Roselle faces a mind-reeling showdown with the deep state agent controlling her psyche in the Wall Street Journal bestselling conclusion to the Secondborn series.Roselle St. Sismode is many things: victim of a conspiracy, unwilling host of an ever-evolving mind algorithm, spy for a rebel army, and heir to the Fate of Swords. As a warrior, she’s also the anticipated main event at the Secondborn … event at the Secondborn Trials. When the opening ceremonies erupt in chaos, Roselle is abducted by a sadistic agent with a diabolical plan: transform Roselle into a mind-controlled assassin to topple society. But a rogue scientist has implanted Roselle with a genius technology that is far more powerful. It renders her untouchable. Faster. Stronger. And maybe immortal.
With her enhanced abilities come the highest stakes yet, as Roselle confronts shifting realities at every turn as well as her own mother’s stunning betrayal. Racing against time with a determined resistance group, can Roselle overthrow the forces of destruction and reclaim the most valuable of commodities—her humanity?
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Rebel Born is the final installment in the Secondborn series. This is not a standalone book, therefor you will want to start with book 1.
This final installment has a completely different vibe than book 1 or 2. You do get a glimpse of what’s to come at the very end of book 2, but I didn’t realize the story was going to change so much.
I’m not unhappy about it. I still read this in one sitting and ended up being very happy with the ending, but there is a small part of me that wished the author had not changed things so drastically. I would have loved to see how Roselle would have conquered without all the “extra” that was in this book. It’s the only reason this is a 4 star instead of a 5 star for me.
I still really enjoyed this series and can see myself coming back to visit this series for a re-read.
Oh my. I was really happy to start reading this book, but was also disappointed that it was the last of the series. Like always Amy doesn’t disappoint. This book is really good from start to finish. It had me hooked from the start. Roselle is amazing, I absolutely love her character. And if you want to know more then you Need to read it. Get it. Read it. It’s a must!!!!
I have one word for this book…BRUTAL! This finale was so much darker than the first two books that it left me speechless multiple times. It was brutal on Roselle and brutal on my heart but I may have loved every minute.
The true test of a great series is whether I’ll reread it. With this collection, I will not. While the premise is good and there is solid world building, I felt like there was an odd mix of relationship development which pulled me away from the books from the first in the series through this last book.
My biggest reaction to this book was WTF? I was very excited to finally get to this one after Secondborn and Traitorborn, but it’s like the author forgot everything about those two books. Rather than continuing with the world that she built in the first two books (which I found super interesting and wanted to know how they fixed it), there’s some kind of AI going on, mythology comes into it, the problems get magically fixed because the main character becomes all powerful. You get the idea. If we sat down everybody who had read the first two books and had them write a potential third book, we would not guess 90% of what happens. (The other 10% involves the love quadrangle, and thankfully no new love interests are introduced, so you’ve got at least a 1 in 3 chance of getting it right.) If you’re already read the first two and want some closure maybe you’ll want this book, but you’re probably going to be disappointed.
I don’t understand all of the negative and confused reviews. I almost didn’t purchase this book because of them. But I had waited so long for it, I chose to ignore them. I’m so glad I did! I thought this book followed along perfectly after the other two. The humans did what humans will do with power and expansive technology. They abused it. Evil grew exponentially. But so did good. Your favorite characters are here. There is love and loss and violence and intimacy. With technological advances there are soldiers made of a combination of beings and of tech. It was fascinating, riveting and hard to put down. The narration was excellent, as usually. Try this one for yourself. Go get it!
Overall: 5/5
Steam: 1/5
Feels:
~QD STORY DETAILS~
Tear jerker: No
Paranormal/Fantasy: Yes
Location: Various worlds, including Spectrum and various Fates
Character age range: early 20s (from earlier books) & immortal
Lead: Roselle St. Sismode
Love interest(s): Reykin Winterstrom
HEA: Yes – HFN
~QD BOOK INFO~
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Audible: Not currently but other two in the series are available – narrated by Kate Reinders
Series: Yes – The Secondborn Series
1. Secondborn – released 8/1/17
2. Traitor Born – released 4/17/18
3. Rebel Born – released 6/4/19
~QD~
Sex/kink type: Kissing, alludes to sex
Possible triggers: murder, torture, mental violation, violence
~REVIEW~
The Quick and Dirty: The finale of the series is a YA + Sci-fi nail-biter, jam-packed with action that will have you trying to read faster so you can find out how the story ends. Perfect for fans of Divergent and Hunger Games who love heroines with grit, but with new and fresh elements that will keep you guessing. Great YA read!
