This was one of the most amazing twists I've ever seen pulled off this late in a series. The first two books were good, and seemed to following along the expected storylines. Then this last book just took every prediction and threw it right out the window. The entire world build up that you thought you'd come to know was turned upside down. Amazing, just amazing. The only downside I can see is that as the book progressed, the bar just kept getting set higher and higher. By the end of it, I was expecting something amazing and different. Instead it was a pretty standard wrap up, which was a good ending I suppose, but still a bit of a disappointment. I think maybe my expectation just got set a little too high. It leaves off in a way that could easily pick back up later, and I'm hoping it does. I'd rather see the series continue for another book or two rather than leave off with the ending it had. But either way, I'd still set it as a solid 4-5 stars just based on the fairly unique late in the series plot twists.

Rebel Born, by author Amy Bartol, is the third and final installment in the authors Secondborn trilogy. This series cuts across several genre's; Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Dystopian. It also adds a bit of mythology. The series follows Roselle St. Sismode who is the second-born daughter of the Fate of Swords. Roselle has been under constant attack from Agent Crow of Census, as well as her own mother who has done everything she can to kill Roselle. But, Roselle isn't one to lay down and submit to anyone.

As the story picks up right where Traitor Born left off, readers should absolutely have read the first two books in this trilogy before proceeding. With her first-born brother dead, Roselle is now the heir to the Fate of Swords. But, after what happened during the Secondborn trials, especially the ending, Roselle finds herself being controlled by Crow and his new world order. A month goes by with Roselle having lost time but is now fully awake thanks to some much needed help.

For part of the time, she's a mind-controlled assassin and does some things that will have lasting implications. When she does finally wake, it's to find out that she's upgrading into something different from Crow's mind controlled monsters thanks to a scientist named Ransom Winterstrom. Roselle has to find a way to escape from her nightmare existence, adapt to her newly enhanced abilities and discover a way to save her world. Roselle's allies, including Reykin Winterstrom and Clifton Salloway, are hopelessly outgunned and in need a miracle in order to survive Crow and Census's brutal new world.

We are introduced to a pretty interesting and twisted character in this story; Cherno. Cherno ends up being assigned to Roselle as her body guard and stays with her throughout the story. He truly believes that Roselle is a direct descendant of a War Goddess by the same name. He also has a curious past with Clifton which gives the story some humor. If you've read the first two books, you know that Roselle has had romantic inclinations towards Hawthorne Trugrave, as well as Reykin Winterstorm who said the 3 words as the final chapter of the previous book was wrapping up.

Hawthorne's relationship with Roselle hasn't been the same since becoming a Firstborn. With the author's introduction of a program called Spectrum, you could write your own ending as to who Roselle would end up with. I have nothing against either character, it's just strange the way the author chooses to wrap up this series.

Amazing book. Loved it to pieces.
Excellent conclusion to this amazing series.
Can't wait to see what Amy writes next!

I had busy stalking NetGalley for this installment from Amy A Bartol. I love the way she writes and I was so intrigued with how this would end for Roselle and her tribe. it was gripping from the start and emotional for the reader as well.
I do need to re-read this last book as it takes such a different direction in the plot that it became confusing and almost all new characters (even though they weren't)

Roselle is a strong warrior and the crowds are eagerly awaiting the Secondborn Trials in order to see her in action. That is until she is kidnapped during the opening ceremonies in order to give her an implant and make her a mind-controlled assassin. But there are other plans in the works and one of the scientists implants her with a different technology that makes her faster, more powerful and possibly immortal. Roselle is now helping the resistance group, but who can she really trust? Will she lose her humanity along the way?

Rebel Born is the third book in the Secondborn series. Bartol has taken the world she built in the first book and has exponentially expanded on the characters (and brought in a few more). Emotions are high and the intrigue is at maximum as Roselle and other characters fight against the social machine that wishes to control everything. Although I can’t find anything about a fourth book, Goodreads has it listed as a series and not a trilogy. Readers will be happy with the ending, but if you are like me … you want a little more.

This book is the last in its series but really takes you on a wonderful ride. I didn’t want it to end! Found myself consumed in every character and amazed with the story as a whole!

Wow, what an awesome read this was! Amy Bartol sure knows how’s to keep her readers coming back for more. If you are a fan of her writing, you do not want to miss this one!

I have a confession to make. After being so invested in and subsequently crushed by the the endings of Amy Bartol’s Premonition Series and especially the Kricket Series, I swore that I would not start reading the Secondborn Series until the last book was out and I could gauge other reader’s responses through the different fan groups on social media. Please understand, this was especially difficult because I love the way Amy writes, not only her characters but her worlds. Knowing this Meg, the Queen Bee, didn’t offer me the books to review. I started to go through some serious Amy withdrawals and reread the Premonition Series and the first book of the Kricket Series. If you have never read her works, there is something very unique about her world building, especially when it comes to the science fiction aspect of them. I finally broke down and devoured Secondborn and Traitor Born. As Meg reviewed, they deliver on everything that Amy is known for. Of course Meg thought it was hysterical then when I asked who was reviewing Rebel Born.

