This is a perfect fast paced and gripping finale to the Gemma Doyle trilogy. Readers will love to follow Gemma as she grapples with personal, social and magical dilemma's. In this final installment of the trilogy friendships are tested, new worlds explored and romance discovered. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book, and found my heart racing along with the plot line. My biggest problem with this book is that it was the last one. I was completely drawn into the Victorian and magical worlds created by Libba Bray. When it was over I felt like I had lost my friends. I highly reccomend this and the other Gemma Doyle books.

Set in England during the late 1890s, this fantasy trilogy that began with A Great and Terrible Beauty brings us back to Gemma Doyle -- the sixteen-year-old with special powers that give her the ability to visit the equally beautiful and terrifying Realms -- and her friends Felicity and Ann. On the outside, she is experiencing things most girls her age go through. She is about to have her debut as she struggles with self-esteem issues and tries to be there for her two best friends, who have problems of their own. Ann's biggest fear is having to move with some distant relatives to work as their children's governess. She has a beautiful singing voice and discovers she has a knack for acting as well. Will she be able to achieve her goal and become an entertainer, or will her plain looks get in the way? Felicity wants two things -- power and independence. She longs to live life on her terms and enjoy the comfort and luxury of her inheritance. But her close friendship with Pippa and the interference from Felicity's debutante sponsor get in the way. As mentioned before, Gemma has her own issues. Her father is still on opium, her brother is still a callous rogue, and her grandmother is in denial of the problems around her. To make matters worse, Kartik, former member of the Rakshana and the Indian gypsy she's had a crush on since AGATB, is avoiding her. But those problems are nothing compared to what Gemma is facing in the realms. Pippa is acting strangely, Circe wants Gemma's powers, and the Winterlands creatures have threatened to pass over to the real world if Gemma doesn't give her powers to them. Her visions have returned, and they seem to be sending her warnings and signs that she doesn't understand. What secrets must she uncover to protect the creatures in the realms and her schoolmates at the Spence Academy? There are many twists throughout the novel.

As some people have said, we discover things here about Felicity that come as some surprise. She is the most complex character in the book, and therefore the most compelling, since she is obviously depicted as a feminist, but the things that unfold regarding her personal life are nevertheless shocking... or at least they were for me. Gemma has always been a wonderful young heroine with some teen angst of her own. In this book, she is too much in her head, describing her insecurities and lack of insight when it comes to solving the problems in the realms over and over again. There is a twist here with Kartik that is somewhat sad, but there is no other way for this romance to end, since there is no way that a proper English young lady and a gypsy could be together in a story set in Victorian England. Still, this twist left a bad taste in my mouth. Couldn't they have make it a go in some way, or at least keep Kartik... don't want to spoil it for you. All in all, The Sweet Far Thing is an interesting conclusion to this fascinating series. I neither love it nor hate it, but I do know that it's not quite as compelling as the first two books.

And so ends the trilogy that began with A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy), continued with Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy), and concludes in this final volume, THE SWEET FAR THING. I liked the first one well enough because of its unique blend of a wild, magical, mythical realm barely constrained behind stiff Victorian curtains. I really got into the second one as the plot became more complex, Gemma came into her own powers, Felicity and Ann's stories became more layered, and poor beautiful Pippa was relegated to the Realms indefinitely. When I saw how thick the third one was, my eagerness ratcheted up a notch. After all, I have been sitting around lately asking for longer books. Suddenly, here one is.

Unfortunately, 800 pages later, the best thing about it remains the first four words, it's lovely title, taken from a poem by W.B. Yeats. And it does capture the extremely bittersweet feel of the last portion of the book. But somehow this installment failed to capture my imagination. It frustrated me more than anything. Instead of making good use of everything she fought for in Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy), Gemma spends the entire novel trying to decide whether or not to do what she decided to do at the end of the last book. Not until the final pages does she get a grip on herself and do what needs to be done. I thought we were done with crippling indecision in the previous books. I wanted the Gorgon to just let loose and throttle her! Meanwhile, Felicity and Ann are apparently thirteen again and spend the majority of their time being petty and distrustful, backstabbing Gemma whenever they get the chance. Pippa is the most interesting of the original friends, munching on the berries of the dead in all her Miss Havisham glory. But her path is extremely predictable. And Kartik? Fiery, beautiful Kartik? Sigh. The end to his story had far too much in common with Merlin's fate for my taste. I will say that the scene where Gemma and Kartik place their hands inside the stone was achingly beautiful. But, as with much in this hefty book, it was too little too late and I'm left feeling sad. Wishing, somehow, it could all have gone differently.