So much happens in this book. We reconnect not only with Roselle but some of our favorite characters from the earlier books who all band together to take on Agent Crow and squash his devious plan to take over all of humanity and the fates. There are epic battles, jaw-dropping plot twists and heart-wrenching moments.
If you’re hoping for a neat-and-wrapped-in-a-bow type happy ending, this isn’t it. It’s at once bittersweet and satisfying. It gives closure but leaves enough room for your mind to think about future possibilities long after you’ve turned the last page.
Rebel Born (Secondborn Book 3) Amy A. Bartol
Well, I didn’t expect this coming. This, third, book was completely different from the first two and, I have to admit that at first I was shocked how it started. I must say that I’m glad I got over my first impression and I loved this book after all. Although I loved Rebel Born, it has it’s minuses in my opinion – some things were a bit rushed but it didn’t make me disappointed.
I loved this series, and it was a completely new journey for me. Storyline has hooked me totally and I loved those great characters!
I recommend this series if you are looking for something different but great read.
Wow…where to begin….
Completely threw me for a loop in a direction I didn’t see coming. Wow. The world building is just out of this world in this series. If your looking for something different with great characters check this series out!
Mind-blowing…
Rebel Born is the third and last installment of the Secondborn Series, so if you have not started the series, now is the time to do so. This book seamlessly picks up where Traitor Born left off and from that moment on, I was hooked. As Roselle’s journey continues, it is wrought with the unbelievable, leaving her questioning her reality. At one point in Rebel Born, I was thinking, “Wait! What? Wow…” Mind officially blown. Amy Bartol delves into the world of AI and alternate realities in a way that is intriguing leaving the reader wanting more. In a nutshell, Rebel Born is fast paced, a roller coaster ride of what is going to happen next, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. There are twist and turns along the way that I believe will leaving the reader satisfied in the end. Afterall, the possibilities are endless. Happy Reading!
“I was yours then. I am yours now.”< As the final installment and conclusion to the Secondborn series, Rebel Born by Amy A. Bartol, was everything I love about dystopian and sci-fi/fantasy books. It’s captivating, compelling, other-worldly, emotional, and on-the-edge-of-your-seat good. I’ve enjoyed Roselle’s character throughout this series. I admired her ingenuity, her strength – both figurative and literal, as well as her un-jaded and compassionate heart. As much as I loved her before, in Rebel Born I found her to be relatable and even more endearing, as she fought the fear, and the weight of it all. Bartol’s writing is evocative and addicting, drawing you in from the very first pages. Her character development and world building are both exceptional and well composed throughout the series. For me, there were a few loose ends in the conclusion, and a feeling or hurriedness in the ending. I wouldn’t necessary consider these negatives in the grand scheme of things, and still thoroughly enjoyed Rebel Born, as well as the Secondborn series as a whole. Roselle has bigger enemies than ever before, and even more at stake! Get ready for an intense and epic conclusion in Rebel Born by Amy A. Bartol! Enjoy xo
Rebel Born is an interesting addition to the trilogy. I enjoyed the storyline and as well as the strong willed characters. I didn’t expect the story to play out as it did, and I am glad that going into it, that I didn’t have a clear idea as to what to expect.
This series was definitely not the usual genre that I read. I am glad I tried it out and was introduced to a great author.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion.
I received a digital copy from Netgalley, the Publisher/Author to read and provide an honest review.
It is always bittersweet when a beloved series comes to an end. Rebel Born is the final installment in Amy Bartol’s ‘Secondborn’ series. ‘Rebel Born’ was all it promised to be, engaging and dynamic, it pulled me in from page one and held me spell bound until the very end.
