Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller (review)

Miller, Linsey Belle Révolte. Sourcebooks Fire, 2020 [384p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4926-7922-6 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4926-7923-3 $17.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 9-12

Wealthy noble Emilie des Marais, desperate to escape ladylike instruction in the midnight arts, convinces impoverished, ambitious commoner Annette Boucher to take her place at finishing school. While Annette learns ladylike skills such as scrying and deportment, Emilie enters university to learn the noonday arts (supposedly suited only to men) and become a physician. As they settle into their respective schools, both girls become entangled in a revolt lead by a mysterious figure called Laurel against the corrupt king. At the heart of the discontent is social inequality exemplified by wealthy magic practitioners' exploitation of hacks (magically talented but poor individuals) to channel magic and displace the physical wear and tear of magic use. The first half of the novel scrambles to assemble its many pieces and establish relationships, but the action hits its stride in the second half when the king declares war on a neighboring kingdom, tension escalates on multiple fronts, and Emilie and Annette dramatically deploy their talents. The novel's strengths really lie in its organic, au courant treatment of gender, sexuality, class privilege, and power. Annette is asexual and romantically attracted to a woman; Emilie's love interest is a trans man; the singular they is deployed seamlessly as a gender-neutral pronoun. Readers hoping for magic school delights should look elsewhere, but social justice enthusiasts and readers with an interest in LGBTQIA representation will find much to enjoy and discuss.