Mundie Moms

Friday, September 2, 2016

MISS MAYHEM and LADY RENEGADES by Rachel Hawkins / Book Review


By: Rachel Hawkins
Published by: Putnam Juvenile
Miss Mayhem released on: April 7, 2015
Lady Renegades released on: April 5, 2016
Series: Rebel Belle
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | iBooks | Book Depository
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Rating: 4.5 stars - What a read! I enjoyed it a LOT!

* * * SPOILERS FOR THE 1ST BOOK, REBEL BELLE * * * 

Miss Mayhem synopsis: Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or make her more powerful than ever.

Lady Renegades synopsis: Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark’s battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again.

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenage girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from. Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town…which means her life is on the line yet again.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings the fun once again in the finale of this pitch-perfect romantic paranormal comedy series.


I know that you guys are all familiar with that feeling when a favorite author of yours puts out the last two books in a series, and you play catch up by consuming both books in a week. Oh, that wonderful feeling of delving into a familiar setting and seeing what these characters will do next. Thaaaaaat's the exact feeling I had when I realized that somehow amidst a bunch of new releases, I hadn't finished the Rebel Belle series. So, I did what any normal bookworm would do. I binge read them in a few days.

In my review of the first book, Rebel Belle, I mentioned how much I enjoyed Harper's voice, her perfectionista tendencies and that banter between her and David. Well, that's all still there in Miss Mayhem, but so is a dizzying new plot which makes Harper go through a series of trials while worrying about competing in the local beauty pageant. Only Rachel could increase the stakes so expertly and still make you wish for a kissy scene or two. I won't post spoilers (go read the book!).

In the last book, Lady Renegades, the stakes are astronomically high, but the pacing slows down a bit while Harper struggles with her own issues. She's been through a lot (to say the least) and with David missing (let me just say that nothing can make my heart beat faster than Rachel's story endings), she's once again pulled into a seemingly impossible situation.

As I read these last two volumes, I couldn't help thinking that they would make a fantastic TV series. I know comparisons to Buffy have been made, but I have never seen an episode, so I'm not sure if they ring true. What does ring true is Rachel's ability to make a reader fall in love with her protagonist and their friends. The action scenes in  Lady Renegades, in particular, are written in such a cinematic fashion that you can see the action unfolding in your mind. And the ending is everything-I-wanted-and-more. Okay, if I'm being completely honest, I would love to have a short story that finds these characters a few years in the future just so I could check in on them.

If you are longing for a binge read, pick up the Rebel Belle series. The stories are snark-filled, action-packed and full of Southern charm.

2 comments:

  1. I haven't read these yet but I really do want to read them at some point. I am glad you could enjoy them so much, and I love the sound of them being perfect for a telly show. Who knows, maybe one day it will happen ;)

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  2. Lovely review Sophie :D Yay for enjoying these books :D I have them all, but haven't had the chance to start them yet. Hopefully one day :) They seem so awesome.

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