Blog Tour: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington :: Interview

I'm so excited to have Jessica Shirvington on the blog today answering my questions. I'm totally embarrassed about my first question, because I asked it before I knew that there are more books in this series. But ultimately, it's great news so it's okay! I love Violet and Lincoln so much, I'm ecstatic there are two more books still coming. Now for the interview:

In the Best Worlds: It's so exciting and bittersweet to read the end of Violet's story. What was the hardest part about ending this amazing trilogy?
Jessica Shirvington: Actually, it isn't a trilogy - There will be five books in the series in total. But I can totally understand how you thought it was going to be a trilogy - there were a lot of early descriptions that outlined the series as a trilogy even though it was never intended to be one.
Endless, book 4, will be out in October and book 5 will follow shortly after!

ItBW: Lincoln is an amazing hero and definitely a character worth crushing over. Who is your number one book boy crush?

JS: I'm not really sure. Though I always took a shine to Valek from Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study series.

ItBW: What is the main idea/theme/character/etc. you hope translates perfectly into the Embrace TV series? 

JS: Violet. It has to be her because everything is built around her, around her emotions, around the choices she makes and how she deals with the consequences. Phoenix and Lincoln are very important too.

ItBW: Since you are writing books for teens - what were you like as a teenager?

JS: Lost, mostly. And complicated. And probably not too dissimilar to most teens out there now. But I also fell in love when I was 17 and that changed my life and my future. That is part of the reason I love to write YA, why I feel it is so important what happens to our hearts in those precious years.

ItBW: Finish these sentences: 

The weirdest thing on my desk is...currently, a My Little Pony figurine. There is always something my daughters leave behind on their visits!

The last dream I remember was...actually not a good dream. I can't remember it perfectly but I know I woke up very unhappy and worried.

We could be best friends if...you could forgive me for being constantly preoccupied with my fictional character's lives.

--------------------------

About Emblaze: Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice....and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was. 

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too. 

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realize exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of  surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to... 

A Touch Menacing - Leah Clifford

Synopsis: Eden is dying. For real, this time.
She is crumbling to ash, and an unnatural plague is ravaging mortals and immortals alike. With both Heaven and Hell out to destroy her, Eden can no longer tell the difference between good and evil.
Friends become enemies. And enemies are everywhere.
But don't underestimate Eden. She'll fight for her life, for the lives of those she loves, and for every life she has ever touched.
She'll fight for revenge. For redemption. For—just maybe—the chance to be mortal again.
Everything began with forbidden love.
What will be sacrificed at the bitter end?The dramatic conclusion to Leah Clifford's dark, alluring trilogy of life, death, and epic love. (From Goodreads)


I just don't even know how I'm supposed to articulate my thoughts and feelings about this series. It's awesome, it blows my mind, it makes me swoon and cry and freak out and it never does what I expect it to. It's unique. That's for sure.

There are two things I absolutely adore about this series:

1- The plot doesn't follow traditional guideposts. There's no real way to mark the beginning, middle, and end. It doesn't have an arc - or it doesn't have just one. Even though these characters are pathless, the way their story is told feels like a path - there are turns and they unexpectedly cross one another, their lives intertwining at different moments, their destination unsure. It feels a lot more like life - people don't just show up when their supposed to or things don't feel like they happen because it's convenient to move the story along. Also- there are a lot of different players in this game. There isn't just one girl who the fate of the whole world seems to revolve around. Technically, I guess Eden is the main character, but she's by no means the most important person in this equation.

2- The lines between good and evil are so blurred, I'm not even sure they exist. In fact, even by the end I'm not sure who is on which side. Generally, I like my lines to be a little more clear; however, I love the way the blurring of good and evil is executed here. Because you don't get behind a character because of what their fighting for, you get behind them because you like who they are. I was rooting Eden because I've been with her from the beginning. But then you root for Gabe even though he's made some bad choices because I feel like he has a really great heart. And Kristen, I root for her because she's crazy and I love it. Then, the really baffling one - I root for Luke, even though he's supposedly the big bad. I can't help it, because somehow the big bad totally stole my heart.

Of course there's so much more to love - like the dark humor, the fact that some characters make me irrationally angry, or the way it's still a new and surprising world even after 3 books. I'm going to miss Kristen and her grave robbing and Luke and his strawberry lemonade. I'll miss Eden and Az dancing at Rockefeller and Gabe running around trying to make everybody happy. These are characters I've come to adore and admire and it's a little hard for me to let this series go.

