egelantier's review
5.0
FINALLY! this is an arc review - the book is coming out in may - and i've waited it for so long and it DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. it's a technically lull, character-driven book occupying a quieter spot between plotty excitement of hostage and the upcoming endgame showdown in traitor, and i've still stayed up until five in the morning reading it on a workday, because all the character bits were so, so compelling.
there's ross, mia and jenny continuing to explore their relationship and hang-ups thereof; ross grappling with the concept of family (there's a surprise! it's awesome), love, home, security; kerry adjusting to both loss of her status and perks of not living in a totalitarian dystopia of her father; becky callahan slowly learning to escape the lifetime of abuse (as bonus, it's a lesbian character pov, previously absent, and her chapters were harsh but lovely, and her relationship with her girlfriend incredibly heartwarming); and there's, back again, felicity who's trying to live with her secret and with her loving, awesome father who would hate her if he just new (i love felicity an unholy amount, and i find her father the racist-against-changed dude more and more intriguing, and i'm greatly looking forwards to the next book when his prejudiced ways are finally going to bite him in the ass good). there's a very decent whodunnit plot uniting all the threads, tons of customarily good worldbuilding (my favorite bit was a theater company performing some mythical stories from the world-that-was, it being YA DYSTOPIAN NOVELS, complete with customary love triangle - i pretty much howled with laughter at the denouement), some cameos from absent characters (yuki seems to be having great fun with his prospecting ways, which is reassuring), and an uber-adorable rat imprinting scene.
so, yeah, worth the wait. i've read it, re-read some choice bits, spot-reread my favorite bits from favorite books, and now i'm stuck waiting for the finale.
there's ross, mia and jenny continuing to explore their relationship and hang-ups thereof; ross grappling with the concept of family (there's a surprise! it's awesome), love, home, security; kerry adjusting to both loss of her status and perks of not living in a totalitarian dystopia of her father; becky callahan slowly learning to escape the lifetime of abuse (as bonus, it's a lesbian character pov, previously absent, and her chapters were harsh but lovely, and her relationship with her girlfriend incredibly heartwarming); and there's, back again, felicity who's trying to live with her secret and with her loving, awesome father who would hate her if he just new (i love felicity an unholy amount, and i find her father the racist-against-changed dude more and more intriguing, and i'm greatly looking forwards to the next book when his prejudiced ways are finally going to bite him in the ass good). there's a very decent whodunnit plot uniting all the threads, tons of customarily good worldbuilding (my favorite bit was a theater company performing some mythical stories from the world-that-was, it being YA DYSTOPIAN NOVELS, complete with customary love triangle - i pretty much howled with laughter at the denouement), some cameos from absent characters (yuki seems to be having great fun with his prospecting ways, which is reassuring), and an uber-adorable rat imprinting scene.
so, yeah, worth the wait. i've read it, re-read some choice bits, spot-reread my favorite bits from favorite books, and now i'm stuck waiting for the finale.
tora76's review
5.0
This was so good! There wasn't any really big event like there was in the first two books, but the there was a lot going on, a lot of reveals, a lot of progress and change, and now I'm really eager to read the next book but I have no idea when it's coming out. D:
schneefink's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot; not as much as the first two books, but that's a pretty high bar. The plot was more meandering, and two of the main character-focused storylines weren't my favorites (Felicité and at first Summer), but there was still plenty of good character stuff and worldbuilding. Becky's story was fantastic, and I also really liked Kerry. And Mia/Ross/Jennie, of course. I also enjoyed that we got to see more other towns.
This book also more than the others seemed to prepare several storylines for a future pay-off and it felt like some threads were left hanging, making me look forward to book 4 even more.
This book also more than the others seemed to prepare several storylines for a future pay-off and it felt like some threads were left hanging, making me look forward to book 4 even more.
bethmitcham's review
4.0
Sensitive understanding of teen emotions and decisions, although sometimes too much info for me. But I'll definitely be looking for the next one.
naye's review
5.0
Rebel most definitely lived up to the excited expectations I had for it! I don't know what else to say. I have so much love for this series I don't even know if I can do anything but gush about everything that makes them such a joy to read:
-The characters (all complex, all trying their best even when it seems impossible - even the characters that make poor choices do it for reasons that make sense)
-The romantic relationships (also complex and sweet and full of uncertainty and awkwardness in a fantastically relatable way)
-The friendships and family relationships (some lovely and warm some painfully bad but gripping)
-The world with all its amazing variety of Changed flora and fauna - I'm not wishing for an apocalypse but oh to see some of them in person....!
-The food. So lavishly described, so delicious and varied and I can't read about all of those amazing dishes without salivating a bit.
-The hopeful tone, with people creating functional, mostly happy societies despite ever-present dangers and predjudices.
-All of the writing, which just sparkles.
-The characters (all complex, all trying their best even when it seems impossible - even the characters that make poor choices do it for reasons that make sense)
-The romantic relationships (also complex and sweet and full of uncertainty and awkwardness in a fantastically relatable way)
-The friendships and family relationships (some lovely and warm some painfully bad but gripping)
-The world with all its amazing variety of Changed flora and fauna - I'm not wishing for an apocalypse but oh to see some of them in person....!
-The food. So lavishly described, so delicious and varied and I can't read about all of those amazing dishes without salivating a bit.
-The hopeful tone, with people creating functional, mostly happy societies despite ever-present dangers and predjudices.
-All of the writing, which just sparkles.
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