Hallowed audiobook

**Our Cynthia Hand Interview, where she addresses many of the questions that arise from this series is here and here. Enjoy!**There aren't words enough to express how gorgeous this book is. Fans of the Unearthly who might have worried whether Cynthia Hand could deliver a second installment that would do justice to the story need worry no longer. This sequel lives up to and exceeds every expectation I had for it, and I only wish I could hand this book to every single would-be author who is even considering writing a YA paranormal romance. Because this is the template for what every teen romance/sophomore/angel book should aspire to be.As the story opens, Clara is still recovering from the fire in which she went against her "purpose" as a part-angel in order to follow her heart. Her brother Jeffrey is still acting strange, Angela is helping Clara to test her powers, and eventually, we are introduced to an important congregation of angels and learn more about their purpose on earth. Best of all, we get some fabulous time with Tucker as he and Clara further enjoy what has to be one of the sweetest and truest young adult romances ever put to page. I could not stop smiling as I was reading the story, because their relationship is just so warm and happy and perfect. I love that, in the middle of all of Clara's bigger-than-life abilities and problems, she and Tucker still have such an amazing time together doing such blessedly normal and human things.We all knew what was coming next, though, right? Christian was such an attractive enigma throughout so much of the first book that I was really hoping we'd get to know him better in this one. And while I dreaded the thought of this turning into a horrible love triangle situation that would devastate everyone while dishonoring them as well, I hoped against hope that the author would handle this tricky situation with as much honesty and grace as possible. And boy, did she ever come through. I am a huge fan of Tucker's, but Cynthia Hand somehow does the impossible and shows us how the flicker of friendship between Christian and Clara grows incrementally stronger everyday. By the end of the book, he has shown himself to be a rock-steady, understanding, and fun presence in Clara's life (view spoiler)[not to mention an incredibly hot one :D (hide spoiler)], and it's pretty near impossible not to fall in love with him in a pretty deep and meaningful way as well.This book made me so very happy in so many ways, and there are unbelievably beautiful angel moments in it, with descriptions of gorgeous feathered wings, flying, and luminous "glory" that are just marvelous. I've always appreciated the wry honesty and warmth with which the relationship between Clara and her mother was written, and here we discover so much more about her as a mother, as an angel, and as a person in a way that is incredibly touching. Clara learns a great deal about her family and about herself in this novel, and her deepening strength and maturity combined with her funny, sensitive narrative only made me love her further. I also enjoyed the distinctly outdoorsy feel of the mountains in this book, the presence of many of the adults, and the nuanced portrayal of the bad guy, as well as the thoughtfully considered mentions of angel lore, religion, and references to Paradise Lost. Oh--and big, big bonus points for a prom scene that didn't make me want to do violence!But this book also broke my heart in more ways than one. There is an exquisite tenderness to this story that I never could have imagined, and while I think some elements of it may upset some fans, I hope readers will go into it with an open mind and an open heart. I had many theories and opinions and hopes going into it, and I can honestly say that coming out of it, all of that has changed--and I am firmly convinced that it is for the better. I am tremendously moved and inspired by this story, and it's a testament to Cynthia Hand's pitch-perfect writing that we are so gently eased into new realizations and growth in a way that feels so right and so emotionally true. My heart was aching when I turned the last page. But it was also overflowing with love and deep appreciation for the splendid journey that I didn't even know I wanted to go on. After reading a second fantastic YA book from this author, I have absolute faith in Cynthia Hand, and I am so looking forward to seeing where she will take us next.This review also appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.P.S. I am dying to discuss the specifics of what happens in this book in the comments below, so please, tell me what you think of where this story went in spoiler tags! I can't keep this to myself any longer. Please be aware that the spoilers tagged in the comments are REAL, so please don't click if you haven't read the book yet! But the spoilers in the review are all in good fun, and safe to click. ;)Also, a spoiler