LitPick Review
"Rebel Angels," Libba Bray's latest novel, is a magical concoction of fantasy, suspense, mystery, and romance all rolled into one. The sequel to the best-selling and critically- acclaimed book "A Great and Terrible Beauty," this book continues the story of Gemma Doyle and her two closest friends Felicity Worthington and Ann Bradshaw. The story unfolds during the Christmas season while the girls are on a holiday break from Spence Academy. They are excited to be in London with so much to occupy their time like balls and boys, including the handsome Simon Middleton who has taken a liking to Gemma.
But Gemma is no normal sixteen-year-old girl.
She has a supernatural gift that allows her to visit an enchanted place called the realms where on a whim a handful of grass can be turned into a tiny black kitten or a beautiful ruby pendant. It's where magical things happen and spiritual beings exist. But the magic in the realms is loose and it's Gemma's job to bind it before any bad forces can take control, including her wicked enemy Circe who is just as powerful as her Greek enchantress namesake.
Gemma's mission is a perilous one that includes many unpredictable twists. She is haunted by visions of three girls in white who have met a terrible end. But who are these girls? And who is the man with the scar on his face who keeps following her? Gemma must journey deep into the mysterious realms to find answers, so deep that there is the chance that she may never find her way back.
Opinion:
The book, told mainly in the first person, is a coming-of-age story set in Victorian England. Bray does a wonderful job of transporting the reader back to this time period by incorporating historical details and explaining social norms which believably set the mood of a bygone era. "Talking loudly or laughing on the street shows ill-breeding," Mrs. Nightwing, Spence's headmistress, tells her students. Gemma bristles against the stifling conventions of the time which hold few opportunities for women. She comes off as an admirable modern day heroine who struggles to stay true to herself while always trying to do the right thing.
Readers who are unfamiliar with the first installment of Gemma's story will have no trouble following along with the sequel as necessary background information is weaved into the narration. However, the book deals with issues such as drug and sexual abuse that may not be suitable for younger readers, but are nonetheless relevant today. There's also some violent content and a few scenes play out in a mental institution.
This is a captivating story for ages twelve and up. Fans of Libba Bray will not be disappointed.
