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Rebelwing #1
Rebelwing
Business is booming for Prudence Wu.
A black-market-media smuggler and scholarship student at the prestigious New Columbia Preparatory Academy, Pru is lucky to live in the Barricade Coalition where she is free to study, read, watch, and listen to whatever she wants. But between essays and exams, she chooses to spend her breaks sweet-talking border patrol with her best friend, Anabel, in order to sell banned media to the less fortunate citizens of the United Continental Confederacy, Inc.
When a drop-off goes awry, Pru narrowly escapes UCC enforcers to find that her rescuer is, of all things, a sentient cybernetic dragon. On the one hand, Pru is lucky not to be in prison, or worse. On the other, the dragon seems to have imprinted on her permanently, which means she has no choice but to be its pilot.
Drawn into a revolution she has no real interest in leading, Pru, Anabel, and friends Alex and Cat become key players in a brewing conflict with the UCC as the corporate government develops advanced weaponry more terrifying and grotesque than Pru could have ever imagined.
A black-market-media smuggler and scholarship student at the prestigious New Columbia Preparatory Academy, Pru is lucky to live in the Barricade Coalition where she is free to study, read, watch, and listen to whatever she wants. But between essays and exams, she chooses to spend her breaks sweet-talking border patrol with her best friend, Anabel, in order to sell banned media to the less fortunate citizens of the United Continental Confederacy, Inc.
When a drop-off goes awry, Pru narrowly escapes UCC enforcers to find that her rescuer is, of all things, a sentient cybernetic dragon. On the one hand, Pru is lucky not to be in prison, or worse. On the other, the dragon seems to have imprinted on her permanently, which means she has no choice but to be its pilot.
Drawn into a revolution she has no real interest in leading, Pru, Anabel, and friends Alex and Cat become key players in a brewing conflict with the UCC as the corporate government develops advanced weaponry more terrifying and grotesque than Pru could have ever imagined.
355 pages, Hardcover
First published February 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
September 1, 2018
Where do I even start with REBELWING?
This is the Asian SFF book of my dreams -- the one that little Amelie desperately needed in her life, and I am so incredibly, heart-bursting-from-chest-ingly happy that it is coming to you in 2020.
REBELWING follows the story of Prudence Wu, a witty and precocious high school student with a side job: she smuggles banned media from one of the last free, democratic strongholds of a futuristic United States into "Incorporated" lands strife with propaganda and stringent controls. Her life is changed forever when she is saved from a smuggling-trip-gone-wrong by a sentient mechanical dragon, and swept into a game of revolution and rebellion.
REBELWING boasts diversity with its POC/marginalized cast. I've grown up seeing Asian characters appear as "the ones who die first in the battle" (Pacific Rim) or "the sidekicks with glasses and no personality" (Gossip Girl) and just never, ever in the front seat, driving the cool mechanical dragon and leading the rebellion and saving the day. In REBELWING, the POC/mixed/queer characters are the heroes who save the day, and they are fighting for the good side, the free side.
From a personal conversation with the author, I know that the aftereffects of the 2016 elections were a major influencing factor for this book, and I saw so much of it as I read it. Between the witty lines of banter from children with enviously large vocabularies, it explores all aspects of revolution, rebellion, and resistance: the cost of liberty, the weariness of a generation past & the hope of future generations — and the personal sacrifices and conflicts that come with fighting for a better world. And most importantly of all, it hands the torch to the next generation and ends on a note of hope.
2020 can't come soon enough.
This is the Asian SFF book of my dreams -- the one that little Amelie desperately needed in her life, and I am so incredibly, heart-bursting-from-chest-ingly happy that it is coming to you in 2020.
REBELWING follows the story of Prudence Wu, a witty and precocious high school student with a side job: she smuggles banned media from one of the last free, democratic strongholds of a futuristic United States into "Incorporated" lands strife with propaganda and stringent controls. Her life is changed forever when she is saved from a smuggling-trip-gone-wrong by a sentient mechanical dragon, and swept into a game of revolution and rebellion.
REBELWING boasts diversity with its POC/marginalized cast. I've grown up seeing Asian characters appear as "the ones who die first in the battle" (Pacific Rim) or "the sidekicks with glasses and no personality" (Gossip Girl) and just never, ever in the front seat, driving the cool mechanical dragon and leading the rebellion and saving the day. In REBELWING, the POC/mixed/queer characters are the heroes who save the day, and they are fighting for the good side, the free side.
From a personal conversation with the author, I know that the aftereffects of the 2016 elections were a major influencing factor for this book, and I saw so much of it as I read it. Between the witty lines of banter from children with enviously large vocabularies, it explores all aspects of revolution, rebellion, and resistance: the cost of liberty, the weariness of a generation past & the hope of future generations — and the personal sacrifices and conflicts that come with fighting for a better world. And most importantly of all, it hands the torch to the next generation and ends on a note of hope.
2020 can't come soon enough.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
April 20, 2021DNF @ 49% as my first official ARC dnf ever. And I'm super disappointed because this was one of my most-hyped books because DRAGONS but also CYBER-SENTIENT DRAGONS . . . but what I got was uber, Jay-Kristoff-level-annoying sassy characters, slow plot, too much info-dumping, and something that just didn't flow right to keep me interested. Also, not enough of the promised robotic dragons. Sure, I may try to pick this up again before the release date, but I'm not holding my breath.
I received a digital ARC from Razorbill/Penguin Random House via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Quotes in the review and reading updates were taken from an uncorrected ARC copy.
I received a digital ARC from Razorbill/Penguin Random House via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Quotes in the review and reading updates were taken from an uncorrected ARC copy.
May 18, 2020
Oh gosh, y'all. This was fantastic. Mecha-dragons, hard-hitting generational politics, and prep school kids all wrapped together in this action-packed futuristic dystopian novel.
May I repeat. Mecha-dragons!
Rebelwing is absolutely serious and fierce in its not only the life-threatening experiences that await Pru and her friends, but also the carefully constructed critique of capitalism, censorship, and morality in a radically different world. It's all this, with silly undertones at times reminiscent of the shenanigans of Trouble Is a Friend of Mine. Although mostly serious, ha.
Pru has her flaws and doesn't really know where she belongs in this world, but she's working through it in some of the most metal ways possible: bonding with an engineered metal dragon to help preserve her world.
I'd highly recommend for any lovers of action & high-stakes adventure, mixed with a little humor. I would also recommend paying attention in the first 15 or so pages, because it might be hard to grasp some of the political entities if you're reading loosely, and these are important!
