Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy Book #2)

In Rebel Angels, Bray continues her story of Gemma Doyle, a young English lady-in-the-making at the turn of the century.

This series does a great job of crossing genres. It's fantasy, it's historical fiction, it's romance -- it refuses to be pigeonholed. In this installment, there's more magic than in the last. Gemma and her friends Ann and Felicity step out of their corseted lives in the "real world" to escape the Christmas ball season of high society London. Rather than accepting invitations for stuffy teas and afternoon calls with her grandmother, Gemma is focusing her attentions on what to do with her newly received magic, and how to best manage the growing unrest among the tribes of magical creatures she's encountered in the Realms.

Also new to the table is a new love interest, Simon Middleton, a dashing proper English lord. When pitted against her Rakshana protector, Kartik, Bray makes a great love triangle.

The historical notes continue to be interesting, particularly the in-depth exploration of Bedlam, a famed psychiatric hospital in turn of the century London. I learned a lot reading this book. However, the most important thing that I learned was that I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Sweet Far Thing to read the conclusion of Gemma's story.

Wonderful, wonderful book! Such a great sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty. I love how Libba Bray continues to develop her characters, including the Realm, even after we think we know all there is too know! The ways in which she slowly divulges the back story belonging to Gemma and her friends is a wonderful lure that pulls you through the book.

The only negative aspect that I found in this novel is that, sometimes, Bray spends too much time describing things that feel trivial. For example, at this point, her long descriptions of the realm make the story drag as do the constant reminders of the unpleasant aspects of her family and their habits and attitudes.

I enjoyed the addition of Lord Denby to the story, even though I didn't find him overly likeable. In addition, although I know the secondary story about Ann and the theater are intended to make you like Ann more and understand her plight and woes, it mostly just annoyed me.

The mystery surrounding Circe unfolded in a way that I did not expect and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't figure it out until the main characters did.

I love that the characters are so imperfect but sometimes I have a hard time loving them. Mainly Ann, Felicity, and Pippa. Like I get that they are teenage girls and teenage girls are sometimes bitchy but I need more focus on their good points sometimes.
I love Simon. And of course Kartik but didn't enjoy her behavior with them.

As in the first book, I loved the strong heroine. She's reserved but strong-willed and the exciting but not over-the-top narration is perfect for her character. The beginning of the book dragged a little more than the first one, although I'm not sure if it was really slower or if I was just impatient to get to the awesome I knew was ahead. I liked that more of the world (both supernatural and real) was revealed as the book progressed. However, the author's habit of having people speak cryptically when clearer speech would have given them time to explain everything up became frustrating. This book also fell a little more into the typical YA plot device of characters causing their own problems through stupid decisions. That said, it was still a fun read with a supernatural realm nicely complementing the Victorian era setting.

In the second book of Bray's feminist Victorian England fantasy adventure, Gemma Doyle is spending the Christmas break at home in London, shopping and going to parties with her friends and flirting with the gentleman Simon. She also has to find the Temple in the realms and bind the magic, unravel the mystery of Circe (her mother's murderer and her enemy), and discover who to trust and who is her enemy. Though the book is a bit slow and clumsily written, Bray's Victorian fantasy is refreshingly beautiful (particularly the imagery of the realms) and investigative into female issues of empowerment. In fact, it contains one of the most complex cast of female characters of any young adult fantasy series. Women are victims of their own power, are abused for their power, are taken advantage of for their power, and worst of all, find their power denied. Gemma may be the one woman who understands her power and may be the one who can control it. Beautiful, symbolic, complex, and a strong second novel. Grade: A-

Sequels are tricky and they're famous for not living up to an original- either the writer will try to rehash what was successful in the original, in which case the result is too often boring a second time around; or she'll attempt to take the story into a different place and risks not being true to the initial characters and situations. Libba Bray does both- she brings her story forward while remaining true to what made the first novel good.

The story opens with Gemma and her friends anticipating their christmas vacation, but they are quickly drawn back into the magical world of the Realms and the Order. Kartik is following Gemma claiming that she needs to bind the magic she set loose in the first book, by finding a temple in the Realms, which are quickly becoming a dangerous place. In the Realms Gemma, Ann and Felicty are reunited with Pippa who seems oddly changed. Everything the girls thought they knew about the Order is challenged and they have no way of knowing who to trust.

Meanwhile in the "real" world adolescence goes on. The girls are more secure in their friendship than in the previous books, but the seeds of a power struggle emerge between Gemma and Felicity. The different parts of Gemma's life begin to cross disturbingly when her older brother's patient, and inmate at Bedlam asylum seems to have a knowledge of Gemma's quest in the realms. Gemma has the usual adolescent troubles as well. She's flattered by the attentions of the handsome, wealthy Simon Middleton, while she is strangly drawn to Kartik. Her father's dependance on opium has also be come a cause for concern.

Bray once again intermingles historiical fiction and fantasy while painting vivid characeters. I got annoyed with the characters in the book in the same way I'd get annoyed at a friend- the ultimate test of whether or not a character is "realistic". Ultimately REBEL ANGELS is very much a transitional book that leads the reader to eagerly await the conclusion of the trilogy.

Rebel Angels is the second novel in the Gemma Doyle trilogy, following A Great and Terrible Beauty. See my review of that book on the store too. Libba Bray creates a fantastic world in the book that is concentrated away from Spence Academy where the first book was focused. In my opinion, this opened up the novel to many great possibilities that the first one was limited by, one of which is a love triangle. You know how we love those! The mysterious Indian boy, Kartik, makes a repeat appearance with added value to his character and he does something quite surprising at the end. A new character was added, the boyishly cute Simon Middleton.

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first, there was more drama, more character development and some lingering questions from the first were answered but not resolved. It leads nicely into the third book, A Sweet Far Thing. If you are looking for a darkly fast-paced series, I recommend trying this one out.

After reading the first in the series I wanted to read its sequel. This was a good follow-up to A Great and Terrible Beauty. It continues the story of Gemma and how she is dealing with life as a 16 yr old girl in an England finishing school in the late 1800's, who is trying to control her magic and keep it away from those who would want to use her (and her magic) for evil. Throughout the novel she is being hunted by an old friend/enemy of her mother's, Circe. Gemma thinks she knows who Circe is, but she is mistaken, and in the end almost loses herself and her magic to the evil spirits. Eventually good wins over evil, but there is always more evil to take its place. Circe is defeated, but all the others who want the magic for themselves still exist. Gemma finds and loses two love interests in this novel, Katrik and Simon. She also goes through termoil with her friendships as well. This novel ended well, but still leaves some things unfinished. I will definitely be reading the last in the series, to see how things are finished.