Rebel Born, and for that matter the whole Secondborn Series, is built on a complex and unique dystopian, sci-fi world. In one of Amy’s reader’s groups there was an opportunity to ask her questions I asked her what has influenced her sci-fi world building? Her response was extremely enlightening and really influenced my thought process as I read Rebel Born. Amy agreed to let me share her explanation:

Under Different Stars is definitely sci-fi. I was on that track before 47North got involved, but being at a sci-fi imprint makes you have to up your game. I liked making up new technology and naming it weird things, so I just stayed on the track I was on with the Kricket series…I noticed a few things about top selling books. They all seemed to have easily definable worlds. Kricket’s world is hard to describe. Try telling someone about it in a few short sentences. It’s super hard. I wanted to be able to define whatever world I wrote next in a way where people could immediately understand what it was about and tell a friend…So Jason, my editor at 47N called me and asked me what I was writing and I was like, “I don’t know. I’m stuck in Kricket’s world. What are you doing?” He told me he was trying to get some really popular book by a Chinese author. And I was thinking, “Well, that sounds cool. China…huh. What do I know about China?” What I knew was that they had a one-child policy for a while. So that was interesting. I began thinking about that and how I could build a world around it. And I finally decided (once I started writing it) that:

Firstborns ruled society, Secondborns were the property of the government, Thirdborns were not tolerated. Long live the Fates Republic.

…So I found it interesting to take government to the extreme–one that defines every aspect of a person’s life from birth. And I found it interesting to make Roselle someone who was born and raised to believe that she had almost no right to the body she inhabited. Making her arc change over time was gratifying, but then, in the third book, Roselle was right back where she started in the first book, but in an entirely different way–a horrifying way that makes how she began look like utopia. She has no control over her body and she has to fight for autonomy. I’ve been reading about some of the places we are heading as a society(world). This is one of them. Scientists already have tests that determine future ailments–which babies will more than likely develop cancer later in life. Neuro-enhancement is one of the largest growing fields of research. Quantum computing is just around the corner. Mind algorithms and AI are happening, whether we’re ready for them or not. So I just tried to imagine what a world like that would be like and I thought that it could make a species god-like (little g). It could make someone immortal and what would that be like? So that’s the direction I took with my world building because as a sci-fi author, my job is to think about where we’re going and make you (the reader) thing about the questions I’m asking. And I am asking you questions, like, are you ready for this? And I’m okay with some of the reviews I’m getting that are calling my book dark and ugly. It is. It has to be.

Rebel Born earned a solid 5 stars. It is more of the ending I wanted for her other two series. Amy developed the perfect crescendo to a very complex story, tying all of the pieces together, especially the relational ones, in a way that fit logically and left me satisfied with Roselle’s conclusion. Not only is Rebel Born extremely entertaining and captivating but Amy accomplishes her goal of making you ponder the issues she covers.

For starters the first chapter is essentially the last chapter of the previous book. Kind of annoying when you just read book 2.

Second, I said it before and I'll say it again, it feels like the author made up the storyline as she went along. The story kept getting wilder and wilder. Half the time it didn't really make sense. I felt like I had entered The Matrix. Which is a completely different feel from book one. I feel like book three deviated so far from how the series started out. I found myself losing interest the farther I got into the story. I finished it but with some heavy skimming during the last 30% which is when I should have been glued to the pages the most.

Finally, I want to end on a positive note. I really liked the covers.

***Copy obtained from 47North via Netgalley***

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.

Amy Bartol easily became one of my favorite authors last year when a good friend recommended her books to me. I devoured all of her books she had released and have been since eagerly awaiting this book to see how this series ends. It's always bitter sweet ending a series, I loved the uniqueness of this story. Roller has had a long journey and is an amazingly strong character. That's one thing that can always be counted on with Amy is a strong female character to lead the way!

Book provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


I LOVE LOVE LOVE Amy Bartols writing and all her books. I also LOVE these characters and this series. They all get 5 stars from me, but I have to admit I had to take a star off for this one because I spent a lot of time in this book having to reread section to try to figure out the whole "premise" of the story. It was a bit confusing and convenient for me. Some of this just didn't go with the series in my opinion. However, I still loved the characters so much that I was willing to over look some things.

I am sure that my review doesn't make any sense but I can't say more with out giving out any spoilers so my lips are sealed. All I will say it be prepared going into this book with a lot of "what?" moments.

I really liked the Rebel Born series and was looking forward to the third book. While still good, I felt it missed the mark for me. It took a very different and hard-to-follow twist that made it difficult for me to understand Roselle and her new world. It almost felt similar to The Matrix, involving algorithms, as well as Gods that I hadn't remembered if they were previously mentioned; overall I enjoyed the read as usual, but not as much as the previous two books. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Bartol.

Wow! I’m exhausted and my head is spinning…but my heart is definitely full. Rebel Born, the conclusion to the Secondborn series, had me turning pages faster than I wanted to and had my brain running to keep up with the complexities and the creativity of this plot. As the story progressed, the tension increased and, for every answer we though we had, a new question seemed to appear. The storytelling and world-building were exquisitely intricate…so many moving parts, so many roads to travel. And all the while, Roselle’s strength was the backbone that kept both the characters and the story moving forward.

This installment moves with precision and speed. We’re treated to the complexities of a world run by evil and the relative simplicity of hope for a better future. Roselle never lets go of her belief that she and her ragtag team can face this evil and overcome…and she had me believing every step of the way as well. Of course, a bit of romance never hurts. In the world of Roselle and Hawthorne and Reykin and Clifton, we finally get a resolution and I, for one, was completely content with the outcome. Amy Bartol always manages to write a story that glues me to it’s pages and a hero that has my heart swooning and this series once again ticks both the boxes.

I don’t want to tell you much about the actual story because, of course, it’s the conclusion and it deserves to be experienced only after you’ve immersed yourself in this world and fallen in love with it’s characters. And, once you dive in, you’ll find yourself in awe of Ms. Bartol’s creativity, imagination, and exquisite writing…I know I am! If you enjoy sci-fi, adventure, twists and turns, and a large pinch of romance, this book, and this series, is definitely for you! Enjoy!

This was an amazing wrap-up, Amy!! I really feel like you listened to your fans when you wrote this book. Thank you!!

This book really took an unexpected, yet positive, turn. I wasn’t expecting the “Gods” element at all. But looking back at the previous book, there were definitely some easter eggs peppered into it that made the introduction of this concept organic.

The Spectrum story line was a good addition as well and I hope Amy expands on that in future books. I also want to see Crow face justice or get his comeuppance.

Overall, an awesome story and hopefully more to come!!

I always round up to the next highest star when I rating on Amazon and Goodreads,etc..

I was pretty disappointed with the end to this series. Rebel Born was that one book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. Only once I started reading it I felt lost and unsure about where it was going. After flying through the other 2, I found I didn’t want to rush back to it and felt no urgency in reading it. I may have even skimmed.

It was good. I enjoyed it. Even though I wasn’t crazy-crazy for it, I was entertained by it. And of course, Bartol’s writing was on point. I did like who Roselle ended up with. But I wasn’t in love with the story and the ending wasn’t what it was building up to be.

3.5stars

I'm so damn happy to be done with this series, but mainly this book. The first two were irritating, but they had that addictive quality to them that made me need to keep reading. This one, though, was a struggle to get through. I was ready for Roselle to drown in tears. Seriously, the TEARS and SOBS ...

"Tears cloud my vision"
"I choke back my desire to sob"
"I hold back fresh tears"
"I bite my lip to keep from sobbing"
"Tears sting my eyes"
"blink, forcing back more tears"
"I swallow back tears"
"Tears run from my eyes"

That isn't even near half of it. So, yeah, glad to have it over with.

This is the third book in this series reading order: second born, traitor born then rebel born.

So I was fortunate enough to obtain an ARC of this book. Amy has outdone herself again. I did not see any of this book coming.

The book flows well. I always manage to loose myself in this authors books. She just manages to make such inventive and amazing worlds.

Roselle is a warrior who fights every fight that’s put in front of her. She’s not one to sit in the corner and let other people fix everything.

There are spoilers in the rest of this review read on at your own peril.
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So it turns out that there are gods that walk among the fates republic add in ai and an obsessive maniac; whose at least two hundred years old (it turns out) makes for an interesting and thrilling read. I wish there was more of cherno the half DRAGON humanoid. The tie in at the end of the book when rose and roselle are talking could this mean a crossover with the next stars book?

this book definitely had a twist that I didn't see coming but I still loved every single page of it. I couldn't put it down and I read it in half a day. I do think it ended too quickly and there could have been a lot more at the end it feels incomplete and I hope this universe expands more even though I'm pretty positive this was the last book

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. I absolutely devoured this book. Amy Bartol is an amazing author and I will read anything she writes. I have loved Roselle since book 1 and this book gave her the HEA she deserved. Brilliant is all I have to say!