and fate and choice. And how much of our choices are really our own if our destiny is our destiny. Can we escape fate? Or do our "choices of free will" inevitably lead us to the same endpoint regardless? Gah, I just LOOOVE this idea! It is so mind twisting and migraine inducing. The entire idea that is explored here is so beautiful.

Clara is no joke. I will include some of my favorite quotes from the book at the end of this post and they almost all deal with Clara being a badass chick that doesn't take crap from guys. LOVE this. When a guy acts in a way that hurts her or she does not agree with, she fights back. She talks back. She takes a stand. She is so feisty and sarcastic, I loved her one-liners! She is so funny and smart and just totally relateable. 

The boys. Oofta. Is it hot in here? Goodness gracious. I don't know where to start. In one corner of the ring we have Christian. The boy of her vision. Her destiny. But in what way? Christian is brooding and quiet and charming. He is the boy wonder of their town. Slightly standoffish in a way that isn't meant to be a negative. He's just a bit more of an onion whose layers need to be pulled back to see who he is. I love him. I love the idea of soul mates and destiny and fate. HOWEVER. In the other corner is Tucker. Holy. Man. And that is what he is. A man. A cowboy to be more descriptive. Sexy. Rugged. Strong. There are few love triangles that are done right and Cynthia Hand does it right. I root for both boys. I can see it both ways. They both have such fantastic qualities. It is so hard to pick one!! Glad, I'm not Clara...kinda...

The angel aspect of this story I cannot even begin to touch. It is the absolute best. I love angels. The whole idea of them. The history. The legends. The stories. I can't get enough. With that said, I am so picky with what I read in literature about them. This is such a phenomenal angle on them that I just love love LOVE! That angels have children with mere mortals and the purpose and the powers. It's all just so cool. The lore that Hand gives us is beyond exceptional. Her viewpoint on angels and all they do and their background is genius. If I had to pick a way to see angels and their purpose in the world, it would align with Hand's. Beautiful.

And the ending?!? Oh my gosh! The twists just keep on coming at you and while reading you have NO idea what action will affect the outcome. And does this action mean this won't happen? Or does doing said action enable the conclusion anyways? I'm going in circles. Oof, I'm dizzy.  

See? I told you. Terrible review. No eloquence. I'm just gabbing and gushing over everything. On to Hallowed next then Radiant then Boundless!! CAN'T WAIT!!!

Favorite Quotes

“I won’t be that girl who lets the guy treat her like crap and still fawns all over him.” 

“I feel like Cinderella sitting in the middle of the road with a pumpkin and a couple of mice, while Prince Charming charges off to rescue some other chick.” 

“Because if it's not her fault, it's God's, and I'm not ready to be pissed at the Almighty.” 

“Because I love you.' There. I said it. I can't believe I actually said it. People cast around those words so carelessly. I always cringe whenever I hear kids say it while making out in the hall at school. I love you, babe. I love you, too. Here they're all of sixteen years old and convinced that they've found true love. I always thought I'd have more sense than that, a little more perspective. But here I am, saying it and meaning it.” 

“He grins. Unbelievable how gorgeous he is. And that he's mine. He loves me and I love him and how rare and beautiful is that?”