Wow. I’ve been reluctant to read in the angel genre because of my own interpretation of Scripture. But I loved this book. LOVED. It made me want to dive back into the Bible to see what it says about the Nephilim, but I took what Hand wrote and went with it, suspending disbelief (the major factor in any fantasy novel) and the result is that I cannot WAIT for book 2, Hallowed, due mid-January. So much so, I’ve preordered it. Seriously, people, this was a perfect escapist YA read. So much entertainment as well as thought-provoking turns and heart-wrenching romance…
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.
My Two Cents
This book was seriously hard for me to put down. I loved the tale of two kids, learning that they have angel blood and are destined to become a version of Nephilim themselves. What a fascinating concept, based on the biblical verse, Gen. 6:4: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the angels went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.”
Clara has received her angelic mission in a dream…to save a boy in a forest fire…and to fulfill that mission, the whole family moves to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Mix together the ingredients of fabulous setting, amazing call-to-arms, good vs. evil, intriguing romance, terrific action and oh…MAN, this was a great read.
Mama Bear Warnings
I’m okay on reading novels as fiction, a work of imagination, and I appreciated that the author noted that angels of old are only recognized as male. Taking the biblical verse and running with it? I can work with conjecture. Some may not feel the same. Your call. Personally? I like thinking that God is bigger than anything we can possibly imagine.