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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape
Premise: Gemma Doyle continues on her quest from [b:A Great and Terrible Beauty|3682|A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)|Libba Bray|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1284558475s/3682.jpg|2113193]. It is now Christmastime, and on a brief respite from Spence, she, Felicity, and Ann must figure out how to protect the realms from Circe.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: So I actually enjoyed this novel more than the first one in the series. The setting of London in Christmastime was enchanting, and I loved hearing all of the fashions and trends from 1895. The story line was also easier to follow, and there were more surprises and less exposition of the characters, which I enjoyed. Overall, if you read A Great and Terrible Beauty, I recommend following up with this one as well.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who read A Great and Terrible Beauty. Anyone who enjoys magical realism. Anyone interested in historical YA.
For more thoughts and reviews, see my blog at Bourque's Books.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Thoughts: So I actually enjoyed this novel more than the first one in the series. The setting of London in Christmastime was enchanting, and I loved hearing all of the fashions and trends from 1895. The story line was also easier to follow, and there were more surprises and less exposition of the characters, which I enjoyed. Overall, if you read A Great and Terrible Beauty, I recommend following up with this one as well.
Who Should Read It: Anyone who read A Great and Terrible Beauty. Anyone who enjoys magical realism. Anyone interested in historical YA.
For more thoughts and reviews, see my blog at Bourque's Books.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second installment of the Gemma Doyle trilogy did not disappoint, and I found it to have a much richer depth to the story than the first. Where I wanted additional character development and better world-building in A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels delivered, with the result being a much more gripping story.
One of the biggest things I liked about Rebel Angels is that it's very obviously set in the 19th century, which was something I barely grasped in the first book. Maybe it's because rather than focus strictly on school, Gemma is in London being courted and going to balls. It definitely has a very historic feel to it, which I love. The only problem is that is also have a paranormal feel as well. Normally I would love that both genres come together in one book, but in this book it becomes a bit of a problem. The writing doesn't stick to weaving both genres into one story; rather, the story will hold historical fiction for a few chapters, and suddenly it will become paranormal for a chapter or two. There's always a really defined line between the two genres. Honestly, I would have read this book if it was just a YA historical novel about a girl in London during her Christmas break from boarding school. Because the writing is great. It's very easy to read, quick-paced, etc. Sure, the book is a little unnecessary in length, but that wasn't enough to take away from the story as a whole. I am a little nervous about finishing the series for the sake of an 800-page book, though.
While this is not as good as the first, its still enjoyable.
Everything that I loved about the first book is what I love about this one, but this one does have some issues for me, hence the lower rating.
First things first, this one could have been a lot shorter. We know this is set in the Victorian era, doesn't mean we need all the melodramatic tropes like opium dens, laudanum addictions, all the gossip, fake identities and the possible resulting scandals, young orphaned wards, etc. I get that Gemma, Felicity and Ann's real lives are still going on while dealing with the realms, but some was a bit much. Also, it dragged in some places.
My other issue was characterization. I cant quite pin it down, but some things made it feel like these aren't the same girls from the previous book. It honestly felt like they didn't really develop from when we first met them, so I was left rolling my eyes at some decisions.
Also, Felicity's sudden dislike of her parents. I can understand that her backstory that's revealed was probably planned when the first book was written, but it doesn't explain how her demeanor has changed, as those details happened as a child. I found her feelings towards her Mother especially hard to believe.
But, despite that, I still love this series and I'm glad that I've decided to do a re-read.
Everything that I loved about the first book is what I love about this one, but this one does have some issues for me, hence the lower rating.
First things first, this one could have been a lot shorter. We know this is set in the Victorian era, doesn't mean we need all the melodramatic tropes like opium dens, laudanum addictions, all the gossip, fake identities and the possible resulting scandals, young orphaned wards, etc. I get that Gemma, Felicity and Ann's real lives are still going on while dealing with the realms, but some was a bit much. Also, it dragged in some places.
