Rebel Angels

REBEL ANGELS: Libba Bray: Delacorte Press: 2005: 548 pages

In this sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma and her friends, Ann and Felicity, have mastered the power to transport themselves to the mystical Realms and are now seeking the way to bind the powerful magic so that it will not fall into the hands of the evil Circe and her minions. Meanwhile, Gemma must also deal with problems in the real world such as her laudanum addicted father grieving for his wife and her attraction to affable Tom, the son of a viscount, and the mysterious Indian boy, Kartik.

As the author points out near the end of the book when referring to the new electrical underground railroad, the Victorian time period was on the cusp of the modern world. Gemma, Ann and Felicity are perfect examples of the changes taking place in this world. They are supposed to grow up to be well-mannered wives, but they long for more power in their lives. Libbra Bray does an excellent job of creating complex and fallible characters.

AJ