In my book, pretty much all authors are rockstars. They've done something I've only
dreamed of doing, and many of them do it while maintaining relatively normal lives.
But
Cynthia Hand? That woman has
truly attained
ROCKSTAR status. She writes about characters who are just finding themselves, who need guidance and friendship and love. And these characters all feel so legitimately real, as if they could walk off the pages of Hand's books and onto the streets of our world. Cynthia Hand has written one of my favorite series ever, such a convincing take on angel lore, one that is emotionally draining but also uplifting. And she did it all while raising a family AND teaching classes at Pepperdine University. This woman is amazing and inspiring, and she's an author that all aspiring authors can look up to.
And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be hosting her for my stop on the
Authors Are Rockstars Tour! Below, you'll find my interview with Cynthia Hand, as well as a fabulous
author-donated (cause she's
just that awesome) giveaway. But first, a little about her novels and the author herself:
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.
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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.
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As of this post, there's not a synopsis available for Boundless, but as this is the final book in the Unearthly series, you know it's going to go out with a bang. :D
Cynthia Hand is a native of southeastern Idaho and currently lives with her husband and two small children in Southern California, where she teaches writing at Pepperdine University. She has graduate degrees in creative writing from Boise State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Instead of a muse, Cynthia has a guardian angel named Buster. He wears a Stetson in place of a halo, prefers a beat-up pickup truck to flying, and loves to correct Cynthia's grammar.
The Author
Since Unearthly was first published, how has life changed?
It might be easier to describe how life has not changed, frankly. I had a very quiet, organized life before I published Unearthly. Most of my time went into my kids and my house, and writing was something I did to escape and to get a little time for myself. Now I have to schedule specific time for my kids and my house/chores stuff, and my life is full of all kinds of writerly craziness. But I’m happy. I like my life, and I love the reality that writing is once again my career!
Describe a typical day in the life of Cynthia Hand. And don't leave out the writerly craziness you alluded to above.
I get up very, very early, go for a quick walk, then slink back into the house and get in some writing time, then wake up and dress and feed the kids, get them started on their days. Usually around 10am my little one goes down for a nap and I put TV on for my five year old and sneak back into my office, where I spend way too much time checking Twitter and Facebook and answering emails before I get into writing again. Then it’s lunchtime and more play time with the kids, laundry, cleaning, chores, then around 3 my daughter sleeps again and I try to work, although usually by this time I’m pretty tired and don’t get much productive done. Then dinner and clean up and baths and stories and bedtime, and finally, at the end of the day, I settle down either with a notebook or in front of my computer, and get the bulk of my day’s writing done. And then I sleep. A little. Of course, this schedule will change in a few days when Pepperdine University starts up again, and my little boy will go to school and I will go to teach a few times a week. So right now we’re in the last quieter days of summer.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
Write the next book. There are always so many things to worry about once you’ve written/published a novel, so many things to obsess over and get wrapped up in, and I’ve seen so many writers get totally distracted by all the marketing and social networking and reviews, which are all time sucks, and none of those things will help your career more than WRITING THE NEXT BOOK. And make it as good as you possibly can, I’d like to add, but maybe that’s a given.
The Writing
Just in case there are some readers out there who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing your Unearthly series yet, how would you describe your book to them?
Unearthly is about a teenage girl who is part-angel. Her mother has told her that all the part-angel people (Angel-bloods, is what they are called in my world) have a purpose on this earth, and when she is old enough, she’ll start to receive visions of that purpose. So the first book starts with Clara having a vision of a boy and a forest fire, and she starts to figure out the clues in the vision in order to figure out what her purpose is, which leads her to move with her family from California to Jackson, Wyoming. She meets the boy from her visions, but it’s still a big mystery as to who this boy is and why she is having visions about him. And in the meantime she’s just trying to fit in at a new school and figure out her place on this earth, which we all do.
With the plethora of angel-themed novels available to young adults, what do you think makes your novels stand apart from the rest?
