Review: Rebel Belle (Rebel Belle #1) by Rachel Hawkins
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Series: Rebel Belle #1
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published March 3rd 2015 by Speak
Goodreads Synopsis
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.
Goodreads
Review
I bought this book way back in 2015 when I was on holiday in Florida, and for some reason I never actually read it, whoops. However, the other day I was looking through my books, and decided to give it a go, and that it was about time I did. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't sooner, because I was fantastic - I was only half way through when I went and ordered books 2 & 3 (now I have to wait for them to come -.-).
Now, Rebel Belle is all about southern belle and debutante, Harper, who during her homecoming dance, she gets attacked by her History teacher and the janitor, who gets killed, passes on some sort of magic through a weird kiss. Also, she kills the teacher. She's obviously freaking out, especially when the only person who knows what actually happened, because all the evidence is poofed away, is the one person she hates more than anyone else, David. After a bit of research, Harper discovers that she's become a 'Paladin', someone who is bound to protect another person linked with Charlemagne. Low and behold, who else would be that person she needs to protect, but David Stark, her nemesis. As she discovers more about her powers, and learns to work with David in order to protect him, herself, and, quite honestly, the whole town, she is also juggling her cotillion preparations, and her long term relationship.
Harper is an amazing character, she is strong and willing to fight, but doesn't lose her sense of decorum and her desire to take part in cotillion. She juggles her time as president of the school association, with her family, and her friends, while at the same time bottling up everything to do with her mission. The only ones she can turn to to help are David, who seems to be slowly warming to her, and his 'aunt' (who isn't really his aunt at all) Saylor. They help her to understand what it means to be a Paladin, and they work together to make a plan of action to save everyone they love. I'm not going to say that Harper never complains, because she does - but that's normal. What I loved about her was how normal she tried to make it all for everyone else. She found reasons for why she would be spending time with David and Saylor - cotillion business - and why she's now a really good fighter - self defence classes.
Harper and David's relationship uses a trope I simply adore, that of 'enemies to lovers'. After an incident in kindergarten where David threw Harper off the climbing frame, there has been a hatred and animosity between them, and high school life was no different. David, as editor of the school paper, would regularly write defamatory articles about Harper, and she would retaliate in whatever way possible. Once Harper was made a Paladin, and they realised they would need to spend a lot of time together, their relationship grew and developed into friendship, and, gradually, into more.
Now, I've already said that I ordered the sequels while I was reading this one, but, unfortunately, I'm having to wait for them. Hopefully they will be here soon, or I might go crazy! This is definitely a book I'd be recommending to others.
Dates Read:
July 21-22, 2018Rating
5 Stars
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