Unearthly

By: Cynthia Hand

Narrated by: Samantha Quan

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2011 Cynthia Hand (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Fantastic story, horrible narrator.

GREAT story, the ending is compelling! It's hard to stop reading/listening. However, I must say the narrator is NOT my favorite. She confuses character voices frequently. She even confused male/female voices a couple times!! Ugh. And, she also had a hard time pulling out of the character voice back to the narrator tone. I found it all very distracting and annoying! So I gave it 4 stars. Story deserves 5 stars, but narrator flaws lowered it.

Exciting, edge of seat conclusion!

My daughter and I listened to this book, which was narrated by Samantha Quan and we really enjoyed it.

Although the synopsis says that Clara recently learned she’s part angel, I think it should have been Clara, who is part angel, just recently started having visions about her purpose. Every Angelblood has a purpose on earth, a task they must do, but they aren’t told exactly what the task is or what they are supposed to do about it. They are given little bits and pieces through visions and they have to figure it out themselves.

As the time for her purpose gets closer and closer, Clara’s angel powers will begin to grow and she should become more focused on her purpose. But that is what she should be doing, not what she is doing. What could distract this little angel from her purpose? Real life and love. How can she choose what might be for what is? What happens if she falls in love and doesn’t complete her purpose?

My daughter and I were right on the edge of our seats at the end of this book! So many things all coming together as the big day finally approaches. So many twists and turns. If the second book was already out, we would have downloaded it immediately!

The narrator Samantha Quan did an excellent job with this book. Her voice was age appropriate and easy to listen to. I hope she narrates the second book also.

Fantastic story

This is a wonderful coming of age story. The whole angel thing, although undeniably a prominent backdrop, is really overall secondary to the character's growth as a person. Self-esteem, identity, friendship, love - they're all the themes of this story. It is well-worth the read. Samantha Quan is a great narrator. If you're into Young Adult fiction and have any qualms about angels or the supernatural, this book may change your mind.

unearthed

What made the experience of listening to Unearthly the most enjoyable?

Samantha is a good reader

What other book might you compare Unearthly to and why?

not sure of the name but I read a book many years ago similar to this

What about Samantha Quan’s performance did you like?

she has a pleasant voice to listen too. and has enough voice change in the characters to make it interesting

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

it was a little long and may of been able to shorten of few areas up. but overall I think it was a pretty good book

I don't like the ending it makes no sense at all

I don't think this book really makes sense the store is told ok but the end simply doesn't suit it at all

Wished I read it sooner!

Would you listen to Unearthly again? Why?

No, but I'm not one to go through any books twice.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I didn't like the voice used for the friends.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

?

Any additional comments?

It was better then the description explains.

Girl teen Angels don't have it easy either...

What made the experience of listening to Unearthly the most enjoyable?

Great plot and sensitive writing, particularly the internal dialog of teen angel and the smooth transition into ambiguous ending. Excellent reader, with minimal lapses of designated character Voices.

What did you like best about this story?

The layers of excellence: innovative plot, mother-daughter relationship details, character development, fullness of the Angel blood culture/history that unfolds as the plot does.

What does Samantha Quan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The Voice she gives Clara. A wonderful example is when Clara is bringing forth Glory @ her mother's request, and she recalls the fish joke: Samantha Quan's inflection of "Damn!" has such an emotional punch.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes!

Any additional comments?

High school proms didn't begin to be in "full swing" within the first hour of starting. At least, not when I was in high school. Nor even when my 20-year old daughter was! In fact, the prom scene was the most discordant to my experience.

Unearthly

I thought the narrator did a great job. Loved the story. Very unique for the genre and kept me listening.

Loved the book!

I would have really enjoyed the narrator as well. It was just so challenging to hear her mispronounce “Teton” over and over again. Silly but kind of important. Learn how to pronounce names like the locals would. It adds significantly to the narration. I will listen to the rest of the series. Excellent action and adventure.

Loving this book series keeps my interest

This is a great series. Can’t wait to get into the next book. It kept my interest the story was well written and read well. It has me wanting the next book and that’s what I like. I will not continue to read a book when it boars me and will shut it right in the middle. This kept me wanting to stay in the car to listen more. About two kids brother and sister who find out the are part angel and that they get a purpose that they have to fulfill but also life gets in the way and finding out the mother is a witch but she keeps all information a secret unless they need to know witch causes issues for the daughter and the brother is having a troublesome time with everything. After getting visions about her purpose they move to wear the vision has taken her. But is this vision what she thinks it is and will she complete the purpose. In a new school she finds new friends and love and the boy from her vision goes to the new school were she gets to know everything about him that she can. I’m all over the place with this trying not to give any real giveaway info just know it’s a real good nice clean story for young adults and older and I love paranormal and this was great and the angel subject is a fav