Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Released Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: "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 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 feel the need for a disclaimer, so here it is: *Be prepared for some flails. There will be some lots of them. Oh, and some spoilers. *

First off, I'm the biggest Tucker Avery supporter. I have been on his team since day one and I will admit to being petty while discussing him and Christian with my friends; I just don't want to get hurt. I will gladly take him off Clara's hand if she is too busy. *grabby hands* Team Tucker up in here.

I'm Team Edward, too, yo.

I am not a love triangle type of girl. I hate how love triangles are being used so much nowadays that sometimes it just throws me off and I rather not read the book. But I followed on through with Unearthly and now with Hallowed. I really enjoyed Hallowed. It definitely lived up to my expectations and I’m satisfied with it. However, that pesky love triangle is what keeps me from loving it so much that I’m shouting it from the rooftop. Add someone cheating or someone trying to break up a relationship and you have Jenn judging you. And really disliking you as well. 

     
Let’s discuss Christian: he had several secrets that came out in this book and one of them had me: HOLY CRAP I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT, WTH? Trust me. You wouldn’t have seen that coming either. Also if I was already was on the fence with him in Unearthly, then with his secret we learn and now with his new vision and what he did, I’m in no-man lands with him now. Christian Prescott is in the doghouse with me and I don’t see him getting out of it any time soon. Oh! But I will give him this (and thanks to the bestie for pointing this out to me), that with the huge secret that we find out, that surprising twist, it looks like he is trying his hardest in being good and making everything go according to his vision, purpose and everything he has been told. I know it makes no sense what I just wrote but if you read the novel, then you would know what I’m talking about. Hint hint hint ;)

     
Someone else who really surprised me was Jeffrey. I knew something was off with Jeffrey since the end of Unearthly and Hallowed just supported that theory. Just a fair warning: we don’t find out what Jeffrey is hiding until such a pivotal point in the book that I just applaud Ms. Hand at her awesome writing for doing that. And boy do you wish you knew what Jeffrey was hiding early on. I just wonder how different everything would have turned out if we knew what Jeffrey’s knew, it definitely would have been interesting. I also felt horrible for him. Clara is the main character and we see everything through her eyes but she and everyone else (including us, the readers) forget about poor Jeffrey. Jeffrey who was forced to move to a different place and new school. Jeffrey who was coming into terms with being an angel. Jeffrey who at some point is/was dealing with his purpose. We completely forget him and I can understand some of the anger he has in this book towards Clara.

     
We learn more about Clara’s mom, Maggie’s, secrets. And OMG. Maggie is hiding some serious stuff. I was just like: woah? and how? and that makes so much sense. We get some answers and more questions regarding Samjeeza and about Clara and Jeffrey’s dad.There was so much information regarding Maggie that I should mention that I’m still in shock and shaking my head at it. But it was SO good.

     
Angela, Clara’s bff, is not in the story as much but her part is important. Her purpose is very important. I mean, she’s the one that basically get Clara off her sad and indecisive horse and off to college. And, Angela is basically a pool of knowledge for Clara.

     
And Tucker Avery, ahhh…He is my favorite. I just love how he tries to be there for Clara and I love their sweet and easy relationship. I just love swooning over him. He makes me feel like the teenager I wish I still were. However, I would be just like Clara. I would want to keep him safe and sometimes it just isn’t possible. I would be a nervous wreck like Clara worrying if the Black Wing were going to hurt him. So, I understand where she comes from and how she was undecided about what she should do. There was this one scene where I could (unfortunately) see that Tucker was a hazard for Clara. And I don’t like thinking that so that I’ll be saying about that (See, petty). But here some swoons for you:

"Tucker smiles in a mischievous way I know too well. I don't have much time to protest before he leans over for a kiss. I push at him, embarrassed, then melt and forget where I am for a minute. Finally he lets go. I try to catch my breath." 

~B&S~

" 'This isn't going to become one of those creepy situations where you show up at all hours of the night to watch me sleep, is it?' he asks playfully.

'Every moment I'm away from you, I die a little,' I say in return.

'So that's a yes, then.'

'Are you complaining?' I ask, quirking an eyebrow at him.

He grins. 'Nope. Definitely not complaining. I just wanted to know so I can start wearing more than boxers to bed.' "

~B&S~

"I tip my head up to kiss him. It starts out as something sweet, slow and lazy as the afternoon sun, but it heats up fast. We pull apart for a second and our breath mingles, and I twist around so I am practically lying on top of him, our legs tangling. He reaches up to take my head in his hand and kisses me again, then does this half groan, half laugh that drives me crazy and drops his hand down to my hip and tugs me closer." 

     Ms. Hand did a wonderful job in Hallowed. Clara's character growth was amazing to read. The emotions that were conveyed in novel, I felt them. I actually had to stop reading to be able to wipe away my tears because of certain scenes in the book. A lot of authors can make me pause for a sad scene and feel bad for a character, but not many can make cry actual tears and do it beautifully. I can't wait until Boundless comes out so I can experience her words and find out what happens next.