A Great and Terrible Beauty is an enchanting novel. When I picked up Rebel Angles I knew Libba Bray had her work cut out if she intended to make the sequel as good as the first. However, she managed to make Rebel Angels better.

It starts with Kartick talking to the leaders of the brotherhood, the Rakshana. Meanwhile, at Spence, Christmas is only weeks away. A new teacher has arrived to take the place of Miss Moore, Miss McCleethy. Gemma has a strange feeling about the new teacher, but dismisses it when her two best friends, Ann and Felicity, like her so much.

Then it's off to London for Christmas. She's staying with her father, grandmama, and Tom. She attends many fancy balls and operas with her friends. But, Kartick has eager news, Gemma must find the temple and bind the magic or all is lost. So now Gemma must live out her normal life as well as deal with the troubles of the realms. Also, it doesn't help that she becomes torn between the handsome Simon Middleton and Kartick and that three ghost girls are following her. However, it only gets more enticing and suspenseful from there.

I think anyone, young and old, can enjoy this book. Bray makes Gemma out to be real and you always know how she feels and she has just as much wit in this book as she had in teh first. What makes it better is the dangerous journeys, a chance to see deeper in the realms, and the love triangle between Simon, Kartick, and Gemma. Plus, her father's drug addiction is only a meager part, but adds so much to Gemma's character.
To understand this book, you must read the first. The plot points are difficult to understand if you don't have teh back-up info. The ending was unexpectable and suggests more books about Gemma and her perils in the future. I'm looking foreward to more from this author and hope you choose this book for your next read. :)

Libba Bray is a very skillful author. It has been awhile since I can remember another YA novel written so . . . what is that word? Mature? Sophisticated? Yes, that is the word: sophisticated. Whilst reading her books, I really feel like I am there, with Gemma, Felicity, and Ann. Everything she describes, I can imagine perfectly. Her dialogue is so believable that I can hear them talking in a British accent inside my head! In addition, Bray truly knows how to instill fear in a reader. This book was way scarier than its prequel A Great and Terrible Beauty. I have yet to read a book that leaves goosebumps on my skin. That is saying a lot for a girl who enjoys watching horror movies.

Oh, how I love Kartik! He became a bit softer in this volume, not as brooding and hard on Gemma as he was in the first book. There is a bit more romance in the story as well, with the addition of Simon Middleton, another love interest (of whom I do not care for as much).

I must say that Rebel Angels surpasses A Great and Terrible Beauty. There are only a handful of books out there that have sequels equal to the prequels, such as The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. However, Rebel Angels is the only book I can think of so far that blows its sequel out of the water. I applaud Bray for this amazing feat. Unlike A Great and Terrible Beauty which starts out very, very slow, Rebel Angels jumps right into the action. I am quite thrilled that the second book of the trilogy was two-hundred pages thicker than its prequel and even more thrilled that The Sweet Far Thing is the thickest one out of all three. It's the size of a normal Harry Potter book!

Tonight, I shall begin The Sweet Far Thing. It saddens me that this is the last book. Even though I don't want the story of Gemma to end, I know it must, or else it will turn into one of those horrid sequels in a series that just get worse and worse and worse.

Rebel Angels is the wonderful sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty. A gulped up AGATB in two gulps, and RA in the same way. I enjoy this book series emensely, yet at the same time find them annyoing. I always seem to find qualms with ther hundreds of books I read each year, and this one is no exception. But don't totally forsake this book if you read this review: Rebel Angels is beautifully written, and Libba Bray is a great writer. But no work is ever perfect....

Qualm Number 1: I am a true romantic. Although I would never read downright romance novels, I love that little bit of love and denial in each book I read; I come to expect it. But I was so mad that Kartik and Gemma didn't get together in this book. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM? Kartik is so obviously crazy about Gemma, and she chooses to ignore him, sit in her little realm world, la la la I can't her you. And what she said to him was unintentionally mean, but he should have gotten over it, since love is endless. Personally, I would already have them together in the first book...but that's just me. But Kartik sounds like such a nice guy, you know? I have the absurd tendency to fall in love with characters, and Kartik joins Percy Jackson and Edward Cullen in this department. Why can't Gemma realize that? WHY? Ok, ranting over on that subject. I am not crazt haha :)

Moving on....
Qualm Number 2: Is it just me, or does it seem like Felicity and Ann are using Gemma? I think that they are, just to get to the realms. Felicity wants the power and to see Pippa, and Ann just wants to be beautiful. They really don't have those experiences friends have. When Gemma finds out about Felicity's past abuses Felicity doesn't cry on her shoulder; she just gets all amd. And Ann...although I liked how she lied about her family, I thought that was too out of character for her. Felicity is so pushing her to be what she is not. And what about Pippa? In the last book she seemed like she had multiple-personalities, and in RA too. One minute she is nice, the next whiny, althoug that might be the realms I don't know. Felicity also treats her weird, one minute Gemma's best friend and the next Pippa's. The whole friendship aspect is a little crazy.

Qualm Number 3: SPOILER!!!! I knew Miss Moore was Circe since AGATB, so that was very predicatble. I was a little sad though. She seemed really nice. :(

Ok, so I loved this book with a passion, and it is now on the sacred bookshelf in my room. I'm getting the sequel, The Sweet Far Thing, so soon as I can. So if you need a book to read, read this one. It's scary at times, but I was enraputured 24/7. Go get it now!!!

Second in the Gemma Doyle trilogy.

When she held Circe at bay and destroyed the runes at the end of A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma loosed the power of the realms and made the magic available to anyone in the realms.

Now she has been given the task to find the Temple and bind the magic. Kartik and the Order have their own plans for the magic of the realm and Gemma finds herself caught between them.

Meanwhile, Circe is still on the loose and Pippa refuses to pass as she should. Dark things are awakening within the realms and fighting to control the magic. As Gemma struggles to set things right, she has only the ravings of a mad girl to guide her.

Set against the backdrop of Victorian society, this gothic tale combines historical fiction with fantasy. Readers will be riveted by this well-paced mystery filled with authentic details of Victorian life.

