If you are a fan of fantasy, adventure, magic, romance and mystery this is the book and the trilogy for you. Gemma Doyle won my heart over very quickly and I fell easily into her world. The characters in this book are entertaining and multi-faceted. I have always been a sci-fi/ fantasy fan, but I have also always been a fan of historical romance books such as Jane Austen novels. The Gemma Doyle trilogy is the perfect blend of both genre's. Once I got into the story I couldn't put this book down. In fact I was launched into a general book addiction because I enjoyed reading this trilogy so very much.

`A Great and Terrible Beauty' is one of those books you cannot put down, to the point where you are eating lunch with one hand and turning pages with the other and your friends are waving their hands in front of your face and trying to take the book away, much to your annoyance.
Set in the Victorian era, sixteen year old Gemma Doyle sees her mother murder herself to escape a soul-eating tracker in a vision. She soon is whisked away to Spence Academy for Young Ladies, a boarding school specializing in molding young ladies for their future husbands, whether the girls want to be molded or not. Gemma makes friends(?) with Felicity, Pippa, and Ann. And then there's Kartik, a mysterious Indian boy and a member of the mysterious and infamous Rakshana, following Gemma and warning her to close her mind to her visions, and threatening her father's already declining health if she fails to do so.
This book has varying layers of illusion, from the somewhat figurative illusions of London's society, people lying and spinning illusions to protect their ever important reputations, people hiding behind masks to conceal their true ambitions, desires, hopes, dreams(because having a personality would be oh so scandalous), to the more literal illusions of the realms. `Circe will make you see a monster when there is only a kitten and vice versa'--`A Great and Terrible Beauty'.
The characters in this book feel very real, with a perfect balance of faults and virtues, keeping them from seeming too much a villain or too much hero, which leaves you questioning which side is really the `right' side, the `good' side.
One of my favorites, I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys fantasy or the like.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD BOOK BUT NOT GREAT, I AM A AVID READER SO I HAVE READ A FEW, AND IT WAS JUST OKAY.

i really really liked this book.

the premise isn't something i would normally read, but i'm glad i did. the main character, gemma doyle, is really awesome. she is witty, and strong, but she also has tremendous flaws.

kartik. i love him, he's so mysterious. he is isn't in the majority of the scenes, and when he is, they are very short, but i really can't wait to see what happens with him and his relationship with gemma in the next book of the trilogy.

i felt like i could never really trust felicity at all while reading this book and i don't know if i really liked the friendship between gemma and the other three main characters. it seemed as if they only liked her because of her magical abilities. because the minute she told them she wouldn't bring them into the realms they turned on her. i suppose i'll have to see how their friendship plays out in the next book!

This book is a cliche of many themes. It tries to weave too much in, and as a result is disjointed and scattered. Not the strongest writing.

I make a habit of reading the books my students read because I like children's novels and I want to know where the hearts and minds of my students are. This is a well-written and engrossing tale. However, I think the subject matter is very mature. This series has murder, sex, alternate sexual preferences, and it can be pretty scary at times. I strongly suggest parents read it before their kids read it.

In short: There is little great, a lot that is terrible, and nothing that is beautiful in this "tawdry" novel of a "diabolical occult ring" and sexual exploration.

After her mother's mysterious death in India, sixteen year old Gemma Doyle is sent to an English boarding school where she meets a powerful clique of girls and stern, hypocritical Christians.

"...Reverend Waite, leads us in prayers that all begin with "O Lord" and end with our somehow not being worthy - sinners who have always been sinners and will forever more be sinners until we die. It isn't the most optimistic outlook I've ever heard. But we're encouraged to keep trying anyway."

"Reverend Waite calls out, half-drunk, "Is anyone there?"

Gemma stands up to the clique, all who eventually become her friends, while dealing with bizarre hallucinations and the strange presence of a young man who, apparently, has followed her from India. As friendships develop and the dreams of Gemma continue, the girls find a cave on the school grounds where they learn the powers of "the Order" and open a dark portal into the supernatural where, "...what you imagine can be yours."

"...for cloaking ourselves from the sight of others, for bending the minds of men to the will of the Order, influencing their thoughts and dreams till their destinies shake out before them like a pattern in the night stars. It was all written upon the Oracle of the Runes. Just to touch our hands to those crystals was to be a conduit, with the universe flowing through hard and fast as a river."

It is here, in the cave, where the four teenage girls, experiment with the occult, alcohol and their budding sexuality.