My other issue was characterization. I cant quite pin it down, but some things made it feel like these aren't the same girls from the previous book. It honestly felt like they didn't really develop from when we first met them, so I was left rolling my eyes at some decisions.
Also, Felicity's sudden dislike of her parents. I can understand that her backstory that's revealed was probably planned when the first book was written, but it doesn't explain how her demeanor has changed, as those details happened as a child. I found her feelings towards her Mother especially hard to believe.
But, despite that, I still love this series and I'm glad that I've decided to do a re-read.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and I am so happy that I did. Libba Bray's books are always fantastic to listen to. I really enjoyed this installment in the trilogy. We found out some surprising and interesting things and I loved it. The main character can get a bit annoying at times and so can her two close friends. They all just get so wrapped up in the social aspect of life and how people view them and it annoys me. The plot of this book was a lot of fun, but kind of creepy at the same time. This series is just such a unique concept and I am really enjoying it. I give Rebel Angels 4 out of 5 stars.
Like the previous book, this wasn't a "can't put down book," but it was decent. It was especially exciting with the twist of Miss Moore and Miss McCleethy.
Okay to start off, I skimmed the last three pages because I was really tired of reading this book and I was fairly certain that nothing too life changing was going to happen in those three pages.
Okay, so I stand by my previous opinions concerning Felicity, Ann and Pippa; and that is that they are extremely annoying.
Ann is just whiny and annoying, and it's not Gemma's fault that she is unattractive by her society's standards so she should stop trying to secretly get attention from the others. I understand she is insecure and wants affection, etc, I just don't want to constantly see (well every time Ann is mentioned) something about her being insecure and cutting herself because she isn't as beautiful or thin as the other girls.
Felicity is a spoiled brat, and holds the same qualities as Circe, because much like Circe, she is hungry for power and control and is easily led and deceived and since she is so bossy she is often leading Gemma in the wrong direction of things, and she always needs to be informed and taken with to the realms when they're NOT EVEN MEANT FOR HER since she wasn't chosen by them. Like Circe. And she says things like "one day I will have my own power and I will be able to go in to the realms whenever I please," and that is such a Circe thing to say! Gemma shouldn't trust her, if not because she is bratty and ignorant, but because she is in basically in love with Pippa!
Who is ALSO spoiled, bratty, ignorant, and quite obviously corrupted. She should have been dropped long ago, but that would just make way to much sense, so that's obviously not going to happen until she's basically trying to kill them. Which she will.
Kartik, and Simon... sigh, of course I like Kartik, he is the forbidden, clever, sweet one but I love Simon's character! And I think that Gemma should just stick it out with him but of course she that would ALSO just make way to much sense to you know live a perfect glamorous life in London after school with Simon and just visiting the realms eventually. She doesn't give Simon enough credit, yeah maybe he would think she is crazy when she first told him, but he would love her and with enough persistence and if she actually took him to the realms he would love it and want to indulge in it from time to time with her. But like I said, that would just make too much sense.
And then there is Circe, or Ms. Moore, and the creepy girls in white and Nell Hawkins. I will admit that I was surprised to find that Ms. Moore was, or is Circe (which by the way what happened with that? Did she die, or did Gemma just kind of run away and pretend that Circe died when she bound the power to her?) I am very rarely genuinely surprised by the twists in YA fiction, but that was a good one and I really didn't see that one coming which I'm sure was the point.
The girls in white were creepy. Nell Hawkins was smart.
I'm sure I will end up reading the last one because I want to know what happens to sum this all up; but overall I was just kind of bored, and annoyed with the characters in this series. Aside from Gemma and Kartik, and probably (hopefully) Simon in the last one, none of the characters really developed, or matured and I hate that.
3 stars~
Okay, so I stand by my previous opinions concerning Felicity, Ann and Pippa; and that is that they are extremely annoying.