The more Gemma Doyle learns about her visions and the magic that allows her to enter the Realms--a world beyond our own usually seen in dreams or death--the more questions she has. Gemma finally knows the truth about her mother and the mystical Order that she once belonged to . . . and helped destroy with her closest friend, Circe.

Now the magic is loose in the realms and Circe is hunting Gemma, her only way back to all of that magic. Kartik, Gemma's mysterious shadow since leaving India, insists Gemma must bind the magic before disaster strikes. Which would be fine if Gemma had any idea how to do such a thing.

Worse, is it the Christmas season--Gemma's first since her mother's death. While her friends Felicity and Ann talk of balls and other wonderful plans for their time away from Spence Academy, Gemma is left to wonder what the holidays can hold at home with her strict grandmother, her irritating brother, and her feeble father.

The holiday season promises a world of distractions in the form of balls and the most intriguing form of one Simon Middleton--not to mention an introduction to the rarefied circles of high society. But Gemma has no time for distractions.

Questions will be answered, enemies will be fought, and Gemma will have to take her stand in Rebel Angels (2006) by Libba Bray.

Rebel Angels is the second book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy (which began with A Great and Terrible Beauty). It is also one of those books where it is very clear that it is the second book in a trilogy, which is fine. The beginning of the story provides almost enough recap of earlier events to make it possible to read this book out of sequence though, as ever, many nuances would be lost that way.

While Rebel Angels is a continuation of an already exciting story, this book lacked some of the verve and spark of the first. With all of the summarizing the story starts slowly, picking up when Gemma and her friends depart from Spence for their holiday. While Gemma and Kartik evolve and change especially throughout this story, it felt like a lot of the other characters were working through the same emotions and the same problems readers saw in the first book.

That said, the second half of the book is much more exciting and faster paced than the first. Bray once again provides a vivid window into the world of 1895 London from the eyes of a heroine willing and ready to think for herself. The underlying commentary on the roles of women in Victorian England and feminism is also fascinating in a book that is ostensibly a historical fantasy.

As a whole the story is very interesting and aptly sets up the conclusion of the trilogy, of course, but Rebel Angels just lacked that little spark to set truly set it apart as a book in its own right.

Possible Pairings: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, Paradise Lost by John Milton, Lirael by Garth Nix, The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman

So the second book really heats this series up! I pretty much had the same experiences with this book that I did with the first, great characters, great content, and the same amount of eye rolling. However, this time there was more romance to it and this was a pleasant development for the characters since they are getting older and more out in society. I also liked to that this book's setting was not all at Spence but mostly in London while the girls are on Christmas break it let you really get to know the characters even better particularly Felicity.

After reading "A Great and Terrible Beauty," I felt that the author had a tremendous challenge ahead of her in making Gemma's "friends" anywhere near redeemable. To my surprise and delight, she did it! And then some.

This novel continues Gemma's story from the first book, but it opens with an entry from Kartik's journal, giving the reader a refreshing look at his side of the story. Kartik was a boy in the first book who tried to get Gemma to stop having the visions she was having. They were both connected through her gift, and Gemma's discovering of the extent of the connection really was intriguing. Their interactions were the most enjoyable part of the first book for me, especially since the other girls in Gemma's finishing school (Spence) were so unlikable.

In "Rebel Angels," the girls are preparing to leave for Christmas vacation to their respective homes. Prior to the end of the term, a new and mysterious teacher, Miss McCleethy, arrives in the middle of a "dark and stormy night." Ooooohhhhh! Got goosebumps yet? While the other girls like her and get along really well with her, Gemma has her doubts, especially after witnessing the teacher's strange behavior right before Gemma leaves for home.

Finally, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann leave Spence Academy for Christmas break. In London (Ann stays with Felicity), they continue to get together to travel to the realms and unravel the mysteries there and to try and figure out the meaning of the new visions Gemma starts having. They also spot the mysterious Miss McCleethy and start to suspect she may not be who she says she is and may be the one after Gemma. Kartik figures heavily in this book (yay!), and I find that I am really rooting for both he and Gemma to get together in the third and final installment in the series. They work well together!

It is here in London, away from the school, that Ms. Bray really delves deeper into all the characters. I finally start liking Felicity, whom I absolutely hated in the first book, after reading into her home life and finding out (at the same time as Gemma) what horrible secret she has had to live with for most of her life. It really explains away much of her behavior. Ann's personality starts to grow and mature, as well as Gemma, Kartik, Gemma's brother Tom, and Gemma's father. It was pure joy to get deeper into the characters' lives and psyches to see what motivated them.

The descriptions of the realms also get deeper and more beautiful. Ms. Bray has a gift for really pulling the reader into the story and making it seem as if you are there right along with Gemma and her friends. I was absolutely riveted from page 1.

Although I figured out who the real villain was relatively early on in the novel, nothing is really black and white here. Even the "good guys" may not be the ones to follow after all. Gemma wisely makes a decision at the end of the story to leave things open-ended until she has more time to determine what the right thing to do is. I found her growth in maturity in this novel very satisfying.

I highly recommend this novel and am looking forward to reading "A Sweet Far Thing" in the fall!

"Rebel Angels" strongly continues the saga of Gemma Doyle, begun in "A Great & Terrible Beauty." In Bray's second installment, Gemma's friendships are tested, & the magic of the realms is given more shape. As in the first installment, "Rebel Angels" deals with social attitudes in the Victorian period, which is a great plus. The characters of Ann & Felicity are the main players in the social commentaries, & they end "Rebel Angels" with greater depth than before. Felicity, in particular, turns into a more sympathetic character.

In the way of magic, Gemma's task becomes more defined, something I greatly appreciated after feeling that the magic was too vague in "A Great & Terrible Beauty." This time, the story was truly suspenseful, & the ending was a great shocker. I'll surely buy "The Sweet Far Thing" in hardback.

