Hey there, fellow rebels and dreamers! Welcome to the lastest installment of our Reader’s Guide series featuring . . . The Rebel!
Today, we’re diving headfirst into the gritty, heart-wrenching world of The Rebel, the latest novella in the Legion of Pneumos series. This is a story that will sink its claws into you and not let go, a tale of love, loss, and the searing pain of fighting for a better world. So buckle up, because we’re about to unpack all the juicy details that make The Rebel such a compelling read.
Whether you use it to dive deeper yourself, chat with friends, or host your own book club, I hope this Reader’s Guide helps you get the most out of The Rebel and the rest of the Legion of Pneumos series. Whether you’re a fantasy veteran or new to the genre, there’s something here for everyone!
Discussion Questions
Characters
Analyze Neval’s character development over the course of the novella. How does his background as the son of the town drunk and an outcast shape his choices and relationships? In what ways does he change?
Compare and contrast Tegan and Rowan. What qualities attract Neval to each of them? How do their differing social positions and expectations shape their actions and ultimate fates?
Discuss the complicated dynamic between Neval, Tegan, and Rowan. How does the love triangle impact and get impacted by the larger events of the story? Do you think the characters make the right choices?
Examine the father figures in Neval’s life, especially his own father Erik and the Empire’s Millus Flavius. How do they influence Neval’s view of himself, his place in the world, and the man he wants to become?
Want to explore more?
Plot
At its core, The Rebel is a story about fighting back against oppression, even when the odds seem insurmountable. While the inciting incident sets the stage for a tale of resistance and sacrifice, its the escalating trials and heartbreak that forge Neval into something new, harder and sharper. And then, the final blow–the sacrifice at the story’s climax is a moment that will leave you gasping. It’s a turning point that asks us to consider the cost of rebellion, the price of freedom. Is it worth it? That’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself.
- The inciting incident of the story is Neval killing a Bellator soldier to protect Tegan. How does this act set the tone and stakes for the rest of the novella? Does Neval’s character arc justify or complicate this early choice?
- The Bellators’ construction of the Karthaíla Dam and threatened flooding of Neval’s village is the main external conflict. How does this colonizing force create the conditions for rebellion? Do you think destroying the dam was the right thing to do?
- Neval faces setbacks including his fight with Rowan, his father’s arrest, and Tegan’s engagement to Rowan. How do these obstacles shape his path and harden his resolve as a rebel leader? Does he handle them well?
- The climax in the tunnel is intense and tragic. How did you feel about the ultimate sacrifice made to ensure the mission’s success? Was it narratively justified or did it feel forced?
Themes
Woven throughout The Rebel are themes that resonate long after you’ve turned the final page. The struggle against colonialism, the power of myth and storytelling, the nature of sacrifice—these ideas are the lifeblood of the story.
- A major theme is class conflict and oppression under colonial occupation. How does The Rebel depict the Empire’s exploitation of the uplands region? What toll does this take on the characters and their way of life?
- The power of storytelling and myth arises often, especially through Tegan’s Crimson Quill writings and the Ballads of Leon. Discuss the story’s meta commentary on how tales of rebels and she-wolf warriors inspire and drive real action.
- Sacrifice is a key motif, from Neval sacrificing his chance to leave for a better life to Erik sacrificing himself for his son to the ultimate sacrifice in the tunnel. What do you think the story is saying about the nature of sacrifice?
The Rebel is ultimately a tragedy. What statement is the author making by denying Neval a conventionally happy or heroic ending?
Symbolism
In The Rebel, even the smallest details carry weight. The shattered remnants of Neval’s mother’s vase, a symbol of beauty broken by cruelty. The ballads of Leon, a mythic parallel to Neval and Tegan’s own doomed love. And the dam itself, a monolithic representation of Marian oppression.
The recurring Ballad of Leon verses evoke a grand, doomed romance between an ancient king and his she-wolf lover. How do the ballad’s symbols and qualities map onto Neval and Tegan’s own journey? Is their love affair given a mythic, larger-than-life quality? Does this inevitably set them up for disappointment?
The dam is a potent symbol in the story. What does it represent about Marian power, progress and oppression? On the flip side, what does its destruction by the rebels symbolize?
Neval’s mother’s ceramic vase is a small but poignant symbol of beauty, art and innocence shattered by cruelty and violence. It’s significant that Neval keeps a single shard. What does this symbolize about his character and inability to let go of the past?
Names have great symbolic significance in this story. Unpack the meanings behind names like Neval, Tegan, Rowan, Crimson Quill, Red Willow, and how they connect to each character’s qualities, flaws or fates.
Setting and Worldbuilding
- Ceffí is a vividly depicted upland village under Bellatorio occupation. What details make this setting come alive? How does the author convey the hardships and beauties of this place?
- Contrast the rural village of Ceffí with the more urban, imperialist spaces like Port Karthaíla that get mentioned. What does this world’s geography and social structure tell us about its power dynamics?
- The Ballads of Leon reference a distant past of mythic she-wolves and conquering kings. What do these tales within a tale reveal about the world’s history, folklore and larger conflicts?
- How does the Empire’s advanced infrastructure, like roads and dams, act as tools of conquest and control in the uplands? What is the significance of the rebels using more rustic weapons and hiding spaces like caves?
- Imagine Ceffí one year after the end of the novella. How might its physical and social landscape have changed after the dam’s destruction and Neval’s capture? What scars and seeds of new growth can you envision?
For Discussion with Fellow Readers
- Did you connect more with Neval, Tegan or Rowan as a character? What drew you to them emotionally? And do you feel the story served them well?
- Are you satisfied with where the characters end up by the novella’s end? What do you imagine happens next in their journeys, or the future of Ceffí and the larger world?
- This story showcases H.B. Reneau’s ability to write morally complex characters, forbidden romance, and a gritty fantasy world. How does it compare to other books in the Legion of Pneumos series or by the author? What themes carry through?
- Did the story leave you wanting more from this corner of the Legion of Pneumos world and these characters? What other stories would you like to see?
- The Rebel is technically a prequel to the main Legion of Pneumos series. Did reading it first enhance your experience of the other books? Would you recommend it as an entry point to new readers?
- H.B. Reneau has described The Rebel as her most challenging book to write, especially Tegan’s storyline. What do you think of how the author handled the difficult subjects of oppression, violence, and a tragic heroine
- Respond to the James Baldwin quote that opens the Author’s Note: “You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can’t, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world.” Do you agree? Do you see The Rebel as part of that tradition?
So let’s chat, rebels. Share your thoughts, your theories, and your burning questions in the comments below! Because in the end, that’s what stories are for—to spark conversation, to make us think, to make us feel. And trust me, The Rebel will make you feel.
Until next time, keep dreaming, keep fighting, and keep reading.