"It's not a request. Drink or you're out of the club...A surprising warmth floods my entire body, weighing me down in a delicious way. I like the feeling...I'm floating inside my skin...Right now, the real world with its heartbreak and disappointments is just a pulse against the protective membrane we've drunk ourselves into."

"Felicity pulls my hand to her mouth and bites into the fruit cupped there. Her mouth is still sticky sweet from it as she kisses me full on the lips. I have to put my hand to them to stop the tingling, and a blush has flooded my entire body."

"Ann, don't tell me you don't know what men and women do when they're together. Shall I show you?"...Felicity holds her gaze for a moment, then licks Ann's cheek in one long stroke..."I'm going to have many men."

The debauchery only continues and turns more violent and graphic as the murderous secret of the boarding school is revealed. The disturbing revelation that a young child was "sacrificed" by Gemma's teenage mother and her friend years ago is the unfortunate climax of the novel, related in sickening detail.

I haven't just wasted $9.99, the cost of the book, but my tax dollars are paying for the presentation of this garbage to unsuspecting fourteen year olds as "relevant" literature worthy of study and we all need to have the backbone to say so.

With "in the wrong era" discussions of cutting and divorce; descriptions of kissing and sex and a rebellious attitude toward God, "Makes it sound as if we're God's puppets."; this book has little great, lot's terrible and absolutely nothing beautiful to recommend it.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

This one was just okay for me.

My only real probelm with it is that it was kind of slow. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it didn't really happen. There was a little bit of action, but it wasn't as exciting as I expected.

There were good things about it too. Libba Bray's writing is great. Her descriptions make things so easy to visualize, and the concept is fantastic. The Realms, the magical place Gemma and her friends discover, are amazing. This book has the potential to be a great story; it just doesn't quite make it. However, it is good, and it's worth the time and money.

I would also like to say that this is the first in a trilogy, and the second one is great and much more action-packed. You will need to read this one so that you understand what's going on in the next two books. This one is kind of slow, but it has to give you the "background" parts. I would recommend this one so that you can get to the others.

If you liked the Twilight series, the Vampire Academy, etc., you'll love this series as well.

Beautifully written words that are wrapped in magic, myth, and promises, Libba Bray leads you to another world entirely. It has romance, epic-ish adventures in other worlds, and enough magic to please everyone.

Definitely read it. Once you start through the first few chapters, you won't be able to put it down. This is one of those you say "Thank God I don't have to wait 3 years for the next two..."

LOVED IT! I'm not going to give you an account of the book because it's just that good. If you love history, magic, young romance and mystery you will really love this book. Happy Reading!

I was finishing up with the Twilight series and wanted more. I bought this book a long time ago and was waiting to read it. I was hooked from the start! I love English history as well so I knew I'd enjoy it, but if it's mixed with mystery, magic and suspence as well as a bit of romance I ended up reading it hungrily and aching to start the second one. I LOVED it!! I have been telling all my friends that if they miss twilight they should read the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. I hope they make a movie of this one as well!! It would make a really exciting film! You should read this book! I didn't want to stop reading it!! :)

Libba Bray's style of writing is beautiful and descriptive, making it easy to get lost in the pages. This is a spell-bounding story that takes you on a mysterious journey with Gemma and a trio of her closest friends. With romantic undertones of a love affair brewing and questions left unanswered, you'll be eager to delve into the next installment of the trilogy.

This was a very, very enjoyable book and I look forward to the sequels. Though this is set in the Victorian era (nice change for once) the subject of finding one's place in life, finding happiness, finding good qualities in those around us and compassion was refreshing. The characters were funny, smart and brave and they didn't compromise themselves during the process. Highly recommend!

A Great and Terrible Beauty is an exceptionally well-crafted novel that will leave its mark upon its young adult readers. It follows the story of Gemma Doyle, a young girl in nineteenth-century England. After the unexpected loss of her mother, Gemma is sent away to school. She struggles to adjust to her new finishing school, Spence Academy for Young Girls, while also coping with the loss of her mother. At the same time, she begans to have strange visions. These visions of are people, places, and events that she is unable to identify. Are they from the future, the past, or perhaps simply meaningless random thoughts that are the result of the stress she is under. She is confused and has nobody to turn to for help.