After finishing A Great and Terrible Beauty, I could not keep away from the series. I fell in love with all of the amazing characters and had to see more. I was not disappointed either.
Rebel Angels began with Christmas in Victorian England and all the girls are sitting around making ornaments. Gemma gets caught making a bad taste joke and is forced to do some act of charity over the holiday season and report it to Mrs. Nightwing. Before leaving for break, the girls make plans to see one another away from the school and Felicity allows Anna to stay with her over the season, coming up with an elaborate story for her mother.
This is the first time we get to really see Gemma's grandmother and she is not the most loving. If Gemma isn't acting the perfect social climber her grandmother is all over her, her brother has a job working for Bethlam and her father is hardly around. And, of course, we once again, get to see Kartik, who has grown into an even more amazing character. He's still trying to keep her from going into the realms, but he is also becoming a lot closer to Gemma.
This story takes place mostly in the winter season and Gemma finds herself immersed in the world of being a lady. She is finds someone, Simon Middleton, who may be a suitable husband, but he has secrets of her own, as does his very powerful family, which may hurt her more than help her. But, she can't lose focus on what is at hand, trying to find the other members of the order and bind the magic.
Trying to find the others proves difficult, when many of them are either in hiding or driven mad. The perfect example is Nell Hawkins, a patient of Tom's, who Gemma has decided to read poetry to for her charity. Nell was once a student of a woman who may have been Circe and is residing at Gemma's very school. Gemma tries to unscramble Nell's riddles, while shoving through her feelings for Simon and dealing with her own family problems.
In this installment, we learn a lot more about family secrets and what they can do to those involved. Everything is not what it seems on the outside and no one is safe from them.

Rebel Angels is book two in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. If you have not already read book one, I highly recommend that you do. Otherwise, you will not be able to follow the plot. For those of you who read and loved book one, you will not be disappointed.
Gemma is charged with finding the temple and binding the magic of the realm. This is not an easy task. Nobody knows where the temple is located and Gemma does not know who can be trusted. Rebel Angels is all that A Great and Terrible Beauty was and more. There is more danger, romance and humor. Bray's characters and their relationships have evolved while still staying true to the original.

This was a highly enjoyable and gripping read. I enjoyed it and it's prequel immensely. I wish I could read the next book in the series right now. That is my main problem with this series. If it takes 2 years for the next book to come out, by then I'll be nearly 17. I'm worried that I'll forget about these books or feel too old to read them then.

Ah well, focusing on the present I loved this book. I rarely buy books unless I really want them, and I couldn't wait 2 months for the library to get this book. I bought it and read it in about 5 hours. So, if you enjoy books with magic, romance, horror and mystery, this is a perfect blend of those elements. What makes it even more interesting and appealing is that it is set in the Victorian era.

I'm sick of singing it's praises.I enjoyed the book. I recommend it. You should read it.

(daughter of user)
Well, I found Rebel Angels to be a slightly better book than A Great and Terrible Beauty. It added to the characters and explained them more, which was very good. Personally, I liked Simon much more than Kartik. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to like his character quite yet. Simon was a gentleman and very sweet. Maybe I just liked him because I want to be adored by a sweet gentleman the way Gemma was adored by him, I don't really know. I was a bit sad that Gemma(SPOILER ALERT) didn't pick him in the end. I understand why she couldn't though. Over all, Rebel Angels was a great book and I'll be rushing to buy the next in the series.

Mmkay. PHENOMENAL.

Gemma's back, and now she's vowed to hunt down Circe, and destroy her. But Gem's visions are becoming ever more intense, for when she smashed the runes the magic came unbound for anyone to use.

Kartik is sent by the Rakshana to tell Gemma to bind the magic in the hidden Temple. But little does she know, the binding will give the Rakshana free rein in the realms, and worse, his orders are also to kill Gemma when she has completed the task.

There is that unfortunate drawback to sequels where they are often slow out of the starting gate, because the last volume must be recounted, or else risk alienating readers who picked up the second book first (common enough) or who have not read the first in a while. But as soon as this is done with, the book speeds up dramatically to a breakneck pace.

This book, for whatever reason, chilled me to the bone. Perhaps, having read Beauty so many times, I'm overly attached to the characters. I don't know, but it scared me, what becomes of them. Bray is brilliant at deepening the original character cut-outs from the beginning of Beauty without sacrificing the pace.

The girls are all fleshed-out even more. They will be a little more irritating in their own ways, a little more frightening, perhaps, a little more lovable. A little more wanting for that love. It's something unique, the way these girls turn out.

It's a turn from the first. While Beauty was dark in its way, and definitely mysterious, Rebel Angels takes that much farther. It's terrifying, dark, frightening, exciting, and doesn't reveal things necessarily before they must be, expecially if you don't stop reading to contemplate. I could not remove my eyes from the page; could not fall asleep before I finished it; could not fall asleep afterwards for thinking about it...amazing book. Thought-provoking and deep. Incredible. I cannot urge you ENOUGH to read this.

Which, interestingly, is how I ended my review of Beauty, I believe.

This book I just picked up randomly at the target near me because I needed a book to read by the pool... I didn't even know their was a first book and now I don't know if I should read it or not... Even if you don't read the first book you will be able to under stand the book. This book took me 2 1/2 days to read (only because my parents said to much reading is bad for your eyes.) Now though that I know there is a first book I am a little upset because I thought this book ended way to soon. So if you are looking for a book with mystery, history and a little bit of everything else I just pick up one of these books.

A devoted reader,

MAR

Rebel Angels is the second installation in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. In this book we meet up with Gemma, Felicity, and Ann as they are dealing with the death of their friend Pippa and the loss of their beloved teacher Miss Moore. Christmas break is soon to begin and all three will be staying in London so they will be sure to see each other and try to enter the Realms again. Gemma is having difficulty entering as she destroyed the Runes and released the magic. But, once the girls are able to cross into the Realms again they are pleasantly surprised that their dear friend Pippa is still their and just as beautiful as ever. Kartik is then able to find Gemma and tell her she must find the Temple in the Realms and bind the magic so that the evil will be contained. Through Gemma, Felicity, Ann, and Pippa's searching for the Temple they also are able to search for the great evil Circe and what they find may change their lives forever.
I did enjoy this book, it has many enjoyable elements. The plot although a little slow is interesting. I do have some issues with this book, because it is the second in the series I expected a lot more growth in the characters. Most of the growth really did not happen until the last 100 pages or so. The girls do not act like very good friends as they seem to try to hurt each others feelings constantly and never seem to truly form long lasting attachments until towards the end. I thought that they should be more friendly with each other and not use each other for personal gains. I think as the second book these things should have been worked out earlier and the friendships just don't seem solid. I also felt that the girls should be more courageous and independent than they are portrayed. They are in constant fear and as the books seem to be about the creation of strong independent women I think the girls should have had better reactions than they did to their challenges they faced. My last complaint really is not about the story in general. I don't like when authors create characters and don't do anything with them, and I feel this is the case with Simon Middleton. He was enjoyable but overall felt like a filler. He did not seem truly important to the story and I felt whether he was there or not the story would not have had a different outcome. So he was pleasant but unnecessary. I do have high hopes for the third and final book in the series The Sweet Far Thing.