There are indeed some great angel-related novels out there, and for me what is different about Unearthly is that it is ultimately a human story. It isn’t some epic struggle between the forces of good and evil (although Clara comes to be aware of those forces more and more as the novels progress) but about one girl’s struggle with herself and her idea of destiny. I really wanted the books to feel more like a contemporary novel, in that way, than a paranormal romance.
Mission accomplished. They definitely have more of a contemporary feel to them, with just a hint of the paranormal. Did you plot out the series, or did you just write as it came to you?
I plotted a few things out ahead of time but mostly I fly by the seat of my pants. That’s where a lot of the joy of writing comes for me, discovering what the characters are going to do and where they’re going to take me as I’m writing.
Was there anything you originally intended to include in the series that didn’t make the cut?
Oh gosh, a lot, especially in the final book. There were entire character arcs that didn’t make it to the last book, because I really had to buckle down and focus on Clara’s story and limit the stories of the other characters. That’s one of my flaws as a writer—that I pay so much attention in my head to the side-characters of my books, and not just the main character. But I guess that is also one of my strengths as a writer, too.
I love the side-characters, and I enjoy a novel more when those characters are fleshed out just as much as the main character. So, you'll forgive me if I don't see that as a flaw AT ALL. I also love Clara’s narrative voice and her commentary on some of the more popular tropes in YA these days – the infamous love triangle, for example. Your novels are anything but the typical YA fare around these days: Clara has a loving, involved family, a devoted, un-stalkery boyfriend, and she’s purpose-driven…literally. It seemed to me that you were speaking through Clara, as if to say to your readers, “You are better. You deserve better.” As in, pick a guy who treats you right, don’t make him your whole world, and don’t alienate yourself from the world because of him. Was that your intention all along? Or were you just having fun picking on those other guys?
I definitely saw some of the things happening in other young adult fiction and wanted to make my own story a departure from that, but most of Clara’s commentary on the popular tropes is my way, as a writer, to deal with clichés. The love triangle, for example, is one of those things that make readers groan these days—it’s so overused and feels like such a device. And yet here I was about to march Clara into a love triangle. So I let Clara tell us what she thought about love triangles, as a way of combatting the cliché and getting a laugh at herself. If I think a reader is going to have a problem with something in my book, I try to get Clara talking about it, so even if she’s going through something problematic, at least she’s self-aware and can comment on it. And poke fun at herself.
In that same vein, what do you hope your readers ultimately take away from their reading experience with the Unearthly series?
At the end of the day, I hope they enjoy the journey. I hope they’ve had some laughs and shed some tears. And I hope they’ve wrestled with some of the good questions in life, in a way that has made them ponder those good questions in their own lives.
The Books
Who was your favorite character to write?
Toss up. Angela has always been one of my faves, because she’s a complicated person and often so unpredictable. And this time around, for Boundless, Samjeeza was a great one, too.
I can't wait to read more of Samjeeza! Okay, so he was a fun character to write, but which character do you think is most like you?
Hmm, I’d have to say Clara, in that our sense of humor is similar, and I think we respond to things in similar ways. I wish I could say I was like Maggie, all loving and wise, or like Christian, who’s the quintessence of steadfastness for me, or like Wendy, who’s the best kind of friend, but I definitely see more of myself in Clara and her flaws. Too bad I don’t share her ability to fly and speak any language on earth.
Too bad, indeed. I know plenty of us who wish we had her powers! So, you've shared that you're most like Clara, but if you could dream cast your novels, who would you pick for the roles?
This is a hard question for me, and one I can answer in two ways: I can either tell you an actor that resembled the characters when I was originally drafting, or an actor who I think might have a shot at actually playing the character if they shot the movies today. For instance, when I was originally drafting Clara she had a definite Amanda Seyfried vibe for me, with a little Rachel McAdams tossed in, both of whom are definitely too old to play Clara now. If I was casting her now I’d go with Anna Sophia Robb or Dakota Fanning, I think. Christian had some Zac Ephron with some Adam Gregory tossed in there when I was writing the book, and while I didn’t have any particular actor in mind for Tucker, I think he has a bit of a Kellan Lutz thing going. For Angela I’d probably cast Frances Cobain, and for Maggie, Charlize Theron or Nicole Kidman.