Boundless - Cynthia Hand

Synopsis: The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.
Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all. (From Goodreads) 

This is officially one of my favorite series ever. I love Clara. I love Tucker. Most of the time I even love Christian. Every single book in this series stands strong - it has a great start, a wonderful and totally devastating middle and it ended so perfectly. With the field flooded with paranormal books and angels, it makes me so happy to see a series done right.

Since book one, I've just thought that Clara would be the best friend to have. Well, in this book she goes through hell for her friends. So, yeah, Clara is pretty amazing. She's human too, she makes mistakes, she gets a bit self centered - but in the end she always steps up. She's the kind of heroine who you can really get behind.

My Team Tucker heart noticed a lack of Tucker time in this book, but the time he got was pretty amazing so, really I'm okay with it. Christian is okay and in any other circumstances, he'd be down right dreamy, but he's just not Tucker. Even so, he didn't bother me as much in this book as I'd expected, especially with the amount of one-on-one time he and Clara have while off at school in Stanford.

I really liked this book's departure from typical YA series. We get to follow Clara to college and through her first year. That was really interesting, especially to see how she manages to juggle her paranormal life with her school life. I also really loved the way Angela rose in this book. She gets a really important part of the story.

There were subtle twists. A lot of things happen that I didn't expect and I'd kinda have to step back and just marvel at the fact that I was still surprised. This book was sweet and inspiring. I finished it so happy I just wanted to curl up and start it all over again. If you haven't picked up Unearthly yet, I strongly suggest you do so. These books are amazing. I'm really going to miss Clara and Tucker. I'm definitely going to be re-reading these books to revisit them.

Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis: Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank's absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels - destroying Patch.
Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipatedAs the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for. (From Goodreads)

It was a little bittersweet saying goodbye to this series. Here was my relationship with it - Hush, Hush: Heyyyyy, Patch. Crescendo: Meh. Silence: I've come this far, might as well read it. OH MY GOSH WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? THIS IS SO AWESOME. Finale: Should have stopped at book three.

So, yeah, Finale let me down a little bit. After Silence blew my mind, I was expecting so much more from Finale. But it was a lot more of the same. Patch is still calling the shots, despite Nora's protestations. She's still weak (relatively) even though a lot of the book is about her training. But book four was supposed to be about WAR, and it was still about the preparation for war. Kind of anticlimatic.

However, I still am in love with these characters, and it's hard to complain about getting to spend a little more time with them. I thoroughly enjoyed Vee's stepped-up role in this book. She's still one of the best book besties ever. And Patch is still super swoony and still has a bit of a mysterious edge, which keeps him interesting.

So even though it lets me down, I still love this series. Mostly, I'm just going to miss Patch. *sigh*

Entice - Jessica Shirvington

Synopsis: Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels. 
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever. 
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.  (From Goodreads)


I completely devoured the second book in the Embrace series. Violet really is one of my favorite heroines and her life is just so deliciously dramatic, I get so caught up in caring about what becomes of her. I've noticed a lot that some paranormal books get tripped up in the same plot lines, or they border on unrealistic (I know that's dumb to say when talking about paranormal, but it has to be believable), or else either the characters or the plot feels just slightly disconnected. Well, this book avoids all of these things, seemingly effortlessly. These books flow so well, and even the parts of the story that seem like they occur in every paranormal book turn out to have some kind of twist that makes it something different. I really feel like I opened this book to find myself plunked down in Violet's world and watching her live her life.

I love the mythology that Jessica Shirvington uses to define the parameters of the angel world. It's very Biblical, but the last thing this book does is preach. While this book is a bit of a bridge between book one and three (find the book that will unlock all the secrets), it actually didn't feel like a filler until I just sat and thought about it. Really, here the relationships deepen, the understanding of the world deepens, and we just get more of a sense of who Violet is after the events of book one.

And can I just talk about those relationships for a minute? Stephanie is one of my favorite book BFFs ever. She takes everything in stride, has a great sense of humor, is always there to support Violet no matter what, and never runs the other way even when Violet makes it pretty clear she could. She's not a supernatural being, but she's immensely strong and definitely one of the best characters in the book. Then there's the Lincoln-Violet situation. These two make me all rage-y and all melt-y at the same time. They're incredibly frustrating and they don't seem to understand that they are so much stronger when they are working together. They spend the book trying to stay apart, which creates a whole lot of angst. But the pages where they actually make it into close proximity - whew. Those pages make all the angst worth it.

I'm so excited about the fact that the CW has picked up this series. If these books become a real TV show, I'm going to be a very happy person. I just love Violet and her world so much. I'm now anxiously awaiting book three!