When Gemma finds her mother's diary, she reads about strange places her mother called the realms, a parallel world where both good and evil exist. Gemma finds the clues within the diary for entering the realms and soon she and her friends journey there and are able to experience life as they desire. The friends travel back and forth between the realms and the real world, but it isn't long before Gemma realizes that Kartik, a mysterious young man, has been following her. He warns her not to enter the realms and to refrain from having visions. Gemma must decide whether to heed his warnings or continue indulging in the magic of the realms.

There is a reason why Libba Bray is one of the hot new authors of the high school crowd. She knows what type of story will draw teens away from their computers and into a fascinating world of gothic thrills. Her wonderfully descriptive words create a visual world full of action and adventure. Within a few pages, the reader is enthralled with the lives of Gemma and her friends. Because of Bray's descriptive skills, the reader is also easily able to visualize the gothic world the characters live in.

The story is both a Victorian-style mystery and an exquisite fantasy. The characters are easy to relate to and their problems are ones that young readers could easily imagine in their own lives. As Gemma narrates the story, readers will find themselves laughing along with her quirky remarks while also concerned about her safety as she travels to the realms.

Quill says: This excellent story will have readers unable to put the book down.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it very much. All the writing is in the present tense... but the story was very good. I absolutely loved the characters (Kartik *cough cough*) and the plot was great, too. Like almost every other book, it takes a while to start getting interesting, but once I understood the background, I could barely put the book down. Not my favorite of the series, but it's still great! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance, magic, and the Victorian era.

At first I wasn't expecting much, I thought this book was going to be one of those books about the proper boring girls...but I was sadly mistaken. From India to London to the realms and back; not only is sixteen year old Gemma far from boring, she's not perfect, and she does whatever it takes to fix things, thats what I think makes her so interesting. And not to mention the ability to see the future.
One of my favorite things of the book is that it's realistic fiction with a magical flare! You can feel eerie, suspenseful, mysterious part of the book but then turn the page and feel engulfed in the beauty of Gemma's magic.
After I finished "A Great and Terrible Beauty" I was so excited to hear that there is a sequel...and then a third book too!!
Happy Reading.

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!

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!

(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.

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!

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.

This book is one of the best fantasy books wriiten. Gemma Doyle moves to London to stay at a boarding school after her mother dies, but she has more to worry about then how to become a proper lady. She recently discovered that she has the power to enter the relms, a beautiful world like no other. With the help of her friends Felicity, Ann, Pippa, and Kartik she must protects the magic from those who would like to take it away and keep it for themselves. Doing this puts all of them in great danger. This books keeps you reading until the last page and you will want to pick up the next one directly after.

I liked the story a lot, but was so distracted by the narration being in first person present tense that I could never really loose myself in the story. Usually when I read it becomes more like a movie in my head, I stop seeing words and paper and I am right there in the story, but this was always a book to me, I could not jump in and forget that it was a story. In my opinion it should have been first person past tense.

It took me so long to decide to finally read this book! People would tell me about it, and it really didn't seem that interesting. Once I actually read this book, I devoured it! This book has a little for everyone...fantasy, history, realistic fiction... I think that if you like any of those genres, you should definitely give it a try. If you don't like it, I'm sorry, but if you do, it is the first in an equally wonderful trilogy!

Although the book is listed as "Young Adult" I, an adult, thoroughly enjoyed this foray into the supernatural.

It was a very light read with the perfect mixture of paranormal, suspense, drama and a wee dabbling of romance. I truly enjoyed Libba Bray's manner of prose.

I won't delve into offering you the cliff notes version of the book - I see many other reviewers have already taken care of that well enough, but I do want to offer my opinions on a few of their comments:

As far as the characters not being likable - well you are not supposed to like every character. I don't know of very many TV shows or novels where you are supposed to love everybody, there are always respectable characters as well as riffraff. For every Popeye there is a Bluto, and vice a versa. Ms. Bray does a wonderful job of letting the reader get to know the annoyingly snobbish characters such as some of the richer students as well as the more down to earth average students. She lets you identify with the adult supervisory roles such as the teachers and parents as well as the subservient roles including the students or the chambermaids. Each of these types of characters offers a perfect mix of the likable and the non-likable.

Another reviewer commented on how Gemma (lead character) always makes the wrong choices. Well, if Gemma made only right choices that wouldn't be much of a book now would it? That's kind of like saying if Mr. Darcy was nicer to Elizabeth Bennett in "Pride and Prejudice" they could have fallen in love sooner - if that happened the book would only be 30 pages long! I think, as this is a trilogy Gemma will in fact learn from her mistakes and surely by the end of book three she'll have a complete understanding of what being gifted with her powers means. Or at least I hope!!