Would you ever write this story, or even any part of it, from a different character’s perspective?
I would and I have. And that’s about all I can say about that at this point, but sometime in the near future I might be able to make an announcement about a project that I’ve been working on that is told, in part, from a different Unearthly point of view.
I kind of think I've read something about that somewhere, but for the sake of not spoiling the news for anyone else who doesn't follow your work as closely as I do -- and in case I'm wrong! -- I'll refrain from making any guesses. Instead, I'll ask what your favorite scene was from the series? And what was your favorite to write, if different?
What comes to mind is a BIG scene at the end, which is very emotional. I had been avoiding writing it all that particular work day, working in the library at Pepperdine, which I sometimes do. I was on the way back to pick up my kids, and I was listening to a CD I’d made of songs I thought embodied the feeling of the last book, and it was like this scene just reared up and slapped me upside the head. I fumbled for my phone and dictated as much as I could get down of the dialogue as it came to me, and when I arrived at my daycare lady’s house, I asked her if I could sit for a minute and write so I didn’t lose any of the important stuff. So for about ten minutes I scribbled furiously, and it was so emotional and so powerful that I was almost crying when I finished. I love writing like that. It’s so intense and wonderful and why I wanted to be a writer to begin with.
Did you set out to break our hearts with this series? Will we need a box of tissues while we read Boundless? [There should have been a warning like that on the cover for Hallowed, just sayin’. :0) ]
Aw. No, I don’t set out to break hearts, although mine gets broken, too, when I write sometimes (see above). I just try to tell the story in as true a fashion as I can. I had a marketing idea for Hallowed where I would give out custom printed packages of tissues at events that read, “You’re going to need these,” but that turned out to be surprisingly expensive. As for Boundless, there are a couple of scenes where my beta readers welled up, which is about all I can say. If you cried during Hallowed, you’re likely to cry during Boundless.
Great. Better stock up on tissues then. :P Did you know how it would all end when you set out to tell Clara’s story? Meaning, did you know who she would end up with? And I know that you’re not even going to give us a hint as to whom that might be, but does Clara end up with who you wanted her to be with, or did she make up her mind for you?
Tricky question. Almost all along I knew who I wanted Clara to end up with, but she took some turns along the way that made me less certain. She definitely has a mind of her own, which is scary, since she came from my mind! In the end, I think it all turns out the way it was meant to turn out. How’s that for cryptic?
Very. But I wouldn't expect anything less. Can you share a teaser from Boundless that hasn’t been shared anywhere else? (That scene posted for the YA Scavenger Hunt earlier this year gave me tingles!)
Sigh. I wish I could. What’s ironic is that the teaser I gave out earlier was all but cut from the book this week, so that scene, for the most part, won’t end up in Boundless after all. Such is the revision process. I’m at the stage now where I’m cutting scenes again, but I don’t have permission to share any of these or any of the other scenes from the book.
Whaaaa? I loved that scene! Okay, I understand, though. I read your recent blog post about revisions and deleted scenes and such, so I know that even though it's cut from the book, it's not gone forever. *sigh* So, you keep hinting at your next project but you’ve yet to share ANY details. Are you at liberty to share anything about the secret project yet? C’mon…just a hint? ;0)
Well. Let’s see. One great thing for me at this point is that I have tons of ideas. Too many ideas. actually have three separate projects laid out for myself, all very different worlds from the Unearthly universe, and all very different from each other—one of them is very gritty and intense and real, one’s a swords and spells kind of fantasy/retelling of a famous incident in British history, and one’s a contemporary that’s very close to my heart and will probably near kill me to write. I haven’t sold any of these projects yet—I am waiting to wrap up Boundless before I start preparing to submit new stuff, but the project that I am burning to write next is the gritty one, with a character who is like the lunar opposite of Clara, stoic and silent—really silent. I wrote a bit of this over the summer in between edits for Boundless, and it was so fun to take on something so entirely new. That said, I must reiterate that none of these projects have sold yet, which means that none of them may get written. I may have an entirely new idea or be guided in a completely different direction, and I’m open to that, but I hope that I’ll get to write all three of these stories someday. . .
