A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) | Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) | Libba Bray | Very good

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A Great and Terrib...

	A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) Libba Bray Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2005 - 432 pages average customer review:based on 300 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Can't wait to get the next book...

Libba Bray has captured my attention! I began this book on the front porch with my coffee and found I couldn't put it down. A Great and Terrible Beauty is not what I expected at all...the supernatural element and the twists and turns of the story kept me reading. Gemma is a young boarding school student who stumbles quite by accident into a mystery that will change the course of her life. She learns truths about her mother and the mysterious existence of the Order. Her descriptions of the other "realms" she "travels" to, create this beautiful visual in your head. Things do and become what you least expect. All this excitement is encapsulated by the stifling Victorian pressure on girls by society as well as their corsets. I highly recommend this book for high school students and anyone interested in this time period sprinkled with mysticism--it's a great read, quickly paced and easy to settle into...best part? No test!

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Very good

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I am already on the 3rd one. The series is exiting and packed with adventure and mystery. I would most definitely suggest this series.

Captivating

This was a great and addicting novel. I love the Victorian type fictional novels with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. I loved it so much I read the other two and loved them. I highly recommend this book. It's a breath of fresh air!

Pretty good book

(daughter of user)
Well, after finishing the Twilight series, I was at a loss for what to read next. One of my best friends suggested the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. Now, after reading Twilight, nothing I used to think was great even compares, but this book comes close. However, I don't see the whole reader's attraction to Kartik thing. I didn't like him much, he didn't stand out for me, but maybe he wasn't supposed to. I guess I'll have to read the next book to decide on my opinion of him. I also found Gemma to be a good character. She started out really immature and bratty, but grew up a bit over time, as she gained responsibility for the realms. All in all, a pretty good book.

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A Great Beauty

I was very reluctant to pick up this book. I don't usually like parnormal, mildly scary stuff, but this summer has been a milestone in my reading life. Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. It was inspiring, addictiong, and got me (finally!) to pick up Twilight. I loved this book. I spent all day reading it, I wouldn't leave if I could. Just a few qualms....

Qualm Number 1: The lack of romance. Kartik is a nice guy Gemma, why can't you see that? Even though he is a little odd at times and keeps changing his opinions of her, he is engrossing to read about. Gemma dreams of him, but secretly is a coward. Sigh. Oh, Kartik.

Qualm Number 2: I comment about this more in my review of Rebel Angels, but it is apparant to me that everyone is using Gemma. They all hug her when she gives them access to the realms, and shun her when she doesn't. I find Felicity, Ann, and Pippa annoying and mean. YOu can't become friends overnight. There is a little work there.

Qualmm Number 3: I don't like how they blamed the diary on Miss Moore, and no one but Gemma really cared that much. She was a nice lady, although I kinda think she's Circe. I really have no clue though.

Qualm Number 4: How violent they are. At the end they mutilate the deer with no reward, and I felt sick. How horrible. That was not needed, as there was no outcome. And there is a lot of blood through the book if you didn't notice.

I liked how Virginia Doyle was Mary Dowd. Intresting twist. I actually didn't see that coming.

I disagree with those people who say some of the references were not needed. I am sure later in the trilogy they will play a part.

I wish I could make this longer, but I can't. So please read it, ok? oyu won't regret it, and for all it's bad moments, it has twice as many beautiful, shining moments. Thanks Libba Bray for a great summer read!

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