The first book A Great and Terrible Beauty in this series is irrevocably my favorite book. I felt the second book Rebel Angels was somewhat lacking. It was a great story but not such a great novel. The Sweet Far Thing is my second favorite. (*Spoiler Alert*) It is, of course, sad that Kartik dies. The reader is left in mourning. This I think is necessary. Truthfully I was saddened but also satisfied by the ending. Had Gemma and Kartik married and had the happily ever after, etc. (which would have proved interesting if not impossible in that era), I would have come away from this trilogy (sadly) even more saddened. It would have been too easy. Neither the second nor the third would have matched up to my great opinion of the first.
Some (if not all) fans may be screaming to wrench my hair out after me saying "it's necessary" for Kartik to die. To make my point short, to end such a beautiful story, it was necessary for the hero to make a sacrifice and in this the reader learns the trueness of their love.

I love this series and the last book is no exception. It is quite long but I was glad for the extra pages as I wanted to spend as much time as possible in this fictitious world. I am a sucker for happy endings so I was upset to hear that perhaps this wasn't going to be a fairy tale ending. I even put reading the book off, nervous that the end would ruin the whole series for me. Luckily I decided to read it, and I am definitely glad. While everything may not end up peachy keen, I think it helps to deliver a subtle message in the book that most YA novels are lacking...*hint - has to do with feminism.* I loved this series and The Sweet Far Thing was a great final installment.

To get one thing out of the way, like a previous commenter, I read YA novels as an adult because I find "adult" literature to be over saturated with promiscuity and explicit sex/violence/drug use. I am interested in a good story, not cheap thrills. I got a little wary when Kartik and Gemma were getting more alone time, but thankfully Ms. Bray did not veer into Harlequin territory. For that, I thank her. As for themes of incest, self-mutilation, drug use, and homosexuality; these things have been present since ancient times. The fact that they were so thoroughly hushed up during the Victorian era does not mean they didn't exist, and I think Ms. Bray introduced them in a consistent and thoughtful manner.

I plowed through this book in four days, so I'm certain I must have enjoyed it. However, I remember my overarching feeling while reading was that of frustration. Ann and Felicity were so selfish and petulant for most of the book, unable to spare any compassion or thought for Gemma's feelings, that I found myself hoping Gemma would just tell them off and go on her merry way. I know Felicity had her reasons but she was particularly odious right up until the last 100 pages or so.

I don't have the anger the younger readers might have over the Kartik storyline because I was never that invested in it. I found that burgeoning romance to be a bit gimmicky and a way to shoehorn the issues of race, caste, and sexual repression into the novel. On the other hand, I never expected Gemma and Simon to end up together, but discovering that Simon was a pawn in someone else's game seemed to steal a lot of the weight from the second novel (Rebel Angels, which I enjoyed very much). It also seemed like an afterthought, given the reason why Gemma split with Simon. If he was really recruited for that purpose, shouldn't he have given the right answer to continue the ruse and gain the Rakshana's end?

More than anything else, I had a problem with the pacing of this book. There were numerous drawn-out passages of "parties" in a moldering castle where the girls always danced in circles while Gemma felt left out, then when Gemma did something like travel all the way from London to Spence into the realms up the mountain to the well of eternity, it would be covered in one paragraph! That got a bit confusing, as one minute Gemma would be in bed and the next talking to Circe and I'd have to re-read to figure out what the heck happened. I had a tough time believing Gemma wouldn't realize Circe could use magic to escape from the well after everything, especially when Circe pressed her repeatedly to say she gave the magic of her own will. The endless waiting for Gemma to make a decision about what to do in the realms was quite annoying as well. She never really did decide, either, it all just sort of happened at the end.

I was ok with Ann and Felicity's endings, they seemed somewhat believable. I was glad Ann grew a spine in time to seize her chance, and Felicity has the fortune and force of personality to make her way. Gemma's ending is the one that bothered me. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Seemed a little cheesy and overwrought. Feminism hooray! All the "corseted minds" stuff seemed pretty forced and Disney-fied. One minute she's looking forward to her debut and altering Grandma's mind for the extra-fancy dress, the next she's done a complete 180.

One final observation, I agree with the reader who noted that the girls got away with far too much. The way Gemma was acting she would have been packed off to a Sanatorium long before the halfway mark. The girls were very closely watched when it served the story, then sent alone into a gypsy camp full of men when that was useful.