There were other reviewers that felt "sick" after finishing the novel because some of the key elements of the novel were found to be disturbing. I myself was not as upset with these parts of the book - I've read much worse in Stephen King, Ann Rice, Dean Koontz or Laurell K. Hamilton. So I honestly cannot understand in the least bit calling this book disturbing.

Honestly if you are looking for an interesting novel with all the elements you should have in a fantasy novel this is your book. I'm looking forward to starting #2 in the series. Definately give it a try!!!

Since this book got decent reviews, I thought I would give it a try. Turns out the book was dreadfully boring. It took forever to get into the story, and once you were in the story, it was a little too fiction for common sense. I had higher expectations for the book and I was disappointed. Unless you like boring school girls and snotty cliques, this book will not interest you at all. Some parts were alright, but the majority of the book was monotonous. This would be a great buy if you are looking for a book to read when you are trying to fall asleep.

this book is good i thought it was boring at first but then i got to reading it and it was very very good now i have to get the second book and read it

This is one of the best books I've read in ages. The narration from the main character, Gemma, is flawless and Libba Bray's prose spot-on. The story is fascinating, enchanting and dangerous all at the same time.

Gemma is a realistic 16-year-old with a vulnerable heart and reckless stubborn streak that makes her both relatable and frustrating. The other characters are well drawn and believable with an array of good and bad qualities. I wished there was more of Kartik and hope his character becomes more prominent in the sequels.

This book has a little bit of everything - romance, mystery, suspense, and magic set in an alluring Victorian atmosphere. It's a fantastic, fast-paced read. Loved it!

After reading the Stephenie Meyer's 90% trite Twilight, it was nice to pick up a teen novel with some actual substance!

Yes, A Great and Terrible Beauty definitely has that distinct "teen" feel; therefore I can't say it has pulled off the coveted "For All Ages" quality of, say, the Harry Potter series. And yet, Beauty is a WELL-WRITTEN teen book (now THERE'S a concept!) It's sophisticated without ever approaching dull. The story clicks along at a nice pace throughout and the various twists and turns are pleasantly shocking.

And yet, the most commendable aspect of this book is the wonderfully relatable characters. An unfortunate number of books in the teen genre feature self-absorbed, flat, vapid heroines who are both entirely unbelievable and very irritating. Libba Bray, however, creates four main characters with multiple layers and human weaknesses. The dialogue between them stays true to both the novel's Victorian England setting and the way contemporary teenage girls might relate to each other. The narrator is likable but not above flaw. Each of her friends has a specific "problem"--and a specific facade put up in an attempt to cope. When the four main characters are put together, readers may well see a reflection of themselves and of every young woman they've ever known.

The characters of Beauty flit between "this" world (or rather, the unforgiving world of a Victorian-era boarding school) and a magical otherworld called the Realms. Therefore, A Great and Terrible Beauty is both a period piece and a completely made-up fantasy. Personally, I enjoyed the "real-world" parts of the story more than the entirely fantastical parts. Victorian England itself is fascinating enough and, in the novel, is given a wonderfully gothic appeal. The Realms occasionally approached cliche and slightly cheesy (don't get me wrong--I enjoyed their part in the story. Not to find the descriptions of the Realms appealing is not to find the novel appealing.)

Overall, an excellent teen book--alone, or as part of the series. (I'm currently about 3/4 of the way through Rebel Angels, the sequel, and it is even better.) A Great and Terrible Beauty is certainly a must for any teen reader who is looking for something a step up.

I'll get strait to the point - I loved this book!
I found that it was beautifully written and that the characters were extremely real; imperfect, each with an individual and complex personality.
I found the overall effect of the book was stunning and left me longing for more. Perhaps part of the attraction for me was how easilly i could relate to Gemma and her way of thinking, for me, it was almost like reading a book about myself!
But if you are a fan of historical novels with corsets set in English girls boarding schools; dark fantasy; exotic and handsome young men; very real main characters and a writing style that is both witty and beautiful then give this book a go!
I'm serious! It's one of my favourite teen books and it has messages(carried throughout the trilogy)that i think all young women should read.
I highly reccomend it!
An excellent first novel Libba Bray!

