Rebel Angels

Libba Bray

Dec 2007 · The Gemma Doyle Trilogy Book 2 · Sold by Delacorte Press

About this ebook

The second book in the critically acclaimed New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Gemma Doyle trilogy, an exhilarating and haunting saga from the author of The Diviners series and Going Bovine.

Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain. . . .

The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.

But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’ s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task.

“Extraordinary.”—VOYA in a Perfect 10 Review

“Remarkable.” —School Library Journal 

A New York Times Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A Book Sense Bestseller
A Book Sense Top Ten Selection
BBYA (ALA/YALSA Best Book for Young Adults)
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
Iowa High School Book Award
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award
Golden Spur Children’s Literature Book Award (TX)

Ratings and reviews

In my review of the previous book I wrote that it was unnecessarily long and had a lot of "filler" that really didn't need to be in the book. However the filler was at least entertaining so the book wasn't bad. That is not the case with this book. It is longer, if you can believe it, then the first one, and it is unbelievably tedious. The three main characters are around 16 years old and there is constant whining and complaining and pouting about the same things over and over and over again. The reader sees twists and problems for the lead characters coming a mile away. But you have to keep reading and try and find the patience to wait for the characters to catch up and discover what you discovered three Chapters ago. I am so debating as to whether or not I should read the third book which is almost twice as long as the second one! I have a friend who read all of them and I think I'm just going to ask her how the story ends because I simply cannot sit through more whining and petulance

I felt as though I shouldn't be reading this since it's classified as Juvenile Fiction but it hit on some serious issues that really surprised me. The ending left me wanting more and even though the trailer I watched for the third book in the Gemma Doyle triology made me second-guess wanting to read it, I have faith that it will satisfy my need for a good ending.

I am almost done with this book and I have had it for 6 days. It still has me confused. I do know that Pippa is a bad guy and not who she was. I do think that Circe is the new teacher at Spence. Yet, it has me wondering if the headmistress is Circe because they are sisters. I do believe that Felicity is going to turn on Gemma and Ann like the way Sarah turned on Mary. Over all this is the best series I have ever read.

About the author

Libba Bray is the New York Times bestselling author of the Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing); the Michael L. Printz Award-winning Going Bovine; Beauty Queens, an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist; and The Diviners series. She is originally from Texas but makes her home in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, son, and two sociopathic cats. Visit her at www.libbabray.com and at @libbabray on Twitter and Instagram.