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Rebel Angels #3
Wolfsbane
It’s tough being the foretold saviour of your race. Rory MacSeth, kept a virtual prisoner in his own father’s dun and hunted by the Sithe queen, needs a break now and then – and what better fun than tearing the Veil no one else can tear, and escaping to the otherworld? In that dangerous otherworld, Hannah Falconer is as trapped by circumstance as the strange wild Sithe boy whose horse nearly kills her. But when she follows Rory to his world, she finds answers to questions she should never have asked…
And all the while, Seth MacGregor is fighting to keep his clann safe from the malevolent queen Kate. When an attack comes after years of stalemate, he is shocked to discover who is leading it…and who else is conspiring against him. Will the cunning and experience of five hundred years be enough to defeat Kate? And how many friends, and how many lovers, is Seth willing to sacrifice to keep his son?
And all the while, Seth MacGregor is fighting to keep his clann safe from the malevolent queen Kate. When an attack comes after years of stalemate, he is shocked to discover who is leading it…and who else is conspiring against him. Will the cunning and experience of five hundred years be enough to defeat Kate? And how many friends, and how many lovers, is Seth willing to sacrifice to keep his son?
435 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2012
4 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Philip
38 books184 followersGillian Philip is the author of more than 20 books for adults, young adults and children, including the Rebel Angels series (Firebrand, Bloodstone, Wolfsbane and Icefall). Her debut novel, the dystopian mystery Bad Faith, was published in 2008.
As well as fantasy she writes crime: Crossing The Line and The Opposite Of Amber are published by Bloomsbury. She is one of the Erin Hunters, working on the Survivors series, and has written as Gabriella Poole (Darke Academy). Her short books for Key Stage 3 are published by Ransom and by ReadZone Books, and include Life Of The Party, Mind's Eye, Sea Fever and Cyber Fever.
She lives in the north-east highlands of Scotland, with one husband, two children, three dogs (Cluny, Milo and Otto), two psychotic cats (the Ghost and the Darkness), a slayer hamster (Buffy), a fluctuating population of chickens (including Mapp, Lucia, Mrs Norris and Honey Boo Boo), and a lot of nervous fish.
From her website:
"Writing for a living is (a) what I always wanted to do; (b) occasionally frustrating; (c) a lot of fun – I take dictation from the characters in my head, who spend their lives telling me what’s going to happen next.
"But I like it that I never know just how it’s all going to end – not till the fat lady sings, the villain meets a suitably sticky end, and the boy gets the girl (or indeed the boy)."
As well as fantasy she writes crime: Crossing The Line and The Opposite Of Amber are published by Bloomsbury. She is one of the Erin Hunters, working on the Survivors series, and has written as Gabriella Poole (Darke Academy). Her short books for Key Stage 3 are published by Ransom and by ReadZone Books, and include Life Of The Party, Mind's Eye, Sea Fever and Cyber Fever.
She lives in the north-east highlands of Scotland, with one husband, two children, three dogs (Cluny, Milo and Otto), two psychotic cats (the Ghost and the Darkness), a slayer hamster (Buffy), a fluctuating population of chickens (including Mapp, Lucia, Mrs Norris and Honey Boo Boo), and a lot of nervous fish.
From her website:
"Writing for a living is (a) what I always wanted to do; (b) occasionally frustrating; (c) a lot of fun – I take dictation from the characters in my head, who spend their lives telling me what’s going to happen next.
"But I like it that I never know just how it’s all going to end – not till the fat lady sings, the villain meets a suitably sticky end, and the boy gets the girl (or indeed the boy)."
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 26, 2015
After the gripping events of book 2, BLOODSTONE, it's now fifteen years later and Seth is the dun captain--a responsibility he never expected, knowing his brother Conal would inherit. Now Conal is gone, but Seth has his son Rory, whose ability to manipulate the Viel--the barrier between the Sithe world and the human world--makes him the prophesied Bloodstone, and the very person Queen Kate NicNiven wants for her own purposes.
Unfortunately teenagers will chafe under restrictions, even knowing it's best for their well being. When Rory sneaks into the mortal world and discovers Hannah, half-Sithe, half-mortal, he brings her back to the dun.