for people who were worried about Midas the horse in the last book: (view spoiler)[They're still looking for him in the beginning of this one. (hide spoiler)]

Hallowed is out! I can't wait to re-read it!Oh, Cynthia Hand, how could you do this to me? I feel like this book should come with at least a warning. Something along the lines of:WARNING: This book may cause readers massive amounts of fangirling/fanboying. Do not be alarmed if you encounter symptoms of swooning, emotional instability, and immediate depression after reading. Yeah...cause that's exactly what happened to me. Many of you may remember that I expressed in my Unearthly review how I was initially reluctant to read this series. Angel PRN books seem to be the worst of the worst in YA literature. So you can imagine my happiness when I come across this gem of a series. If there were ever a reason needed as to why I voted for Cynthia Hand's Unearthly as Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, it would be Hallowed. If you were thinking that Hand couldn't do it again, you were wrong! First off let get this off my chest because it's seriously bothering me:"This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike."Excuse me while I hurl. Are you kidding me? Stop it. Please. Do not lump this series in with those sorry books. Hallowed, for starters, has a plot. The characters have real depth. The love interests aren't trying to kill Clara. What it should have said was: "For fans of real YA PNR literature." *Breathes* Okay. /end mini rant.I think it goes without say that I loved this book. I stayed up past 4am to finish this it. Once again, I could not have predicted the outcome! There are so many plot twists and mysteries revealed and it's not what you would expect at all. And I have a sinking feeling that Hallowed is sure to upset quite a few fans...If you think I'm going to sit here and feed you spoilers, sorry kids, not gonna happen. However, I can tell you some of the things I LOVED about Hallowed:The character developmentFans will be happy to know that we do indeed find out more about Christian, Clara's mom, Angela, Jeffery's purpose and last, but certainly not least, Tucker Avery. *Cues the swooning*Clara's mother definitely sees more development. And at first I found myself really irritated with her for keeping secrets, but by the end of the book, I couldn't bring myself to be angry at her any longer. We were left with so many unanswered questions at the end of Unearthly, mostly thanks to Clara's mom, but rest assured, many are answered. And of course, with more answers we get even more questions. The love triangleI'm sure you saw that coming, as did I, but here's the thing: I liked it. I usually hate love triangles because I find them a bit played out and predictable. But it worked so well in Hallowed. This probably has something to do with the fact that Hand wrote these characters so well. Their relationships are very believable and heartbreakingly realistic. We see a whole other side to Christian and Tucker. It's rather easy to love them both because they both care deeply for Clara and respect her. There are no semi-abusive love interests here. How about that? ;)The prose, the pacing, and the plotI never thought I could come to love the use of present tense prose, but I felt it was so perfect. We are really able to connect with Clara on another level because of that, especially everything that she goes through in this book. And she goes through a lot. The simple sentences and Clara's ramblings really helped me feel everything Clara felt. The pacing was a bit slower in this book than the last, but again, it works so perfectly. Hand gives us the opportunity to let it really sink in. The pacing just goes hand in hand with the plot, which too is very subtle. At first you become eager to get to the end, but you will come to dread it. So beautifully written.The dialogCynthia Hand, you are so slick and I love you for it. Those Twilight burns you put in there? Oh, yeah, I think you know how brilliantly awesome that was. Before I moved here, I never got the whole love-triangle thing. You know, in movies or romance novels or whatnot, where there’s one chick that all the guys are drooling over, even though you can’t see anything particularly special about her. But oh, no, they both must have her. And she’s like, oh dear, however will I choose? William is so sensitive, he understands me, he swept me off my feet, oh misery, blubber, blubber, but how can I go on living without Rafe and his devil-may-care ways and his dark and only-a-little-abusive love? Upchuck. Yup, that's pure win right there. The endingIt was so heartbreaking. Clara just didn't get a break in this book and I felt for her so much. I just wanted to hug her. And at the end I felt like I needed a hug. Hand, you had me crying at 4am! I can't believe you went there in this book!! I mean, seriously, I was having a fit over here:Shock: "I.CAN'T.EVEN."Disbelief: "NOOOOO!! She did not just do that! NOOOO!"Depression: "How will I survive until 2013? I'm doomed. Doomed, I tell ya."Cynthia Hand tore my heart out and made me eat it......and I liked it...P.S. I recently found out there might be a TV show based on Unearthly.Ummm, Hollywood? Let's get this one right, m'kay?An ARC was provided by the publisher. But this in no way swayed my views on this book.Like this review? Well, what are you waiting for?! Come visit my blog Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