May I repeat. Mecha-dragons!
Rebelwing is absolutely serious and fierce in its not only the life-threatening experiences that await Pru and her friends, but also the carefully constructed critique of capitalism, censorship, and morality in a radically different world. It's all this, with silly undertones at times reminiscent of the shenanigans of Trouble Is a Friend of Mine. Although mostly serious, ha.
Pru has her flaws and doesn't really know where she belongs in this world, but she's working through it in some of the most metal ways possible: bonding with an engineered metal dragon to help preserve her world.
I'd highly recommend for any lovers of action & high-stakes adventure, mixed with a little humor. I would also recommend paying attention in the first 15 or so pages, because it might be hard to grasp some of the political entities if you're reading loosely, and these are important!
October 24, 2018
HOLY WOW THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! There are few words that could describe how much I LOVE Prudence Wu and this world that the author has crafted. Everything about this world is at once intelligent-as-heck, stunningly beautiful, and all the while universal. Because that's what I felt in each of these characters: something universal that tied me to them and made me absolutely invested in their story. Pru is one of my favorite protagonists ever, with her wit, humor that made me laugh out loud many times, and her searing emotions that always rip me to shreds. Also, Alexandre Santiago Lamarque is <3 <3 <3 . And ALL the other characters: Anabel & Cat (*insert endless heart emojis here*), Jay Park, Hakeem Bishop (who I went from snarling at every time I saw him on the page to nodding along in agreement with everything he said by the end), Gabriel, AND OF COURSE SOPHIE WU (*insert pterodactyl-screams here*). Also, who could forget Rebelwing itself?!
This book was delectable. Everything about the world was so well thought-out, I loved all the intermittent news broadcasts/reports/chat rooms that just helped bring the story to life so much. The moral dilemmas were wild, the characters were nuanced and flawed, the ending GUTTED me, and damn were there some gorgeous lines in here. Here's one of my favorites to wrap up this review:
"Art is love with no place left to call home."
This book was delectable. Everything about the world was so well thought-out, I loved all the intermittent news broadcasts/reports/chat rooms that just helped bring the story to life so much. The moral dilemmas were wild, the characters were nuanced and flawed, the ending GUTTED me, and damn were there some gorgeous lines in here. Here's one of my favorites to wrap up this review:
"Art is love with no place left to call home."
October 6, 2020
Rep: Chinese American mc, Mexican Canadian li, Korean American bi character, lesbian character
CWs: parent death
CWs: parent death
Want to read
February 27, 2019According to Andrea's twitter this book contains:
"1. cold war via robot dragons
2. 3 fighty girls + 1 soft pretty boy fighter pilot
3. battling dystopian evil for school credits
4. aggressive snack breaks
5. world's saltiest single mom"
PLUS prep schools and smuggling and a sentient cybernetic DRAGON 🐉?!?!?
2020 NEEDS TO HURRY UP AND GET HERE SO I CAN READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!!!
"1. cold war via robot dragons
2. 3 fighty girls + 1 soft pretty boy fighter pilot
3. battling dystopian evil for school credits
4. aggressive snack breaks
5. world's saltiest single mom"
PLUS prep schools and smuggling and a sentient cybernetic DRAGON 🐉?!?!?
2020 NEEDS TO HURRY UP AND GET HERE SO I CAN READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!!!
February 17, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Rebelwing is everything I wanted and more. Prep school setting, smuggling, and cybernetic dragons? Even more than that, Rebelwing asks questions about censorship, rebellion, and hope. Prep school smuggling in a Science Fiction setting with sentient cybernetic dragons? I feel like Rebelwing was made for me. Rebelwing is an action packed story that features an unlikely heroine and examines questions of capitalism, greed, and censorship. In times of rebellion, we are asked what kind of leaders we want to be, what kind of sacrifices we are willing to make. This SF book is set in a world swirling with the politics of censorship and media. How does this effect not only our culture, but what we can believe is possible?
Pru is a fantastic character because her decision whether she will be involved is so unique. Unsure what she believes in, what will happen if she doesn't rise to take the mantle? Can she afford to not become involved? Having to pilot Rebelwing, Pru is faced with her weakness and the ways in which she has tried to avoid the things that have exposed her vulnerabilities. I loved seeing the development of her feelings towards Rebelwing and the revolution as a whole.
Thematically, Rebelwing is fantastic. I've already mentioned that it discusses rebellion and censorship, but it only gets more complicated as the story progresses. I don't want to spoil the further plot points, but if you've been craving a thoughtful YA SF book, then look no further! There's also a queer SC/romance. Rebelwing is about sacrifice and creation, rebellion and hope, resistance and idealism, grief and friendship. It celebrates the importance of stories, belief, and possibilities.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Rebelwing is everything I wanted and more. Prep school setting, smuggling, and cybernetic dragons? Even more than that, Rebelwing asks questions about censorship, rebellion, and hope. Prep school smuggling in a Science Fiction setting with sentient cybernetic dragons? I feel like Rebelwing was made for me. Rebelwing is an action packed story that features an unlikely heroine and examines questions of capitalism, greed, and censorship. In times of rebellion, we are asked what kind of leaders we want to be, what kind of sacrifices we are willing to make. This SF book is set in a world swirling with the politics of censorship and media. How does this effect not only our culture, but what we can believe is possible?
Pru is a fantastic character because her decision whether she will be involved is so unique. Unsure what she believes in, what will happen if she doesn't rise to take the mantle? Can she afford to not become involved? Having to pilot Rebelwing, Pru is faced with her weakness and the ways in which she has tried to avoid the things that have exposed her vulnerabilities. I loved seeing the development of her feelings towards Rebelwing and the revolution as a whole.
Thematically, Rebelwing is fantastic. I've already mentioned that it discusses rebellion and censorship, but it only gets more complicated as the story progresses. I don't want to spoil the further plot points, but if you've been craving a thoughtful YA SF book, then look no further! There's also a queer SC/romance. Rebelwing is about sacrifice and creation, rebellion and hope, resistance and idealism, grief and friendship. It celebrates the importance of stories, belief, and possibilities.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
August 31, 2020
This is such a fun YA sci-fi dystopia and an impressive debut. I can't wait to see where this series will go and what the author will write in the future. Tonally, it reminds me of a combination of Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff meets The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Eye and Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine.
