Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
♦publisher: Putnam Juvenile
♦release date: April 8th, 2014
♦hardcover, 384 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Rebel Belle, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review
Harper Price, peerless
Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a
strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities,
Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a
Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super
strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
Review: With Rebel Belle, Rachel Hawkins kicks off another fantastic series full of kick-butt action and characters to completely win me over. I was so sad when the Hex Hall series ended and even sadder when we were teased with School Spirits, only to discover it would be a stand-alone. So Rebel Belle has been at the top of my anticipation list for what seems like forever now. And I can giddily say that there was not even the tiniest bit of disappointment.
At her recent book signing, Hawkins admitted to wanting these new characters to be as far from Hex Hall’s Sophie and Archer as possible…and she definitely accomplished that. Rebel Belle introduces us to Harper Price, homecoming queen and over-achieving valedictorian hopeful, and also to David Stark, seemingly ruthless school reporter, constantly disheveled without a lick of fashion sense, and Harper’s biggest academic competition. They’ve been at each other’s throats since grade school, never a kind word between them. Suddenly Harper has the powers of a Paladin literally “thrust” upon her, which involve crazy ninja fighting skills and an undeniable instinct to protect one being, an Oracle…who just happens to be David.
Mostly the story deals with Harper’s challenge in facing this new crazy life while trying not to lose the whole life she’d built for herself before. She has great friends, a sweet romantic boyfriend, loves her family (especially her rambunctious aunts) and her town. She fears putting her life in danger because her parents have already suffered the loss of one child. How can she be willing to lay down her life as a Paladin without losing everything else she holds dear?
One more thing Rachel Hawkins just seems to excel at is giving her main character the most awesome best friends. This time around, we have Bee---I seriously wanted to hug this girl a few times throughout the story. There was one moment where Harper gets cruelly “kicked while she’s down” and Bee is right there, not with fists but with her sharp Southern sass and a look that could kill, putting Harper’s attacker right back in her place, and I literally wanted to cry out of love.
This story takes mythology, assassins, tiaras, southern manners, head-butting, cotillions, and romance and mashes it up into one big fun, action-packed, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartfelt read. I can’t recommend it, or any other of Rachel Hawkins’ books, enough!
Purchase Rebel Belle: Amazon • BookDepository • Indiebound