I feel like they didn't give Ms. Bray enough time to prune and fine-tune. I'd rather have a great read than one that met the deadline.

I enjoyed the final installment of the Gemma Doyle trilogy very much. I didn't mind the length at all, I savored every minute of it. Gemma has definitely become one of my favorite literary heroines; her independent spirit and desire to do things differently was refreshing during a time when women weren't often taught to have a voice. The Sweet Far Thing, like its predecessors, was once again magical and enchanting, but incredibly heart-wrenching toward the end. Overall, it was a beautiful conclusion to the trilogy, and one of my all-times favorites.

A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing were such great books that I could not put them down. My favorite was The Sweet Far Thing even though it was long and pretty sad. I'm just really disappointed with the ending of that book though when Kartik dies. I acutually cried! I really didn't understand that part that much either but, I was just so sad. Gemma and Kartik should have had a happily ever after ending living back in India or in America. Their love was strong and then he has so die! Also when Miss McCleathy gets sacrificed too and dies, was pretty sad too. Overall, this book was filled with so much thrilling adventures and romance. It was a great book with just a really sad ending that should have been modified!

This book is amazing amazing does not even describe how wonderfull this book is.
This book is the third book of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy it was well written a wondefull and beautiful story. I loved it I just finished reading it yesterday and my eyes are still swollen it was a truly fantastic story.

Libba Bray's conclusion to Libba Bray's 'Gemma Doyle' trilogy The Sweet Far Thing (9780385730303 $17.99) requires familiarity with the other weighty books in series, but any who have acquired and enjoyed the others won't want to miss this, begin in A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY and continued in REBEL ANGELS. Here the Spence Academy for Girls is preparing for its London debut season, but with Gemma and gang dreading it. Magic, change, and initiation abound in a stunning conclusion to a weighty but involving trilogy highly recommended for advanced YA readers.

I got this book as a gift after it came out. I had already read the first two and enjoyed them. This book almost drags on alittle bit but has some serious parts. I wish I had asked someone what they thought about it before my grandmother bought it. I truly wish it had been better than the first two. Reader beware this book is good but it's very long and drags on at a lot of points.

This is a wonderful book! As the ending to the Gemma Doyle Trilogy it is heart warming, a sad but perfect ending. Anyone that loves Victorian times, fancy dresses and a hint of magic/romance should read this. A Great And Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing these are great books!

It is hard to think of anything to say about The Sweet Far Thing that will explain the level of awesome is reaches. It is yet another testament to the power and beauty of Libba Bray's mind.

The story, the characters, the suspense, the wonder all come alive in this third (and last) installment to the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. I was just as captivated by The Sweet Far Thing as I was with the first two novels. Maybe even more so as I was racing to the end desperate to know how everything would come together and if the realms would be set right once and for all.

I was extremely happy with the way things ended. Even while there were a couple sad endings for some of the characters, it felt right and real. I would gladly read a fourth Gemma Doyle novel if Libba ever chose to revisit Gemma in the future.

I highly recommend this series to those who have yet to discover it. Run to your bookstores and buy these books! You will not be disappointed at all.

The begining of the book was really good and interseting. I loved the first and second books and was looking forward to the third one but in the end i was really disapointed. If you don't like a sad ending than i wouldn't suggest reading it. I think that she could of ended the series a lot better than she did.

Judging by some of the reviews here, a lot of people were disappointed by the last installment of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, the Sweet Far Thing. I can agree that this book is needlessly long at points. Some scenes in this book could be cut out without greatly affecting the plot of the book. However, most readers complain about the same thing (Spoiler alert): Kartik and Gemma don't get their fairy tale happy ending.
Fact: In real life, MANY people miss out on a happy ending. Why should this novel be anything different? Gemma had to make a sacrifice, just like her mother, friends, and colleagues had to make sacrifices along the way. In my opinon, the bittersweet ending made this trilogy what it is. People sacrifice and people accept losses to acheive peace. What matters is they continue on with all that they have learned, which is what Gemma and her friends were able to do. This book is brilliant, and it a fantastic closer to a fantastic series.

What a heart wrenching finale to the Gemma Doyle trilogy! You are kept guessing through out the book about how Gemma will decide and resolve within herself what is the right thing to do with the realms magic. You must read this trilogy...you will be kept wondering to the end.