February 21, 2020
This book was awesome!! How can you go wrong with a dystopian sci-fi with dragons and rebellious teens? It's also a magnificent tale of believing in yourself and in your capacities, and to listening to your heart. The characters jungle with being students in a prep school and with.... saving their world. Not easy!
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the advance copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the advance copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 3, 2019
oh my GOD
OFFICIAL BLURB: “Freedom! Revolution! Mecha-dragons! Soaring with wit, heart, and thrilling heroics in spades, Rebelwing is too damn fun to put down.” —Emily Skrutskie, author of Hullmetal Girls
OFFICIAL BLURB: “Freedom! Revolution! Mecha-dragons! Soaring with wit, heart, and thrilling heroics in spades, Rebelwing is too damn fun to put down.” —Emily Skrutskie, author of Hullmetal Girls
February 12, 2020
While the author effectively uses a teen voice, to connect with the targeted demographic, the plot leaves much to be desired in terms of continuity and intrigue. There are moments of action that draw a reader into the story, but they are lost in quick resolution that returns to a meandering passage of time. For what happens in the timeline, the plot feels as though it unfolds over a shorter period than the phrases suggest. There's an awkward hint of romance between two characters that is topped by the unknown of if they are related or not.
Some of the wins would be the relationship between two females, the acceptance of LGBTQ+ as they are, and the accuracy of teenage angst amidst the restrictions of school.
Some of the wins would be the relationship between two females, the acceptance of LGBTQ+ as they are, and the accuracy of teenage angst amidst the restrictions of school.
August 24, 2018
This is one of the smartest, funniest, and most thought-provoking books I have ever read. Andrea’s characters and descriptions are thoughtfully and cleverly written and the world she creates is fascinating and terrifying and so, so fun to be immersed in.
September 27, 2020
BOY did I do a 180 on this book as I read it. Really was not in a good mood at the start, was grumpy about everything, and I only kept reading because I normally trust the people who blurbed the book.
And then mom punched the president in the face and it got FANTASTIC. This book has trauma boys. Sentient dragon mechs. Betrayal. Fake Dating. Trauma girls. It All Comes Down To This final plays. Pacific-Rim-Style drift-compatible mech piloting. Extremely evil people to be punched (note, that isn't the president, that was just some fun times).
Note that I just had to knuckle down through the culture shock until I got used to the fact that this story was about super socially powerful kids. At some point a character in all sincerity is told to read the society pages to learn about a character's backstory.
And then mom punched the president in the face and it got FANTASTIC. This book has trauma boys. Sentient dragon mechs. Betrayal. Fake Dating. Trauma girls. It All Comes Down To This final plays. Pacific-Rim-Style drift-compatible mech piloting. Extremely evil people to be punched (note, that isn't the president, that was just some fun times).
Note that I just had to knuckle down through the culture shock until I got used to the fact that this story was about super socially powerful kids. At some point a character in all sincerity is told to read the society pages to learn about a character's backstory.
December 30, 2019
4.5/5 Stars
*I received a free ARC of this book from Razorbill/Penguin Random House. All thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.*
Rebelwing tells the story of seventeen-year-old Prudence “Pru” Wu, a prep-schooler who, between her classes and studies, smuggles banned, black market media from her home in the Barricade Coalition, where people have the freedom to read, watch, and listen to whatever they like, to the less fortunate citizens of the United Continental Confederacy, Inc (UCC). When a drop-off goes awry, Pru manages to escape with the unexpected help of Rebelwing, a sentient cybernetic dragon. However, Rebelwing seems to have imprinted on Pru permanently, leaving her with no choice but to become the dragon’s pilot with a potential war looming on the horizon. Teaming up with her best friend Anabel as well as the dragon’s young engineers, Alex and Cat, Pru and her friends are drawn into a brewing conflict that only they and Rebelwing may be able to stop.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I went in hoping that I would like it as much as I thought I would based upon the summary and cover alone and I am SUPER glad that this book didn’t disappoint. I was immediately drawn to this book by the DRAGON because who doesn’t love a good cybernetic dragon every now and again, am I right? Dragons PLUS dystopia mixed with smuggling antics? Sign me up!
Andrea Tang has the remarkable ability to craft a dystopian world set in the remains of North America that just comes to life on the page. The novel was full of action and fun characters that made it just unputdownable, especially as I travelled further into the story. I loved the blend of dystopia and sci-fi as well as the topics that this book covered such as media consumption, politics, and types of personal freedoms, revealing truths about not only the world of the novel, but also the truths of the world that we live in today.
I loved the world of the novel and the world-building that was done to create it. I really got a sense of the type of world that the characters live in and the stark difference between the Barricade Coalition, where Pru lives, and the UCC. However, I would have liked to know a little more about how things got to be the way they are, specially more background on the Partition Wars, which created this division and the full role of the adult characters like Gabriel Lamarque, Sophie Wu, Hakeem Bishop, and Harold Jellicoe in them.
I also enjoyed how the story was told through in third-person narration from Pru’s perspective, but also including more of what is going on outside of the core group of characters through the school message boards, blog posts, interviews, etc. Combined, I feel as though the two played well off one another and worked to tell a great story.
I really enjoyed all the characters and the hidden layers (and secrets) that they each possessed. They were all super three-dimensional and possessed their own personality traits that made each standout and become very realistic in their own way. Pru’s wit, humor, and smarts really make her into an amazing protagonist that you can’t help rooting for. Combining her with characters like quick-witted, sassy Anabel, sharp-tongued, no-nonsense Cat, and (one of the favorites) bold, charismatic Alex make the novel compelling and full of dynamic characters that not only come to life on the page, but also that you can’t help falling in love with. The adult cast like Pru’s mother Sophie Wu and Alex’s uncle Gabriel Lamarque also shines and adds a sense of maturity and knowledge not possessed by the teenaged characters. However, I would have liked to know a little more about some of the characters, especially the adults, to be able to understand them more and to have a better picture of them in my mind.
And then there is Rebelwing, the fussy, epic cybernetic dragon with a mind of her own. I loved Rebelwing’s presence in the story and wished that there was more of her! I really enjoyed the bond that was created between her and Pru, but I feel as though it could have been strengthened, especially due to the imprint that connects them. Like any human relationship, I liked that Rebelwing and Pru’s relationship was not perfect and included struggles in terms of connection as well as in terms of Pru’s ability to control the dragon and that as a sentient being, Rebelwing had the ability to express her thoughts and opinions through her actions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to those who love dragons, three-dimensional characters, action, and anyone who loves young adult dystopian books in general. The book is not even out yet and I already can’t wait for the sequel!
