Rebel Angels

Last night, I finished reading the sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty of the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray, Rebel Angels!  I was really excited about the story and had even checked out the book on CD to listen to on my drive to Oroville today for my best friend Morgan's going away party, but like I said, I finished it last night, so the CD's and the book will be returned fairly soon.  

This second installment follows the young Miss Gemma Doyle in her Christmas holiday away from school to the bustling town of London where she has many adventures with her friends, deals with family problems and meets the dashing Mr. Simon Middleton.  Even though the pressures and politics of being a lady seem to rule their lives, Gemma and her friends still find time to whisk away into the magical realms that they discovered only months before.  However, things in the realm have changed due to unforeseen circumstances that I would rather not disclose as they conclude the first book of the series.  The girls, now equipped with the mission of figuring out how to save the realms, roam the streets of London by giving their chaperone's the slip in search of answers.  Though the journey is marked by mysteries, surprises and shocking events, the girls make their way through each learning something more about themselves but also retreating to their easy pasts and ultimately doing what they know in their hearts is the right thing to do.   Gemma, Ann, Felicity and Pippa's friendships all become stronger, even though they all have their secrets, hopes and fears that they keep from one another and can sometimes be cruel towards each other.  But deep down, I believe that they all know they need each other, even if that is the last thing they want to admit.  As Gemma says at the end of the book, "And for a moment, I understand that I have friends on this lonely path, that sometimes your place is not something you find, but something you have when you need it."

I started the final book A Sweet Far Thing, today and I look forward to what happens next and to see where all the girls end up as the school year is coming to an end and their lives are to begin.  Will they do what is expected of them?  Or will they dare to be all that they can be in a world that dictates their lives?  As Gemma points out as a glimpse of hope, "Beyond that, Buckingham Palace stands, governed by a woman."

Happy reading everyone!  And as always, please feel free to comment on your thoughts of the books or join us in reading them as well!

~Sarah