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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
It took a while to hit the good part, but when I did the book flew by. I'm always hesitant after reading the first half of the book if I can finish it or will I be able to recommend it to someone else, but around that point it gets good and i finish it in a couple hours. For a while I think the main characters relationships are also poisonous and should be abandoned in a biohazard container immediately. But then they turn around and are friends and helpful and you think they are perfect. Which probably says something to the accuracy of friendships but sometimes the jealousy is so blatant and toxic that I wish they would stop.
That out of my system, it's a good plot line. If you get side-tracked (or annoyed like me), go read a couple spoilers (I read four before finding my motivation) so you know it's worth finishing. Gemma has to find the Temple and seal the magic again while avoiding everyone (Circe, the Order, the Rakshana, and reality in general) and maintain proper English young lady appearances for everyone (teachers, family, society, new potential boyfriend). I've already expressed my opinion on the friendship but it's Victorian England so I suppose some of it is to be expected but it is really the only thing I can fault with the series. I think I would like it more if some people would grow a backbone and others would get rid of the biohazard material floating around their heads.
Anyways...
It might take me a few years to get to the sequel, but I am well aware that I'll probably attempt the sequel because I mostly like the writing style.
That out of my system, it's a good plot line. If you get side-tracked (or annoyed like me), go read a couple spoilers (I read four before finding my motivation) so you know it's worth finishing. Gemma has to find the Temple and seal the magic again while avoiding everyone (Circe, the Order, the Rakshana, and reality in general) and maintain proper English young lady appearances for everyone (teachers, family, society, new potential boyfriend). I've already expressed my opinion on the friendship but it's Victorian England so I suppose some of it is to be expected but it is really the only thing I can fault with the series. I think I would like it more if some people would grow a backbone and others would get rid of the biohazard material floating around their heads.
Anyways...
It might take me a few years to get to the sequel, but I am well aware that I'll probably attempt the sequel because I mostly like the writing style.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I first read this when I was 13, I was enthrall. It was one of my favorite books, that I'd read. I finally got around to rereading it because I was afraid that it wouldn't hold the same magic it did when I was still that young. Well it didn't disappoint at all! It was just as magical, and all the Christmas bits were described beautifully. It felt like I was there! The moments with Kartik still made my heart race, which I definitely wasn't expecting. The part with the Opium Den, was absolutely heartbreaking. Being someone who's own father is a lot like that, it was definitely very relatable, and heart wrenching. The moment after with Kartik made me cry. I'm so glad I can still say these are some of my favorite books. I almost wish I would had waited for late November to read this, because of all the Christmas aspects, but oh well.
Yes, yes, yes, I totally should continue with this trilogy. Though, I'm always confused when there isn't cliffhangers at the end of a book, but that's my opinion. Moreover, I think this book was a bit too long for what it was, but I survived! I really liked it anyway.
Spoiler
and was suprised about Circe's identity!
3.25 Stars.
I liked Rebel Angels quite a bit more than its predecessor, for I think Libba Bray’s writing has improved and overall I was just more into the story. Once again, though, all of the plot twists were very obvious — especially those regarding Miss Moore and Miss McCleethy.
Apart from that, I did like the developing relationships between the girls, that we got to know their families and some dark secrets and lastly, since I do like romance, I appreciated the characters of Kartik and Simon and the subtlety with which they were woven into the story, never annoyingly present but still there somewhere.
The only questions that now remain for me are: Why is Gemma still so stupidly naive concerning, well, everything? And how has The Sweet Far Thing over 800 pages? What even is supposed to happen anymore? Honestly, I could stop right now after book two and not want for anything. It was a good, ambiguous ending that, in my opinion, would have totally sufficed.
I liked Rebel Angels quite a bit more than its predecessor, for I think Libba Bray’s writing has improved and overall I was just more into the story. Once again, though, all of the plot twists were very obvious — especially those regarding Miss Moore and Miss McCleethy.
Spoiler
The setup for Miss McCleethy was just too in your face to ever be what it seemed and has anyone trusted Miss Moore at any point throughout book one and two, for I sure haven’t?!)Apart from that, I did like the developing relationships between the girls, that we got to know their families and some dark secrets and lastly, since I do like romance, I appreciated the characters of Kartik and Simon and the subtlety with which they were woven into the story, never annoyingly present but still there somewhere.
The only questions that now remain for me are: Why is Gemma still so stupidly naive concerning, well, everything? And how has The Sweet Far Thing over 800 pages? What even is supposed to happen anymore? Honestly, I could stop right now after book two and not want for anything. It was a good, ambiguous ending that, in my opinion, would have totally sufficed.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a wonderful sequal to a fantastic first book. Not only are Bray's characters vivid and full of faults, weaknesses, and completely human, they are easy to be mad at and easy to love, all in the space of two or three sentences.
I'm a fantasy/history addict to anyone who knows me even a little bit, and this book definitely satisified that love of mine.
The twists this book contain, after the explanation and the introduction that happened in the first book, surprises that I had forgotten about since reading it the first time. That I loved. It kept me flipping pages and trying to reach the end so I could finally know what happened!
The mystery is also not fully answered in this book, which is good, considering that there's another book that follows afterwards.
However, the characters didn't seem much changed since the first book. I'm not saying I expected a huge jump in noticeable difference, but something would have been nice. Felicity seems her old bossy, better-than-everyone-self, Ann her usual forlorn sheep who still believes that no one loves her, and Gemma is the puppy who doesn't know how to say no to people.
Not that these characters weren't enjoyable within those contexts, but I think they could have grown out of those contexts a little more, which would have let them go on to make better decisions and not fear the consequences as much.
As good a read the second time as it was the first.
I'm a fantasy/history addict to anyone who knows me even a little bit, and this book definitely satisified that love of mine.
The twists this book contain, after the explanation and the introduction that happened in the first book, surprises that I had forgotten about since reading it the first time. That I loved. It kept me flipping pages and trying to reach the end so I could finally know what happened!
The mystery is also not fully answered in this book, which is good, considering that there's another book that follows afterwards.
However, the characters didn't seem much changed since the first book. I'm not saying I expected a huge jump in noticeable difference, but something would have been nice. Felicity seems her old bossy, better-than-everyone-self, Ann her usual forlorn sheep who still believes that no one loves her, and Gemma is the puppy who doesn't know how to say no to people.
Not that these characters weren't enjoyable within those contexts, but I think they could have grown out of those contexts a little more, which would have let them go on to make better decisions and not fear the consequences as much.
As good a read the second time as it was the first.