And I hope that I get to READ all three of those stories someday! Thanks so much, Cynthia, for stopping by and letting me pick your brain. I'm so glad to be able to share with everyone why you're such a rockstar author. Though, I'm sure plenty have already figured that out on their own.
The lovely Cynthia Hand has graciously offered up the following prizes to you guys:
- A signed copy of Hallowed to one winner
- Bookmarks and bookplates to three other winners
So, that's four winners/prizes in all! If that alone doesn't make her a rockstar, I don't know what does. (Please note that this giveaway is for US residents only.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you didn't think Cynthia Hand was a Rockstar Author before, I hope I've convinced you otherwise. And if you haven't read the
Unearthly series yet...why not?
Good luck & happy reading!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Blog Tour: Boundless by Cynthia Hand - Interview
You guys have no idea how excited I am to have Cynthia Hand stop back by the blog today for an interview as part of the Boundless Blog Tour hosted by Mundie Moms! The last time she stopped by for a chat, we got serious about her books, but I thought we'd do something a little different for today's stop on the tour. But first, a little bit about the final -- *sniff* -- book in the bestselling Unearthly series:
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly, the third and final book
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Excerpt: Browse Inside Boundless
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 fulfil 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.
And in case you're curious what I thought of the final book in the Unearthly series, you can find my spoiler-free review here. The teaser trailer for Boundless is below:
What is your favorite color?
It changes, but mostly I am attracted to purples and blues. Which has worked out well with my book covers.
Yes, it has! And what pretty covers they are...they always depict really pretty scenery, besides the girl in a beautiful dress. =) What is your favorite season or time of year?
I love that part of the year that is between seasons, when winter gives way to spring or when summer fades into fall. The changing part.
I loved your descriptions of the weather and scenery in the Unearthly series. I have a habit of always wishing it were the next season as soon as I get tired of the weather. Do you have any bad habits?
Two that come to mind straight-away. Nail-biting, which I do when I am nervous or stressed. And being a know-it-all, which I find that I also do when I am nervous or stressed. Two habits I would very much like to break!
Nothing wrong with being a know-it-all in my book. You'd come in handy when traveling. Where is the most amazing place you’ve ever visited?
Delphi, Greece, in a snowstorm. Knossos, Crete, eating a fresh orange. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul. Hemingway's writing room in Key West, Florida. Or standing in front of the Grand Teton mountains at sunset. I'm a traveler by nature. It's hard to pick just one, as I find magic in all sorts of places.
Wow...you've been to some fabulous places, and I bet you've eaten some equally fabulous meals in those places. What is your favorite comfort food?
I like Hershey's Symphony bars with toffee, as a chocolate rescue. And I make this yummy cheesy vegetable soup, for days I just don't feel very good and want to get warm and cozy.
Now for some deeper questions. Who is the person you’d most like to meet, living or not?
Jane Austen would be a hoot, I think. Hemingway, who I find both irritating and fascinating. As for living people, I think I would gravitate toward authors I admire but haven't met in person yet: Maggie Stiefvater, John Green, Lauren Oliver.
Speaking of all of those equally awesome authors you'd like to meet, who is your favorite author?
No way I can go with only one. See above.
Okay, okay, it would be hard for me to pick just one, too. What is your favorite book?
I'd sooner pick a star in the heavens than a favorite book, but I have a few staples I keep coming back to, starting with To Kill A Mockingbird, which was probably the first book where I noticed the language as much as the story. Such a lovely voice, TKAM.