Alright. I cannot say more that I thought this book was totally awesome. Gemma has returned in this second book and she's even more determined to learn more about Circe and the Realms. Pippa his already died, and Felicity and Ann are there to help Gemma defeat Circe and bind the magic of the Realms.

I know you guys are all excited to hear more about Kartik, so I'm happy to let you know that he continues to help Gemma in this book. But, Kartik has the task from the Rakshanna to kill Gemma after he tricks her into giving the Rakshanna the magic. Will Kartik follow through with his mission?

Gemma is swooning over young, handsome Simon Middleton. Be excited to find out what happens with THAT.

There are a lot of suprises in this book. Miss Moore is not what she seems, a mysterious Miss McCleethy enters the story, and Kartik is always there, watching over Gemma. Gemma is torn between Kartik, who she dreams of, and Simon, who is much more suitable for her. Hmmm...I'm not gonna say anymore but read to find out! Ages 12 and up. Enjoy!

Like almost every other reviewer, I was delirious with excitement for the publication of Rebel Angels, despite several qualms I had with A Great and Terrible Beauty. On many levels I was not disappointed, as the story picks up with equal intensity several months after the close of the first book. Gemma and her friends are swept into the London Christmas season as Spence closes for the holidays. The excitement of shopping, going to the opera, and flirting with a titled, eligible bachelor named Simon is enough for anyone, but Gemma cannot escape the power of the Realms. Troubling dreams convince her that Circe is still on her tracks, and she delves into the seamy underbelly of London to discover the truth behind her dreams, visiting the local insane asylum and following the ever-mysterious Kartik into the heart of London.

Bray does many things well in this compelling and fast-moving sequel. She deals skillfully with her characters, developing them even further: Gemma cannot decipher her complicated feelings for either Simon or Kartik; Felicity grows hungrier for the power Gemma wields in the Realms and must deal with the enigma of her father; Ann struggles with self-doubt and her intense desire to be on the level of her peers at Spence; and Pippa, though disturbingly changed, still feels hurt at being stuck in the Realms. Bray's description and sense of 1895 London is superb, as well, and she conveys both the atmosphere of the surroundings as well as Gemma's reaction to them. I am in awe of her ability to transform historical fact into wondrous detail. The novel was chilling, disturbing, and so involving.

Yet other aspects of the novel were annoying or simply tiresome. While Gemma's visits to the insane asylum increase the creepiness to a delicious degree, they reminded me intensely of scenes from the film The Ring and seemed placed in the novel simply to move the plot along. The inhabitants of the asylum seem to be this installment's token fringe group, set there expressly for Gemma's benefit as the gypsies were in the previous novel. Bray does develop this aspect more than she did with the gypsies; Gemma acerbically notes that London's upper crust supports the asylum simply to have a chance to gawk at the abnormal parts of society.

Other heavy-handed plot inserts include the usage of a rare book to discover more about the Order, as well as complications in the relationships of the other girls, specifically with Felicity and her father. While this may be an important point, it feels like too much. I wish Bray had chosen a few key issues to address in her novels instead of overloading her characters with practically every taboo subject in the books. I realize Victorian society was intensely repressive, a factor which may have caused many of the problems featured in the novels, but Bray stretches belief by giving each main character a serious problem.

She deals with the magic a bit more skillfully in this installment, but the way the Realms work is still unclear. More history on the subject would perhaps help to clear up questions as to their abilities and purpose.

Overall, however, Rebel Angels was an absorbing, beautifully-wrought sequel, and I was left begging for more at the end. While Bray could have done with more editing and less ambition, her ability as a writer to pull the reader into a great book is amazing.

Gemma and her friends continue their quest to bind the power of the magical realms while balancing the demands of high society in Victorian London. Others hope to control them in and out of the realms. Unexpected allies and does keep the adventure moving. Occasionally it allows a bit with multiple versions of showing off one's class or trying to escape it. But all in all, and beguiling.

Rebel Angels

Rebel Angels is a brilliant mix of romance, magic, and the troubles of growing up. As Gemma learns to balance all of theses pressures you get a detailed account of what a teenager girl thinks. This book is a wonderful fantasy read, full of thrills, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns. I personally enjoyed this book because I am a huge fan of fantasy and adventure books. I also enjoyed all of the description and detail shown in this story. It was very easy to make a connection with the main character, Gemma, because she is around my age and her thoughts and feelings and it and it is easy to relate to her. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure of fantasy book.

Let's go back, few years, summer 2003. I received gift cards to my favorite book store, and they were just BURNING a hole in my pocket. I toddle my way over to the Young Adult section, popping between rows and rows of everyday, seen that 10 times, novels. There was a neat stack in the corner, a pile of books that seemed odd to me. The cover was of a girl in a corset, red hair in a loose knot on the back of her head. Corsets are always amusing. I pick up the book, read the little expert. Ponder. Think. To get it, not to get it. Spend $17.95, not to spend $17.95. Finally, with a slightly off tempo mother huffing for me to "Hurry up and just buy a book!", I snatched the book and bought it.

Oh. My. God.

I cannot even describe the adventures that Libba Bray has not only accomplished to tell, but made believable. The heroin is not your average, "perfect hair, perfect skin, everyone loves her, people adore her, she has power and wealth"....hoity toity snooby rich girl finishing school product. She is a rebel, with the right amount of ingredients to make her less than perfect. She's not super pretty, in a world ruled by the fair and the dark haired, Gemma is a red-head with a mass of freckles. In a world with outgoing feminist, and stay-at-home wifes, Gemma strives to find a perfect balance where she can speak her mind, and not have the world on her shoulder.

But she does. In a perfect blend of fantasy, Gemma finds a world with everything you can imagine. Grass turns into butterflies, rocks are diamonds. The Relams, a secret garden version of a magical world, only opened to the women of the "Order", a old cultish like group with special powers. Gemma takes her friends to this relam, where they must learn that nothing is perfect, and to forgive is not to forget.