Sweet Evil - Wendy Higgins

Synopsis: What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? (From Goodreads)

This wasn't a book I was even going to pick up - until so many people started raving about it. A lot of people seemed a little bowled over by how awesome this book turned out to be. And I think the hype actually got to be a little much because I was then expecting much more. Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I was let down as well. It was good, but it didn't have that greatness to it that I came to hope for. There are a few things I love and a couple that could send me off on long rants.

So let's start with what I love. This really is a unique take on demons and angels. I didn't believe it when I heard people say this. It's kind of hard to believe in unique views anymore - they always seem to be derivative of something or following some kind of obvious pattern. But I really don't think I've read any kind of fallen angel novel like this before - and I've read a lot. Fallen angels are always super human and seem to have control. But these ones are complete slaves to this extra power they have. They have to answer to the higher powers - the actual demons - and their punishment is pretty intense. There's really no way out - their choices boil down to: be bad and lead others into temptation or be tortured for eternity. Which clearly sucks.

I also love that Wendy Higgins took the seven deadly sins - and a few other grave sins - amplified them, and gave each character their own sin that they were trained to tempt people with. But all these sins are things that teenagers either dabble in or carry around with them - lust, addiction, envy. If you're forced to indulge in these sins all the time, would they really be that attractive? It's an interesting twist on sin.

So the core principles of this story were great. The cast of characters were wonderful. But I had some issues with Kaidan. *gasp* I know. He's dreamy. I can see that. But seriously. He's the son of lust. He's never been loved a day in his life. He doesn't know what it means to love. He makes this very clear. The only thing I appreciated about him was that he answered all of Anna's questions and never claimed to do anything "for her own good." Well, maybe he did once - but that really was for her own good and it wasn't a situation where he took away Anna's control "for her own good." It's clear they have a connection, but really it's one of those situations where I can't see it ever working out. Especially because she'd basically have to put up with him hooking up with other girls all the time, just because of who he is. Nope. Can't get on the Kaidan fan wagon. SORRY.

There were moments in this book where I was wondering if the extraneous information was necessary. It's a long book and I definitely feel like it didn't need to be that long. There are some things I feel could have been cut or condensed. Particularly in the first 100 pages or so. But even with my few problems with this book, I definitely enjoyed reading it. I'm very excited for the next installment in the trilogy and I'm anxious to find out more about Anna and the other demon children.

Embrace - Jessica Shirvington

Synopsis: Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before. 
Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. 
A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… 
(From Goodreads)

It's kind of hard for me to pinpoint why I love this book so much, but I guess, on the surface, it's because I felt all the feelings. Like, whoa. Lots and lots of feelings. It's a little difficult to isolate the things that make this book great because it blends and floats together so wonderfully. It's all so good. And I'm going to attempt to break it down here.

First, Violet may or may not be one of my new favorite heroines ever. I wish I could be her. Sometimes, anyway. Because for being a potential supernatural being, she's so human. She makes bad decisions, she makes good decisions and then she has to deal with the consequences. But no matter what, she's always very strong and always is in control (or at least she does a very good job of looking like it).

And then there are the boys. I didn't not like Phoenix, I think he was the weakest link in this story. I always felt things were very muted when he was around and I had no connection to him. But, those things just made me love Lincoln even more. And I loved him before. He's perfect. The perfect boy. I mean, minus the obvious issues that I won't go into here. The scenes between Violet and Lincoln were absolutely the best parts of this book. Love love love Lincoln.

I read a lot of angel books. I kind of think angels are the most popular paranormal creature out there right now. I did feel that this one was different, but I couldn't quite figure out why. I'm thinking now that it's unique because it sticks to the Bible angels without being preachy or actually religious. There's all the levels of angels that come into play and the best part was the way that Jessica Shirvington brought the concept of "free will" into the story. Free will is a huge thing when it comes to man kind and apparently angels as well, but when you add the clear difference between good and evil - how much free will do you actually have? How much do you have when your only decisions are to do the right thing or the wrong thing? Making a choice could choose the very essence of who you are. How much free will do we have when you factor in consequences.

So yeah, awesome awesome book. I'm very much looking forward Enticed which will hopefully be out in the US this fall.

