Book Review: Boundless

Boundless (Unearthly #3)
Published By: HarperTeen
Publication Date: January 22, 2013
Page Count: 448
Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher
Audience: Young Adult - Paranormal Romance, Angels

Woah. Where to start?! Unearthly was a cute, semi-serious book about a klutzy girl, Clara, who was trying to find her feet in a new school (and life as an Angel-Blood) and save the school’s resident hottie, Christian, because she’d had a vision about him dying in horrific forest fire. Along the way she fell for her BFF’s brother, Tucker, the swoonsome cowboy who rode off with my heart. I was expecting Hallowed to be much of the same, more swooning, a bit of angst, more Angel-Blood lore and some action. Instead, it ripped a hole in my heart. Clara had to deal with the loss of a very dear loved one, and it was utterly profound. Bar, consider yourself raised. So what was I expecting from Boundless? I hardly knew.

Boundless was phenomenal. It almost defies description; so much happened. The story got blown wide open time and time again by events that I totally didn’t see coming. Every character saw growth and challenges. There were some really poignant bits, and some bits that made me want to slap Clara, Tucker and Christian about the head. And Jeffrey, Clara’s brother... he was definitely in need of a sobering slap, just for dating such a horrific specimen.

I don’t feel like I can, or should, talk too much about the plot because it will spoil the earlier books in the series, and I would hate for someone to have Boundless spoiled in any sense. I will say that I think it is quite important that fans of the series read Radiant, the #2.5 novella which falls in between Hallowed and Boundless. It might have been a little confusing to read Boundless without it.

What I can’t get over is the ending. PERFECT, and yet also kind of soul-destroying. I really came to care for both Tucker and Christian in an above-average way through this series, and it tore me up that one of them would lose out. Clearly both guys were just so right and so in love with Clara. By the way, could I please be Clara? A super-hot angel guy who literally understands her to the core and a ridiculously cute manly cowboy who calls her Carrots, both after her? Oh the poor girl!!! And she gets superpowers?! How I don’t hate this girl is a mystery... She is all kinds of awesome though, despite being a bit lame about choosing her guy, but then I couldn’t blame her really. She really comes through in the end, and she kept me on the edge of my seat through the whole ride.

Things I really enjoyed... the appearance of ‘Web’ (I won’t say any more), Stanford and its new challenges, and the various “Luke, I’m your father” type moments. Things which irked me: O Jeffrey, Jeffrey! Wherefore art thou Jeffrey? Seriously, he needed more face-time, and I want to know more generally about him and his life as an angel-blood. I’d ideally like a novella just about him now. More Tucker needed too. That’s about it. Oh and the epilogue... normally fast-forwarding ten years or so into the future is a bit gratuitous at the end of books (particularly in Mockingjay), but it felt good here.

All in all, Boundless rounds out a stellar series, which is absolutely one to read and push to all young adult readers... it really IS that good. Other books about angels don’t even come close.



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.



Comments

  1. I am so torn with the ending! I think it was perfect as well but I also felt so.. unresolved for you know who. I really enjoyed your review. I agree it was hard to review without giving away some major spoilers

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome review Jen! We both loved this book and the entire series sooo much! I know exactly what/who Kristen was referring to...and it was sad and a bit unresolved too. I would totally be on board if Cynthia wrote more...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have only read the first book but I fell in love with Tucker in it. I really need to finish this series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The first book pales in comparison to the middle and final books in the series. Honestly, they are so good they make it look average, and I really liked Hallowed!

      Delete
  4. Oh nice review! Sadly I never got to reading this one and starting to think I should. But I haven't read the first two books in forever! I read those when Netgalley got them, so we're talking ARC reading here! Plus I never knew there was a novella! I've got serious backtracking reading to do! And shopping too since I don't copies of any of them anymore!

    Great review! Seriously, I think I need to go buy these books now and read them again! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is a series which kept getting better and better - probably one of the very few examples of that happening that I can think of. It would REALLY be worth you delving back in!

      Delete
  5. I'm swooning already! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This was an awesome book and an awesome series! Love the ending too, and the epilogue:)

    Lovely review:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. There will be so much swooning, you will find it hard to pick!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I could read lots of spinoff series off this world! It's so unique and beautifully written and I connected with Clara immediately.:)

    Lovely review:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Another series I haven't read...:( I keep putting it off because I'm still not not sure if this series is for me. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've never been a big fan of angels in books, and frankly, I'm not sure why. Guess we'll chalk it up to one bad experience that turned me off. With you saying it is an awesome series and pumping it up like you have, I have to give it a try.
    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fredamans...I've read other 'angel' books and think I know what you mean...you WON'T be disappointed with this one...it truly IS amazing! Very well done!

      Delete
    2. Thanks. I will definitely keep that in mind.

      Delete
  11. I LOVED THIS SERIES. My heart couldn't take it when I read the epilogue. I loved the happy ending between Tucker and Clara, but Christian! WHERE IS HIS HAPPY ENDING? I remember hating him in the first book, but after Hallowed, he grew on me. I'm so conflicted between them both that I have such a hard time choosing which boy I liked better.

    Anyways, lovely review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know Holly Anne! I hope/wish Cynthia would continue with this series! I felt the same way!

      Delete
  12. I was very satisfied with the ending to this series and for Clara picking the right guy for her! :) I have a feeling there will be a spin- off series with Christian as main protagonist.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Okay. Another series I have been putting off buying. It's so reassuring to read that a series ends as well as it should. I've never read any angel books so this just became my top choice next time I'm shopping for angel books! Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

We love your comments!