WHY??! Libba Bray gets to write a book, you think the least she could do was give it a happy ending. I definitely wasn't expecting the end this book had and was sorely disappointed in it. It DEFINITELY didn't have to happen like it unfolded and I liked the other two books in the series but this one. Some advice to people thinking of buying it, don't! And normally, I like all books but not this one.

It's 1896, and Gemma Doyle's time at Spence Academy for Young Ladies is about to come to an end in a whirl of parties and balls that will mark her and her classmates' debutante "season." For Gemma, the departure from Spence is bittersweet. As eager as she is to get far away from authoritarian Mrs. Nightwing and the mean, snooty girls who torment her and her friends, Gemma is also uneasy.

Can her headstrong friend Felicity overcome her notorious history and her willful ways in time to have a successful debut? Will scholarship girl Ann find any way to escape her fate as the governess to some particularly nasty young relations? Will Gemma finally be able to answer her questions about the Realm, the mystical land to which she and her friends have been journeying? And will she ultimately reunite with her mysterious lost love, Kartik?

Despite Gemma and her friends' efforts, the boundaries between this world and the Realm beyond seem to be breaking down, with potentially devastating results. The workers who are rebuilding the school's East Wing, where tragic events a quarter century earlier set Gemma's story in motion, unearth relics that perhaps should have remained covered.

Gemma is doing her best to remain in control of the Realm, but it's rough going. Although Gemma has "come into" her magic the same way she will "come out" in society, she still lacks control. And her efforts to heal a girl's blindness, for example, or to rescue the girls' friend Pippa, who is stuck in a sort of limbo, are fruitless. What's more, the evil forces Gemma had thought were trapped seem again to be threatening all that she and her friends hold most dear.

Libba Bray's highly successful trilogy, which began with A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY and continued with REBEL ANGELS, comes together beautifully in THE SWEET FAR THING. One of my earlier criticisms of Bray's novels was that they failed to adequately blend the more realistic elements (which often focus on minutiae of Victorian social customs and class issues) with the fantastic ones. Here, she does so masterfully, as Gemma strives to use her supernatural powers to grant herself and her friends futures more fulfilling than those proscribed by their rigid Victorian society.

A SWEET FAR THING can seem to move slowly at times, and this 819-page epic can get bogged down in those details (whether of society etiquette or of Realm mythology). But I prefer to think that the leisurely pace of this final installment is a sign that Bray just doesn't want to say goodbye to these characters. I have a hunch that her many readers will be just as reluctant to leave Gemma, Felicity and Ann --- despite the happy endings and surprise joys that lie on the far side of danger.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I loved all of Libba Bray's books in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. This one is my true favorite by far. It was long, and to some reviewers that was bad but for me it was good, as it means more pages for me to read! Yay! Anyway, it did drag at parts and I did skip over describing the realms paragraphs because we already knew about them. So with that settled I will begin.
I was a very bad girl. As I was waiting for TSFT to come for me in the mail I sort of read all of the reviews and discussions just to know what it was about, so I got the whole gist about Felicty and Kartik. I did this to prepare myself, in especially Kartik's case, so I wouldn't cry or pass out or anything. But at by the end of the book, I was in a complete daze. So I'll sort my anger and trivial facts by character.

*Big Time Spoilers Ahead*
Gemma- Her leaving England at the end really surprised me. I totally wanted her to stay in England and go to all the parties and such. I was actually quite mad at her, even though I know Libba Bray made the right choice. The high society wasn't Gemma's world. But I wanted her to find love again, because I think there is a good chance when she goes to university she will decide she likes being alone as her love is gone. But otherwise I really liked her narration in the books. She is someone I would like to meet and be my friend. I liked how she and Kartik got together, but they never really professed their love for eachother and so that bothered me a little. But I think them being in the cave together and sharing that dream was enough. That moment of them together will stay in my mind forever.

Kartik- Although I already knew he was going to sacrifice himself to the tree, I still didn't want him to do it. He is one of the most gallant and kind literary men I have read about, and that is what makes his death (or whatever it is) so much more heart-wrenching. He loved Gemma so truly that he gave his life up for her. That is the most sincere kind of devotion. I knew Libba Bray had to do it though. It's too cliche for the love interests to get together at the end, but I wanted it so badly! After I was finished with the book, I still couldn't believe it. He isn't coming back. He will never come back. It felt like I had been hit with a baseball bat. I am hoping that one day Ms.Bray will come out with a sequel and give us what we want to know (i.e the happy ending) for all our characters. Kartik gave up his "job" and life for Gemma, and I think that should deserve some kind of happy ending.