*I received a free ARC of this book from Razorbill/Penguin Random House. All thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own.*
Rebelwing tells the story of seventeen-year-old Prudence “Pru” Wu, a prep-schooler who, between her classes and studies, smuggles banned, black market media from her home in the Barricade Coalition, where people have the freedom to read, watch, and listen to whatever they like, to the less fortunate citizens of the United Continental Confederacy, Inc (UCC). When a drop-off goes awry, Pru manages to escape with the unexpected help of Rebelwing, a sentient cybernetic dragon. However, Rebelwing seems to have imprinted on Pru permanently, leaving her with no choice but to become the dragon’s pilot with a potential war looming on the horizon. Teaming up with her best friend Anabel as well as the dragon’s young engineers, Alex and Cat, Pru and her friends are drawn into a brewing conflict that only they and Rebelwing may be able to stop.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I went in hoping that I would like it as much as I thought I would based upon the summary and cover alone and I am SUPER glad that this book didn’t disappoint. I was immediately drawn to this book by the DRAGON because who doesn’t love a good cybernetic dragon every now and again, am I right? Dragons PLUS dystopia mixed with smuggling antics? Sign me up!
Andrea Tang has the remarkable ability to craft a dystopian world set in the remains of North America that just comes to life on the page. The novel was full of action and fun characters that made it just unputdownable, especially as I travelled further into the story. I loved the blend of dystopia and sci-fi as well as the topics that this book covered such as media consumption, politics, and types of personal freedoms, revealing truths about not only the world of the novel, but also the truths of the world that we live in today.
I loved the world of the novel and the world-building that was done to create it. I really got a sense of the type of world that the characters live in and the stark difference between the Barricade Coalition, where Pru lives, and the UCC. However, I would have liked to know a little more about how things got to be the way they are, specially more background on the Partition Wars, which created this division and the full role of the adult characters like Gabriel Lamarque, Sophie Wu, Hakeem Bishop, and Harold Jellicoe in them.
I also enjoyed how the story was told through in third-person narration from Pru’s perspective, but also including more of what is going on outside of the core group of characters through the school message boards, blog posts, interviews, etc. Combined, I feel as though the two played well off one another and worked to tell a great story.
I really enjoyed all the characters and the hidden layers (and secrets) that they each possessed. They were all super three-dimensional and possessed their own personality traits that made each standout and become very realistic in their own way. Pru’s wit, humor, and smarts really make her into an amazing protagonist that you can’t help rooting for. Combining her with characters like quick-witted, sassy Anabel, sharp-tongued, no-nonsense Cat, and (one of the favorites) bold, charismatic Alex make the novel compelling and full of dynamic characters that not only come to life on the page, but also that you can’t help falling in love with. The adult cast like Pru’s mother Sophie Wu and Alex’s uncle Gabriel Lamarque also shines and adds a sense of maturity and knowledge not possessed by the teenaged characters. However, I would have liked to know a little more about some of the characters, especially the adults, to be able to understand them more and to have a better picture of them in my mind.
And then there is Rebelwing, the fussy, epic cybernetic dragon with a mind of her own. I loved Rebelwing’s presence in the story and wished that there was more of her! I really enjoyed the bond that was created between her and Pru, but I feel as though it could have been strengthened, especially due to the imprint that connects them. Like any human relationship, I liked that Rebelwing and Pru’s relationship was not perfect and included struggles in terms of connection as well as in terms of Pru’s ability to control the dragon and that as a sentient being, Rebelwing had the ability to express her thoughts and opinions through her actions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to those who love dragons, three-dimensional characters, action, and anyone who loves young adult dystopian books in general. The book is not even out yet and I already can’t wait for the sequel!
June 18, 2021
I keep vacillating between 3.5 and 4 stars. I quite liked it, but it didn't totally come together for me for some reason, and I had a bit of trouble getting through it. Loved the dragon mechs though.
March 9, 2020
Books I DNF automatically get 1-star ratings.
I've gotten lazy in the last couple weeks writing reviews for books I've finished, but I kind of felt obligated to write one for this book since I DNFed it. I actually made it more than halfway through the book before I called it quits, but all the eye-rolling on my part that was happening with increasing frequency as the book progressed forced my hand to just put the book down for good.
The book just felt too chaotic to me. It felt like the author had so many ideas of where things should be going in the book and how people should be acting, but didn't take the time to actually work them into a seamless narrative. Nothing felt cohesive. It felt like it was all over the place with nothing connecting to each other other than the characters happened to either be in that place or doing that thing. On top of that I just never felt like I knew why anyone was doing what they were doing. Their motivations were about as clear as mud (which was probably why all the eye-rolling occurred on my part). If I don't have a clear idea of WHY someone is doing something, I just don't care why they are doing it.
For instance, right at the beginning we're told that Pru is a book smuggler. Ok, I can get on board with that. Censorship goes hand-in-hand with totalitarian regimes. But at the same time, we aren't told WHAT she's smuggling, or why the regime thinks whatever it was was wrong. We're told that every other language but english was banned, but not why. We're told Pru is only at the super exclusive private school because of scholarships, and that she smuggles to try to make ends meet, but we're never shown her or her mother feeling any hardships of ANY kind due to being poor. In fact, her mother is supposedly some famous author of some sort, famous enough to have fans who write to her. But nothing is ever made of the fact that Pru's mother works in a field that is for all intents and purposes taboo to the current 'government' setting. Like I said, nothing gels with anything. I'll not even talk about just how much of a wet noodle Pru was. I can get behind a reluctant hero in books like this, but Pru wasn't even that. She had no spine whatsoever (and considering her clandestine activities, I'm shocked at this). She waffles ALL the time on EVERYTHING she does. She has NO self-confidence. She is the quiet mouse in the back corner trying not to make a noise to avoid being seen. This is not the kind of character to base a book around.
Unlike a lot of the reviewers, I really, really disliked the dialog. For a near-future book, it felt like it was stuck in the 90s with most of the turns of phrase the characters used. Mostly, the dialog was just super cringy.
I stopped reading when we figured out what actually happened to Alex's parents. By that point I just couldn't deal with everything anymore. The promise of a sentient AI dragon was never delivered in any memorable way. And, on top of that, the whole fight over who actually gets to pilot it/imprinting of said dragon was just so dull. And the training she received was just so lackluster it was almost comical. I'm sorry, but if mechs had been around as long as they had, and Alex was as good as he was, having her 'teachers' simply tell her to get on with it is not just laughable, but stupid. I'm pretty sure Pru's first 'training' session was when I checked out of this book, but stubbornly soldiered on until I couldn't anymore.