A Touch Morbid - Leah Clifford

Synopsis: Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing. (From Goodreads)

Ok. I liked A Touch Mortal A LOT, but A Touch Morbid - I'm in freaking love. Love. love. love. The first book was quite a bit of world building, so in A Touch Morbid the world was pretty established so the characters were really the focus here. It's not just Eden that we get to know here - but Az, Jarrod, Kristen and even Luke a little bit more. The point of view shifts often but Leah Clifford balanced all these different angles of the story so perfectly. Every part of this story, every character, every chapter, every word word flowed together so wonderfully to really bring the Sider world to life (ha. I would say that I didn't intend that pun, but I think I kind of did).

All these characters were interesting to me before, but now I adore every single one of them. Kristen and Luke especially. Kristen is one of my favorite characters ever and I loved her storyline. I wish there was more of it (she could probably have her own book). She's so insane and I shouldn't love her insanity, but I do. My favorite parts were between her and Luke. And Luke, dang you Leah, I'm smitten. I love that he's evil and he has strawberry lemonade in his fridge and he eats Lucky Charms. It also doesn't hurt that he's a rock star.

For most of the book I felt upside down. I like to think that heaven = good guys and hell = bad guys. But that's not the case here. EVERYTHING is a shade of grey - not a single character is completely good nor completely evil. It messes with my head...in the best way possible. Even Eden would probably be considered a villain to some, yet she's our heroine and it's impossible not to root for her. It's all about perspective and where you're standing when looking at a situation. And with so many characters getting page time, there are a lot of different ways to look at what goes down.

I also think I mentioned in my review for A Touch Mortal that there isn't a clear over-arching plot. That's true of this book too - it doesn't fall into any stereotype and I love that. It really feels like following these characters around through their lives and trials. In the end I was shocked (even though I probably should have figured it out, I didn't) but it just totally snuck (is snuck a word?) up on me. I was so wrapped up each person that by the end I was definitely falling for things I shouldn't have been falling for.

Anyway, I've posted one of the trailers for A Touch Morbid because it shows one of the sweetest scenes in the book. I just definitely recommend this series. Leah Clifford is an amazing author (with great taste in music!) and her characters are some of my favorites. Plus, I'm pretty sure that ATM fans are some of the coolest people I've ever come across.

A Touch Mortal - Leah Clifford

Synopsis: Eden didn’t expect Az. 
Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings. 
Yeah. 
So long happily-ever-after. 
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven. 
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own. And that’s only the beginning of the end. (From Goodreads)


This is not a cheery book. It's gritty, a bit vulgar, and completely angry. Which, ultimately, equals awesome. Mostly because it fits so well. Eden is a character I don't feel like I've read before. She's completely in command, a little frightening, strong-willed, smart, and prone to hissy-fits. Even those things don't completely describe her - because after this whole book - I feel like I don't know her (or any of the characters really). And I'm not saying this in a bad way - I'm saying that she kept me on my toes - I was always surprised at her reactions and decisions. Every time I thought I'd figured her out, it seemed like she'd changed the game. 


Not gonna lie. The beginning of this book had me very skeptical. I was really afraid that it would just be over the top and melodramatic. It started a little rushed, and a little too quick. I was confused for a bit. But there's a point - and you don't realize it's happened until later - that everything shakes into place and then you find that you've been completely sucked in for the last 100 pages with out even knowing it. 


Another thing that was surprisingly fresh about this book was the plot. I've begun to notice a similarity in plot arcs. Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy. Boy reveals big problem. Boy and girl can't be together because of said problem. Boy and girl are likely attacked a few times. Then there's a big, huge showdown at the end. There's a curveball thrown in - not necessarily to shock, but to keep the reader in a state of curiosity so they'll read the next book. I didn't get that with this book. This plot was chaotic and it didn't always make sense. BUT again, I say this as a good thing. Because really, life doesn't happen in neat arcs. It's hard to explain the pattern of this plot, but then again, it doesn't really have a pattern. Which, just like Eve's character, kept me on my toes. 


The thing is, these characters are kind of the bad guys. Which, I had to stop and remind myself of that a few times. The reason they're still relatable, the reason they are redeemed is because they don't choose to be bad (depending on which way you look at it). The more I read of these characters the more I fell for them. A Touch Morbid is the second book in this  series will be out February 28. (And a little secret - or not so secret - if you pre-order the book from Leah Clifford's local indie, The Learned Owl, you can get a signed, personalized copy -). I also highly recommend following Leah on Twitter - she does live chats quite often and she's fun to watch and talk with - and I always find out about these things through Twitter. But back to the book - I definitely recommend this if you don't mind characters who find their wardrobe in graveyards, evil rockstars, or lots of potentially fatal kissing. 