I loved To Kill a Mockingbird, but I'm probably due for a re-read...it's been awhile. Who is your favorite heroine and why?
Again, I find it impossible to pick an out and out favorite, but one that comes instantly to mind is Evie, from Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series. Because I love a girl who can kick butt and crack jokes at the same time. Which harkens back to another fave heroine of mine: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Ah, good ole reliable Buffy. :) I was more a fan of the show than the movie, myself. Do you usually enjoy movies based on books? Do you hope that your books will one day be made into movies?
Yes, I usually love to see movies that are based on books, although I often leave the theater feeling a tiny, tiny bit empty, because the movie couldn't possibly live up to what it was in my head. But, having said that, I'm pretty easy to please with movies. It would be amazing to see my books as movies, a final step in the process of having others share what at first was only a bunch of fragments and images in my head. So cool.
Aside from the love triangle, which we’ve previously discussed, what are some other tropes you’d like to see die a slow and painful death?
This is going to sound ironic considering how I just professed love for Buffy, but I am growing weary with the "heroine who's just as tough as a man" characters. Don't get me wrong-- I loved Katniss, but these days I kind of yawn when I open a book to find a character who is clearly trying to be defined as "strong" because she can wield a gun (or crossbow or sword or whatever) and hates the color pink and doesn't know how to express her emotions to a guy. I feel a lot of friction with the idea that women have to behave "like men" to be considered strong. I'm also tired of bad, dysfunctional families in fiction: uncaring, absent parents, orphans, etc. I understand why authors do this (if the adults aren't present, it makes the teen character accountable for themselves and responsible for solving their own problems, which is better for story-telling) but I also think that if you cut out the family as a writer you are going to miss out on one of the most powerful relationship dynamics there is.
I completely agree about the absentee parents in YA fiction. In fact, I just did a post on this. So, do you prefer to read a book all in one sitting or pace yourself to get the full effect of the story?
I read hungrily and greedily, and I hate to put a book down in the middle.
I'm sure many of your readers feel the same, myself included. Now that you’re a bestselling author, how many books do you think you read a year? How has this number changed after your success?
I read about 60 books this year, which is about the same, give or take 5-10 that I've read for the past few years, maybe a little more, since I have more money these days to spend on books. My "success" hasn't changed the way I approach reading. I like to think of myself as a student, and, in many ways, still a beginner to this writing gig, and also a true lovers of stories, so I read books in order to study and grow, and, at the end of the day, to immerse myself in another world for a little while.
Ha, I like that..."since I have more money these days to spend on books"...and I'm glad to hear that being an established author hasn't slowed your reading down at all. Since you can still buy and read all the books even though you're a fancy author lady, which 2013 release are you most looking forward to?
The finale to Anna Carey's EVE series (RISE), the finale to Veronica Roth's Divergent series, the finale to Moira Young's Blood Red Road series. Sheesh. A lot of finales.
I know! I'm so sad to see sooo many of my favorite series end this year, including yours! Alas, all good things must come to an end, right? And since it’s that time of year, I have to ask. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Care to share with us?
I did resolve to write two full novels this year. This may kill me, as I'm not very fast, as a writer, but I am aiming for two!
Wow! That's an incredible goal! Thanks for stopping by today, Cynthia! I wish you all the success and accolades you deserve!
I hope you learned something new about the author today! Be sure to stop by I Read Banned Books today, as well, because Jen has a guest post from Cynthia for her stop. And be sure to check out all of the other stops on the tour here...some have giveaways! Special thanks to Mundie Moms, HarperTeen and Cynthia Hand for allowing me to be a part of this tour!
Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly, the third and final book
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Source: ARC from publisher for blog tour
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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 fulfil 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.
Fair warning: I'm probably going to ramble -- without spoilers -- in this review and it might get painfully awkward at times. My apologies in advance. But when one of your favorite series comes to an end, a fair amount of gushing and tears is expected...deserved, even. Yes, I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters, but I'm also happy to have met them.
