Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle Trilogy, #2)

by Libba Bray

Gemma and her friends from the Spence Academy return to the realms to defeat her foe, Circe, and to bind the magic that has been released.

Reviewed by celinenyx on

5 of 5 stars

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In one word: amazing. Rebel Angels had everything I missed in A Great and Terrible Beauty. The love is bitter-sweet, the realms magical, the action thrilling and the friendship genuine.

The writing also improved greatly since the last book, and unlike in GBT I actually understood what was happening without having to read back. The mystery was maybe a little predictable, but still very well done.

I admire Libba Bray for taking risks and not stay inside the safe-zone. She actually dares to talk about sexual abuse and neglect and self-mutilation in a young-adult novel, without describing it too shocking or explicit.

I also think she has done some good research on the age she is writing about. The balls and visits feel like Austen, only written in a modern way.

Haunting book. Absolutely loved it.
Give me more Kartik!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 June, 2010: Finished reading
  • 20 June, 2010: Reviewed