Rebel Gods is the action-packed and emotional finale to the Monuments duology. Starting with a bang, right where Monuments left off, it really does not disappoint!
Connor, Lochie, and Sally are back once more after a rather crazy adventure and it just gets more hectic from there. Faced with having to save the world from the ‘rebel’ gods of love and fear, the trio face each problem head on, and never give up. I really loved that in this book, given the current climate we’re in!
The love god Agapi felt like one of those really annoying siblings, kind of like my own youngest siblings, and I had a bit of a giggle as I could relate a little to how everyone felt about her. She was rather the attention seeker, and I definitely think it suited the character very well. The ultimatum given was also dramatic, and I was honestly totally there for it. I did find that I wanted more of her sister and more of her story as it would’ve been great to have that little extra to the rebel story! To add to the drama, I also enjoyed seeing the comeback of the ‘hound’, Peter, even though he’s technically not a ‘hound’ anymore. He was definitely portrayed as a lot more helpful than in the last books, and definitely a lot more friendly than the (rather understandably) salty other guardians.
Speaking of characters, I felt like I got a better snapshot of Lochie’s personality, and I kind of understood his ambition and how strong-willed he is. I also liked reading about Sally following the devastation she faced in book one that carried over to this book. It was also super sweet to see the relationships between Connor and his mum (who he worries about more than he shows), and between Lochie and his parents as well. It was also super cute seeing Connor and Lochie be all sweet with each other!
The writing was super snappy, but also paced perfectly for such a quick read. It had just the right balance of both character building versus world building, as well as dialogue versus actual plot progression. It also had just enough emotion to make it feel real. The writing was vibrant and rich with such an enjoyable plot, eespecially as the newbie gods were just so awkward to begin with, not quite understanding their powers at first!
Just like the first book, I enjoyed picturing parts of Sydney whilst reading, but that just might be me being a sucker for books set in Australia. Plus being able to envision all this happening in a major city made me laugh! It was also interesting to also have part of the book set in the ‘parallel’ and in Paris, making it seem like a getaway from the real world, which is what we really need right now.
I usually don’t cry when a book finishes, but the ending for this one absolutely made me cry. I don’t think I’ll forgive Will for this one (actually I might one day, but at the time of writing, my heart is still torn into little pieces).
I recommend both Rebel Gods and Monuments for those who enjoy a bit of fantasy, but with contemporary components, as well as also for those who are younger or older readers. It is one of the most fun (but also heartbreaking) reads I’ve read recently, and I hope you enjoy it too!
Rebel Gods is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 25th 2020.
Will you be picking up Rebel Gods? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky want to change the world, no biggie. When their first attempted miracle doesn’t quite go to plan, they find themselves at odds with their families, the media and each other. To make matters worse, they’re drawn into a centuries old conflict between the gods of Love and Fear that just might destroy the world they’re striving to make better.
Rebel Gods is the second book in the Monuments fantasy duology from YA superstar, Will Kostakis. It’s a heartfelt look at faith, friendship and how myths are born.