The best part of this series are the unique and well-drawn characters. I couldn't help but love the rogue Seth from book 1, and now he's the only one standing in Kate's way--she wants to destroy the Veil so she can be queen of the humans as well as the Sithe. Kate, despite Seth's rebellion, is planning the long game, and is ruthless enough to even kill innocents if it means moving the pieces on her chessboard.
In WOLFSBANE, by Gillian Philip, the stakes continue to grow, and the result is more characters involved in the main story. At first I was annoyed with all the PoV characters: Rory is now a teen; Hannah is a new character that proves to be a wild card; Jed's now grown into a hardened fighter; Finn, Conal's niece, becomes a bigger player in the story now that she's an adult. All I really wanted was the story that resolves around Seth...who are these interlopers anyway?
PoV even switches between third-person and first-person. You'd think it would be confusing, but it works well because Philip is great with character voice, and even the new characters come into their own quickly. They have distinct personalities and spark. And they are interconnected in ways we're only starting to understand by the middle of the book. There were some blips in the narrative where I had trouble following character movement, but otherwise the dialogue and prose is super lean and quick to read.
We don't learn much new about the setting of the land where the Sithe live, but we do see more of dun life, which grounds the characters well. We do learn a little more about magic, specifically what Kate is capable of, which makes her seriously scary.
WOLFSBANE suffers a little from middle-of-the-series syndrome. It's true that it has its own plotline within the overarching series plot. But despite an early bit of excitement, the book moves at a deliberate pace as we get to know Rory, Hannah, and come up to date with what's happened over the last fifteen years--pieces are placed, loyalities are negotiated, and revenge is planned. I was hoping book three would see the conclusion of the series, mostly because I'm looking forward to the demise of the wicked Kate NicNiven (is that a cool name, or what?).
The story continues with the same desperation as the previous books, and it's only the scrappiness of our heroes that sees them through. The last quarter of the book is full of blood, death, tragedy, and mind-blowing revelations. Unfortunately, if you haven't read the first two books, these may not have the same impact. You could still follow the story well enough if you haven't read them. As with previous books, the story didn't head the way I was expecting it to. The surprises are what kept the pages turning despite the slower pace.
Recommended Age: 15+
Language: A few handfuls of instances
Violence: Yes, it gets pretty bloody, but the fighting is well done
Sex: Referenced
***Find this and other reviews on Elitistbookreviews.com***
Unfortunately teenagers will chafe under restrictions, even knowing it's best for their well being. When Rory sneaks into the mortal world and discovers Hannah, half-Sithe, half-mortal, he brings her back to the dun.
The best part of this series are the unique and well-drawn characters. I couldn't help but love the rogue Seth from book 1, and now he's the only one standing in Kate's way--she wants to destroy the Veil so she can be queen of the humans as well as the Sithe. Kate, despite Seth's rebellion, is planning the long game, and is ruthless enough to even kill innocents if it means moving the pieces on her chessboard.
In WOLFSBANE, by Gillian Philip, the stakes continue to grow, and the result is more characters involved in the main story. At first I was annoyed with all the PoV characters: Rory is now a teen; Hannah is a new character that proves to be a wild card; Jed's now grown into a hardened fighter; Finn, Conal's niece, becomes a bigger player in the story now that she's an adult. All I really wanted was the story that resolves around Seth...who are these interlopers anyway?
PoV even switches between third-person and first-person. You'd think it would be confusing, but it works well because Philip is great with character voice, and even the new characters come into their own quickly. They have distinct personalities and spark. And they are interconnected in ways we're only starting to understand by the middle of the book. There were some blips in the narrative where I had trouble following character movement, but otherwise the dialogue and prose is super lean and quick to read.
We don't learn much new about the setting of the land where the Sithe live, but we do see more of dun life, which grounds the characters well. We do learn a little more about magic, specifically what Kate is capable of, which makes her seriously scary.
WOLFSBANE suffers a little from middle-of-the-series syndrome. It's true that it has its own plotline within the overarching series plot. But despite an early bit of excitement, the book moves at a deliberate pace as we get to know Rory, Hannah, and come up to date with what's happened over the last fifteen years--pieces are placed, loyalities are negotiated, and revenge is planned. I was hoping book three would see the conclusion of the series, mostly because I'm looking forward to the demise of the wicked Kate NicNiven (is that a cool name, or what?).