3.5 starsIt's a relief to know I won't regret all the hyping of Unearthly I've done over the last year. Even though I liked Hallowed less than its predecessor, the series is still going strong the way I see it. Whatever was praiseworthy in the 1st book remains so in the 2nd - the teen romances are still healthy (I won't even bash the inevitable love triangle - it is written well enough; it is not perfect, but not unbearably annoying either), the heroines are strong and the heroes are kind and respectful, the angel lore, while more Hell- and Heaven-heavy this time, still doesn't cross the line into preaching. There is also an added bonus of a meditation on free will vs. destiny which I find quite interesting, especially within a genre as soulmate-ridden as PNR. But there are things that didn't fully work for me. Hallowed is a sad, sad book. In addition to Clara's anxiety over her failure to fulfill her purpose at the end of Unearthly, she starts having more visions, this time predicting the death of someone close to her. Plus, the new, strange connection with Christian muddles things with Tucker. Complications are all around Clara.If Unearthly was a sweet PNR, its sequel is about death and grief. The glumness and occasional drudgery of it was pretty intense for me. Some lightness in the beginning would have made for a better reading experience, building up to a more emotional impact in the end and a bigger climax, which, frankly, was virtually non-existent in Hallowed. I am concerned about the concept of purpose as well. Will it all come together eventually? The way Clara's purpose appears to come back and back again, I am afraid the series has an option of becoming a never-ending stream of books, all focusing on a purpose which so far looks exclusively romance-related (just today I read on the author's website that there might be more than 3 books in, what I originally thought, was a trilogy). That would be boring to me.I will still be reading the 3rd book when it comes out in 2013. Fingers crossed, the series does not get prolonged beyond 3 books and the last one packs some interesting surprises and revelations while untangling the plot that at this point looks a tad convoluted.

Really good but depressing. Not quite as good as the first so I'm still between a 4 and 5. Tucker is so hot. I don't understand why a few jumped to Christian's side in this book. I thought he was a bit of a D-Bag and I really wanted Tucker to hit him. I'll need a little digesting and to calm down before I can write my review. I know it's been months and I still haven't written anything but I think Asher @ Paranormal Indulgence summed up my feelings well with her drawing. She said I could share so this is basically my whole review of this book! LOL My review-Love Tucker! Hate Christian! lol

Oh, Cynthia...you must have taken your kid gloves off after Unearthly since you really managed to deliver a beating with Hallowed! If a plot twist wasn't clubbing me in the head, the emotions of the characters were punching me in the stomach! The experience left me feeling rather drained and a bit bruised...but it was worth it.Clara Gardner, an angel-blood by birth, thought that her heavenly purpose had died away with the last embers of a wildfire...but she is far from done with visions telling of things to come and actions she may have no choice but to take. When a recurring dream hints at the funeral of someone close to her, she hastens to find answers of who, when, where, and why -- even as she must contend with her feelings for two vastly different boys who represent two very different choices and futures.Much like its predecessor, Hallowed was a pleasant surprise to me: not only did it continue its subversion of many of the common tropes to be found in young adult paranormal romances, but it also managed to avoid the trap of the "sequel slump" (where the second book in a series feels more like filler than a necessary story). Even with "the dreaded love triangle of doom" present front and center in this installment, the characters never act in ways that are inconceivable, intolerable, or completely irrational. Rather, they all seem to be just handling their lots in life the best ways they can: "coping" eventually becomes the default mode for many of them.The story here is much more focused on Clara's growth as a character than I had been expecting. With all