I wish this review to serve as a warning: if you like battles of good and evil; if you like characters who grow stronger, wiser, and better through the story arc; or if you prefer round characters to mere walking, talking social issues, don't read this book.

Gemma Doyle starts out as a whining, pouting teenager. Okay, so we've all had moments like that, and her initial bad behavior makes her regret at her mother's death more poignant. But I found that I didn't like her much better as the story progressed. It's hard for the author to maintain Gemma's guilty conscience over her mother while describing Gemma as the kind of girl who, when confronted with a bad decision, remarks, "I probably shouldn't be doing this," and then promptly does it. Gemma's sense of right and wrong is determinedly skewed, and even if she recognizes wrong when it comes, she never chooses right.

The hard part about throwing right and wrong out of balance is it's hard to make the villain at all frightening. You have evil and then . . . more evil. Oooh, scary! Who will win? Doesn't really matter, does it.

My next quibble is how obviously Libba Bray seeks to touch on every issue that might be remotely "edgy." It's like she got a list from a teen magazine and stuffed every single item in her book, even creating characters purely to illustrate her point about the latest social issue. Homosexuality? Check. Animal sacrifice? Check. Women's lib? Check. On and on. The game of "let's spot the social issue" became more entertaining than the plot itself. If any of these issues had been explored in intelligent, meaningful ways, I wouldn't have minded so much, but to me it felt much more like a checklist; a directionless mush of ideas. It's hard to make a statement about something if you've got no moral compass at all, isn't it?

Last of all, I'll make a note about the "magic" system of this books. I tried to keep an open mind as I read this book, and I'm not one of those Harry Potter book burners, but the magic described in this book seemed wholly occult and, yeah, evil. What purpose did it serve beyond selfish, foolish, hurtful ones? None. And this is good stuff for teens to be reading?

No thank you. Reading this book left me with an uneasy knot in my stomach.

Libba Bray's "A Great and Terrible Beauty" is a fantastic novel centering on the story of Gemma Doyle. Gemma is a student at Spence Academy struggling with her mother's recent death and having visions that are initially disturbing. While at Spence, Gemma meets Ann, Felicity, and Pippa. Together, the four girls learn about each other and themselves when they enter the realms. Gemma also has to be on guard for the powerful Circe, who wants Gemma dead. The novel is driven by amazing characterization, a variety of conflict, and a fast-moving plot. Bray uses her characterization to keep the story moving by using a mixture of round, flat, static, and dynamic characters. There are also multiple conflicts involving all four of the main characters. The plot is kept moving with the characterization, conflicts, and wonderful pacing. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a page-turning book.

This book was interesting from the start. The way Libba Bray writes is easy to understand and her descriptiveness is excellent. And the teen romance in the book keeps you wanting more and more.

I was very disappointed in this book. I thought the plot was trite, the characters more flawed than likeable, and some of the subject matter inappropriate for teens.

The plot never drew me in--not much of a page turner. There is too much left unexplained and some irritating gaps. Why didn't Gemma's mother immediately warn the girls not to eat the berries when they entered the Realms, but instead casually mentioned to Gemma only that if they ate them, they could never leave?

The main characters demonstrated more of the flaws of adolescence than the virtues, making them hard to like and their friendships rather unbelievable. Their use of the magic was wholly immature, irresponsible, and selfish. I would like to have seen some growth in the characters.

The mention of homosexuality and Gemma's sexual dream are inappropriate for teenagers, for whom this book is supposedly written. They are not important to the plot, and should have been left out. Also, the human and animal sacrifice in this book brings extremely evil and disturbing behavior to the characters you are supposed to relate to! I would definitely not recommend this to my children!

When I first started reading this book I thought, "ugh, another modern writer with no writing ability" but as I progressed through the book I realized that it was a perfect style for the content and age target. It is nothing to Mary Stewart or Agatha Christie or the Bronte sisters but it still holds your emotion in its hand.

It is also a unique way of looking at magic and the power of dreams on the mind. Though it is long it never lags even in one spot throughout the story. This in an excellent read-most especially for a book written in the last century.

After reading so many lukewarm reviews, I didn't really want to start this book, but for some reason I went ahead and read it. I couldn't have been more fascinated. I loved the characters, the imagery, the angst, the private longings, all the imaginative detail. It was truly mesmerizing for me. Bray has an unparalleled gift for putting words together in a remarkable way. ONE OF MY FAVORITE FANTASY SERIES OF ALL TIME.

