UnearthlyCynthia HandReleased: January 4th, 2011Pages: 435 (hardcover)Publisher: HarperTeenSource: Purchased
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?
Honestly, I hate most angel books because I usually end up being disappointed by the time I finish reading. However, Unearthly was a welcome surprise. From the start, I enjoyed how family-orientated this story is, and the fact that Clara's mother was in-the-know regarding the angel aspects (usually more knowledgeable than our MC). As a narrator, Clara's voice was filled with plenty of fun, fresh humor that made her easy to relate with and root for. While this story didn't "WOW" me the way it did with many other readers, it was great enough to make me curious about the sequel, Hallowed. Highlights: Certain side characters were nicely written - like Tucker, with his quick jokes and chivalrous manners. Hand's writing has a flowing quality to it, where you promise yourself you'll read only one more chapter, and somehow end up incapable of setting the novel aside. Unearthly is exciting, surprising, and entirely enjoyable.
Lowlights: I wish Clara's family had been in the story more. I was left with quite a lot of questions at the end. Clara's slightly stalkerish tendencies around Christian came across as somewhat creepy1. I realize she wanted to protect him, but come on - back off a little.
Rating: 
1 I was thrilled when she stopped obsessing over him. Christian did not interest me at all.22 Can you tell I'm a Tucker fan? :)
Image + Summary from Goodreads
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
Rae CarsonSeptember 20th, 2011432 pages (hardcover)Greenwillow BooksSource: Netgalley and later Purchased for Kindle
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one. But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake....read more at Goodreads.
Honestly, I originally read two chapters, said "meh" and then set the novel aside for the next three months. Obviously, I picked it back up again, and I am very glad that I did.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns begins somewhat inauspiciously, where Carson introduces a heroine that complains too much and inspires too little confidence in her readers. Once 140+ pages pass and an important event takes place, the story comes to life. Elisa's wavering confidence grows. Her somewhat dull personality begins to take on more interesting facets, and she begins to accept herself and her purpose - making it easy to enjoy her character.
I want to say so much more, but this is one of those stories you need to read for yourself so all the surprises aren't spoiled. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is rife with religion, political agendas, secrets, a dash of romance, and plenty of heart-pounding moments as Elisa tries to evade her enemies and draws closer to an impending war. Once you get into this story, there's no setting it aside.
Highlights: It was easy to lose myself in the pages and tumble into the rich and vibrant world Carson created (that is, once the story really got going). Certain characters I did not originally care for became favorites by the end - like Cosmé, or even Elisa1. I loved the whole Malficio group, and Lord Hector. Carson wraps up Elisa's story almost completely and ends on a strong note2.
Lowlights: Some predictability. Elisa at the beginning was difficult to like, to the point where I did set the novel aside. The first 100ish pages were, for the most part, a bit flat and hardly kept my attention.
Rating:
1 I was actually surprised how many characters grew on me by the ending - that's rare. 2 Yay, for an actual resolution + only the slightest tease of the forthcoming sequel.
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