the revelations and discoveries, they all seem to add layers to her character to the point that no longer does she resemble that starry-eyed angel girl of Unearthly's beginning, who was so intent on fulfilling her purpose and glad to do so. Clara has grown up. She has seen the gray and experienced sorrow and grief, and now she looks at her purpose as more of a burden rather than a joyous occurrence. Clara's struggle with free will and "destiny" is one of the best conflicts to the series, even as it becomes clear that destiny means that many things cannot be avoided.And that's part of my problem with Hallowed: the angel-bloods can take as many winding roads as they want, but eventually all of them will find themselves fulfilling the stages of their purposes in some fashion. It may take more time, they may fight against it, but "destiny" will happen. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about that, especially since the "big picture" of Clara's purpose has yet to be revealed.I also have another problem: Christian, the enigma and constant presence in many of Clara's purpose-centric visions. Christian is the mysterious boy who has the answers but hides them, who uses kindness and compassion as a way to subtly manipulate the heroine, and who seems to have more of an agenda than he's saying: basically, he's not much better than the typical YA paranormal love interest, at least not from what has been presented of his character in these first two installments. Though Christian is presented in a much better (and, dare I say it, more deceptive) package, I can't help but look at him with distrustful eyes, and I almost want to call him an antagonist waiting to happen. But the doubt in me says, "No, the subversions in the series will only go so far. Don't expect too much. You'll only be disappointed if you do."Doubts aside, I do have hope that Cynthia Hand will continue to subvert this convoluted paranormal genre young adult literature has had on its hands for the past few years. I have hope that she will keep surprising me with her story's twists and turns, that all my worries and resignations are needless, that by the end I'll change all my ratings for the books to five stars because of how blown away I felt by the entire scope of the story once it was revealed to me. But I have to wait and see if that day will come. The Unearthly series has one or two books left and much more story left to tell...so I'll wait and hope.Regardless of my own qualms, I highly recommend Hallowed because it represents the kind of storytelling and characterization that many YA books are sorely lacking. If you like young adult paranormal books and have yet to read Unearthly, then you're missing out, so make sure to pick up both Unearthly and this sequel in the near future. You may just find yourself enthralled by a story you had never even hoped to expect.

This series is what every other angel book wishes it could grow up to be.Hallowed is "middle book" at its very best.Out of all the paranormal creatures in YA, angels get by far the worst treatment. Three of the worst YA series all feature angels, and until Unearthly, I thought perhaps it was impossible to write a decent angel book. But Unearthly was not decent--IT WAS AMAZING. That delicious, slow-build romance between Clara and Tucker. A strong, likeable heroine with a realistic voice. A vivid, gorgeous setting. Intriguing mythology that makes sense. Tucker. (Did I mention Tucker?) Ever since I closed the pages of Unearthly, I've been clamoring for a sequel.In Cynthia Hand's follow-up novel, she DELIVERS. She makes me feel things about characters that I never thought I could. She takes this in the direction hinted at throughout Unearthly, but she makes it work (in ways this Team Tucker girl didn't think were possible) and adds some complexity with other unexpected twists. My heart was aching--ACHING--when I finished this book.Cynthia Hand, how did you make me like Christian? I'm as TEAM TUCKER as they come, and yet you drew me in to see Christian's goodness and charm and caring with such a sly hand. I'm no advocate of love triangles, but this one is as good as they come.And the writing? As addictive and snappy and heart-breaking as ever. I love that Cynthia can poke fun at her own book and genre with funny little lines about stalker girlfriends and love triangles and jealous boyfriends. Her writing makes these characters feel REAL, so real that she can make me feel absolute joy and then devastation because of the struggles and choices these characters face. And trust me...you will feel a gamut of emotions reading this.Cynthia Hand has shown that Unearthly was no fluke. This woman can WRITE. This series shines with stellar characterization, fascinating mythology, compelling choices, and Tucker (it needed to be said). I cannot wait to see what she has in store next for these beloved characters. P.S. Jackson Hole and Idaho, I love you.

“Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing or failing. There's only us, each moment shaping who we are, into what we will become.” I loved this book, I enjoyed it much more than the first one, and although at first I was somewhat heavy, on the other hand its content is very interesting.And even though I have many questions, I think it answered a few at this timeI remember the first book although it was a beautiful and light reading , I didn't feel shocked me at any time, in this case I felt caught in an opportunity, that has cast myself even more hooked with the plot. At the same time initially was somewhat predictable, the theme of the visions that Clara had, well I personally could guess where the plot was when she took a completely different path before actually discovering the truth, which hasn't been a surprise .But then Clara's dad shows up and is coolest thing of this book, I'm super excited to see what gonna to happen in the next.I fell in love with Christian in this book, is so noble and interesting, the truth is that I think I've already chosen my side in this love triangle. I don't know how this continues, but he is an excellent character. His scenes with Clara are beautiful !. “I'll never forget the way he tastes. It's not anything I can describe, a little sweet and a whole lot of spice, and it feels, in that moment, absolutely right.” I have to confess that I've dropped a tear with some scenes with Clara and her mother , it was super sentimental and has touched my heart. I can not wait to see how Clara faced the world now, she will face her destiny, finally and place which occupied each character at the end. I'm excited for the last book :). “There's nothing more inspiring than the complexity and beauty of the human heart.” P.D: If it took me a while to read it, I want to clarify, that was not because the book is heavy at all, because for me these books are very quick to read, it's just that I haven't had much time to read :(

Oh boy, what a ride. Reading this book felt like flying with the wings wide open (not that I know how does that feel, but I can only imagine): I’ve been falling in love again with these characters, I’ve gasped at every surprise, I’ve smiled and I’ve even cried, I’ve felt Clara’s insecurities and frustrations, and her need to be happy, to find her purpose and make it all right again, also her need to find her own path, to make her own decisions. How much of it is just purpose and how much of it is her own life?This book is really amazing, for me it was better than the first one, and I enjoyed every single bit of it – the dreams, the purposes, the teenage drama, the family involvement, the friendships, the decisions and all those emotions radiating from my kindle like heatwaves from hot pavement.. it was all so beautiful I can barely describe it. It was a mix of happy moments and dramatic turnarounds, and more background for the angel theory that not only answered so many questions I had at the end of the first book, but it had also raised so many more, and now I definitely can’t wait for the next book to come out and answer them all.SO, our redhead angel is back – well not so red anymore (not so carrots-alike) but with the same amount of sarcasm, curiosity and passion in all that she does (even the mistakes she makes). And also our boys are back to make Clara’s life a bit more complicated (not that it was simple to begin with).I bet you all want(ed) to know more about Clara’s parents, and some things that you didn’t really get about the night with the fire, I bet you all want(ed) to know how Clara’s life will change now that she has a human boyfriend (Tucker) and she knows more about the boy from her dream (Christian), and if you are like me you want(ed) to know more about her brother as well (I always had this feeling that there is more to him that meets the eye, and as far as I’ve seen there is even more) ..So yes, you will get some answers – some of them will surprise you, some of them won’t, but for every answer you get another question pops into your mind, so don’t worry too much if you get a bid angsty at some point.This is what I liked about this book – it makes you think .. I never think about angels, I don’t believe in them so I’m usually not interested, but this story caught my attention, and I like how this world is described, and I want to know more about it, and it all feels like a puzzle – there are all these pieces I already have, but there are so many more to uncover.For example, finding about her mother’s story only made me think about Clara’s (let’s call it) ‘destiny‘; finding about her Dad, only made me think about the Tucker/Christian situation.At the end I felt like I knew her destination in all this mess, and no matter what Clara will decide I think that she’ll get there, just like her mother did, but still, will she?The most important item in the story is (again) Clara’s vision, a dream brought to her from the future, and this dream is the key to so many secrets that will make you happy, but will also make you cry. It will change the course of things, it will make Clara stronger in a way, it will prepare you for what’s next to come, because we are only at the beginning, and the best is yet to come.Now, there is something that i should mention that bothered me a bit (again!!).Get this people: Secrets are supposed to be secret by definition!It goes both ways:- when you keep a secret for so long, you don’t go afterwards telling everyone about it;- when someone (for example your parents) tells you that there’s something you must NOT tell anyone, you just keep it for yourself (this is not about trusting someone with your secret, this is about being able to keep one);All in one this is a great, amazing, wonderful book. There are so many things I would like to tell you, but I’m trying hard to keep this review spoiler-free. Enjoy it!Book Source: ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. (thank you!) This review can also be found at ReadingAfterMidnight.comOne more thing.. but this is only for the people that have already read the book:(view spoiler)[ Don't you dare blame me if you don't like what you see 'cuz I told you this is a spoiler!SO... Tucker vs Christian?Some think this is a love-triangle, I don't really see it that way.You probably know how I felt about the whole 'boy obsession' from Unearthly, and how happy I was to see it changed from something cliché to some sweet romance between and angel and an earthly boy... Now I have some doubts.I've seen the struggle in the relationship with Tucker, they both trying to make it work but her angel-side and his human-side always interfering with their love, and I've seen Christian get close to Clara (and even closer), but there's a wall between them as wide as the Chinese one - you can see it from the Moon. Some of you seem to like both boys for Clara, but I feel that there's something off about both of them - I like them, they are cute, and sweet and all, but in this particular moment I wouldn't be able to choose, because there are so many 'BUTs' when I think about them and Clara..For me this story is about something more, something bigger. I know there will be a moment when Clara will really have to choose but for now I'm Ok with only finding more about her world, her growing powers, her purpose as a whole and not just pieces. (hide spoiler)]Later Edit: Check My Book Boyfriend - Tucker ____________________________________________Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)____________________________________________["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

After greatly enjoying Unearthly, I was really excited to be able to get an early copy of this sequel. I was not disappointed with it. It was very much a "middle" book, but one of the best I've ever read.Hallowed gets us reacquainted with Clara, Tucker, Christian and, with a more important part in this sequel, Carla's brother Jeffrey as well as her mother, Maggie. As in Unearthly, each and every one of the characters have substance, including natural dialogue and palpable emotions. And emotions, Hallowed is full of! Clara and her family are going through a really tough situation and it tugs on the heartstrings. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but there are a lot of occurrences that will likely make everyone feel sorrowful for Clara. With all these emotions, though, there is still sweet romance and fun moments throughout the book to balance it all out.As I mentioned, for a middle book, Hallowed is very well done. I was always caught up in the story despite the lack of any definite plot development. We do, however, get a lot of answers in regards to Clara's lineage. In addition, her mother's well kept secrets are -for the most part- all revealed. Like Unearthly, Hallowed is not a fast, high action book. The slow but steady pace makes it a highly character driven novel with realistic relationships and an intriguing progression that you have time to savor.It's been said that Cynthia Hand has written one of the greatest love triangles in the YA genre. I highly agree with this statement. Hallowed has, yet again, left me feeling dazed. We've got butterflies and sparks, but also uncertainty and pain. The romance itself is not overwhelming; It's full of authenticity without taking the attention away from the plot. I'm still unsure of how I feel about the new developments in this sequel. I'm definitely curious to see how it's going to pan out in book 3. Tucker and Christian are both important in Clara's life. They each have very separate but essential roles that keep her grounded. I think she should marry both - seriously! It could work, no? (Team Tucktian?)Hallowed is another great example of a wonderfully written paranormal romance. Cynthia Hand does not disappoint with this second novel in the Unearthly series *claps*. If you haven't picked it up yet, it's a definite must buy!--For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

