Boundless (Unearthly #3)

   There have been many times when I have been fooled by pretty book covers, but the Unearthly series is one of the few series in which the writing is as good as its gorgeous covers. I was eagerly anticipating the release of Boundless, but I was sad to see this series end. Boundless is a strong and satisfying conclusion to an incredible series that sets a new standard for supernatural romance.

Description: The past few years held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner ever could have anticipated. Yet through the dizzying high of first love to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she could no longer deny was that she was never meant to have a normal life.

Review: Beautifully written and filled with humor, wide range of emotions, and depth Boundless is maturer than its predecessors both in tone and by its characters, who are embracing their adulthood. As the book opens, Clara begins her freshman year at Stanford University. Full of excitement and nerves, she is trying to balance a normal college life and has yet to identify her divine purpose as an angel. Clara still feels the absence of those she loves, even though Angela and Christian are both there at school with her. It's been a few months since she has had any contact with Tucker after the events that took place in Hallowed, but she just can't stop thinking about him. Every decision Clara makes not only has an impact on her own future but also has an effect on the safety and happiness of those she holds so dear.
   What I loved about this series compared to other angel books that I've tried- and failed to grab my attention- is the unique spin of the age old theme of free will versus fate. Clara, like all the angels in the Unearthly series, has a mission that she needs to complete. She once thought that mission might be involve saving a boy from a fire, but since then her mission has evolved and changed. Clara only receives snippets of clues, but it is up to her to put all of the clues back together. I've been worried that Clara's goal would revolve around romantic interests, but I'm thrilled to find out that the mission is much more deep than that and it was something that I didn't expect at all. I was also very glad that the mission didn't take the turn of preachy religion, but it was more geared toward introspection and life choices.
    There were a few surprises along the way, which I did have a hunch about but couldn't fully explain why I felt them. I know some readers did have issues with the villain and the lack of explanation of what he wanted, but I didn't think that was the focus of this series which is solely focused on Clara's actions. There were many sweet moments in the book, both of visiting characters we missed as well as romantic moments that made me smile. The romance is just as strong here as the other books. Hand addresses what if questions in many different scenarios, but she stayed true to her characters. I was very happy with how she dealt with the love triangle.
  If you have thought about picking up books that feature angels, be sure to read this one first. The writing is very nicely done and the characters are great. I look forward to reading more books by Hand.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is a scene of underage drinking and sex is implied. Recommended for strong Grade 7 readers and up.

If you like this book try: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Kiss by an Angel series by Elizabeth Chandler, Halflings by Heather Burch, A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink