Mood Readers:
Captain of the Rebels is written for the feminist warrior inside all of us. Readers will find themselves both awed and angered throughout this book. It is not light reading for the faint at heart. Be prepared for some dirty language and read the content warnings to decide if it’s right for you.
How did the book make you feel?
Would you recommend this book?
Good luck getting me to stop telling my friends about this series. These books have strong female leads, queer representation, cultural diversity, love and war. There is so much challenge and tragedy that is written so delicately, and provides such character growth. Isabelle Olmo has a way of presenting strong characters not from their acts during war, but how they persevere and learn from each other. Women are expected to be stronger than men, but are still referred to as the weaker s3x. Olmo has flipped that narrative on its head, and makes readers wish they could be as amazing as the women in her stories.
Would you be friends with the main character IRL?
I’m not sure that Sanaa would want to be friends with me. She’s so fierce, and a little bit short of patience. She would likely tire of my chatter, but maybe she’d accept me as a distant friend eventually. Kaia would definitely be my friend.
Favorite Quotes
“Why me? I’ve been nothing but a bastard my entire life.”
Leora lifted her chin gently and touched Sanaa’s face. “What are bastards but a man’s inability to control his libido? Are you, Sanaa Cinege, really going to let some man define you?”
“The truth was that men should fear all women, yet they seldom did, much to their demise.”
Captain of the Rebels Synopsis:
“We are our own villains.”
Turmoil threatens the hard-won peace of Queen Almira’s realm. As the jaded Captain Sanaa embarks on a rickety mission into the Free Isle, she must secure the fire weapon and find herself with a witch to stand against Furia’s The New Alliance.
Thrown together with an unlikely band of companions, including the mysterious Kaia, the tender Quent, and the loyal Barnabus, Sanaa’s journey becomes a race against time as they navigate carnivorous forests and evade the sadistic Kuimo. But amidst their quest, Sanaa finds herself drawn into the heart of a rebellion brewing in the Free Isle, where atrocities have ignited the flames of change. And her eyes wander to the prickly Kaia, who slowly softens towards the captain.
Meanwhile, Almira grapples with personal despair, pushing away loved ones as she seeks answers from shadowy sources. And Hira faces the daunting task of uniting her people against the divisive schemes of Furia. With so much in the balance, it seems the three tasks appointed will never succeed.
Captain of the Rebels is the third volume in The Queen’s Red Guard series, a story of the women of New Verden and their desperate struggle against all those who wish to disrupt the peace.
“Men should fear all women, yet they seldom did, much to their demise.”
About Isabelle Olmo
Isabelle Olmo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was raised on a diet of 1980s fantasy films and Sweet Valley High.
She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Political Science. After working in politics and government for years, she decided to merge modern politics into fantasy and sci-fi settings. One thing is always certain; her stories are about women and their inherent power.
She is the author of The Queen’s Red Guard, a feminist epic fantasy series with a diverse cast of characters.
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
