Unearthly

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.

 

Buy The Book

IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Powell's
BUY THE eBOOK:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
BUY THE AUDIO BOOK:
theaudiobookstore.com | Amazon
HarperTeen, Hardcover, January 2011, ISBN-10: 0061996165, ISBN-13: 978-0061996160
HarperTeen, Paperback, November 2011, ISBN-10: 0061996173, ISBN-13: 978-0061996177

Book Trailers

 Nice Things People Said

"Hand debuts with an engrossing take on the angel mythos that centers on human/angel hybrids living modern lives. All semihuman descendants of angels have a "purpose," something they were put on Earth to do, and 16-year-old Clara is no exception. Following the clues in her visions, Clara and her family move from California to Wyoming to find the boy she believes she's destined to save from a forest fire. Locating Christian is fairly easy; figuring out why and how she's supposed to get close to him isn't. As Clara negotiates high school cliques and homework, learns to use her wings, and suffers oddly stimulating arguments with her best friend's brother, she finds she will have to make decisions that could break her heart or deny her very purpose. Hand avoids overt discussion of religion while telling an engaging and romantic tale with solid backstory. Her characters deal realistically with the uncertainty of being on the cusp of maturity without wrapping themselves in angst. While the exciting climax satisfactorily concludes many of the story's threads, some questions are left to the next book of the trilogy."
—Publishers Weekly

"After receiving visions of saving a teenage boy from a forest fire, 16-year-old Clara Gardner (one-quarter angel-blood), her half-angel mother and her younger brother relocate from their suburban California home to Teton County, Wyo., so Clara can find this mysterious boy and realize her angel purpose. Despite the ever-growing surge of angel stories and its hefty length, this solid debut novel stands out with even pacing, fully developed characters, vivid descriptions of the West's rugged beauty and Clara's independent spirit. As she learns more about her gifts and angel lore—particularly fallen angels known as Black Wings—from her evasive mother and a fellow angel-blood classmate, Clara struggles with her mother's expectations of her purpose (is she just a heavenly puppet?) and her desire to acknowledge her human side (does she have any control of her own life?), as well as her feelings for both Christian, the boy from her visions, and rodeo star Tucker. The cliffhanger ending, with an unexpected twist, leaves plenty to ponder until the sequel. A divine supernatural romance."
—Kirkus Review

"As if adolescence isn't enough, California girl Clara has recently begun to come into her powers as a Quartarius, a quarter-angel. Her half-angel single mother lends support, helping to puzzle through visions that reveal tantalizing portions of Clara's "purpose." The visions' clues—a forest fire, license plate, and boy in a black fleece jacket—lead the family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There, on Clara's first day of school, she meets her destiny: A-list football player Christian, the boy of the vision. She also makes friends with two very different girls: easygoing, horse-crazy Wendy, and intense loner Angela. It's Wendy's twin brother, Tucker, though, who begins to drive the plot, unwittingly seeming to change Clara's purpose. If some of this series starter seems overly familiar—the rural setting, the two love interests, the dark powers at work—the details about angels make up for it. The dynamics of flying, the intense shining of "glory," and an unplanned trip to hell are all creatively addressed."
—Booklist

"Utterly captivating. Cynthia Hand has brilliantly spun the magic of angel mythology into a modern world of romance and suspense, creating one of the most addictive books I've read in a while. Unearthly had me lying awake at night, wondering what would happen next."
—Richelle Mead, bestselling author of Vampire Academy

"A gripping tale of destiny, family, and first love, Unearthly stole my breath...and my heart."
—Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder

"A page-turning and gripping story, filled with good versus evil drama, as well as romance. I loved it!"
—Alexandra Adornetto, author of bestselling Halo