Book two takes off from book 1, perfectly starting with a diary type of the mysterious Katrik, the super sexy, mysterious Indian, who belongs to a cult of his own. The book is written if 1st person, with present tense perspective. (ie, I walk to the door, vs. I walked to the door). Gemma's mind will have you cackling insanely, her sarcasm and wit making you race through the pages. There is mystery, there is romance. Sigh. EVERYTHING! I couldn't go to bed without the LIGHTS on one night, the mystery of the relams scaring me so much. Centaurs and gorgons, everything is a perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy.

I almost cried when I finished. WHY MUST IT COME TO AN END!? Dare I say it? Better than Harry Potter, better than any series! Rebel Angels and A Great and Terrible Beauty offer retro-spect to Victoria England, where corsets and petticoats shine through the outside, but drugs, alchohal, addictions, loyalties, secrets, murder, and love are hidden beneath the surface.

A must read. A must read. Must I repeat myself? A MUST READ.

"Rebel Angels" was a truly fantastic read from beginning to end. It's been a long time since a story has truly captured my full interest, but I honestly found it difficult to put this book down. To be honest, when Bray's first novel "A Great and Terrible Beauty" came out, I bought it simply because the title sounded intriguing. I was very, very pleased to find out that it was a fantastic story full of suspense and twists that I hadn't read in another book for years. It was almost too much to stand waiting for the sequel "Rebel Angels" to come out. I definitely wasn't diappointed. Though, I'm not the target "younger" reader, being 30, I believe this is such an incredibly captivating story that anyone would find pleasure in reading it. My 54 year old father actually stole it from me and hid it until he was finished reading it! Libba Bray's appeal truly spans the age gap.

I'm not a spoiler and I prefer not to write out the plot in reviews, so I'll just say that it was a great sequel to an incredible first novel and I truly can't wait for another installment from Libba Bray.

Rebel Angels

Rebel Angels is a brilliant mix of romance, magic, and the troubles of growing up. As Gemma learns to balance all of theses pressures you get a detailed account of what a teenager girl thinks. This book is a wonderful fantasy read, full of thrills, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns. I personally enjoyed this book because I am a huge fan of fantasy and adventure books. I also enjoyed all of the description and detail shown in this story. It was very easy to make a connection with the main character, Gemma, because she is around my age and her thoughts and feelings and it and it is easy to relate to her. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure of fantasy book.

Let's go back, few years, summer 2003. I received gift cards to my favorite book store, and they were just BURNING a hole in my pocket. I toddle my way over to the Young Adult section, popping between rows and rows of everyday, seen that 10 times, novels. There was a neat stack in the corner, a pile of books that seemed odd to me. The cover was of a girl in a corset, red hair in a loose knot on the back of her head. Corsets are always amusing. I pick up the book, read the little expert. Ponder. Think. To get it, not to get it. Spend $17.95, not to spend $17.95. Finally, with a slightly off tempo mother huffing for me to "Hurry up and just buy a book!", I snatched the book and bought it.

Oh. My. God.

I cannot even describe the adventures that Libba Bray has not only accomplished to tell, but made believable. The heroin is not your average, "perfect hair, perfect skin, everyone loves her, people adore her, she has power and wealth"....hoity toity snooby rich girl finishing school product. She is a rebel, with the right amount of ingredients to make her less than perfect. She's not super pretty, in a world ruled by the fair and the dark haired, Gemma is a red-head with a mass of freckles. In a world with outgoing feminist, and stay-at-home wifes, Gemma strives to find a perfect balance where she can speak her mind, and not have the world on her shoulder.

But she does. In a perfect blend of fantasy, Gemma finds a world with everything you can imagine. Grass turns into butterflies, rocks are diamonds. The Relams, a secret garden version of a magical world, only opened to the women of the "Order", a old cultish like group with special powers. Gemma takes her friends to this relam, where they must learn that nothing is perfect, and to forgive is not to forget.

Book two takes off from book 1, perfectly starting with a diary type of the mysterious Katrik, the super sexy, mysterious Indian, who belongs to a cult of his own. The book is written if 1st person, with present tense perspective. (ie, I walk to the door, vs. I walked to the door). Gemma's mind will have you cackling insanely, her sarcasm and wit making you race through the pages. There is mystery, there is romance. Sigh. EVERYTHING! I couldn't go to bed without the LIGHTS on one night, the mystery of the relams scaring me so much. Centaurs and gorgons, everything is a perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy.

I almost cried when I finished. WHY MUST IT COME TO AN END!? Dare I say it? Better than Harry Potter, better than any series! Rebel Angels and A Great and Terrible Beauty offer retro-spect to Victoria England, where corsets and petticoats shine through the outside, but drugs, alchohal, addictions, loyalties, secrets, murder, and love are hidden beneath the surface.

A must read. A must read. Must I repeat myself? A MUST READ.

"Rebel Angels" was a truly fantastic read from beginning to end. It's been a long time since a story has truly captured my full interest, but I honestly found it difficult to put this book down. To be honest, when Bray's first novel "A Great and Terrible Beauty" came out, I bought it simply because the title sounded intriguing. I was very, very pleased to find out that it was a fantastic story full of suspense and twists that I hadn't read in another book for years. It was almost too much to stand waiting for the sequel "Rebel Angels" to come out. I definitely wasn't diappointed. Though, I'm not the target "younger" reader, being 30, I believe this is such an incredibly captivating story that anyone would find pleasure in reading it. My 54 year old father actually stole it from me and hid it until he was finished reading it! Libba Bray's appeal truly spans the age gap.

I'm not a spoiler and I prefer not to write out the plot in reviews, so I'll just say that it was a great sequel to an incredible first novel and I truly can't wait for another installment from Libba Bray.

REBEL ANGELS has lived up to my expectations of the perfect sequel for its previous sister, A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY. Libba Bray had developed, even further, the characters, their settings and their situation. Her descriptive writing gave a vivid illustration of the world Gemma Doyle's family and friends lived and breathed in. Not to mention how she'd described the realms with so much detail and it's like you can just close your eyes and imagine the stuff our heroines are seeing.