I've gotten lazy in the last couple weeks writing reviews for books I've finished, but I kind of felt obligated to write one for this book since I DNFed it. I actually made it more than halfway through the book before I called it quits, but all the eye-rolling on my part that was happening with increasing frequency as the book progressed forced my hand to just put the book down for good.
The book just felt too chaotic to me. It felt like the author had so many ideas of where things should be going in the book and how people should be acting, but didn't take the time to actually work them into a seamless narrative. Nothing felt cohesive. It felt like it was all over the place with nothing connecting to each other other than the characters happened to either be in that place or doing that thing. On top of that I just never felt like I knew why anyone was doing what they were doing. Their motivations were about as clear as mud (which was probably why all the eye-rolling occurred on my part). If I don't have a clear idea of WHY someone is doing something, I just don't care why they are doing it.
For instance, right at the beginning we're told that Pru is a book smuggler. Ok, I can get on board with that. Censorship goes hand-in-hand with totalitarian regimes. But at the same time, we aren't told WHAT she's smuggling, or why the regime thinks whatever it was was wrong. We're told that every other language but english was banned, but not why. We're told Pru is only at the super exclusive private school because of scholarships, and that she smuggles to try to make ends meet, but we're never shown her or her mother feeling any hardships of ANY kind due to being poor. In fact, her mother is supposedly some famous author of some sort, famous enough to have fans who write to her. But nothing is ever made of the fact that Pru's mother works in a field that is for all intents and purposes taboo to the current 'government' setting. Like I said, nothing gels with anything. I'll not even talk about just how much of a wet noodle Pru was. I can get behind a reluctant hero in books like this, but Pru wasn't even that. She had no spine whatsoever (and considering her clandestine activities, I'm shocked at this). She waffles ALL the time on EVERYTHING she does. She has NO self-confidence. She is the quiet mouse in the back corner trying not to make a noise to avoid being seen. This is not the kind of character to base a book around.
Unlike a lot of the reviewers, I really, really disliked the dialog. For a near-future book, it felt like it was stuck in the 90s with most of the turns of phrase the characters used. Mostly, the dialog was just super cringy.
I stopped reading when we figured out what actually happened to Alex's parents. By that point I just couldn't deal with everything anymore. The promise of a sentient AI dragon was never delivered in any memorable way. And, on top of that, the whole fight over who actually gets to pilot it/imprinting of said dragon was just so dull. And the training she received was just so lackluster it was almost comical. I'm sorry, but if mechs had been around as long as they had, and Alex was as good as he was, having her 'teachers' simply tell her to get on with it is not just laughable, but stupid. I'm pretty sure Pru's first 'training' session was when I checked out of this book, but stubbornly soldiered on until I couldn't anymore.
September 30, 2019
This book makes me feel the same way I feel about Pacific Rim. It's bright and neon and full of absolutely delightful, unapologeitc ridiculousness. It's witty and warm, full of biting humor and character growth to die for. But it's also a social commentary and a ruthless destruction of capitalism and censorship. It's about a girl piloting a dragon-shaped mech that's sentient and imprinted on her mind. But it's also a war story. It's about absolute disaster teens who I love with my entire being and their straight up shenanigans. But it's also about revolution, and maybe a little bit about Les Mis, which makes it--you know--My Thing. My Exact Brand.
I admit I'm biased to like this story on principle, but trust me when I say that even if you don't think it's your jam, you will probably love it anyway. I'm not kidding when I say it's witty--the humor in this book had me in stitches, and my girlfriend asking me why I couldn't stop laughing out loud. But there are some poignant character moments that had me turning into a sobbing mess because . There's a gorgeous attitude about this book, which drops you into a near-future world that feels uncomfortably possible while at the same time being a little bit ridiculous, but in the best way. It trusts you to figure it out for yourself, much like the main character, Pru, who has to learn on the fly (literally). You learn along with her, and it's a wild ride, and I loved every page of it.
TL;DR: Revoltuionary disaster teens save the world from censorship and capitalism with a magical dragon mech. Please preorder now. You will not regret it.
I admit I'm biased to like this story on principle, but trust me when I say that even if you don't think it's your jam, you will probably love it anyway. I'm not kidding when I say it's witty--the humor in this book had me in stitches, and my girlfriend asking me why I couldn't stop laughing out loud. But there are some poignant character moments that had me turning into a sobbing mess because . There's a gorgeous attitude about this book, which drops you into a near-future world that feels uncomfortably possible while at the same time being a little bit ridiculous, but in the best way. It trusts you to figure it out for yourself, much like the main character, Pru, who has to learn on the fly (literally). You learn along with her, and it's a wild ride, and I loved every page of it.
TL;DR: Revoltuionary disaster teens save the world from censorship and capitalism with a magical dragon mech. Please preorder now. You will not regret it.
October 5, 2020
*Spoiler free*
I was on board at mechanical dragon. I mean, it's a MECHANICAL DRAGON. And if I'm being completely honest, that's all I really knew about the book before going into it. I knew it had a dystopian backdrop and there was some government fighting going on, but mechanical dragon was at the forefront, of course. Another thing that was driving my need to read this book was Vicky's love and flailing's about it! I know she has good taste, so she made me even more eager to read it. Trigger warnings: death of a parent, grief
This book is GOOD. The best way I can describe it, is that is feels like an action flick. An action flick that just works, with it's dramatically peppy music and intense actions scenes, with chaotic humor running through it all. That's Rebelwing, and it works really well.
The characters were a highlight for me! Seriously, the are the definition of chaos. Pru was wonderful. She hides a lot behind sarcasm and self deprecating humor, but she also feels incredibly young and scared. She's a seventeen year old girl being pulled into a plot by two governments when all she wants to do is get into a top university. She's smart and she's funny and she just feels like an all around wonderful person. Alex surprised me, he's a pretty boy with just as much sarcasm as Pru. They certainly make an interesting team. Anabel was is a sweet talker, but isn't afraid to turn those words sharp if the situation calls for it. And Cat was reserved but whip smart, and more than willing to get to the heart of matters, even if the truth hurts. I loved all of them, and they created such a great, solid group of core characters.
