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Rebel Angels
548 pages
A glittering, gothic descent into Victorian high society and the intoxicating, dangerous magic that lies just beneath its corseted surface.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping from a stifling, gaslit Victorian ballroom into a beautiful but terrifying fever dream. It balances the claustrophobic etiquette of 1890s London with the wild, intoxicating freedom of a magical realm, creating an atmosphere that is both opulent and deeply eerie. The narrative moves at a steady pace, allowing the dread and the allure of forbidden power to seep into the reader's bones. The prose is lush and sensory, capturing the rustle of silk dresses just as vividly as the surreal horrors lurking in the shadows. It is a story about the messy, desperate ambition of teenage girls pushing against the corsets of their society. Readers who crave dark, atmospheric historical fantasy with complex, flawed heroines and a creeping sense of gothic dread will find themselves completely consumed.
- Mood
- gothic
- opulent
- eerie
- claustrophobic
- Tone
- rebellious
- dramatic
- wry
- atmospheric
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- female agency and rebellion · the facade of polite society · intoxicating danger of power · toxic friendships · coming-of-age in darkness
- The writing
- Lush, sensory, and evocative, capturing both the glittering artifice of Victorian London and the surreal, dark beauty of the magical realms.
- The arc
- Moves from the stifling constraints of societal expectations into a heady, dangerous embrace of forbidden power and terrifying responsibility.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love dark historical fantasy, Victorian gothic aesthetics, and stories about messy, ambitious teenage girls discovering their power.
Content notes
- drug addiction
- violence
- death
- sexism and misogyny
About the book
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.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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