Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle, #2) in Ask Libba Bray

May 05, 2011 Shay rated it really liked it

Shelves: crack-books, read-age-2011, want-a-movie, itching-to-reread, midnight-to-dawn, big-books-500-pgs

I absolutely love Gemma. She's such a great character and this book is beautifully written! I was laughing with her and at her. I was scared for her. If I cried in from books, I would have cried with her. This was a great book and I strongly recommend it. There are parts I was not happy about and I was disappointed when something... unsettling happens- especially during this time period. It is never brought up again. Overall, I loved this book. If I could give it a 4.5 star, I would. I'm very ex ...more

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May 11, 2011 Marissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

The companion to A Great and Terrible Beauty picks up where the first book leaves off and leads into the mystery of who Circe is and where she is now. Gemma, Felicity, and Anne are going on winter break from Spence, which gives them time to further explore the mysteries of the realms and the Order. We learn more about each girl and about the worlds with which they are dealing in a crazy, twist-turning manner. It's hard for Gemma to know who to trust and what to do, and the reader follows her alo ...more

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May 15, 2011 Ikhlas Hussain rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-favourites

Libba Bray’s Rebel Angels is the 2nd book in Bray’s well-loved Gemma Doyle trilogy. Rebel Angels continues the story of Gemma Doyle and her struggle with the magic of the realms, as she tries to fit in at Spence Academy for Girls and moves one step closer to finding her mother’s best friend and killer, Circe.

After such a gripping introduction to Gemma’s story in A Great and Terrible Beauty, you’d think Bray would fall short on the sequel. But instead, Rebel Angels rises above and beyond the firs Libba Bray’s Rebel Angels is the 2nd book in Bray’s well-loved Gemma Doyle trilogy. Rebel Angels continues the story of Gemma Doyle and her struggle with the magic of the realms, as she tries to fit in at Spence Academy for Girls and moves one step closer to finding her mother’s best friend and killer, Circe.

After such a gripping introduction to Gemma’s story in A Great and Terrible Beauty, you’d think Bray would fall short on the sequel. But instead, Rebel Angels rises above and beyond the first book (and what a GORGEOUS cover!).

As you may know, I love romance and there’s lots of it in this book, as well as a healthy dose of misunderstandings, jealousy and angst. Nothing plays up the importance of one suitor than the introduction of another. Simon Middleton is exactly the sort of gentleman’s son Gemma is expected to marry; he’s handsome, rich, and fits well into the social hierarchy that Gemma herself is expected to follow. Kartik on the other hand is Indian and has no family, except for the Rakshana, an organization that urges Gemma to bind the magic, before chaos reigns and they are forced to kill her.

Unlike other YA books coming out now, the love triangle isn’t that pronounced. Its pronounced in Gemma’s mind, that she has two choices. But both men never have fights or duels with each other, in attempts to claim the girl. Unlike other YA heroines, Gemma thinks she’s torn between two men, but the one who’s meant for her is pretty obvious to the audience. In other words, there’s no fangirl wars over Team Simon or Team Kartik, because honestly, there’s no competition.

Other than the romance, Gemma also struggles with her place in the regular world and in the realms, as friends and enemies flock to her, because she is the one with all the power. Because of this, Gemma is like any other girl; she could have lived in the 19th century or be living now.

And this is what makes Rebel Angels so appealing. If you loved A Great and Terrible Beauty, I urge you to pick up its sequel! You won’t be sorry you did.

So for that: 4/5 ...more

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May 24, 2011 Meredith Groom rated it it was amazing

It was a great continuation of the first novel, which set things running at a pretty fast pace for the suggested time period. I loved AGATB as well as this and TSFT.

Such a great series, but so sad. :/

I suppose it's for the best. ...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Alesia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-bookchallenge

In my opinion, this book was way better than the first book! We learn more about the order and a lot of things are going on. There was a lot of mystery in this book which I really enjoyed as well. I also enjoyed the historical elements much more in this book than the first - I love historicals BTW.
I really liked how the majority of this book was set in the 19th century London, cause you really got to see how the people acted towards other people and the balls, ahh... the balls! Wish we still had ...more

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