Felicity- Well as I read the reviews before I got the book I knew what was happening between her and Pippa and so started to look for signs in this book and RA too. It wasn't totally out of the blue, but maybe just something Ms.Bray thought of later and was like "Oh, I will put this in!" I have grown to like Fee, regardless of her ambitious and power-hungry nature. I was truly sad to see her go at the end. What she did for Gemma in front of Pippa, how she turned Pippa down, I think that is the greatest form of friendship. She doesn't love Gemma like that, but loves her more like a sister. I think Felicity, despite her faults, is my favorite character (after Kartik of course)

Pippa- She was so out of character. In AGATG she was spoiled but in TSFT she was just insane. I wanted to strangle her after she started pretending she was queen and killed poor Mr.Darcy. Her character was a little flip-floppy; sometimes she was kind and other times evil. And then what they did to Miss McCleethy! Goodness! I was extremely upset with her and was not sorry at all to see her die. She grew even more ambitious than Fee ever was.

Ann- I'm glad she finally became what she dreamed of, took a chance. I especially want to see what happens to her if there is another book one day. She has really changed, and unlike some other characters, into something much better than she was before.

Circe/Miss Moore- I thought she would have been more.....I don't know...evil? Like the whole series she seemed more like a wise woman than a evil sorceress. She really cared about Gemma, and I was sad she was evil in the first place. But she protected and helpful of Gemma, so I was glad to see her finally have her place to belong. And she did it without a fight too. That is true strength.

Questions:
1. Is Kartik now evil since he is in the tree? Will he become like Eugenia was?
2. Why couldn't Fowlson give himself up? Then he could be with Miss McCleethy forever!
So I really don't have any more to say, only that I wish there will be a sequel. Please Ms. Bray, humor us all! We want to see the happy ending, even if it is for a moment. Or we could always imagine I guess :)

I bought this book with the first two as recommended by some young adults I know. I was a little entertained with the first. It was a bit slow. The second one sets the scene for the third book. When you read "The Sweet Far Thing" you think everything will be explained and it will all come together. Well it leaves you short. The book is so long, and slow that you would rather not even finish the book, but you expect a great ending so you continue. And then it ends so bad!!! Here she has all this power and no control- ahhh! I was hoping for a little better ending and not so much of my time wasted on reading these. It was torture!! Read Stephenie Meyers books, Twilight series or Shannon Hale. Or for adults read Amanda Quick, Colleen Gleason, or Julie Garwood!

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but things started going downhill fast in this one. In fact, I started to worry when I read the acknowledgments page at the beginning of the book, because it hinted strongly at a book that had gotten out of the control of its author. And sadly, that's what we get.

Part of the problem is that the central villian was defeated in Rebel Angels. So the story needs some excuse to continue. And the excuse Bray comes up with--a dangerous magical tree in the Winterlands that we'd never heard a hint of before--does not seem like a natural outgrowth of what has come before. There's a definite disconnect between this novel and the two before it, and much of what we see in The Sweet, Far Thing is at odds with what came before. Pippa's relatively "normal" appearance at the beginning, for instance, which doesn't jive with what we saw of her at the end of Rebel Angels. And we never get a satisfactory explanation of why Gemma is suddenly unable to enter the Realms under her own power (despite having *all* the power now). The answer, so far as I can tell, is authorial expedience: it makes the story more interesting, gives it more tension. So throw it in, regardless of whether it makes sense or not.

Then there's the problem of corruption. The extent to which any given character is corrupted seems terribly arbitrary. Why do Eugenia and Amar fall, while Gemma and Kartik do not? Bray even uses the quote "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" in one of the section headings, and yet we see very little evidence that this is really the case. Again, things seem to happen the way they do mainly because the author wishes them to, not as a consequence of the internal logic of the story.

Bray is certainly not the first really good writer to have a book escape from control, and much of what makes her writing appealing is still present in The Sweet, Far Thing. But don't expect the storyline to make a great deal of sense, or the story developments to be anything but arbitrary.

I was incredibly impressed with the final book in the trilogy. The start is slow, as Gemma does nothing exciting but soon the pace picks up and the reader will be swept away, as I was. Gemma explores her dark corners and passions and becomes her own person. This final book closes many loose ends but also leaves the reader wondering. The mysterious manner of Libba Bray also follows the plot line as Gemma tries to understand her visions. This book is a thrilling page turner full of magic, history, passon, and person. It is like a Harry Potter book but for teenage girls. I know it would seem pathetic but I was as heartbroken that the series had ended as I was the day I finished the seventh Harry Potter. I recomend this to teenage grils who love mystery, romance, magic, history, and books. I loved it and I know others will too.

