Rebel Angels

Rebel Angels

by Libba Bray

“Imagine a world—these realms—where women rule, where a girl could have whatever she wished” (Bray, 158).  Can you imagine being able to go into an enchanted world, turn flowers into gems, and have all of your wishes come true? In this Fantasy/Adventure you will be able to! This is the world Gemma has the power to conjure up at will. She and her friends have many adventures in this magical place called the "realms"--among them are riding a gorgon ship, chatting with centaurs, and escaping sirens.

  

This extraordinary magic comes with a price. Gemma is a member of the Order, a group of female sorceresses that have power of the realms. She has been charged to keep the realms safe and disciplined, but with the evil Circe on the loose everything is falling apart. Magic is loose in the realms for all of the creatures that live there to use, for good and evil. Gemma must find a way to bind the magic, or colossal danger will befall her and everything that she knows and loves, all while keeping up the perfect image of a distinguished young women from a wealthy family in Victorian London.

The setting of this book is very unique. Gemma lives in the Victorian age. She is away at a strict boarding school where her Grandmama hopes she will become an impeccably mannered, well learned woman who can be married off to a well-to-do family, thus improving her social status. But inside the hallowed halls of the boarding school things are stirring. Gemma's magical world called the realms is a place of magic and dreams. It has some element that are very greek and others that are original to the author. The story also travels through all of London form the wealthy neighborhoods, to the shops, to the insane asylum (a.k.a. Bedlam). It is very refreshing to read a book that combines the past and mythical magic so harmoniously. 

This is the second book in the Great and Terrible Beauty Trilogy and I guarantee that this book will be page-turning, thrilling, and addicting book, for those of you that love mystery, adventure, and a little splash of romance, read this book! There were many different themes that all complemented the main theme.  The whole book made me think a lot and inspired me. The characters were portrayed and described very well. I felt like each one of them was real and I knew them as well as Gemma did. You will not be able to put this book down! I hope you enjoy Rebel Angles as much as I did!