A Review of the Rebel Belle series

The Rebel Belle series is a trilogy by Rachel Hawkins, who also wrote the Hex Hall series. Harper Price is a Southern Belle from Alabama, worrying about things like her grades, relationship, looks and future. But when she goes into the bathroom to touch up her lip-gloss, one of her teachers gifts her with superpowers, which she has to use to slay another of her teachers, who is attacking her. Soon, she learns that she has become a Paladin, who along with a Mage is charged with the ancient duty of protecting an Oracle. The Oracle happens to be the one boy she has hated since daycare, David Stark.

This series is fun, fluffy and lighthearted - not that that ever means bad, and I really enjoyed these books.

The plot is ridiculous, in a good way, so much so that it reads like a parody of "teenage girl with superpowers who has to keep going on to school while saving the world" stories, in the vein of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or magical girl anime.

In the first book, I loved the focus on debutante balls, and seeing Harper come to terms with her powers. I liked how in the second book Harper has to deal with the idea of how her entire life will be completely different from what she expected. And I don't think she has a wholly unrealistic reaction to the whole deal, either. Her whole life would revolve around David, and boyfriend or not, that's not a good way to be. I've always thought the third book in a trilogy has a really hard job, even harder than the second. It has to tie up loose ends, and provide a satisfactory ending to fans. Luckily, the book succeeded, and a road trip involving superpowered girls was exactly my cup of (sweet) tea.

Setting:
The unique culture of the southern states is given it's due in this book, making for an excellent setting. I know debutante balls and cotillions came out of a very sexist tradition, but they've always held a glamour for me in the way that only things that you don't have in your country can. I liked learning so much about them, and how the narrative spent so much time there. Other parts of the culture are celebrated, like the cuisine (hummingbird cakes and iced tea) and calling everyone y'all.

Characters:
Harper Price (yes, I hate the two last names thing, too) is one of the better protagonists I've read. It is rare that a female character is allowed to be beautiful and know it, and smart as well. The first thing she does when she learns about her powers is start researching everything to do with them. She might have been gifted with them, but she also needs to learn to use them well, too. She's a perfectionist, taking part in every extracurricular, getting perfect grades and always feeling like she has to look good. This could be a response to the death of her sister a few years ago, with Harper feeling like she needs to fill two shoes. This is also why she dislikes the idea of her powers at first. She had her whole life planned out, but her double life has caused her to re-write everything she ever expected of herself. However, she can be judgemental about people who's choices she doesn't agree with, such as people who dye their hair blue or wear a lot of piercings for example.

I also loved Harper's good relationship with her family. Although she doesn't always tell her parents the truth, sometimes out of necessity, she is obviously close to them. And her Aunts might be the best characters ever committed to paper.

David is the Oracle, and he's been that since birth. It's something he's always had to live with. However, he's also a modern teenage boy, and just wants to be normal. He's also known his whole life that people (called the Ephors) may come and kidnap him just because he exists. He never asked to be made Oracle. As a male Oracle, he's visions aren't always accurate, and it's a possibility that his powers might make him snap.

Bee is as good best friend. I like how she does start dating Harper's ex over the books, and there is literally no jealousy or bitterness between them. Said boyfriend, Ryan, is one of the good ones. Like the rest of them, he's a teenager caught in things that he doesn't understand. They all have little to no guidance about what they are attempting to do, and Ryan really feels this lack of tuition more than most of them.

There's also Blythe, who I don't want to say too much about because of spoilers, but she develops into one of the most fascinating characters in the story.

I would recommend this book to others who like teenage girl with superpowers who goes to school and saves the day stories.