Roselle St. Sismode is a secondborn child in a society that only allows every family to have two children. In every family the firstborn child will inherit the family title and wealth, secondborn children are destined to become soldiers for the military, while thirdborn children face death. A group called Census monitor’s and maintains status quo, ensuring that only first and secondborn children survive. Roselle accepts her fate. Growing up as the daughter to the Fate of Swords her life was on display, televised, for all to watch. Because of her ‘life of privilege’ she is disdained by other second borns and must earn her place on the battlefield. Roselle proves herself and builds true friendships and allies with her fellow soldiers; like Hawthorne Trugrave. Soldiers in the Republic’s army fight against the rising rebel forces attempting to bring down the established caste system.
On the battlefield Roselle saves the life of a young rebel named Reykin Winterstrom. In a world where Roselle can trust very few she develops respect and trust with Reykin. Roselle has threats closing in on all sides. Roselle’s mother, Othala St. Sismode has always wanted her daughter dead as she views Roselle as a threat to Othala’s position in the Republic. A man in Census named Crow also seems to want Roselle’s demise. During the opening ceremony of the Secondborn Trials, Crow, with the assistance of a mind controlled Hawthorne, captures Roselle. Crow believes he has her implanted with a mind control device, transforming her into one of his assassins, in the hopes of bringing down the Republic and putting himself in power. Fortunately for Roselle, the technician who installed the mind control tech is the third born son of the Winterstrom family. Roselle has been implanted with technology that allows her to stave off Crow’s ability to control her. This technology allows Roselle to build a resistance and bring it all down.
I loved the character and world development in this series. As an author, Bartol has the ability to develop and provide depth to her books. I recommend any and all of Amy Bartol’s series to book readers. The ending of ‘Rebel Born’ brings closure and also allows a small seed to make the reader wonder if someday there may be more.
Edit – so after sitting on this for a while and rereading parts, I’m dropping my rating from 3 to 2 stars. I’m just so disappointed with how so much of this book turned out.
After taking a while to get into Secondborn, but thinking the world building was so interesting and liking Roselle’s character, I absolutely loved Traitor Born and was so excited for Rebel Born. I wish I loved Rebel Born as much as I had hoped to. First, though, a couple good things. I liked the ending in regards to Roselle’s love life. The epilogue gave me all the feels. I love the growth Roselle experienced during the book as well. She’s such a badass! I also loved the addition of Cherno and wish we could get more stories with him.
That all said, I struggled a quite bit with the direction this book went. It felt like everything that was built up in the first 2 novels was tossed out the window and this random new world was created. I know utopian novels are sci-fi, and I’ve enjoyed the level of sci-fi thus far, but this became too much for me. I struggled to understand what was happening in parts because I noticed my attention was dropping during the descriptions of Spectrum and I’d have to go back and reread. I also wasn’t big on the mythological addition to the novel either. Seemed to not mix very well with the sci-fi plot line. Add that to the incredibly disappointing final battle, that was very anti-climatic, and this just wasn’t what I had hoped for in the conclusion of the series.
Roselle and her epic journey comes to its thrilling conclusion and could not have been more perfect. Her journey is hard, and at times a very lonely one, but our heroine always digs deep and gives it her everything, even when things look there darkest. She is changing. Becoming. More than she was, yet her fears ate always there. There is always something to loose, people that can be used to bring her to her knees. Reykin is never far from her side, a protective force that is not always pleasant, but there nonetheless. Her journey is perilous and fraught with danger, but she will not give up. The forces she fights might be more harrowing than she could have ever imagined, and things are definitely not as they seem. A braver, more selfless heroine I could not have wished for and I have loved ever moment of her journey. I highly recommend to the young and the old. Absolutely something to love for everyone! Thank you to the author for this epic tale I will cherish and remember always.
Amy Bartol has done it again!! I am in love with the Secondborn series! I loved the first two books of the series. To be honest I was a little nervous going into Rebel Born. I love all of Amy Bartol’s books. The last book of each series has left me needing more of the characters story and more closure and hoping for more. However, Rebel Born ended perfectly! Amy Bartol does such an amazing job writing characters that I always feel a void when finishing their story, but I received the closure I wanted/needed.
The whole story was amazing. Roselle is such a dominant strong heroine but in Rebel Born you saw a softness and vulnerability without taking away from her fierceness. The story itself took me places I never expected and gave me everything I needed/wanted in Roselle’s story.
*I received an ARC for my honest opinion*