I loved the first two novels in the "Gemma Doyle trilogy" but I wasn't sure if Libba Bray would be able to write a satisfying conclusion. The Sweet Far thing is over 800 pages long, and structured similar to a Shakespearian tragedy (for reasons that don't become apparent until the end of the book) but leaves the reader with a feeling of completion. As Gemma Doyle and her friends Felicity and Ann prepare for their graduation from the Spence Academy for Young Ladies the pressure of the impending future is fealt. Felicity needs sponsorship in order to make her debut in society and come into her inheritance. She needs that money in order to take her abusive father's ward, Polly, away from him, and live in freedon somewhere. Unless Ann can make it as an actress she faces a future as a governess to her cousin's bratty children. Gemma holds the power of the Realms which she needs to figure out how to distribute fairly. She has the Rakshana- a patricharcal organization after her to give them the power, and the Order- the Rakshana's Matriarchal counterpart after the power for themselves, and the various mythical creatures of the realms all after their fair share. At the same time, Gemma must cope with her father, who is an opium addict, and her seemingly impossible love for Kartik- an Indian boy who has his own stake in the future of the Realms.

With the pressures of Victorian society weighing on them, Gemma, Felicity and Ann are tempted to escape to the Realm to visit Pippa- their friend who escaped into the Realms to avoid a loveless marriage but refused to "cross over" as the dead are supposed to, opting instead to remain in the Boarderlands with several girls who were killed in a recent factory fire. But Gemma has her doubts about Pippa too, who seems to have become corrupted by her refusal to cross over. Unsure of who to trust Gemma must find a way to secure the future for herself and her friends in a rapidly changing world while learning that sometimes the hardest person to know and to trust is yourself.

This book is twice as long as the others in the series and about three times as complicated. But that's because the heroines are learning some hard lessons about the nature of power, friendship, sex, and politics: no easy answers and no black and white. They're distinguishing between various shades of gray and learning that sometimes people do the wrong thind for the right reason and vice versa. Everyone has secrets and their own agenda. There ia no easy solution to the dilemmas that Bray sets up, so we see her characters stumble again and again as they try to find their own answers.

***Spoilers***
Many have complained that Kartik's death was too depressing and they wanted a happier ending etc. But the series is deeply rooted in the real world, in Victorian society. Where would there be a place for a British debutant and an Indian boy? Victorian society didn't go easy on biracial couples. And by making his sacrifice Kartik gives Gemma the courage to make her life her own and the seek out her own future in a new country, according to her own rules: that decision is what Gemma has been struggling with from the very first book when Gemma first realized that her corset was a bit too tight so to speak. She wouldn't have had the courage to do it without witnessing Kartik's sacrifice and wanting to honor him by living the best life possible.
***End of Spoilers***

This is a great read for teenage girls. In the era of Gossip Girl, and nurmerous cheap teenage romance heroines Gemma and her friends are an intelligent breath of fresh air, struggling for independance, and the freedom to pursue their dreams. For the first time they are truely questioning the values of their society, one where wealthy white men rule and people get rich off the suffering of others. They that they can make the world a different, and hopefully a better place. Despite being rooted in the Victorian era many of the girl's struggles are applicanble to today.

(daughter of user)
I found the third and final installment of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy to far surpass the other two novels. I liked the others, but this was great! (SPOILER ALERT)However, I found the ending to be slightly sad. I hadn't grown to like Kartik until mid-way through this book, so when he was given to the tree, I was actually quite upset. It was also sad that Pippa let all that power go to her head and turn her into someone who would make deals with Winterland creatures. I felt so bad for little Wendy when Mr. Darcy was "missing". I did think that it was a good ending though, the three girls pretty much got what they had wanted(Gemma's freedom, Ann's stage career, Fee's inheritance, as well as closure in regards to Pip), and Gorgon could run free again, as well as the forest folk and the Untouchables working together in the end...I'm glad that Tom knows about Gemma's powers now, it makes him nicer, and I'm happy to read about him that way. I was also happy to read that Simon Middleton got his happy ending too. His father and mother may have been awful, but I liked him quite a bit. It was kind of random that Gemma decided to go to New York all of a sudden, I guess that's the only way she thinks she can break the mold. Over all, a great book, and an ending that gives closure. I loved it.

Third book of the Gemma Doyle trilogy.

