Bray, Libba. Rebel Angels. I enjoyed the first book in this series much more than this one. Gemma has lost much of her independence, individuality, and quirky humor. The feisty and funny character at the beginning of A Great and Terrible Beauty is now too easily swayed by her friends.
Gemma, Felicity, and Ann take their Christmas holidays in London, but as things are not going well in the realms, they make frequent visits there. Gemma finds Pippa disturbing, but she is the only one who sees a problem (makes one wonder about Felicity and Ann, who appear undaunted by the deterioration in both Pippa and the realms), but Gemma does little to explain her doubts to the girls--maybe because she knows it its hopeless. Kartik plays a bigger part in this book (a good thing) and seems to be set up to play an even larger role in the next one. There is a bit of "romance" with Simon Middleton, but it is a sideline because Gemma must keep Circe from gaining control in the realms. Who is Circe? In order to fight her, Gemma must determine Circe's identity.
The anagrams may fool the twelve-year-old audience, but I'd think that by thirteen or fourteen most girls would catch on to this twist. Gemma's response to Simon's behavior at the party seems particularly obtuse, and her tendency to allow her friends to browbeat her-- seems at odds with "Lady Hope" and the idea that she is heir to magical powers beyond those of any previous member of The Order. I hope that in the third novel, Gemma comes into her own again.
fiction. Gothic / YA. 2005. 548 pages.
thanks to your last 2 posts I am all set now with titles for christmas gifts for my niece who is a ravenous reader! but I do think I'll have to preview the books before mailing ;)
ReplyDeleteToo bad that it wasn't as good as the first. I still think I'll read the first, though.
ReplyDeletekimy -You are thinking ahead! The Libba Bray books about 16 year old girls have a more "adult" sensibility than The Last Apprentice...
ReplyDeleteBooklogged - keep in mind that this is the opinion of an OA (old, and somewhat jaded, adult) and YA readers would not be as critical.
Oh...that's too bad!! I just bought the first in the series, and I'm really excited about reading it though. But if it's half as good as you say, I won't be able to quit after the first one!
ReplyDeleteStephanie -- I'll be reading the third one because I do like having conclusions! Hope you enjoy the first one.
ReplyDeleteI have the first book on my TBR list. Maybe the third one will be so good that it will make up for the less than wonderful second book.
ReplyDeleteFramed - I really enjoyed the first one and have high hopes for the final one!
ReplyDeleteJust had to say, I absolutely loved this book. The first was a bit better for me, but this one was really good too. And I'm far from being a YA myself, either. (LOL) Glad to hear you're going to give the third one a shot, I'm really looking forward to seeing where she goes with the story.
ReplyDeleteNicola -- Oh, yes, I want to see where she's going, too, so the third one is on my list!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that the first book in the series was much more enjoyable than this one. I'm wondering how the third one will compare with these two. Will you be reading that once it is released?
ReplyDeleteCourt -- I'm wondering, too, and hoping that she ends on a high note! Bray needs to give Gemma back her attitude, her chutzpah, and her sense of humor. - :) - But that's just me...
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