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Rebelwing
(Rebelwing #1)
by
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 frien ...more
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 frien ...more
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Hardcover, 355 pages
Published
February 25th 2020
by Razorbill / Penguin Random House
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Haviva Avirom
Mild romance, nothing more than kissing.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Rebelwing (Rebelwing, #1)

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 str ...more
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 str ...more

DNF @ 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 digi ...more
I received a digi ...more

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 remini ...more
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 remini ...more

Rep: Chinese American mc, Mexican Canadian li, Korean American bi character, lesbian character
CWs: parent death
CWs: parent death

(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 exa ...more
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 exa ...more

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.
...more

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 ti
...more

Feb 27, 2019
booksneedcaffeinetoo
marked it as to-read
According 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!!!!!
...more
"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!!!!!
...more

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. ...more
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the advance copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more

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
...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
*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 ...more

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 a
...more

DNF at 1/3. Will comeback to try again when I'm in a better mood
...more

*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 w ...more
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 w ...more

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.

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.
...more

Jul 24, 2019
Amber (The Book Bratz)
marked it as to-read
This book is a NEED not a want

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 ...more
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 ...more

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).
...more

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 writ ...more
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 writ ...more

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 replac ...more
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 replac ...more

Feb 12, 2020
Amanda (MetalPhantasmReads)
marked it as dnf
DNF @ 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 ha ...more
**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 ha ...more

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 lim ...more
...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 lim ...more

*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 ho ...more
*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 ho ...more

Oh, this was was so much fun! I loved Pru–she's a really relatable character with a hilarious narration–and her team of Anabel, Alex, and Cat was wonderful too. Pru's mom is also the best and I loved the relationship between them. I knew a sci-fi book about prep schools and mech dragons would be great and I wasn't disappointed (plus, it differentiates between wyverns and dragons which makes my nerd heart happy). Honestly, this was everything I wanted it to be: entertaining and wry but also with
...more

This book was received as an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group - Razorbill in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I totally fell in love with the concept of this book and the struggles Pru went through controlling the government's most desired weapon and being the chosen one, to attending prep school and the troubles of being a teenage girl. Pru is a rebel on a routine smuggle deal to the chosen one that's destined ...more
I totally fell in love with the concept of this book and the struggles Pru went through controlling the government's most desired weapon and being the chosen one, to attending prep school and the troubles of being a teenage girl. Pru is a rebel on a routine smuggle deal to the chosen one that's destined ...more

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