Rebel Heart

by Moira Young

"Saba thought her world would return to normal after they defeated the Tonton and rescued her kidnapped brother Lugh. The family head west for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But a formidable enemy is on the rise. What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants?"

 The events in this book were so unexpected! 
The first chapter brought something new - an omniscient narration that focused on Jack. Though I was caught off guard by the change, I really enjoyed it. Jack is my favorite character in this series. Unfortunately, after being the center of attention in the first section of Rebel Heart, Jack went missing for a while.

~~~~~~The following review will contain spoilers!~~~~~~

Saba is yet again looking for someone in this sequel. While she searched for her brother, Lugh, the first time around, this time she yearns for Jack. Saba is such a strong character, and I believe both her strength and weakness lies in her absolute determination to rescue those she loves. In Rebel Heart, I was frustrated with her at times, because she made rash decisions due to being blinded by her desire to find Jack. Yet again she seemed indifferent to Emmi, running off to deal with her internal conflict while her little sister had just been captured.

The tension between Lugh and Saba surprised me, as well. Lugh seems to have been through a lot since he and Saba lived with their father, and his trauma seems to be affecting him. There wasn't a revelation, however, of what happened to him. I'm hoping to see more of Lugh in Raging Star. The way that Saba seemed to cast her brother aside after needing him so strongly in the first book bothered me. She undervalued her brother as Jack became the only person she really thought about. On one hand it shows how fickle Saba can be, but at the same time it is another example of her passion, and the "red hot" that strikes her.

DeMalo, for me, is generally irrelevant. The possibilities he brings forth about New Eden are potential turning points and I'm interested in seeing how they will play out in the next book, but I hope his relationship with Saba is inexistent. What happened between him and her felt contrived, rushed, ingenuine. I am indeed biased as I like Jack so much, but DeMalo is seemingly obsessed with his vision for the world, and I find that to be frightening for Saba and the people of her world.

Overall, Rebel Heart took a darker, more ominous route than Blood Red Road did. I didn't agree with many of Saba's actions, however her fierceness prevailed and the ending suggested she may have begun to find herself again. I have no idea where this story will take me next, and that makes me nervous, yet equally intrigued.

4/5 stars.