Historical fiction with a generous mix of fantasy and romance that features strong female characters who question the repressive rules placed on women in Victorian society.

As in the previous novels, not everything is what it seems. Good and evil are two sides of the same coin and Gemma struggles to figure out who is trying to help her and who will do her harm. Who can she trust? And can she even trust herself? Gemma is is a compelling character because she is not perfect. She makes some selfish choices, but in the end she finds strength and fairness within herself. Ann, Felicity, and Kartik also struggle to find a balance between their desires and what is right.

Fans of the first two books in the trilogy, will devour this one as well.

Not everything in life ends how we want it...especially books. I think the whole trilogy was beautifully written and had just the right amount of ups and downs, suspence and drama, and love and heartache. As with all books, I wish this didn't end. I want to know more! I want to know what happens to Gemma now. I want to see things further in the future of Gemma's life. I wish Bray would turn this Trilogy into a never ending Saga. LoL! I absolutely loved all 3 books and wish I had another to read to know more about the life of Gemma Doyle.

"A Great and Terrible Beauty" (the first of this spellbinding trilogy) was one of those books that I passed up numerous times on my many trips to the bookstore, only glancing at it from time to time out out of slight curiousity, which wasn't enough to make me wanna buy it. Then I came across it one day at the library, and figured I'd give it a chance, and I was glad I did! I eagerly devoured the book, and upon finishing it, I raced to the bookstore to pick up the second book in the series, "Rebel Angel" eager to continue on with the series, and I finished it as quickly as the first one, and then of course immediately got the last book "A Sweet and Far Thing" and now, only about a week later, I have finished the series. The author is an exquisite writer, and brings the realms to life down to every last detail, making you wish you could jump into the pages of the book, if only to see the realms for yourself.

I have to say that this one was my favorite out of the three. I was a bit surprised that this one was quite a big longer than the first two books (a little over 800 pages) but I think that is what made it the most interesting. I don't agree with some of you who say the book should have been cut in half, as I found that it kept my attention from the beginning, all the way to the end. I actually wished that the book could have been gone on even longer! I was sad to see the story of Gemma and her friends, felicity, anne, and Pippa, come to an end and actually found myself in tears after having finished the book. I believe that because this book was so long, I really got to know the characters even more, and as I read the book, I found myself wishing I were with them in the pages, venturing with them into the realms.

This book continues the story of Gemma, felicity, and anne, and their adventures into the mystical realms. I found this one more action packed than the first two books, because in this one Gemma is dealing with a power struggle between herself, the order, the rakshana, and the various creatures of the realm, who all want the magic to themselves.

I don't want to give anything away, so ill try not to go into a whole lot of detail (but in any case, beware because the things I say may contain spoilers) but I will say that I actually liked the bittersweet ending for Gemma and her love interest, Katrik. Granted, I don't think what happened to Katrik necessarily had to happen, but I think it was a better than "and Gemma and Katrik lived happily ever after!" to me that just would have been corny, although a part of me does wish they would have been able to finally be together. But I think what happened to him helped Gemma to become an even stronger person, and helped to shape who she was and had a big part in the decision she makes toward the end of the book.

I must say, I also was not at all surpised of the relationship between Felicity and Pippa. I don't think it just came out of nowhere as some of you have said. true, nothing was revealed in the first two books to make it seem like they were anything other than friends, but the author does start to build it up in this book, as you see Felicity always eager to go into the realms, constantly bringing Pippa presents, and just the overall closeness between them.

So yes, I was quite impressed with this book, but like I said, I was sad to see the series end, and I hope the author continues to write, as I find her to be a very talented storyteller. I think it would be great if she came up with a follow-up to this series, to let us know what becomes of Gemma, Felicity, and Anne, and of course to let us know what becomes of the realms, because the author kind of left that as a loose end.

All in all, if you have not read this series, I strongly recommend that you do as I believe you will be as enthralled as I was by the journey of Gemma and her friends

I know Libba Bray is a feminist and wants us readers to know that ultimately Gemma doesn't need a man to make her happy. OK. But then WHY EVEN PUT KARTIK IN THE STORY (THE WHOLE TRILOGY EVEN!) IN THE FIRST PLACE??? Why? Seriously.
I heard that she was disapointed with fans being so wrapped up in Kartik dying when there are lots of strong girl characters in her book, yeah but the point is, of course we will get upset; She has written Kartik into the book as one of the main characters who has such a connection with Gemma and this growing love that's suddenly just ripped away! Of course we're going to care if he dies!

