What can't be. There, now. Isn't that the scariest story you've ever heard? View all 27 comments. Apr 20, Hailey Hailey in Bookland rated it really liked it Shelves: historical-fiction , mystery-thriller-paranormal , owned , fantasy. I really loved this one! I love the time period and all the witchiness and the characters were awesome, it was great! Jun 29, Bonnie Shores rated it it was amazing Shelves: supernatural.
According to the author, this is a story about an English girl named Gemma who sees things. A girl with a dead mother, a lot of guilt, strange friends and a mysterious destiny. To me, it was a story about a strong-willed teen who felt alone in the world. I specifically used the word "teen" to denote a person whose life inexperience causes her to make impulsive decisions—not all bad, mind you—but implusive nonetheless.
The story is set in Victorian-era England, a period in time where a girl's grea According to the author, this is a story about an English girl named Gemma who sees things. The story is set in Victorian-era England, a period in time where a girl's greatest hope was supposed to be to marry well read money. Well-born girls were trained to smile and be proper no matter what and, eventually, "lie back and think of England".
Things couldn't be different for them because they weren't special after all. So life took them, led them, and they went along, you see. They faded before their own eyes till they were nothing more than living ghosts, haunting each other with what could be, what can't be.
And I mean that in the best way. I loved getting to know Gemma, Felicity, Pippa and Ann and seeing their friendship change and grow when, through a magical realm, they were able to experience the desires of their hearts.
As somebody. And isn't that what everyone wants? To be seen? That's why it's the most terrifying thing in the world, really, taking someone on faith, hoping they'll take you on faith, too. It's such a precarious balance. It's a wonder we do it at all. And yet It's the same with the truth. Leave out the details, the crucial heart, and you can damn someone with the bare bones of it. I'll hold on to that fragile slice of hope and keep it close, remembering that in each of us there lies good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice.
We're each of us our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We've got to forgive ourselves that. Thank you, Libba Bray. Dec 12, Drew rated it really liked it Shelves: paranormal , young-adult , historical-fiction.
Who are you, a stranger, to tell me what I can and cannot do? If you don't know, The Diviners by Libba Bray is one of my favorite books ever. So you can imagine I had my doubts that a book written many years earlier by the author would live up to it.
But A Great and Terrible Beauty was just so good. I shouldn't have doubted Ms. It had so many great things going for it, with the Victorian setting, mysterious death of the main character's mother, supernatural elements, and rebellious, lovable narrator, Gemma Doyle.
Seriously, this book was too much fun, while also taking a look at more serious historical facts, such as how many young girls were bred to be the wives of rich men during this time - even if the men were thirty years older.
Gemma was a fantastic narrator; she grew up in India until her mother's sudden death forced her to come to England and attend a young ladies' boarding school. At Spence Academy Gemma befriends three girls and they start their own secret club, but when Gemma finds out she possess supernatural powers from her mother, it changes everything. The writing was wonderful; the friendships between the well-developed characters Gemma, Felicity, Pippa, and Ann were hilarious and sometimes vicious in the way that teenage girls can be.
They were expected to behave like proper ladies, but these wild girls were the complete opposite and were desperate to escape constricting corsets, French lessons, and everyone telling them what not to do.
I became so absorbed in this world - the Victorian era felt like something supernatural in itself, with the claustrophobic rules of Spence Academy. Gemma's mysterious family legacy, the strange boy who kept showing up in her bedroom, and the diary of a dead girl she discovered drove the plot until I felt like I was living in it. I just love when stories do that - when I become so invested in them they seem to come to life, and for a short while I'm a part of that world.
A gothic, Victorian paranormal that focused on a young woman during a time where she didn't seem to fit into the social rules. It was a fun, clever, and female empowering story. Why our parents and teachers and suitors want us to behave properly and predictably. View all 7 comments. Apr 24, Whitney Atkinson rated it really liked it Shelves: read-in I love that this is both historical and has magical elements, especially set at a boarding school, because the aesthetic and the setting of the book was really neat.
I also love that despite the time, Gemma is a feminist and has a lot of confidence. However, I had more problems with this book than I have praise. I felt like Gemma was very gullible an 3. I felt like Gemma was very gullible and foolish in her decision-making, something that made me shake my head the entire book.
Additionally, I was having a hard time getting into this because for some reason I kept getting bored and picking up other things. I loved Libba Bray's writing style, though, so I can't wait to pick up her other books and maybe one day continue on with this series, but at this point I'm not sure. Update 3 months after reading: I'm lowering my rating from 3.
I've finished the series and in books 2 and 3 I saw a few things to be problematic. I don't know why I suddenly picked up on them, but in hindsight I realize that at least 2 things were present in the first book also: the constant fat shaming of Ann, and the element of self harm that is not approached in any significant or respectful way. As they were never fixed or redeemed in the series, I cannot respect that they were included in the first place.
Overall, I would give this series a 1 star rating. The plot was unenjoyable, and the characters ended up being extremely problematic. Original review: Great girl power and unusual magic. Loved the characters, loved the lack of actual romance some vivid kissy dreams though!
Although the plot meandered at times, this is only the start of a trilogy and I felt it was just laying the groundwork for bigger things to come. Gemma's discovery of this world had to start somewhere. This is the first book I have read by Libba Bray who is, in fact, quite the prolific author and incredibly popular amongst fans of Young Adult literature.
Seeing her discuss the influences and objectives of her young adult work made me see them in a much more complex light than perhaps the blurbs alone would have.
Not only did my first foray into her work not disappoint, it far exceeded all of my expectations. The year is and our story follows Gemma Doyle, a young woman from a wealthy English family who has spent her entire life thus far growing up in India. This book melds together 19th century Britain, female friendships, sexual awakenings and magic. The story and characters are engaging and mysterious with so much more bubbling under the surface.
There is so much I enjoyed about this first book in the series that it is difficult to condense my feelings for you in one blog post, but here I go. For one, the characters are complex; each has their good and their bad qualities, their virtues and their vices.
These are young women struggling with the confines of their time and station, dreaming of lives where they can make choices of their own rather than to suit the demands of their families and society. The book embodies a sense of longing throughout; a longing to know oneself and a longing to belong, to be accepted whilst clambering to stand out. Not forgetting a carnal longing, which is far more unfamiliar to these once girls who find themselves becoming young women.
In these circumstances who would not find the call of a magical order made up entirely of women seductive? She allows them freedom in this and other worlds to explore themselves and their desires. At the same time, they may want to tread cautiously whilst they discover their own boundaries and challenge those that have been imposed upon them. Dare I describe this as the historical feminist fantasy novel that I never knew I always wanted?
Bring on book two. May 06, A. Howard rated it it was amazing. Why did I wait so long to read this? Such a great adventure! Strong, smart heroine with untapped magical potential. Loved the historical setting, too. Sign me up for the series! It basically follows the same overdone storyline we've all seen way too many times: boarding school kids whose parents don't want them discover they have magical powers, and they go through the whole 'magic for good versus magic for evil' struggle.
This one didn't work because there was nothing new or imaginative about the story, and the whole book just felt The story was frustratingly predictable, the characters one-dimensional, and the writing drab. I appreciate that the author was trying to encourage a bit of feminist thinking by showing how repressive the Victorian era was for young women, but I think the best way she could have had a positive influence on young readers would be by having a strong protagonist.
Instead, the main character is just as annoyingly angsty and self-conscious as all the other angsty teenagers in the book. View all 3 comments. May 07, Nicky rated it did not like it Shelves: fantasy , children-s-and-ya. I got most of the way through this, and then found that I just didn't care. In conclusion, I basically ran out of give-a-damn. The writing is competent, in that it's all easy enough to read and understand, but given that the main character's voice wasn't convincing, even though she's the narrator, and the pacing felt jerky, the characters u I got most of the way through this, and then found that I just didn't care.
The writing is competent, in that it's all easy enough to read and understand, but given that the main character's voice wasn't convincing, even though she's the narrator, and the pacing felt jerky, the characters unsympathetic, etc, etc, I can't find myself recommending it.
It wasn't completely terrible for me to read -- I didn't want to throw it across the room -- but honestly, I couldn't see where people get four and five star ratings for it from. I won't be reading anything else by Libba Bray any time soon. View all 9 comments. Jul 03, Kirsty rated it it was amazing Recommended to Kirsty by: Emma. I picked this up after a friend kept talking about it in a GR group I belong to. I'm really glad I did pick it up.
I was sucked into the book from page 1. The author definitely has a way with words She painted such a vivid image of the surroundings that I felt as though I was there with the characters in the book. The plot moves very well, and there were a number of 'cliffhangers' which kept me turning the pages. There was a nice mixture of fantasy and realism, that made for a great read.