Hallowed - Cynthia Hand

Synopsis: 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 was 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. (From Goodreads)


This series just keeps getting better. I love how things start out seeming so simple and then suddenly you realize that you only know about this small part in a whole tangle of mess that seems impossible. Unearthly seemed so simple compared to Hallowed and I'm assuming that it's only going to get worse from here. And I love it!


Clara totally makes this series. She's the perfect heroine - because she isn't perfect. She lies, she's a little self-centered, she has tunnel vision in some cases - plus she acts, thinks, and thinks like a normal teenage girl. She sneaks out of the house, gets caught in places she shouldn't be. And what is so great, is that even though she becomes more powerful and more in tune to who she is as an angel and a supernatural being - she still stays that normal teenage girl. She's so grounded and it makes her more of a best friend, than an intimidatingly unapproachable heroine. 


Of course, Tucker, is a huge part of this awesomeness of these books. So perfect. Although, I hate to admit it, but Christian actually (very surprisingly) gave him a run for his money at moments. Plus, I love the new characters that pop up in this book as well, and I can't wait to see more of them. 


If you read Unearthly keep going. Hallowed lives up to its hype. It's every bit as good as the first book, if not actually better. It's hard to tell, because I think they're both pretty exceptional. I will say that this book is a little more heartbreaking though. I think I cried through half of it - so, just a warning, you may want to be prepared. You know, maybe try not to read it in public. 

Angelfire - Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember. (From Goodreads)

I actually picked up this book because of all the raving about it's sequel, Wings of the Wicked that is coming out at the end of January. Not to mention, Ellie and Will are nominated in a few categories for the Best of 2011 over at the Story Siren. So I knew there was going to be some great things going on in this book and it lived up to all its hype.

I intended to just spend the morning reading, but pretty soon I was ripping through this book and didn't put it down until I had finished. First of all, I freaking love Ellie. There is nothing weak about this girl - she has like ninja super powers, but she's still so human and relatable. She's vulnerable, but not so much that you worry about her falling prey to the wrong kind of people. And Will, I love that this boy literally exists to protect and serve Ellie, but he's not clingy or around all the time. Ellie calls him Batman all the time, so, of course, I totally pictured a blonde Christian Bale.

There aren't any nice-playing, change of heart demons here. There are monsters and evil plots that Ellie has to face and she does the job wonderfully. She definitely struggles, but she always steps up to the challenge. There was more than one time where I made connections to Buffy - seeing as in both cases we're talking about the one person who has the power to vanquish evil. Any connection to Buffy is automatic awesome.

I can already see why people would be raving about Wings of the Wicked and I can't wait to see where Ellie and Will are taken next.

Unearthly - Cynthia Hand

Synopsis: When Clara Gardner learns she’s part angel, her entire life changes. She now has a purpose, a specific task she was put on this earth to accomplish, except she doesn’t know what it is. Her visions of a raging forest fire and a mysterious boy lead her to a new high school in a new town but provide no clear instruction. 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 the boy in her vision and the boy in her life, 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?


I was a little worried going into this book that the angel thing would start to get old - there have been a lot of angel books this year - but this was so wonderful and so different from other angel books, different from other paranormal books, that my fears went away after the first chapter. Not to mention, this is the closest to an actual angel that anyone has seemed to come - at least the angels in my imagination. This was just one of the things I loved about Unearthly. All the characters were wonderful, vivid, and worth loving. The storyline was great, and despite the synopsis and the visions that predicted the end of the book, I was always pleasantly surprised at the turns the plot would  take. And as far as book boys go, Clara is a lucky, lucky girl/angel.


This was a fresh take because Clara was the paranormal being and the people who became close to her had to figure out who she was. They were in the dark, not her. Generally, it seems that most books spend a lot of time making the protagonist try to figure out what type of paranormals they are dealing with. Clara, instead, has to find a human in a pile of humans, with only clues from her heaven-sent visions. Then try to figure him out. Which, in some ways, is harder than trying to match symptoms to the paranormal creature. 


Plus, you have the girl who's sent to save the boy. WHAT? Yeah, that's right. Girl power. So Clara is sent to save Christian, who's great and all, but then there's Tucker. Both boys are so different, but are so great. I loved them both, although I have to say that if this series doesn't go the way I want it to, I might cry.


Hallowed, the second book in the series is out on January 17th and I will be jumping all over that as soon as I can. I don't know why I waited so long to read Unearthly, but I won't be making that mistake with the second one. And I'm not going to keep reading this series because I'm dying to know where the story is going (although I desperately want to know) I'm going to keep reading because I love all these characters so much and I'm not ready to let them go. I'll follow them anywhere.