Ann is just whiny and annoying, and it's not Gemma's fault that she is unattractive by her society's standards so she should stop trying to secretly get attention from the others. I understand she is insecure and wants affection, etc, I just don't want to constantly see (well every time Ann is mentioned) something about her being insecure and cutting herself because she isn't as beautiful or thin as the other girls.
Felicity is a spoiled brat, and holds the same qualities as Circe, because much like Circe, she is hungry for power and control and is easily led and deceived and since she is so bossy she is often leading Gemma in the wrong direction of things, and she always needs to be informed and taken with to the realms when they're NOT EVEN MEANT FOR HER since she wasn't chosen by them. Like Circe. And she says things like "one day I will have my own power and I will be able to go in to the realms whenever I please," and that is such a Circe thing to say! Gemma shouldn't trust her, if not because she is bratty and ignorant, but because she is in basically in love with Pippa!
Who is ALSO spoiled, bratty, ignorant, and quite obviously corrupted. She should have been dropped long ago, but that would just make way to much sense, so that's obviously not going to happen until she's basically trying to kill them. Which she will.
Kartik, and Simon... sigh, of course I like Kartik, he is the forbidden, clever, sweet one but I love Simon's character! And I think that Gemma should just stick it out with him but of course she that would ALSO just make way to much sense to you know live a perfect glamorous life in London after school with Simon and just visiting the realms eventually. She doesn't give Simon enough credit, yeah maybe he would think she is crazy when she first told him, but he would love her and with enough persistence and if she actually took him to the realms he would love it and want to indulge in it from time to time with her. But like I said, that would just make too much sense.
And then there is Circe, or Ms. Moore, and the creepy girls in white and Nell Hawkins. I will admit that I was surprised to find that Ms. Moore was, or is Circe (which by the way what happened with that? Did she die, or did Gemma just kind of run away and pretend that Circe died when she bound the power to her?) I am very rarely genuinely surprised by the twists in YA fiction, but that was a good one and I really didn't see that one coming which I'm sure was the point.
The girls in white were creepy. Nell Hawkins was smart.
I'm sure I will end up reading the last one because I want to know what happens to sum this all up; but overall I was just kind of bored, and annoyed with the characters in this series. Aside from Gemma and Kartik, and probably (hopefully) Simon in the last one, none of the characters really developed, or matured and I hate that.
3 stars~
Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy #2) by Libba Bray Overall, I really liked this book and the series so far. I like the time period it's set in and the feminist undertones. I think the author does a good job of building both worlds the girls live in, too. This book gets pretty heavy and I'm hoping the girls will finally be able to right some wrongs in the 3rd book.There are a few small things that keep me from loving it, though. Why don't they use the magic more? Really, if I had magic, I would make sure it didn't go to waste. Also, Gemma seems to be so clueless about the magic and her role throughout most of the book. Suddenly at the end, she knows exactly what to say to bind the magic and it's quite a long speech she gives for someone that barely knew anything about it two seconds earlier. It just came to her all of a sudden and it's too bad that sixth sense didn't kick in sooner.Anyway, I liked this book enough that I've already started the next book in the series and I'm excited to see how it ends.
It is hard to find a middle trilogy read that holds up to the first book and keeps you excited about the third. This is one of them.
It was interesting to see how human the girls were, that even though they had grown in the last book, they still had major flaws that feed this one. I couldn't tell you how many times I got frustrated at their selfishness and mood swings, but then I had to tell myself that these girls are teenagers in an era that I can't even begin to understand the emotional impact of.
And though I saw the ending coming a mile off, I can't wait to see what the final installment will bring.
It was interesting to see how human the girls were, that even though they had grown in the last book, they still had major flaws that feed this one. I couldn't tell you how many times I got frustrated at their selfishness and mood swings, but then I had to tell myself that these girls are teenagers in an era that I can't even begin to understand the emotional impact of.
And though I saw the ending coming a mile off, I can't wait to see what the final installment will bring.