Rebel Angels

Reader reviewed by Syl

I loved Rebel Angels. I was surprised that I enjoyed this series. I swore to myself that I wouldn't read another series other than my beloved Harry Potter and Twilight. Rebel Angels proved to me opce again that I shouldn't judge a series by its first novel. I detested A Great and Terrible Beauty. But once I picked up Rebel Angels I couldn't put it down.
I loved the action that it involved. Gemma's progress and conflict with her powers is potrayed eloquently. The secrets that surround the Order and Rakshanna will stun you. I highly recommend a Sweet Far thing if you're interested in how Gemma and Kartik will end up. It will leave you breathless.

Reader reviewed by Sabrina

I just finished this amazing sequel to "A Great and Terrible Beauty". It is so amazing. I started it barely 3 days ago and I could not put it down since. Gemma has released the magic in the realms and must find the Temple to bind the magic before a dark spirit or Circe finds it. It is an amazing quest with a VERY surpising ending. I must say, I did not see ANY of it coming! I most definitely recommend it!

Reader reviewed by ash

mum is the word that in this second installment in the 'a great and terrible beauty' trilogy, rebel angles, pippa has come back! after losing one of her closest friends--in the dour, secretive private boarding school that gemma doyle was sent to to become a propper lady--gemma goes back to the realms with felecity and ann only to find pippa waiting for them! but what happens if pippa doesnt want to leave her friends and pass on? and what is gemma supposed o do about the secretive indian man who keeps aunting her dreams? on the bright side... it's christmas in the late 17th century london, and gemma is being courted by the handsome and rich men. but do they have other motives? ad what is gemma supposed to do about the little problem of ghosts stalking her? find out in REBEL ANGELS! 

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

The literary sorceress Libba Bray enchanted us into Gemma Doyle's scary-magic world with her brilliant debut novel, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY. Did she suffer a sophomore slump as so many others have been known to do? Not at all. REBEL ANGELS is quite possibly even more exciting, confusing, mysterious, and alluring than the first.

Two months after the death of Pippa, who chose to eat the berries from the Realms and remain there, Christmas descends upon England and Spence Academy, where Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are still struggling to understand what is up with the Realms and the magic. A suspicious new teacher, Miss McCleethy, arrives in the middle of a stormy night, and Gemma has got a feeling that she's up to no good. She unearths several clues at Spence and in London that seem to point to the fact that Miss McCleethy is Circe, the horrid monster who was a girl who bound herself to a Winterlands creature and is now pure evil.

But London is not just for investigation. Gemma meets the acquaintance of the charming Simon Middleton--a witty, handsome, and otherwise perfect gentleman, the kind she would be enchanted by if she were not in possession of such terrible and dark secrets. Gemma also befriends again Miss Moore, dismissed from Spence Academy after accusations that Gemma and her friends made against her. Together they try to discover the truth about Circe and to bind the magic before others who might mess with it get to it first.

However, no one is who they seem. Is Kartik, the Indian boy of the powerful group of men called the Rakshana tied to her destiny, whom Gemma cannot stop thinking inappropriate thoughts about, with her or against her? Who is really Circe? Can the remnants of the order even be trusted anymore? There seems to be no one Gemma can trust but herself, and that is how she must conquer the Winterlands creatures and contain the magic in the Realms.

REBEL ANGELS reveals more shocking secrets about its characters and more terrifying situations and environments, but it all makes sense in this character-driven novel. The characters are not perfect and they know that, or they must know that. Libba Bray's second novel is an exultant declaration of femininity and the importance--and dangers--of alliances. This is a trilogy that must not be missed.

Reader reviewed by carmen alexis

If you are fans of A Great and Terrible Beauty, you won't be disappointed with the sequel. And I love how it's set for Christmas time... what a perfect way to start my holidays. Anyways, about the book, I am going to admit that I still have the same conflicted emotions about the book as I did the first in the trilogy. I love Gemma Doyle. I think she's brave, stubborn and not like other girls. But her weakness seems to be the girls she calls her friends. It's true that eventually she will see the truth in them and usually does what she has to for the sake of everyone. But I feel as if Felicity and Ann have too much over her. Fee and Ann... are just not the sidekicks you imagine. True, they have a lot of redeeming points-- Fee has power in school, is spirited and lively. Ann ... honestly, at the moment, I can't seem to think of her redeeming points. Okay, she sings good.... gosh, that sounds weak. But the truth is... Fee and Ann gang up on Gemma a lot, forcing her to do things that usually lead them astray. So though they do help her out in the end, I get this uneasy feeling about them.
As for the rest of the characters, well, great job on that. I loved Gemma and Kartik's chemistry in this book. I thought Simon was charming until... proven otherwise. I loved Tom's better, professional and compassionate side. I loved Gemma's father despite his weaknesses. As for Ms. Cleethly and Ms. Moore... awesome! haha. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it yet. So there you have it.

Reprinted here with author's permission.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

the sequel to A Great And Terrible Beauty continues with Gemma and her friends going into the realms despite that fact that its not safe to be in there since Circe, her mothers enemy might be there. THis book is really great. cant wait for the next part!

Reader reviewed by Chey

Rebel Angels is the second book of the Gemma Doyle triliogy. It continues with the same witty sarcasm Libba Bray intruduces in the first book. This book gets slightly darker and we get to see Gemma develop an even closer friendship with Ann and Felicity and we see her family struggles as well. This book will have you aching for book 3, A Sweet Far Thing to see what finally happens in this saga. The only down side was that I feel as though not much really happened in Rebel Angels, and all the loose ends are left to for the third book.

Reader reviewed by Katie

Sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma Doyle learns new things about the realms. Her relationship with Kartik changes slowly. And a brand new teacher, Ms. McCleethy starts teaching at Spence. But she turns out to be part of the Order, the magical group Gemma comes from, and Gemma's visions lead her to be suspicious of her. Ms. Moore, Gemma's favorite Spence teacher who got kicked out, is Gemma's closest friend. But when McCleethy and Moore's identities come to light, the true is frightening.
I think this book was worth the wait after A Great and Terrible Beauty. The speed of the book was great because it alway kept me on my toes. An excellent sequel.

Reader reviewed by Holly

Rebel Angels, the second book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy is about Gemma journey to save the realm from Circe. Shocking realisations lead  to scandal. This book is a great mix of romance, fantasy, the victorian era, and much more. I thought this book was really awesome and the details wre great you could almost picture yourself in the realm. This book sete up the last book in the series perfectly. I also love the relationship between gemma and katrik. A great read but make sure you pay attention or you will get lost.

Reader reviewed by YouKn0wYaLuvMe

I loved this book!! Gemma, in Rebel Angels (the first book of 3 in a series), just lost her mother and is sent to boarding school.

There she learns about a secret group that her mother was involved in and how it has to do with her.

Making friends and going to a magical place to meet and aid the dead while defeating the antagonist that caused her mother to commit suicide is the job that she has stumbled upon and in this book, it proves Gemma's courage and strong-will.