Bray had kept me glued onto every page, wanting to see what will happen next. Gemma Doyle is going to spend her first holiday away from India in the grandiose, not to mention socially vicious, London. Hoping to have a wonderful Christmas away from any thoughts of anyone's' mysterious past or Spence's damaged east wing, our heroines run into other situations that were far from what they've expected. There's mystery, but when there's mystery, there is love and when there is love, there is jealousy! Yes, you've heard correctly; jealousy! With each character, Libba Bray presents an issue that anyone can relate to when it comes to the pressure of fitting in: economically and/or socially. Gemma, Ann and Felicity is not only challenged with the trouble brewing in the realms, but also with how to present oneself in front of the society of London. With all of the calls, tea parties, balls, flirts, operas and romance looming, our heroines barely have the time to do what they wish.

REBEL ANGEL is a great pick up and a great comeback from, what I thought, not a very good start. Libba Bray kept it interesting for readers of all ages! This could become the next Harry Potter for all we know! I'm really happy with this one and really hope that Libba Bray will continue to keep us entertain with yet another book!

This book was my favorite in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. The plot twists and character development make this particular book a real winner for me. Gemma really starts to grow into herself in this book and she learns a lot more about the people in her life. Ballroom scenes juxtaposed with Gemma's magical world in the realms create create tension in Gemma's life as she learns how to deal with these different sides of herself. If you enjoy romance, magic, and adventure in a victorian setting you will love this book.

As soon as I finished A Great and Terrible Beauty, I ran out and got Rebel Angels! Thank goodness that it had come out 5 days before!! I really enjoyed this book, the characters were very real, the plot was twisting and keeps you holding your breath till the very end. The ending is also such that you praise Bray for having made this story into a trilogy, so you know that the adventure isn't over quite yet. If you liked A Great and Terrible Beauty, you are sure to like Rebel Angels as well.

Between a Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels, I'd have to say Rebel Angels so far is my favorite out of this series. Our favorite characters are brought back from the last novel and are just as wonderful and well developed as ever.
This novel is full of mystery and wonder and it certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end! The imagery and romance in this novel is also wonderful, and it definitely pulls you into another place and time.
I absolutely love this novel and I hope you all enjoy just as much as I have.

Alright, I know that I already reviewed this book, but I felt as if my other review didn't give it justice, so here I am. I'd like to tell you how I came upon the first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty. So, I'd seen it at bookstores, but I wasn't willing to pay $17.95 to have it because I'd bought too many books on a whim and then hated it. So, I get it from the library, and about 200 pages in I decide that I have to buy it, that it is a necessity to my collection of books, that it is the best book I've ever read...until Rebel Angels.

I wait and wait and wait. I want to read Rebel Angels and I begin to count down the days. I need to hear more of Gemma's story, more of Kartik, of course, and some more of Felicity and Ann. Finally, release day! I run to the book store, so excited, and I pay the money willingly. It's in my hands and I read it the whole way home! Now, you might not beleive it, but I sat there for the whole entire day and read all 548 pages in one sitting. It was that good!

The magic of the realms has been unbound and the Kartik, a member of the Rakshana, keeps urging her to find the temple and bind the magic. There is a man who seems to like Gemma, Simon, but Gemma isn't sure if she likes him, the charming gentleman, or Kartik, the mysterious handsome Rakshana.

I don't want to give anything away, which I might do if I get into it, but I'll just say that there are a lot of twists and I couldn't put it down. I am contemplating on reading it again, I just love it. And there is to be a third! That is absolutely the best part.

There is romance, action, and it is absolutely so much fun to read that if you haven't read it, I think it is absolutely necessary for you to pick it up right now, or as soon as possible, and read it because it is the greatest book I've ever read...and I'd like to say that Kartik is the greatest! As much as Simon is charming and grand, Kartik is the best.

If I had more than two thumbs, it would definitely get them!!!

In "Rebel Angels" by Libba Bray; Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are at Spence once again looking forward to Christmas break where they will go to London to spend time with their families. In London, Gemma spends time with her friends, visits Miss Moore, attends many balls and an opera performance and tries to help her father with his many drug addictions. She also falls in love with a viscount's son, but at the same time has her heart set on Kartik. Her many visions become more intense and more complete with each one. In the realms, Gemma has to bind the magic that she has released to keep dark spirits and Circe from using it and taking over. To do this, she has to find the Temple- which proves to be a difficult task. Gemma has to learn to stay true to herself. Kartik from the Rakshana is to help her, but is keeping something from her. Then, there is Miss McCleethy, the new teacher at Spence whom Gemma comes to believe is Circe, and Nell Hawkins, a girl from Bedlam, (the lunatic asylum) whom they believe has gone mad, but Gemma knows otherwise. Nell discreetly reveals a sort of "riddle" for Gemma about finding the Temple safely. Gemma has to hurry and follow the clues before Circe gets there first. Throughout this story, Gemma learns to face her fears and find some courage deep within herself. This book is fantasy and Libba Bray does a great job of describing the settings, especially in the realms. She uses great comparisons to give the story more depth and excellent word choice. For example-"The Green Fairy melts to liquid fire that races through my veins like gossip, like the wings of a thousand angels, like a whisper of the most delicious secret I have ever held." It has fantasy in it, but also some romantic fiction which makes it more interesting. I feel it is definitely a refreshing book. Libba Bray's interest in England in the late Victorian Era gives this book some great background in its setting. Before reading this book, I highly suggest reading "A Great and Terrible Beauty" first. If you find that book good, then Rebel Angels is better than you could even imagine.

Pooja Pujara

Period 1

3/30/06

Rebel Angels is the sequel to the Victorian The Great and Terrible Beauty. Gemma Doyle's task in this book is to bind the magic in the realms which she set free at the end of The Great and Terrible Beauty. They are in search for the temple because Gemma cannot bind the magic anywhere else. She must also visit her friend Pippa who is lost in the realms. Gemma is torn between Simon Middleton and Kartik. Just as things couldn't get more complicated she meets a woman in a madhouse who claims she is part of the Order and knows where the Temple is. Not only does she have the responsibility of the Order but also has the constant worry of the father's obsession with drinking.

I love this book more than the first one because the plot was unpredictable and full of suspense. It has romance, magic, and shows courage.

My favorite part of the book is when they finally find the Temple and she binds the magic because it has so much power. My least favorite part is when they meet the Poppy Warriors because they are just plain scary and cave me the creeps.