One of my favorite things about all of them was how young they felt. They felt like four teenagers pulled into a conflict of adults. It's the adults that are feuding and leaning on the precipice of war, and the kids are caught in the crossfire. All of them weren't born into the cause, and Pru has reservations about joining up, like a normal seventeen year old girl. It truly felt like this book took into account how old these characters were and how that would factor into their actions and honestly their world as whole.
That said, this means that the adults, the ones trying to start or prevent a war, also played a really big role in this book. Which I loved! They're the one causing all these problems, and they're the adults, they should handle some of it. Plus, the reflection of events and the parallels were top notch (being purposefully vague because of spoilers haha).
Alright, let's get to the mechanical dragon! They mechanical everything really, because the way this book uses technology and ties it with fantasy was incredible. Like, mechanical dragons. Really, it's as cool as it sounds. There's a giant metal dragon flying around. It's a robot dragon. I could say that over and over again because it's just that cool. There's tons of high tech goings on and all of them were fascinating.
Overall, this was a really, really fantastic book. There's tons of sarcastic humor, teens who felt like teens, heart shattering moments, queer characters, mechanical dragons, book smuggling, government takedowns, all of which came together to create a truly incredible book.
I was on board at mechanical dragon. I mean, it's a MECHANICAL DRAGON. And if I'm being completely honest, that's all I really knew about the book before going into it. I knew it had a dystopian backdrop and there was some government fighting going on, but mechanical dragon was at the forefront, of course. Another thing that was driving my need to read this book was Vicky's love and flailing's about it! I know she has good taste, so she made me even more eager to read it. Trigger warnings: death of a parent, grief
This book is GOOD. The best way I can describe it, is that is feels like an action flick. An action flick that just works, with it's dramatically peppy music and intense actions scenes, with chaotic humor running through it all. That's Rebelwing, and it works really well.
The characters were a highlight for me! Seriously, the are the definition of chaos. Pru was wonderful. She hides a lot behind sarcasm and self deprecating humor, but she also feels incredibly young and scared. She's a seventeen year old girl being pulled into a plot by two governments when all she wants to do is get into a top university. She's smart and she's funny and she just feels like an all around wonderful person. Alex surprised me, he's a pretty boy with just as much sarcasm as Pru. They certainly make an interesting team. Anabel was is a sweet talker, but isn't afraid to turn those words sharp if the situation calls for it. And Cat was reserved but whip smart, and more than willing to get to the heart of matters, even if the truth hurts. I loved all of them, and they created such a great, solid group of core characters.
One of my favorite things about all of them was how young they felt. They felt like four teenagers pulled into a conflict of adults. It's the adults that are feuding and leaning on the precipice of war, and the kids are caught in the crossfire. All of them weren't born into the cause, and Pru has reservations about joining up, like a normal seventeen year old girl. It truly felt like this book took into account how old these characters were and how that would factor into their actions and honestly their world as whole.
That said, this means that the adults, the ones trying to start or prevent a war, also played a really big role in this book. Which I loved! They're the one causing all these problems, and they're the adults, they should handle some of it. Plus, the reflection of events and the parallels were top notch (being purposefully vague because of spoilers haha).
Alright, let's get to the mechanical dragon! They mechanical everything really, because the way this book uses technology and ties it with fantasy was incredible. Like, mechanical dragons. Really, it's as cool as it sounds. There's a giant metal dragon flying around. It's a robot dragon. I could say that over and over again because it's just that cool. There's tons of high tech goings on and all of them were fascinating.
Overall, this was a really, really fantastic book. There's tons of sarcastic humor, teens who felt like teens, heart shattering moments, queer characters, mechanical dragons, book smuggling, government takedowns, all of which came together to create a truly incredible book.
January 13, 2021
I just finished reading this book and multiple times had to force myself to keep reading and not DNF it in hopes it would get better.
Unfortunately it didn’t get better.
The writer style didn’t get my attention, I found it irritating to read. The main character was annoying and childish. I had high hopes about the dragon but even that wasn’t it for me.
Overall I finished reading this book but I could have lived with a DNF after all.
Unfortunately it didn’t get better.
The writer style didn’t get my attention, I found it irritating to read. The main character was annoying and childish. I had high hopes about the dragon but even that wasn’t it for me.
Overall I finished reading this book but I could have lived with a DNF after all.
February 27, 2020
This was a very good book. If anything, my only issue was that the pacing didn't work for me personally, but I'm still very excited to read the next book. I loved all the characters, and the world was well developed and thought provoking. I definitely highly recommend this.
Want to read
July 24, 2019This book is a NEED not a want
July 28, 2022
Touching at times, pretty much the only positive thing to say about it, but I always appreciate that.
August 23, 2018
Rebelwing is a gem of a book -- brilliant, witty, and, at turns, heartbreaking. It's about power, political dynasties, all the glory and folly of revolution, but it's also about family, teenagers carving their space in the world, and all the small, lovely moments that make a life worth living. I loved everything about it (but especially Jay Park, who has my whole heart and then some).
Read
March 13, 2020DNF at 1/3. Will comeback to try again when I'm in a better mood
April 18, 2021
3/5; Maybe 3.5/5 for entertainment bc I'm a sucker for action.
The premise of this book is really fun - I love dystopian cyberpunk-esque sci-fi, and as an Asian woman don't even get me started about the representation!!! Tang's ideas and world creation was really interesting, and something truly warms my soul and gives me joy when I feel represented in a story that isn't necessarily about being asian. This book could have beneefitted from a lot of editing and I could actually see it being more enjoyable as a graphic novel.
The book is a solidly entertaining time, but the more I think about it, the more I'm disappointed because I was left wanting more.
The pacing leaves a lot to be desired and for me, there was too much info-dumping, especially in the beginning. I found myself overwhelmed with background information without enough contact.
The first 60% was unnecessarily slow and the last 40% seemed to happen all at once. The book took me about 4h to finish, and I found myself reading it in 15-30 minute chunks because the pacing just didn't grab my attention. I really want a book that will make me lose my sense of time and this just didn't do it. If a book is good to excellent, I'll usually finish it in 1-3 days, anything over 5 days is an indicator that it's DRAGGING. I usually expect to finish anything YA in 1-2 days because they're usually very easy to consume and use accessible language that doesn't require too much focus (not in a bad way though!).
The characterization was also not where I wanted it to be. I wanted to know what made the characters tick, why were they the way they were, tell me about their TRAUMA because I want to DISSECT IT. I still am left with a lot of questions about the characters and a lot of their raisons d'être felt one-note/mono-dimensional.