The story continues with the same desperation as the previous books, and it's only the scrappiness of our heroes that sees them through. The last quarter of the book is full of blood, death, tragedy, and mind-blowing revelations. Unfortunately, if you haven't read the first two books, these may not have the same impact. You could still follow the story well enough if you haven't read them. As with previous books, the story didn't head the way I was expecting it to. The surprises are what kept the pages turning despite the slower pace.
Recommended Age: 15+
Language: A few handfuls of instances
Violence: Yes, it gets pretty bloody, but the fighting is well done
Sex: Referenced
***Find this and other reviews on Elitistbookreviews.com***
July 29, 2014
It's a little hard for me to accept that there's only one more Rebel Angels book to go. I've been enjoying the hell out of this series. It's sprawling and twisted and based on characters who make mistakes because they can't be anything but themselves. And, of course, the villain who takes advantage of that.
WOLFSBANE did feel a bit like a holding pattern before the end. The stakes weren't quite as high, the protagonists didn't lose quite as much - but the antagonist didn't win as much either.
The first two books centered around the relationship between brothers Seth and Conal MacGregor. WOLFSBANE focuses on a new relationship, that of Seth and his son Rory. Queen Kate wants Rory in her power, but he's safe on Seth's lands. Unfortunately, he's also a teenager and sick of staying close at home. (Especially once he meets a teen girl).
WOLFSBANE takes place almost entirely in the world of the Sithe, with very little in "our world." It's a chance to get a closer look at the Sithe who aren't in the center of the struggle and what they think of Seth's rebellion against Kate. Few know that the center of their struggle is the fate of the Veil, but they can still decide who they want to side with based on how their vassals are treated and other criteria.
The time jump between BLOODSTONE and WOLFSBANE allows a variety of relationships other than Seth's and Rory's to progress. There's romance, new siblings, and hate. Seth's past mistakes haven't always won him friends, and some of those enemies are making their move. The action in WOLFSBANE might be smaller, but it's closer.
FIREBRAND was an unexpected favorite of mine, but I'm glad I came across it, especially since the sequels have been so wonderful. I can't wait to see how the Rebel Angels series concludes when ICEFALL comes out in the US.
WOLFSBANE did feel a bit like a holding pattern before the end. The stakes weren't quite as high, the protagonists didn't lose quite as much - but the antagonist didn't win as much either.
The first two books centered around the relationship between brothers Seth and Conal MacGregor. WOLFSBANE focuses on a new relationship, that of Seth and his son Rory. Queen Kate wants Rory in her power, but he's safe on Seth's lands. Unfortunately, he's also a teenager and sick of staying close at home. (Especially once he meets a teen girl).
WOLFSBANE takes place almost entirely in the world of the Sithe, with very little in "our world." It's a chance to get a closer look at the Sithe who aren't in the center of the struggle and what they think of Seth's rebellion against Kate. Few know that the center of their struggle is the fate of the Veil, but they can still decide who they want to side with based on how their vassals are treated and other criteria.
The time jump between BLOODSTONE and WOLFSBANE allows a variety of relationships other than Seth's and Rory's to progress. There's romance, new siblings, and hate. Seth's past mistakes haven't always won him friends, and some of those enemies are making their move. The action in WOLFSBANE might be smaller, but it's closer.
FIREBRAND was an unexpected favorite of mine, but I'm glad I came across it, especially since the sequels have been so wonderful. I can't wait to see how the Rebel Angels series concludes when ICEFALL comes out in the US.
February 28, 2015
This series gets better and better! Full review to come.
Originally posted on Small Review
Gosh do I love this series. I don't know what it is about it, but Gillian Philip's books are like crack. I can't get enough of them and each installment in this series is unwaveringly solid.
Seth has grown up a lot and is firmly in the "awesome characters to root for" column, which makes it even better that his romance here just overwhelms me with happiness for all parties involved.
Like the previous books, even when there isn't a whole lot going on (and there ARE periods of not a lot of action) I'm still totally absorbed because the characters and world building are so phenomenal. I feel like I'm getting peeks through the veil into the lives of these real people (fairies, whatever. I actually like these fairies).
When the action does pick up though, and boy does it pick up, it's non-stop and equal parts exciting and tear-my-heart-out agonizing. I can't believe some of the things that happen in this book! I also can't believe I have to wait a year to read the conclusion. And I also can't believe it's going to end, because this is the type of series I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading.