Less irksome than the first, though I dislike how the author seems to pile all the character "flaws" on Ann: poor, perpetually sick, chubby, insecure, and slow to catch on. The other characters would be more interesting if they had some quirks or flaws. The story, however, is interesting enough and the twist was certainly unexpected.

Firstly, when I picked up A Great and Terrible beauty on a book display it did not occur to me that this was a young adult book. I took it home, began to read it and could not put it down. Only after I read it, did I find out what type of book it was. So what did I do....I went out and bought the sequel, Rebel Angels. These books are fantastic, well written and exceptionally detailed, especially in relation to the authenticity of 19th century behaviours and customs. Gemma is an amazing protagonist, and covets many of the feelings and desires of young girls in the 21st century, clearly showing that the mindset of teenage girls has not drastically changed. However, while the first book caught me off guard with certain events, i did find that Rebel Angels was a bit more predictable at certain parts. Both books i would recommend to not only young adults but older readers, like myself. Even though the characters and romances between them are geared toward teens there are older story lines which are of some interest to older readers. For example the girls' relationships with Mademoiselle LeFarge, Mrs. Nightwing and Miss Moore. As well as certain themes which have meaning to all ages. The hunger for power, the desire to feel beautiful, the agony over losing a loved one, and whether or not to follow what is expected of you or follow your own heart. So to finish, it does not matter if you're 14, 16, 18, or 20, it would do everyone good to step into the world of Spence Acadamy and spend a day or two living like Gemma Doyle.

Gemma Doyle has had to face much since she discovered her magic. But her journey is not over. She still has to defeat Circe and find the temple to bind the magic which is now free since the runes were smashed. Circe and the Rakshana are still after her and she does not know who to trust and who to blame. She does not even know if she can trust her dead friend Pippa. Along with all that she still has to figure out her feelings for the hansome Kartik. Again with the help of Felicity, Ann, and Kartik she must bind the magic to save the relms and defeat one of the most powerful enemies even if it is one of her friends. This book was better than the first and delivers more magic, excitement, and romance.

Wow, what a wonderful, thought-provoking novel. I really enjoyed this book. Libba Bray is indeed a huge talent--the way she combines humor, magic, drama, and suspense will keep you wanting more. After reading the first chapter of A Great And Terrible Beauty, I was hooked. When I finally got my hands on this sequel, the same thing happened. I couldn't put it down.

The characters are becomming more layered, more complex. You begin to learn more about each of them. When you discover Felicity's secret it is astounding, and it's intriguing how her personality is so opposite. Ann, who is always yearning for acceptance and attention, learns more about herself in this book. I also loved how this book opened with Kartik as the narrator...you begin to understand his role in the story more, and by the end, how much he is beginning to care for Gemma.

I loved everything about this book. I recommend it wholeheartedly! :D

After reading the first book it was good enough to keep reading the other books although I didn't love it. I really liked the second book, but after the whole series was finished I was rather disappointed. I thought the story was compelling, but if you're looking for a book appropriate for you teenage girls this is not it. There are far too many points of view that if you call yourself Christian you will probably have a problem with. I really wanted to like these books, but after the insertion on homosexuality (hinted at in the first book, and is clear in the third book) it felt like another way so many are trying to instill homsexualtiy tolerance. I don't believe in persecuting homosexuals but I do believe it is wrong. So much is currently being done to try and change public opinion especially in hollywood to homosexuality and I find that this book ads to that sentiment. If you feel homosexuality is wrong I would not recommend this book especially to your teenagers. There are also some pretty dark moments in the book that I thought too heavy for teenagers. If you take these things out I would have liked the books far better.

Libbra Bray is truely brilliant when it comes to her two books, A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels. They are truely magical and took me to a world that I've never thought possible. Her imagination soars through the mystical creatures and mind games played throughout both novels. I can't wait for the third book to come out. Once again, the suspense in these books kill me to the last page and I am a huge fan of her's!

Honestly, A Great & Terrible Beauty (book 1) had me dozing off at times. I began Rebel Angels (book 2) expecting something like the first book, but I was thrilled to find myself mistaken. RA had me enthralled from beginning to end -- fast pace, amazing plot, adventurous characters, dark twists = A MUST READ! Looking back on it now, I would say that A Great & Terrible Beauty is essential to read before Rebel Angels, and despite my previously stated opinion of book 1, it plays an imperative role in the sequence of the story.

If you are a teenage girl who enjoys fantasy, a bit of magic (and some hints of evil here and there ;D), this is the trilogy for you! Oh, and if you didn't catch on -- Rebel Angels is amazing.

Ok. So Rebel Angels pretty much took up where Beauty left off. There is a whole recount which is kind of boring but it is still necessary. like the way the first chapter is told from Kartiks point of view. Throughout the novel, Gemma, Ann, and Felicity spend their Christmas holiday in London. While there, Gemma becomes acquainted to Simon Middleton, a handsome son liked by nearly everyone; secrets are revealed, lies are told, alliances are made, while some are broken; and when things seem as though they cannot get any worse, they do. This book is HIGHLY recommended for anyone who likes to be mildly frightened, yet intrigued at the same time. The only thing that I found disappointing was where the relationship between Gemma and Kartik left off. I also think that he should have been mentioned in the book more. Nevertheless, I higly recommend this book 100% as well as Faerie Wars, Inkheart, Eragon, The Abhorsen trilogy, the Bartimaeus Trilogy, and tithe.

I really enjoyed "A Great and Terrible Beauty" but found it a little simplistic stylistically. I thought the story had great potential but that the execution could use some work (a common problem with first time authors). I have to say that with "Rebel Angels" Libba Bray more than outdid herself. This book goes deeper into the interesting story she started in the first book, is well-written, and very imaginative. I say it is better than the first one. Also, her villians are very ingenious and the lines between good and evil are tenuous, both of which lead to a really tight, exciting story. Definitely a great book and I can't wait for more.

this book was simply exhilarating, i was caught up in the drama and romance and adventure of it all that i stayed up the entire night reading it. i was completely oblivious to any world besides the book, and am still feeling the affects of teh book even though i have long since finished it. A Great and Terrible Beauty was fantastic, i really liked it and was quite saddened to hear i would have to wait so long to read the next one. it was definantly worth the wait. i advice everyone one to read both books. Rebel Angels was simply..... there are no words to describe it. i cant wait for the next one, this one was so good, and even though it was quite long, i wish it could have kept on going forever. i love bot theses books dearly and thank libba bray for writing them.