Let's be real here, if the book was going to be ≥4 stars, it would have also had to hit me emotionally. There were some sad parts but because of the lack of lead-up, I wasn't invested enough to be really upset.
Also, I don't really get the ending. It felt .. confusing. And didn't go anywhere. Didn't wrap things up in any great way, didn't lead into the sequel .. feels anticlimactic. The more I actually unpack my feelings and write this review the more disappointed I feel.
From what I can tell this seems to be the author's debut book so I'm hoping that with more season she'll really be able to develop her writing skills and we'll see some excellent books from her in the future. Her ability to write unique and captivating storylines gives me hope that she'll come out with some good stuff, and this definitely feels like a duology where the sequel might just blow the first book out of the water.
The premise of this book is really fun - I love dystopian cyberpunk-esque sci-fi, and as an Asian woman don't even get me started about the representation!!! Tang's ideas and world creation was really interesting, and something truly warms my soul and gives me joy when I feel represented in a story that isn't necessarily about being asian. This book could have beneefitted from a lot of editing and I could actually see it being more enjoyable as a graphic novel.
The book is a solidly entertaining time, but the more I think about it, the more I'm disappointed because I was left wanting more.
The pacing leaves a lot to be desired and for me, there was too much info-dumping, especially in the beginning. I found myself overwhelmed with background information without enough contact.
The first 60% was unnecessarily slow and the last 40% seemed to happen all at once. The book took me about 4h to finish, and I found myself reading it in 15-30 minute chunks because the pacing just didn't grab my attention. I really want a book that will make me lose my sense of time and this just didn't do it. If a book is good to excellent, I'll usually finish it in 1-3 days, anything over 5 days is an indicator that it's DRAGGING. I usually expect to finish anything YA in 1-2 days because they're usually very easy to consume and use accessible language that doesn't require too much focus (not in a bad way though!).
The characterization was also not where I wanted it to be. I wanted to know what made the characters tick, why were they the way they were, tell me about their TRAUMA because I want to DISSECT IT. I still am left with a lot of questions about the characters and a lot of their raisons d'être felt one-note/mono-dimensional.
Let's be real here, if the book was going to be ≥4 stars, it would have also had to hit me emotionally. There were some sad parts but because of the lack of lead-up, I wasn't invested enough to be really upset.
Also, I don't really get the ending. It felt .. confusing. And didn't go anywhere. Didn't wrap things up in any great way, didn't lead into the sequel .. feels anticlimactic. The more I actually unpack my feelings and write this review the more disappointed I feel.
From what I can tell this seems to be the author's debut book so I'm hoping that with more season she'll really be able to develop her writing skills and we'll see some excellent books from her in the future. Her ability to write unique and captivating storylines gives me hope that she'll come out with some good stuff, and this definitely feels like a duology where the sequel might just blow the first book out of the water.
September 17, 2020
I have a new favorite subgenre and it is politics-focused books with dragons! publishing take note and deliver pls thanks. Rebelwing and Fireborne are excellent examples.
I've wanted to read Rebelwing since I somehow stumbled upon the author's Twitter a few years ago and watched her #MechaDragons hashtag for excerpts (many of which have been deleted, alas). It took me a hot second before I actually read it, despite it being one of my most anticipated releases, but I was not disappointed!
The writing is so sarcastic (reminds me strongly of Sarah Rees Brennan in Unspoken, which has one of my favorite writing styles), and I also loved the plot and the themes and Pru and Anabel and, of course, Rebelwing. I loved the hard choices and the political machinations and the character growth and THEMES and the relationship between Alex and Pru and the way the adults and family were involved and prominent and how they had all this history far beyond the snippets we got. (I would adore a prequel, just saying) (also I know there is a sequel, Renegade Flight, but I also know that it is set 15 yrs after Rebelwing and I simply don't feel this one wrapped up enough for my satisfaction! more Pru and co pls)
Anyway! to reiterate, read it bc i need more people on this politics-and-dragons subgenre train and also bc it's just really good!
I've wanted to read Rebelwing since I somehow stumbled upon the author's Twitter a few years ago and watched her #MechaDragons hashtag for excerpts (many of which have been deleted, alas). It took me a hot second before I actually read it, despite it being one of my most anticipated releases, but I was not disappointed!
The writing is so sarcastic (reminds me strongly of Sarah Rees Brennan in Unspoken, which has one of my favorite writing styles), and I also loved the plot and the themes and Pru and Anabel and, of course, Rebelwing. I loved the hard choices and the political machinations and the character growth and THEMES and the relationship between Alex and Pru and the way the adults and family were involved and prominent and how they had all this history far beyond the snippets we got. (I would adore a prequel, just saying) (also I know there is a sequel, Renegade Flight, but I also know that it is set 15 yrs after Rebelwing and I simply don't feel this one wrapped up enough for my satisfaction! more Pru and co pls)
Anyway! to reiterate, read it bc i need more people on this politics-and-dragons subgenre train and also bc it's just really good!
May 18, 2020
Rebelwing is action packed with dragons, smuggling and side hustles in a dystopian society and basically had everything that I didn't know I wanted.
about
Rebelwing is told through third person and revolves around Pru. I really liked her. She was spunky and quick and I really liked the way she saw the world. She started off as this book smuggler who also had a self deprecating humor and who also didn't really believe in herself and doubted herself and towards the end realized that she's not replaceable. She learns to fight for what is right instead of going along to where she's pushed towards.
Looking back now, this felt like a quick read even though it took me a while to get through, but I really liked everything about this. It had everything from dragons to academia but also a future inspired world with mechs and plasma guns and even revolutions. This was an infusion of things that I didn't know I wanted and am so I'm glad I picked it up.
I loved how this felt futuristic but also relatable. There were some social political thoughts that anyone can relate to, but also felt dystopian. I didn't know how much I wanted dragons and rebellions in a futuristic world with also side hustling, smuggling and also academia.
Overall, this was action packed with a few twists. I loved how the story developed. I also like how Pru's and Alex's friendship developed and how the main focus between them in this book was for them to get them to get to know one another instead of just chemistry. I ship them and I was kind of bummed at first that nothing happen between them, but then started to look forward to the way their relationship will continue to develop.
about
Rebelwing is told through third person and revolves around Pru. I really liked her. She was spunky and quick and I really liked the way she saw the world. She started off as this book smuggler who also had a self deprecating humor and who also didn't really believe in herself and doubted herself and towards the end realized that she's not replaceable. She learns to fight for what is right instead of going along to where she's pushed towards.