Originally posted on Small Review
Originally posted on Small Review
Gosh do I love this series. I don't know what it is about it, but Gillian Philip's books are like crack. I can't get enough of them and each installment in this series is unwaveringly solid.
Seth has grown up a lot and is firmly in the "awesome characters to root for" column, which makes it even better that his romance here just overwhelms me with happiness for all parties involved.
Like the previous books, even when there isn't a whole lot going on (and there ARE periods of not a lot of action) I'm still totally absorbed because the characters and world building are so phenomenal. I feel like I'm getting peeks through the veil into the lives of these real people (fairies, whatever. I actually like these fairies).
When the action does pick up though, and boy does it pick up, it's non-stop and equal parts exciting and tear-my-heart-out agonizing. I can't believe some of the things that happen in this book! I also can't believe I have to wait a year to read the conclusion. And I also can't believe it's going to end, because this is the type of series I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading.
Originally posted on Small Review
January 16, 2016
After really loving the last one in the series this one did not disappoint. Plenty of action, great characters, twists and turns, drama ~ this had it all. After taking a while to warm to it I am hooked now. The plot is just so good and the writing just draws you in and really makes the characters burst off the pages. Really looking forward to the last in the series, Icefall. I will also have to invest in the .5 prequel to Firebrand, Frost child as well I think. Overall a great read in a very enjoyable series.
April 5, 2020
Ouch, each book has a more painful ending than the next. Be prepared to get your heart torn out.
It's hard to review this book without re-reviewing the previous book, because much of the previous book was out of sync with the first book. There wasn't enough information at the time to determine if this difference was caused by the fact that the book took place 400 years later, or if the author was inconsistent. Now with another book to factor in, some things are becoming a little clearer.
1. Seth's attitude: in book 1, Seth was a sullen angry kid, because he really didn't have any reason not to be. In book 2, Seth was so wrathful he was really almost a villain. In book 3, he's that guy who says I hate you while he hugs you tight. Now, to figure out if this is a natural evolution of his character, if it was bad writing, or if it was something else, you really have to take on faith for what the author mostly implies, but not very well. If the arch-villain Kate was really telepathically messing with Seth's head, Philip did not do a great job showing it in the story. It's a fascinating plot, but it needed much better writing.
2. Seth's relationship with Rory: in book 2, Seth and Rory are at each other's throats. Fine, set two cats on fire and put them in a barrel, there's going to be blood. But somehow right at the start of book 3, they're soulmates? Would have been nice to see even 5 minutes over the 14 years their relationship evolved so drastically, even if they only saw each other once a year or so.
Overall, it's a great series. Philip is clearly a good writer. Most of my critics make me think the book was either rushed to publication, or the editors in Scotland just aren't as critical as I am. Interesting to note, more and more Scots English is used with each book. The amount of googling I had to do was intense and often unsatisfying. I'm used to Irish Gaelic, which has way more dictionaries available online. I don't know if Scottish Gaelic has less of an online presence, or if Philip speaks a less popular dialect.
It's hard to review this book without re-reviewing the previous book, because much of the previous book was out of sync with the first book. There wasn't enough information at the time to determine if this difference was caused by the fact that the book took place 400 years later, or if the author was inconsistent. Now with another book to factor in, some things are becoming a little clearer.
1. Seth's attitude: in book 1, Seth was a sullen angry kid, because he really didn't have any reason not to be. In book 2, Seth was so wrathful he was really almost a villain. In book 3, he's that guy who says I hate you while he hugs you tight. Now, to figure out if this is a natural evolution of his character, if it was bad writing, or if it was something else, you really have to take on faith for what the author mostly implies, but not very well. If the arch-villain Kate was really telepathically messing with Seth's head, Philip did not do a great job showing it in the story. It's a fascinating plot, but it needed much better writing.
2. Seth's relationship with Rory: in book 2, Seth and Rory are at each other's throats. Fine, set two cats on fire and put them in a barrel, there's going to be blood. But somehow right at the start of book 3, they're soulmates? Would have been nice to see even 5 minutes over the 14 years their relationship evolved so drastically, even if they only saw each other once a year or so.
Overall, it's a great series. Philip is clearly a good writer. Most of my critics make me think the book was either rushed to publication, or the editors in Scotland just aren't as critical as I am. Interesting to note, more and more Scots English is used with each book. The amount of googling I had to do was intense and often unsatisfying. I'm used to Irish Gaelic, which has way more dictionaries available online. I don't know if Scottish Gaelic has less of an online presence, or if Philip speaks a less popular dialect.
