Book Review: Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Pages: 438

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: January 22, 2013

Source: Personal Copy

Series: Unearthly (#1), Hallowed (#2)

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "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."

Clara is going to college in California along with Christian and Angela.  This past year has been tough on her. She has lost her mom, her brother is M.I.A. and she isn't with Tucker anymore.  This is because she wants to protect him and she knows that leaving to go to school in California is the best option she has.  Just when she starts to settle into college life, she notices that she is being followed by a Black Wing.  To make matter worse, Angela stops hanging out with her and becomes elusive and withdrawn.  Clara spends more and more time with Christian, especially when they realize they are having the same new vision.  Cynthia Hand's Boundless, the final book in the Unearthly series, is an outstanding conclusion to one of the best series about angels I've ever read.

Clara is coming to grips with her life as an important angel. While at Stanford, she realizes that she will never have the "normal" college life.  She has to deal with a Black Wing on her tail and a new disturbing vision.  In the far corners of her heart, she still loves Tucker and can't get him from her mind; nonetheless, she tries desperately to forget about him....tries being the operative word.  Christian and Clara have their chance(finally!) in Boundless, but let's just say, despite Tucker being miles away, he isn't far from Clara's mind.

Angela took me by surprise in Boundless. I wish I read the novella Radiant in order to gain more insight as to what exactly happened when Clara and Angela were in Italy as it's referenced a lot. In the previous books, Angela was always so confident and a know-it-all, but in Boundless, she gets herself into a precarious situation and at first, instead of seeking out her best friend, Clara, she hides from her.  Once she comes clean, readers will finally understand Angela's purpose and how her new predicament creates a whole new world of problems for Clara and the gang.  Speaking of surprises, readers will finally figure out what is up with Jeffrey, Clara's brother. Although I can sympathize with him, he drove me nuts in Hallowed and towards the beginning of Boundless. Thankfully, we get some answers.

Although I am not completely a fan of the ending, I recognize that Hand had to end it somehow and am overall content with the ending.  The Unearthly series has been one of my favorites. Hand's beautiful writing has made me smile, cry, and swoon.  I never thought I would enjoy a series about angels as much as I do.  I'm so sad to see it end, but at least I turned the final page of Boundless with a smile on my face.