My reaction to this book is fittingly more sombre than my reaction to Unearthly. I almost wish it came with a warning for how emotional this was going to be. Read enough YA and you become conditioned, most times, to expect "okay" to "fun" books. But its the likes of Marchetta, for myself anyway, and with books like Jellicoe Road, that I keep taking the plunge, flipping the covers hoping that the story contained in them is something worthwhile. Which is why it surprised the hell out of me when I was left feeling both slightly numb but also winded, not knowing quite where it came from but hitting me, nonetheless, all in a sudden rush.Its funny how Hallowed is a book about angels yet the message in it (excuse the pun) is unabashedly human. It calls to the forefront of the mind the very human eventualities we must all bear in the short span of our mortal lives. Hand chooses, maybe selectively but perhaps not, some of the more difficult life obstacles. It weighs you down with the impending doom that is Clara's apparent future. And even though her troubles are in the forms of heavenly destiny, visions and fallen angels, they stand as no more than metaphors to the battles we fight very similarly in our everyday lives.There's a certain grandness to the way Hand presents the hardships of life, the painful decisions that will one day be called upon us, that makes it all somehow seem endurable. Its a determined grandness, slightly romantic but definitely resolute, like finally dusting yourself off, lifting your head and taking that first step towards what's coming; some of that may even be defeat, a resignation to the trials of life because you can't always fight against what the universe throws at you. Accept and persevere and your true character will be decided. But Hand writes in a way that envisions within me a warrior that faces suffering head-on, and one that delights in silent confidence at the mission of overcoming it. Hallowed may not be heavy-handed or preachy, but it does compel us to hold faith, and it also explores the virtue of long-suffering in all its layers of meaning and manifestations. She brings up so many things in this book both adolescent and mature; appropriately so as Clara is on the verge of adulthood. Some things are so nostalgic and innocent like the fantasy of having Superman and Superwoman for parents, so childlike (view spoiler)[not to mention bad ass! Like woah, Clara's dad is a full on Angel, like no kidding, holy awesome (thanks, Angela) and Mr. Phibbs, like what!! I knew I liked him!!! (hide spoiler)]. Having the memory of looking up at our parents as children and thinking they can do anything, to have that realized is so sweet and comforting. Others are more serious and cautionary like finally growing up and owning up to our responsibilities. Knowing that Hand is a college professor, it seems reasonable that this book might also be a gentle, reassuring nudge to young adults. A small life is hard, but you can do it pat on the back kind of thing. It is possible to brave death and loss, maneuver one's way through confusion and uncertainty and, finally, to figure out things like what we want to be when we grow up. But of course it isn't just for the young. These messages are universal. Regardless of age and experience, I don't think we ever thwart fear when in the threshold of change. We just bear it better as we live longer. But aside from that, it was just good storytelling. Its an interesting story with great characters that you come to care for. Its refreshing as well that it doesn't fall under the usual traps of this genre, as many reviews have pointed out. They're there but they're done well. The parents are present and loving, the best friends are honest and true, the bitchy popular girl even has some unexpected depth. And yes, yes, I love me some Tucker and Christian. But I am, forever, Tucker's girl. I'll go no further -- but if Hand is reading this, I am staring daggers at you, wagging a very threatening finger and wearing a shirt that says I'll be watching. Just sayin'.So, I loved the book. I took away a lot from the book. I won't say OMG its the bestest of all YA's ever in life like ever!! It isn't as openly profound as others I've read. Some may even see nothing more than a run-of-the-mill teen fantasy book. But I am at the moment blind to all its faults (if I cared to count any). I don't know if this review gives enough sufficient information, instead of just another rambling post of my incoherent thoughts. But I don't want to say anymore, mainly because its a feeling I want to keep for myself. And I don't want to sell this book too hard...because if you don't give it a try, believe me, its your loss.