After reading the first book it was good enough to keep reading the other books although I didn't love it. I really liked the second book, but after the whole series was finished I was rather disappointed. I thought the story was compelling, but if you're looking for a book appropriate for you teenage girls this is not it. There are far too many points of view that if you call yourself Christian you will probably have a problem with. I really wanted to like these books, but after the insertion on homosexuality (hinted at in the first book, and is clear in the third book) it felt like another way so many are trying to instill homsexualtiy tolerance. I don't believe in persecuting homosexuals but I do believe it is wrong. So much is currently being done to try and change public opinion especially in hollywood to homosexuality and I find that this book ads to that sentiment. If you feel homosexuality is wrong I would not recommend this book especially to your teenagers. There are also some pretty dark moments in the book that I thought too heavy for teenagers. If you take these things out I would have liked the books far better.

This book had such potential, but did not deliver. There were several concepts such as "realms" and "the order" were not thoroughly explained or explored and it left me confused as to the purpose or potential of these organizations and power.

The worst part of this book, however, is the secret that Gemma discovers about the mysterious class of 1871. The secrets about what happened are disgusting and disturbing. . . with no real explanation as to how ANYBODY could arrive at such dark acts. There was no progression of the darkness. . . It was as if 2 nice school girls were exploring a magical land and then suddenly were willing to jump to torturing or murdering a child because they didn't know if they could get back to it. ICK! It left me sick to my stomach and totally confused!

The brief references to homosexuality were unnecessary and otherwise unconnected to the plot.

Also, Gemma's imaginary romance was totally un-fulfilling. She's imagining herself sexually with a man she's never really even met. . . and never had anything resembling a pleasant conversation with. The only real interaction between Gemma and Kartik is antagonistic and threatening . . and then he's all she can think about because he has long eyelashes? I didn't feel the relationship was at all well explained and Kartik's character was hollow.

I was so excited to read this book after all of the glowing reviews. I just don't understand how all of these people glossed over the sick feeling you get when you read of such a dark, disgusting act.

While this was an easy and enjoyable read, it was not an all engrossing read either. I had a hard time getting past the the present tense writing, somehow it just seemed stiff and awkward. The story was ok, a little predictable but I will read the sequel.

This book was amazing from start to finish! I'm on the third book and I'm still clutching it!

It's aimed at a young adult audience. The premise was a little shaky: 16 year old Gemma Doyle is sent to a girls' boarding school in late Victorian England after the mysterious death of her mother. Gemma is showing signs of magical prowess, but she's been threatened not to use it by the enigmatic Kartik, a 17 year old handsome (of course) Indian man. Gemma runs afoul of the popular girls clique at the school and then makes her way into it through blackmail, all the while trying to solve the mystery of her mother's death and figure out what's going on with her visions. There weren't a lot of period details, but the few were solid: a description of London streets as an Impressionist painting: yellow streetlights, smudgy grey sky, black umbrellas. Bray did a good job with her descriptions (except for the girls' school uniforms, I just couldn't picture them). What Bray really excelled at was showing how these young girls were all at the mercy of their parents' whims. Felicity was abandoned by her capricious parents. Pippa was being married to a man older than her father to pay off the family debts. Ann is an orphan of no family fortune so is being trained to be a governess with no prospects of her own. All of the girls have their own heartaches and secrets that through sharing strengthens the relationship among them. But in the end, they are chattel, worth only their virginity and expected to obey without question. The supernatural aspects of the book are less compelling than the social issues. Gemma does behave erratically, but as the mother of two teenagers, I find that completely normal! Ultimately, I give the book four stars. It doesn't completely succeed at its aims, but it's an enjoyable read nonetheless.

I loved this book because it kept you wanting for more, but it wasn't totally obsessive and time consuming. I was able to put it down and think about what just happened and then pick it up again to see what else was to enfold! Gemma is such an amazing character. She is just like so many young girls her age, eventhough this book was set in a totally different era. Libba Bray is a magical author and brings to life this new and exciting story!

A story about kids is not necessarily youth literature. However this book about teeangers gave me the impression that it is written for teenagers. I could hardly finish half of it. Even I enjoy Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings this fantasy story didn't take me into a fantasy world. It would be better if the emphasize was put on the story, not the teenager conservations.

This first half of this book had me annoyed, because I had gone and bought the first 2 books based upon a recommendation. Not that it was bad, but I thought it lacked character development, and could have had more romance. I absolutely think that more love and romance would have kept me more interested. Although the concept and writing in general is quite good, it is sup par against some other books out there. I will still read the rest of the series, because now I MUST know what happens!

It was alright, not as good as the twilight series, and especially not as good as Harry Potter. It didn't really catch me like the others. I wake up and I wasn't in a hurry to read what was going to happen next. It was good, I guess. Sure I recommended it but dnt get too excited.

A great and terrible beauty, i can honestly say, is my all time favorite book. It's filled with mystery, unknown secrets and a relm of untold powers.
After witnessing the death of her mother through a vision, Gemma Doyle leaves India and is off to an English finishing school. While at Spence Academy Gemma continues to be haunted by these visions. Unfortunately they always seem to come at the most inconvinient times. Also, Gemma has troubles making friends due to the enormous secret that even she doesn't understand. Once she let her gaurd down some, Gemma became friends with the most unfortunate girl in the school along with the two most popular girls. Then they explore Gemma's world!
This book shows how far someone will go to find themselves and to find the truth.

A Great And Terrible Beauty is a book that is amazing. This book is sophisticated with the developed and rounded characters that grow and mature in the story. Gemma, Ann, Felicity and Pippa found a new dimension called the realms that only Gemma can get into due to being a part of a special group called the Order. The idea of the Order, Circe, and the many different groups of the Rashaka are more mythical and the ideas are in Greek myths such as the sirens. The books has bittersweet moments and it shows the real feelings in life and death. It is the type of book that makes you happy and excited.

About: This is a story about a girl who get's visions. She is desperate to go to Europe and have a 'normal life.' Well, she gets her wish. There she finds out about the truth about her family, the secrets, who she is, who her friends are, etc. Overall, the plot is intricate and twisty. I would not recommend to this to anyone younger than 13 - the vocabulary would be a bit too much.

My Opinion : some thing about this just didn't intrigue me as much as a good book would. There was no magic while I was reading it. All the while, I was secretly hoping I would soon finish the book.

It's 1894 where women are supposed to learn to waltz, draw, and not make a spectacle of herself in public. They are made to make connections so they can marry rich men and keep up the family name.
Here we come to meet Gemma Doyle who has odd visions that unfortunatly come true. When she visioned her mothers death Gemma was sent back to England to go to a finishing school named Spence. Here at Spence she gets caught up in gossip, and the most popular girls in school. A young man watches her from a distance and if need be threats Gemma to close her mind to these visions. But Gemma is too sure of herself until she gets caught up in a whole new world filled with magic and the realms. Then, she isn't sure of anything.
A Great and Terrible Beauty sweeps you up into a whirlwind of vivid colors and shadows as you learn about The Order, Circe, Spence, and Gemma's destiny. It is one of my favorite books because it has so much detail and so many cliffhangers that I finished the book in a very short amount of time. You will become so involved with this story that you will buy the next book in the series, Rebel Angels. It is as good as the first. When I read the summary on the back I really thought this quote was the most helpful.

"It's a vividly drawn portrait of the Victorian age, when girls were groomed for lives as rich men's wives... and the story of a young girl who saw another way."

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray is an enchanting and suspensful fantasy. We watch the story unfold through the eyes of 16 year-old Gemma Doyle. After her mother's tragic and mysterious in Bombay, India Gemma is sent off to the Spence Acemdemy for Young Ladies in london. There she befriends a motley group of characters who accompny Gemma in the magical world of the realms which is like the headquarters of a mystic society called the Order. During her time at Spence, Gemma continually gets visions of strange and supernatural occurances, all of which relating to the Order. A mysterious messenger also haunts Gemma during her time at school telling her that she must close of her mind to her visions. Confusing? Yes.

My take on the story. Although well written and extremely humorless, A Graet and Terrible Beauty lack the all important plot to keep it moving and making sense. The whole concept of the Order, the Realms, and Gemma's visions is quite puzzling and hard to fathom. But Bray has created realistic and delightful characters that you can't help but feel for. She also reallly makes them rounded and interesting. As well as the characters, Bray is extremely funny as well as descriptive and metiphorical. I also adored the Victorian backdrop and the actions and things relating to it. but it almost seems as if the book is an excuse for the author to write a Victorian period novel because the fantasy side of it is fuzzy wheras the Victorian aspect is quite rich and believable. All in all, A Great and Terrible Beauty doesn't have much of a plt but it is one of those rare stories you can't put down.