I lik I picked this up after a friend kept talking about it in a GR group I belong to. I liked the main character, Gemma.
She felt very real and I could relate to her more than I have done with main characters in other books. I liked the friendship she built with the other girls especially Felicity , even though at first they didn't get on at all. I liked how the character of Kartik was woven into the plot, and I felt that the author had a good understanding of the feelings that girls of Gemma's age felt - especially in the dream sequences.
A really great read, and I will definitely be picking up the other books in the trilogy. Shelves: fantasy , childrens-or-young-adult. Please keep the genre in mind while you read--perhaps then you won't feel too disappointed.
This book deserves a chance, I think. It does seem misguided at times, but it's not complete tripe. I appreciate what the author is and often succeeded in doing here. Try not to turn your nose up at it. Seriously, I could and if I ever have the time, will make a list of young adult lit that employ that infamous word! Do publishers force young adult authors to throw the word in for good measure? It just makes me smile every time I come across it. Back to the book—It was well done, although there were portions of the book that seemed a bit forced.
Gemma, the main character, has experienced a mysterious tragedy, and enters the school with a sense of foreboding that she cannot shake, or seem to share with anyone. After a very short time, the reader is introduced to what will become an unlikely group of friends, consisting of the archetypal cruel, power-hungry beauty Felicity , the fickle follower Pippa , the spirited upstart Gemma and the dowdy outcast Ann.
Certain aspects of the book annoyed me. The lasting effect resulted in the proverbial round peg, square hole dilemma. There are certain scenes that seemed to have been a bit too familiar. The most predictable scenes, however, were often followed by something pleasantly unexpected I must be vague here, as I despise spoilers. I have to give Bray credit for writing such a solid story with a main character who is clearly immature and flawed, yet still strong and likeable.
I also appreciate the fact that Bray managed to tell an entertaining story, while trying to instill in her primarily female audience ideas of feminine power—a celebration of independence, strength and individuality. As the reader continues on Gemma's journey, the existence of magical realms and an ancient, mystical Order takes over the bulk of the plot.
My guess is that Bray was trying to find a venue for the exploration of Power, and what potential harm it can do to a person who thirsts for it without any thought of the consequences.
I want to read the sequel, Rebel Angels, which I consider a good sign. View 1 comment. May 22, Megan rated it liked it Shelves: ya-summer-challange , not-mine-library , urban-fantasy , young-adult. Gemma, that is second hand marijuana smoke. If you inhale enough you will get super duper high and will enjoy this concert immensely. For the love of god, do not inhale it!!! Oh, I put it in my mouth and breathe in? Like this? I tell you not to inhale second hand smoke and now you are smoking a joint?!
Even though you are feeling awesome right now, you are not to smoke any more pot. I will compel you with my mysterious and sexy ways to do as I say. Getting high is fun. Of course it does. We have read this plot dozens of times in countless paranormal YA books. Oh, not getting high at a Dead concert.
Even so, A Great and Terrible Beauty was a pleasurable read. Gemma is a teenage girl who has lived her entire life in India and only recently traveled to her home country of England after the unexpected death of her mother. Despite the setting, this story is thankfully fairly modern in its dialogue, plot pacing and many of its ideas. Victorian novels always sound appealing to me, but frequently bore me to tears when I actually attempt to read them.
This novel explores the constraints of Victorian society, the way teenage girls manage to be constant frenemies, and a pretty cool paranormal world. A Great and Terrible Beauty is a solid three stars.
It is not the best this genre has to offer, but it is far from the worst. As the first of a trilogy it contains the inevitable set up and uncompleted threads. View all 5 comments.
Dec 03, Wren fablesandwren rated it it was amazing Shelves: physical-shelf , stars. This series is one of my favorite. Reviewing it will not do it justice. Bray creates a world of dreams, wonder and magic. With every thing beautiful, something dark, horrible and nightmarish comes forth.
Because what is light without the contracting dark? Not everything that comes from dreams, wonder and magic is good though. And not everything that is dark, horrible and nightmarish is bad. So what can you trust? The feeling in your gut? The pull towards your deepest desire? Is it truly worth it This series is one of my favorite. Is it truly worth it?
Are the dark secrets that lay before you worth the power? Gemma is going crazy. She saw her mother die, yet she wasn't in eye shot of her. She sees things..
She finally gets to go to London to finishing school where she meets three girls that lives will forever be altered by her own. These girls feel as if finishing school is rubbish and that there is more out there for themselves.
Which they do indeed find out just what is out there for them. She is followed by a man, Kartik, who believes her when she says she saw her mother's death. He tells her not to dig any deeper and to leave things alone. Who is this creepy, gypsy-like guy anyway and why does he even believe her? This book is full of magic. I am telling you, it is beautiful. It's woven so well that at some points you are like, "wait, why can't this happen to me? Then she may do something horrible to them. That's when you'll throw the book across the room, sit for about five seconds, and then run to pick it up and continue reading.
Or you'll be like me and read the end before you even are past chapter three because you can't handle anything. I advise against doing that. I'm not a good role model. It will break it so much that you can't pick it up again and read it until it's been seven years or more example: me , but you won't regret a thing.
I love and hate you Libba Bray. This book is exceptionally okay. It is like really, really, really, really okay. I think it would be more good and not so much okay if it started out less good in the beginning. Even, throughout, I would think things were going somewhere, but instead things would kind of stay th This book is exceptionally okay. Even, throughout, I would think things were going somewhere, but instead things would kind of stay the same.
But, the expectation of things going somewhere kind of kept my attention. This book is about a girl who has special powers. I mean, there are still only about five books about girls with special powers, right? Female special powers automatically give this book has a bunch of points in its favor. But, after that there is not much to the whole story, so not a lot else going for it.
The main contenders: 1. Golden Compass 2. Hunger Games 3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone 4. And then there is Twilight , where the super power is kind of appalling. Actually, now that I think about it, even in my main-contenders list, only Daughter of Smoke and Bone actually has a girl with extra powers that are above the people around her. Even Katniss is just a girl who grew up tough and learned how to shoot stuff in the woods.
What is up with girls not getting super powers, huh? Do they actually have special powers, or is that the wikimagvag all over again? And feel free to tell me about any girls I should know about. And then the girls get together and sort of undermine that message by bonding in a magical cave ummm, and there is actually a chance that is some kind of womb imagery, which is a little tiresome, too.
But, at the same time, do they undermine the anti-feminist messages? Not really. A lot of people have talked about how unlikeable the girls are in this story, and I have to agree with that. They were all grasping for something in what seemed like a symbolic way — Felicity for power, Pippa for romance, Ann for beauty. And then Gemma, the chosen one, knew that people can only get what we desire if we go at it through seeking self-actualization. So, all of it left me with this really mediocre amount of interest.
The story was okay, the action was okay, the friendships were okay, even the special power was very, very okay. I will say, though, that I listened to this on audio, and it is a beautiful audio.
The reader has this exceptional pace and lovely voice. I definitely recommend the audio if you feel like picking this book up. View all 95 comments. The first was Going Bovine which I did put down because I was confused but later picked it up and I liked it.
I did know of her Gemma Doyle trilogy but I never got the chance to read them. Recently, they went on sale and I decided that this year will be the year I read the entire trilogy. And now that I've read A Great and Terrible Beauty, I wonder why this series has so many good reviews when I thought it was a 'meh' book. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence's most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to? Search Charactour.
Sign Up Log In. Recommendations Fans of her also like:. See All Recommendations. Get to Know her in Ann is alarmed by Gemma's cursing—her head shoots up—which Gemma notices, and then uses to deduce the fact that Ann's kind of a square.
And while Gemma over-estimates Ann's willingness to tattle, she is spot on in reading Ann's action as representative of the fact that the girl is easily shocked and likes to keep a clean record. Ann isn't the only one whose actions blow her cover.
When Pippa uses her wit as she seldom does on Felicity during a conversation about how to trick Madam Romanoff to contact Mary and Sarah, Felicity's physical response lets us know how she feels about this rare power reversal between her and Pippa:.
Felicity is up quick as a hare. With nimble fingers she unties Pippa's rowboat and sends it out onto the lake with a shove. We see how easily angered Felicity is—note the words quick and nimble , both of which indicate ease—and how important it is to her to reclaim control over her dynamic with Pippa immediately otherwise she wouldn't shove the girl onto the lake.
And as we notice these qualities through her actions, we are certain that Felicity needs to feel like the most powerful person in the group too. So remember, Shmoopsters: Sometimes actions speak louder than words in this book, so be sure to note what characters do, in addition to what they say and, of course, how they look. Topics Character Roles Protagonist, Antagonist Character Clues.
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