The first thing that always strikes me when I pick up a Cynthia Hand novel is how genuine, how authentic they feel. Clara's voice is sincere and realistic...she sounds like a real teenager -- not the facade that television or society might think of as one, but an actual teenager. Clara is tenacious and snarky and completely relatable...aside from that whole angel-blood thing. The dialogue in these books is superbly done, as if I'm having a conversation with old friends, not just reading about it. And Clara's interactions with other characters are as unpretentious as always, even when she's dealing with a Black Wing. If there's one character I wish were real, it's Clara...I'd make her my best friend in a heartbeat. I've always assumed that Clara was a reflection of the author, so in that case, Can we be best friends, Cynthia? :0)
Something else to take note of in Hand's novels is the importance of family. Sure, Clara and Jeffrey's father wasn't around much during the formidable teenage years, but not by choice, and they had the most awesome, caring mother to make up for it. Maggie is the mother of all YA mothers, and she proves that there doesn't have to be a lack of parental figures in a young adult's life for them to find their share of trouble. Even Clara's wayward brother Jeffrey plays an important role in this series...he's not just a barely there side character. In fact, none of the secondary cast of characters is a bit player. They all have a significant role in how the bigger picture unfolds.
And what a big, beautiful picture this series has turned out to be! So many things I never saw coming! More visions. More danger. More everything. The pacing starts off nice and slow, with Clara embarking on her first year of college at Stanford, but for an angel-blood having visions of doom and gloom, life is never easy. Clara soon begins to wonder if she's been deluding herself into believing that she might be able to lead a normal life. But just as Clara has discovered with her purpose, things happen for a reason, whether you believe in fate or not. There were some truly pivotal moments in this final book, some that I can't yet comment upon, but this story is such a thing of beauty.
So much transpires in this novel, so many secrets and hidden truths uncovered, and yet, just as I was figuring things out for myself, so were the characters. I didn't have to wait 100 pages for them to catch on, which is really refreshing. Just goes to show how truly genuine the characters and story are...we're always on the same page.
Even with Clara's decision to distance herself from Tucker in order to protect him. I usually hate when a fictional guy does this to a girl. But in Clara's case, we already know the danger; we know it's not a gimmick. The Black Wings are a real threat. Doesn't make it hurt less, though. At the end of Hallowed, I couldn't have told you if Clara would end up with Tucker or Christian...and I couldn't have made that decision myself, if I'd been in her shoes. Both were equally good to her and for her, in their own ways. In Boundless, that isn't any less true. Both think that they are each meant to be with Clara. She's definitely got a difficult road and some tough choices ahead of her.
Lots of changes in Boundless. Lots of appearances from old friends. It's a lot to take in. But it's a satisfying ending to a breath-taking series that I won't soon forget. I can't imagine having never met these characters or sharing in their experiences as they came to terms with who and what they were. Full of humor, love, and possibility, this brilliant series is not to be missed. I can't wait to see what else Cynthia Hand has up her sleeve!
Rating:
Also, don't forget to stop back by on the 24th for a Q & A with the author -- in which she divulges what type of reader she is -- as part of the Boundless Blog Tour hosted by Mundie Moms!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Short Story Sunday #3: Radiant by Cynthia Hand
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week's featured story is:
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly, book #2.5
Publisher: HarperTeen Impulse
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Source: purchased ebook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .
For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met a mysterious guy in Italy two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.
Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever.
I can't say enough great things about Cynthia Hand's fabulous writing, but I will say that if you're already two books deep into this series, you MUST read this novella. Radiant is split between both Clara and Angela's (!) points-of-view, and it is done with such ease that it's almost as if you're having a conversation with the two girls. But what you really take away from this short story is a little better insight into Angela's character, as well as the introduction of a new character who may become very important in the final chapter of Clara's story.