September 19, 2017
It's difficult to review this book properly. It occasionally dragged, or was confusing as large amounts of back story were implied without (thankfully!) the usual shoehorned in explanation. Relationships ranged from uncomfortable to inappropriate. I disliked nearly every character at some point in the book.
And in spite of all that I LIKED the bloody thing and it even almost made me cry (at a point I wouldn't have thought I'd care about that much). *sigh*
And in spite of all that I LIKED the bloody thing and it even almost made me cry (at a point I wouldn't have thought I'd care about that much). *sigh*
April 28, 2019
Fascinating!
December 4, 2012
The Rebel Angels series just gets better and better. Gillian Phillip has created an absolutely compelling world full of drama and violence and in the third instalment, Wolfsbane, the civil war between the rival Sithe factions becomes ever more deadly. Seth McGregor, now Captain of his clann, continues the fight against the evil Queen, Kate NicNiven, as she attempts to destroy the Veil that separates the Sithe world from our own. But Seth has enemies even amongst his own fighters and as he struggles to protect his son, Rory, he has to contend not only with Rory’s rebelliousness, but also with his own pain and sense of guilt.
Rory, has grown from a baby in The Bloodstone to a teenager and we soon meet another difficult teen, Hannah. Rory’s full human half brother, Jed has been in the Sithe world all this time, but now the fully Sithe, Finn, returns from exile on the other side of the Veil. Jed may be happy to see her, but she’s certainly not welcomed by the whole clann. Seth remains the lynchpin of the story but, since the author has no compunction about killing off major characters, it’s clear that even he isn’t safe.
One of the joys of reading a series is becoming reacquainted with a familiar world and its inhabitants, but Philip’s complex and exciting plots are edge of the seat stuff, full of surprises, and Wolfsbane doesn’t disappoint in this respect. What keeps me hooked above all, however, is the need to follow the emotional journeys of characters I’ve come to know and love (or hate). Rebel Angels is classified as a YA series, but I can’t recommend it highly enough for fantasy lovers of any age
Rory, has grown from a baby in The Bloodstone to a teenager and we soon meet another difficult teen, Hannah. Rory’s full human half brother, Jed has been in the Sithe world all this time, but now the fully Sithe, Finn, returns from exile on the other side of the Veil. Jed may be happy to see her, but she’s certainly not welcomed by the whole clann. Seth remains the lynchpin of the story but, since the author has no compunction about killing off major characters, it’s clear that even he isn’t safe.
One of the joys of reading a series is becoming reacquainted with a familiar world and its inhabitants, but Philip’s complex and exciting plots are edge of the seat stuff, full of surprises, and Wolfsbane doesn’t disappoint in this respect. What keeps me hooked above all, however, is the need to follow the emotional journeys of characters I’ve come to know and love (or hate). Rebel Angels is classified as a YA series, but I can’t recommend it highly enough for fantasy lovers of any age
September 7, 2012
Love love love this series so much. Utterly shameless, especially when it comes to Seth of course!
Goes firmly on the list of books that made me late for work and stay up too late because I simply couldn't put it down. :D
Goes firmly on the list of books that made me late for work and stay up too late because I simply couldn't put it down. :D
September 16, 2012
Despite the harsh, violent world of this series, I find it utterly compelling. It's the passion of these characters, for each other, for their pain, for their world, and their need to do the right thing, however damaged they are.
October 12, 2014
I'm leaping in mid-season and really wasn't sure I was going to get caught up, but somewhere around the hundredth page, it had me. Contemporary faery fantasy with a land that reads like 9th century Scotland, only with CD players.
January 13, 2015
I'm torn. There were parts I loved and I wanted to give this four stars, but there were also parts that I found written in an unnecessarily confusing way and a few parts that were a little boring. Overall, a satisfying read, though.
August 29, 2012
I'm still reelling from the ending!!!
Review to follow soon!
Review to follow soon!
August 23, 2012
Another stunner from Gillian Philip. Full review soon on Our Book Reviews Blog
December 27, 2014
twist and turns abound in those book now the dreaded wait for the next one. the end killed me.
August 1, 2015
(3.5) I liked it, but the middle section lost me & I didn't get back to it for ages. I should probably wait a while before tackling Icefall.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews