Rachel Hawkins’s Miss Mayhem is the second book in the Rebel Belle series.
Months after the attack at the Cotillion, things have returned to some semblance of normalcy. There has been no sign of the Ephors, David is having visions, and both Ryan and Harper are settling uneasily until their new relationship status. The unstable peace is broken by the return of Bee and the Ephors. This time, the Ephors decide to train David rather than kill him, but in order for Harper to remain a Paladin, she must face deadly trials.
In the previous book, Harper managed to keep her school obligations and her supernatural duties in balance. With her intellect and some help, she kept her two worlds apart until the cotillion. In this latest installment, Harper is pushed to her limits. Without the guidance of Saylor Stark, David, Ryan, and Harper struggle to manage their new roles. Romantic tension engulfs these characters as relationships are made and broken, preventing the three from effectively working together. She faces physical and psychological tests as she tries to balance all her responsibilities. Every time she attemps to fix things, they only seem to fall further apart.
Miss Mayhem is a disappointment. The plot was constantly moving and growing more complex, but felt oddly paced at times. It took an unexpectedly dark turn, but lacked Rachel Hawkins’s signature humor to keep the plot light. Instead, the story felt panicked and stressed. While the tone conveys Harper’s feelings more accurately, it is a drastic change from the excitement and fun of the previous book. It emphasizes her growth as characters and accentuates the difficulty of what she is facing, at the cost of the humor and action that made Rebel Belle amazing. Harper is not the only one facing challenges in this book. Side characters like David, Ryan, and Bee all have trouble adjusting to their supernatural roles. As each of them fights for a normal life, they gain much needed character development and depth. The world of Ephors and Paladins is slightly expanded, but remains limited.
I give this 273 page book 4 stars.
Rebel Belle
Rebel Belle provides a slightly alternate version of history. While most Oracles are female, during the reign of Charlemagne, there was a male Oracle. This Oracle was weak at first, but soon gained great power. He created supernaturally gifted warriors to protect him. These warriors became known as Paladins. Now, once again, there is a male Oracle and a new Paladin to defend him.