Looking back now, this felt like a quick read even though it took me a while to get through, but I really liked everything about this. It had everything from dragons to academia but also a future inspired world with mechs and plasma guns and even revolutions. This was an infusion of things that I didn't know I wanted and am so I'm glad I picked it up.
I loved how this felt futuristic but also relatable. There were some social political thoughts that anyone can relate to, but also felt dystopian. I didn't know how much I wanted dragons and rebellions in a futuristic world with also side hustling, smuggling and also academia.
Overall, this was action packed with a few twists. I loved how the story developed. I also like how Pru's and Alex's friendship developed and how the main focus between them in this book was for them to get them to get to know one another instead of just chemistry. I ship them and I was kind of bummed at first that nothing happen between them, but then started to look forward to the way their relationship will continue to develop.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 12, 2020DNF @ 15%
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
I REALLY wanted to love this but sadly that wasn't the case. I hardly ever DNF books this early anymore but I could get into the story because of the writing and style and the main character. The author kept jumping around in the writing, with one scene abruptly jumping to another and going back and forth from mentioning past stuff to present stuff. Maybe my Kindle ARC copy didn't have the appropriate page breaks, but it was really hard to follow. Also, Prudence sounds WAY too much like Genie Lo from the book series of the same name by F.C. Yee. It's not bad if characters sound similar, but this was way too much of a coincidence for me and I could only see Genie Lo and not Prudence.
But if this book still sounds awesome, DO check out this own voices book for the Asian rep. This just a case of me not liking it :/
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
I REALLY wanted to love this but sadly that wasn't the case. I hardly ever DNF books this early anymore but I could get into the story because of the writing and style and the main character. The author kept jumping around in the writing, with one scene abruptly jumping to another and going back and forth from mentioning past stuff to present stuff. Maybe my Kindle ARC copy didn't have the appropriate page breaks, but it was really hard to follow. Also, Prudence sounds WAY too much like Genie Lo from the book series of the same name by F.C. Yee. It's not bad if characters sound similar, but this was way too much of a coincidence for me and I could only see Genie Lo and not Prudence.
But if this book still sounds awesome, DO check out this own voices book for the Asian rep. This just a case of me not liking it :/
March 12, 2020
ZOIDS FANS, REJOICE!
...just kidding.
I'm probably the biggest fan going of the Zoids anime and this book was unable to meet my high expectations. Which wasn't necessarily the book's fault, I guess, because those were lofty expectations, indeed.
There's just an awful lot stuffed in here, not all of it interesting. Buckets of teenage angst and dialogue that implies much but says little. Not much in the way of RAD MECHAS BATTLING. There's a bit of that, but not a lot, and it's written from such a limited and/or artsy perspective that I wasn't really able to vicariously experience the thrill of robots the size of mansions locked in mortal combat.
This is way, WAY more a story of political intrigue and teenage drama than what any Zoids fan worth her salt would long for in a book featuring animal mechs (which are WAY more interesting than humanoid mechs. There, I said it. Fight me).
Weird kerning/tracking in the text. A number of typos. (An emergency "break"? Not seen once but multiple times? Come on, guys. I'm not even a professional and I could have done a better job copy editing.) Very of-the-moment phrases like "interwebs" that sound anachronistic in a setting as far into the future as this story ostensibly is. Anabel's character needed depth beyond "impossibly beautiful, smart, and always knowing how to handle a situation." Worldbuilding was often confusing and either too vague or too infodumpy.
Bonus points for diversity in ethnicity and sexuality (and uh, humanity, too). One character modeled a form of masculinity that wasn't all about being a toxic, misogynistic douchebag. Interesting themes and "history." Some gorgeous turns of phrase.
Really, I'm just sad this wasn't the Chaotic Century novel of my dreams. Hell, I would have even accepted a considerably shallower New Century Zero novel of my dreams. Alas.
...just kidding.
I'm probably the biggest fan going of the Zoids anime and this book was unable to meet my high expectations. Which wasn't necessarily the book's fault, I guess, because those were lofty expectations, indeed.
There's just an awful lot stuffed in here, not all of it interesting. Buckets of teenage angst and dialogue that implies much but says little. Not much in the way of RAD MECHAS BATTLING. There's a bit of that, but not a lot, and it's written from such a limited and/or artsy perspective that I wasn't really able to vicariously experience the thrill of robots the size of mansions locked in mortal combat.
This is way, WAY more a story of political intrigue and teenage drama than what any Zoids fan worth her salt would long for in a book featuring animal mechs (which are WAY more interesting than humanoid mechs. There, I said it. Fight me).
Weird kerning/tracking in the text. A number of typos. (An emergency "break"? Not seen once but multiple times? Come on, guys. I'm not even a professional and I could have done a better job copy editing.) Very of-the-moment phrases like "interwebs" that sound anachronistic in a setting as far into the future as this story ostensibly is. Anabel's character needed depth beyond "impossibly beautiful, smart, and always knowing how to handle a situation." Worldbuilding was often confusing and either too vague or too infodumpy.
Bonus points for diversity in ethnicity and sexuality (and uh, humanity, too). One character modeled a form of masculinity that wasn't all about being a toxic, misogynistic douchebag. Interesting themes and "history." Some gorgeous turns of phrase.
Really, I'm just sad this wasn't the Chaotic Century novel of my dreams. Hell, I would have even accepted a considerably shallower New Century Zero novel of my dreams. Alas.
June 15, 2020
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Rebelwing is the first installment in author Andrea Tang's series by the same name. 17-year old Prudence Wu lives in New Columbia (the former District of Columbia before the so called Partition War which not only destroyed the former US thanks to an arms race, but led the the creation of the Barricade Coalition). Since the end of the Partition Wars, the Coalition’s Incorporated neighbors have made a passive-aggressive little hobby of testing all sorts of military wares in plain view of Barricader sentinels including what appears to be wyvern war machines. War may be on the horizon again unless a small group of adults and teens can stop it.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Rebelwing is the first installment in author Andrea Tang's series by the same name. 17-year old Prudence Wu lives in New Columbia (the former District of Columbia before the so called Partition War which not only destroyed the former US thanks to an arms race, but led the the creation of the Barricade Coalition). Since the end of the Partition Wars, the Coalition’s Incorporated neighbors have made a passive-aggressive little hobby of testing all sorts of military wares in plain view of Barricader sentinels including what appears to be wyvern war machines. War may be on the horizon again unless a small group of adults and teens can stop it.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
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