*Sigh* I like Angela's character. I do. But I've never fully trusted her. She frequently admonished her fellow angel-bloods for keeping secrets, spouting, "No secrets in Angel Club." But she was never very forthcoming with details on her mysterious romance in Italy, nor the source of all of her information regarding the angel-bloods. True to form, she continues to be vague and only divulges what is absolutely necessary to Clara when mystery man's identity is revealed. Yet it's not secrecy but an act of ultimate betrayal that may be the demise of her friendship with Clara...or worse.
Clara's point-of-view in Radiant is just so sad. She's dwelling on all she's lost...all the people she's lost in only a matter of months, and not even the beauty of Rome can ease her troubled mind. After the events in Hallowed, it was obvious she would need time to heal -- don't we all?!? -- but a summer away from everything isn't going to be enough, especially when Angela has given her new reasons to worry. I'm worried, too, after that seriously foreboding last line.
If I wasn't already anticipating the release of Boundless, this novella would have made sure I was. That tease of Boundless at the end didn't help matters either. Now I just want to sleep until the release of the last novel in the series. I'm afraid I might need to take a week off work, too, when it's released. If memory serves, I could have used some time to myself after Hallowed, and I'm afraid things aren't going to be any easier after Boundless.
Rating:
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Waiting on Wednesday: Boundless by Cynthia Hand
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selection is...
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 seemed 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 choose her fate once and for all.
Why I'm waiting: Well, I've been waiting since I shed all those tears for Clara in Hallowed. I can't wait to read Boundless and find out how it all ends...and, of course, who Clara picks! =D Luckily, the Radiant novella just released this week, so I have something to keep me going until Boundless releases at the end of next month. It's been torture, but we're almost there!!!
By the way, how excited are you about HarperTeen's new digital imprint IMPULSE? Which novellas will you be picking up...or have you already gotten them all? =)
You know I'm salivating over the end of the Unearthly series, but what are you waiting on this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can stop by!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Authors Are Rockstars Tour: Cynthia Hand
But Cynthia Hand? That woman has truly attained ROCKSTAR status. She writes about characters who are just finding themselves, who need guidance and friendship and love. And these characters all feel so legitimately real, as if they could walk off the pages of Hand's books and onto the streets of our world. Cynthia Hand has written one of my favorite series ever, such a convincing take on angel lore, one that is emotionally draining but also uplifting. And she did it all while raising a family AND teaching classes at Pepperdine University. This woman is amazing and inspiring, and she's an author that all aspiring authors can look up to.
And I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be hosting her for my stop on the Authors Are Rockstars Tour! Below, you'll find my interview with Cynthia Hand, as well as a fabulous author-donated (cause she's just that awesome) giveaway. But first, a little about her novels and the author herself:
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.
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.
As of this post, there's not a synopsis available for Boundless, but as this is the final book in the Unearthly series, you know it's going to go out with a bang. :D
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | HarperTeen
The lovely Cynthia Hand has graciously offered up the following prizes to you guys:
So, that's four winners/prizes in all! If that alone doesn't make her a rockstar, I don't know what does. (Please note that this giveaway is for US residents only.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you didn't think Cynthia Hand was a Rockstar Author before, I hope I've convinced you otherwise. And if you haven't read the Unearthly series yet...why not?
Good luck & happy reading!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
In My Mailbox #17
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's a weekly meme where we all get to brag about the books and swag we got in the mail, for review, won in contests, etc.
Won:
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - from Jen at I Read Banned Books, signed by author + swag
Purchased:
A Million Suns by Beth Revis
Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate
I know, I know. I've already read, or am currently reading, three of these titles. What can I say? I like pretty books, and I like how they look on my shelves. Plus, I'm a little obsessive-compulsive, and I need to have complete series on my shelves, preferably in the same format as other titles in the series, but I'll take what I can get sometimes.
So...what was waiting for you in your mailbox this week?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Uncovered - 1/9/12
I loved Sweet Venom, and as soon as I finished it, I immediately wanted to read more of Grace, Gretchen, and Greer's story. Sisters descended from Medusa? Count me in! I can't find a firm release date for Sweet Shadows, but it's slated for this year. Gorgons FTW!
If you haven't read Unearthly, you'd better get on it. The much-anticipated sequel, Hallowed, releases next Tuesday (1/17), and if those covers weren't gorgeous enough, here's the trailer for the second installment:
Thoughts?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Author: Cynthia Hand
Series: Unearthly
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Source: publisher via Netgalley
Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Rating:
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 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.
Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.
Words…I have no words.
But if I had to sum up Hallowed in just one, that word would be GLORY-ous. See what I did there?
Okay, my notes are a little sloppy with this one, so bear with me, guys. It was simply too hard to pull myself away from the book for any length of time in order to write more legibly. First, I want to discuss why Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly series is streets ahead of other offerings in the YA genre. I almost want to call it the anti-YA novel, but that might imply that I find something wrong with YA books, and that is certainly not the case. I actually prefer young-adult novels for the most part. But it just seems to me that this author strives for her books to expand upon all those things that leave most YA novels lacking, and in turn, make her novel better than most.
For instance, I really appreciate that Clara has a normal family life. And they’re actually close. The mother-daughter bonding in this series is rather unusual for this genre but it is so welcome. There is such a sense of family and community, made more obvious when Clara meets more of her angel brethren. Sometimes in YA novels, it’s almost as if characters have to be shipped off to boarding school, or the parents are married to their work and not involved at all, in order for the characters to make mistakes and eventually end up in the situations they do. What happened to a loving, caring family? I know they still exist…I came from one. So, it is quite refreshing to see that Clara can manage to get herself into sticky situations all on her own while still maintaining a normal upbringing and keeping her mother’s trust. Well, as much as any teenage girl can. But it’s easy to see that although Clara’s family is not all together, they still love each other and try to protect one another.
Speaking of love, I have to discuss the triangle, of course. I knew it was coming after the events of Unearthly; I just didn’t know it was going to be so perfect. I am not the biggest fan of love triangles, but when done properly, I can appreciate them. In this series, the author expertly described Clara falling in love with one boy in the first book, and then in the next book, the reader can see how Clara develops feelings for the other boy, though never wavering in her love for the first. It’s amazing how she can paint this picture of two burgeoning relationships and never make me want to commit acts of violence against Clara for her lack of conviction. I said this in my review of Unearthly earlier this year, and I stand by it: “And the love story? It's the one that little girls dream of. It's so beautifully told, and so expertly woven, that you can't believe you didn't expect it from the very beginning.”
A lot happened in the span of a summer, and it’s changed the characters…made them more determined, more mature and definitely more real. Sure, Clara’s spent a lot of time focused on a boy, but he was her “purpose”. Now she’s got to move on and figure out what the next step is, but Clara is strong and unwavering. She will do what has to be done, but it will be on her own terms. The love interests both have their strengths, as well, and I would have a hard time deciding which boy to share a future with, too, if I was Clara. I adore Tucker and his country charm, but it’s easy to be distracted by Christian, especially when all signs point to him being Clara’s soulmate. The relationship--nay, the friendship--doesn’t develop overnight between Clara and Christian, though; it actually takes Clara quite a while to really make room for Christian in her life. But as the time passes, it’s easy to see how Clara could fall for Christian. I was completely over the moon with Tucker, and even I fell for Christian.
But the author is partly to blame for that, since she did write one of the most poignant and emotional novels I’ve read. Clara’s sarcastic wit had me laughing out loud one minute, and the next, I was sobbing, much to the chagrin of my husband, who hates to see me cry. And I don’t normally cry when I’m reading because most books don’t usually touch my heart the way Hallowed did. But it was so sad and so unbelievably heart-breaking that it was almost unbearable.
What’s more unbearable is having to wait for the next book, with all the theories and hopes swirling around in my head. I think this second installment did a great job of answering some of the questions concerning Clara’s angel heritage and is moving the storyline flawlessly toward Clara’s purpose. If not for work and sleep, I would have happily read this book in one sitting. Even if you don’t normally like angel-themed books, I dare you not to enjoy this series.
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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