Review of 'The Second Rebel'

Linden A. Lewis returns with this next installment of The First Sister Trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Rising, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Expanse.

Astrid has reclaimed her name and her voice, and now seeks to bring down the Sisterhood from within. Throwing herself into the lioness’ den, Astrid must confront and challenge the Aunts who run the Gean religious institution, but she quickly discovers that the business of politics is far deadlier than she ever expected.

Meanwhile, on an outlaw colony station deep in space, Hiro val Akira seeks to bring a dangerous ally into the rebellion. Whispers of a digital woman fuel Hiro’s search, but they are not the only person looking for this link to the mysterious race of Synthetics.

Lito sol Lucious continues to grow into his role as a lead revolutionary and is tasked with rescuing an Aster operative from deep within an Icarii prison. With danger around every corner, Lito, his partner Ofiera, and the newly freed operative must flee in order to keep dangerous secrets out of enemy hands.

Back on Venus, Lito’s sister Lucinia must carry on after her brother’s disappearance and accusation of treason by Icarii authorities. Despite being under the thumb of Souji val Akira, Lucinia manages to keep her nose clean…that is until an Aster revolutionary shows up with news about her brother’s fate, and an opportunity to join the fight.

This captivating, spellbinding second installment to The First Sister series picks up right where The First Sister left off and is a must-read for science fiction fans everywhere.

Review

The Second Rebel picks up after The First Sister, continuing to be relatable, relevant, and impactful every step of the way.

Amazing Characterization

One of the best things Lewis does with their writing is focus on the characters. If you read The First Sister, you already know that these characters have gone on an extensive journey, leading the reader into unpredictable territory.

That continues here. The fact that Astrid, who was only known as First Sister in the previous novel, has a self-given name speaks volumes. In the first novel, she had no name, no identity to call her own, no ownership whatsoever over her body or self. Astrid has reclaimed her identity by giving herself a name, and she has regained ownership over her sense of self.

Throughout the novel, Astrid’s evolution gives the reader such a thrill because she is rising; she gains strength in every act she does. In addition, Astrid is growing into a formidable character that makes her stand out within the story.

However, Astrid is not the only other character here that goes on this journey. Now we have Hiro. Readers got to know Hiro through his voice recordings in the previous novel. However, Hiro is now an active participant in the narrative.

In the previous novel, their identity and was taken from them at a microscopic level. As they continue to fight for the rights and equality of Asters, they must also rediscover who they were. Hiro’s journey is like Astrid’s because they both lost ownership of themselves and are fighting to regain it. However, Astrid is fighting as a woman for women’s rights. In contrast, Hiro is a non-binary character, fighting for the rights of others like themselves, for others who are thought of as lesser than and taken advantage of.

To see these two characters drive the novel forward is incredible because their journey is impactful and relatable.

Strong Storytelling

The Second Rebel also has a formidable story. As a space opera, it goes between four central characters, giving the reader a good idea of how all their ideals fit together.

At its core, this is a novel about equality and identity. These characters are fighting for the equality of others to end the poor treatment of Asters. It is about regaining identity, about gaining control over oneself without having to make sacrifices.

Lewis addresses women’s rights; they address immigrants’ rights and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Their messages are carried throughout the story by the plot’s well-thought-out development and strong characterization and growth.

It is incredible to read a story so impactful because of how relevant it is and how thoughtful the story’s message is.

Final Thoughts

The Second Rebel is astounding and wonderfully written. The Second Rebel is a space opera worth reading with perfect pacing and rising tension combined with excellent characterization and growth.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.