I read all the books in the series and could not put any of them down. But I just feel like I'm left dangling here with the end of this story. Can't there be another?? Also, if Kartik is now part of the tree in the Winterlands, won't he now be evil? Eugenia Spence became that way, and she was good and great in the begining. Is this ending to set us up for another book? I hope so cause it can't just END like this.

Completely adore this series. Beautifully written. Smooth flowing plot. Strange but enthralling ending. Leaves you wanting more.

I usually love her books, but I am having problems getting through this one. It seems tedious and long. It keeps going over the same thing again and again. It is really dragging.

The last book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy brings a bittersweet ending. It has been a year and Gemma is still stuggling with the magic which is now bound to her. She has to decide who should she make an alliance with and when is the right time to make it. But when she starts to think she is going crazy and her friends start to turn on her along with the creatures of the realms, Gemma can only turn to Kartik when he is not distancing himself from her and an enemy she thought dead. With the rebuilding of the East Wing at Spence and some of the workers and Gypsies going missing, Gemma has no idea what to expect. Are her visions helping her or leading her into more danger? The beginning of this book seems to drag on and makes you want to skip to a more interesting part, but it does get better. All the questions that have been asked in the previous two books get answered in a good but sad ending.

Why do authors have to put their own personal agendas into the story. I don't care if Ms. Bray is a closet lesbian and freaky feminist...that's all great for her, but I want a fantasy story with magic, love (straight) and a satisfying ending. I want to pick up a YA book and know that it doesn't include questionable content, I mean, I started reading YA because the adult market has become so over saturated with pornography in every form that I felt I needed to look to Christian and YA novels only for reading enjoyment. Now I see that even our children are not safe from the pervasive influence of pornography and that makes me very sad indeed.

I do understand the fact that people of different stations and races were expected to strictly adhere to 'their own kind', but this is a book, where anything can happen. That is what artistic license and imagination are for. Even with these stipulations, Gemma and Kartik may have possibly been able to get married in India, as Gemma had grown up there and could have been viewed as being one of 'them.' If that wouldn't have worked, then why not in America, the land of the free? Yes, these rules were pretty much the standard no matter what part of the world you lived in during that era, but it wasn't nearly as bad in America as elsewhere, and they could have forged a life together in a brand new, wild and unexplored country where the inhabitants make their own rules.

I will have to go back and look for it in the book, because I don't recall Kartik saying exactly where he planned on going when he told Gemma he was leaving so as not to endanger her after having the dream about his brother, but I do remember him saying the name of the ship was the HMS Orlando. When Gemma's father went back to India, it was on the HMS Victoria. If it was the Orlando headed for America, Gemma most likely made her decision to start her new life in which she had to do the unthinkable (for a woman) and work to supplement her small monthly allowance there, based on that. She could have chose America in the hopes that she would have a better chance of being accepted there while going to university as a liberated woman, which was virtually unheard of back then, and in a way, following in what would have been Kartik's footsteps.

I also was extremely disappointed that Gemma and Kartik didn't at least get to outright TELL each other that they loved each other before their untimely separation. I know that Kartik was being valiant, and ultimately showing his love by sacrificing himself for Gemma, but I, as a few other readers expressed in their reviews, was more expecting Mr. Fowlson to take her place for the reason that he was attached to Miss McCleethy as her Rakshana protector and lover, and by becoming the tree, spending eternity with her.

Maybe--just maybe, it's not REALLY over. Just because the series was entitled the Gemma Doyle Trilogy doesn't mean there can't now be one about Kartik that begins where he switches places with Gemma. There are many ways the story could go on from here--It could tell how love transcends and overcomes all obstacles, and about the tree being purified by his selfless act and no longer needing a human soul to exist, thus releasing him once the land begins to start the process of healing. He could have some sort of dream or revelation while being connected to the tree, telling him his true destiny is to be by Gemma's side as her other half, and protector while she helps the different creatures of the realms learn how to start anew with the shared power they all have now. OR since the trilogy really only talked about the garden, Borderlands, and Winterlands doesn't mean those were the whole of the realms. There could be many other places they never discovered. Someone from another part of that world, who has special powers could run across the tree, and realizing Kartik is trapped inside may find a way to save him from it. Not to mention that there will always be greedy people wanting power over all, whether it be someone who already lives in the realms, or an unwary person from our world who somehow stumbles upon a previously unknown doorway (who says the only one has to be the one the girls found, and not one in another totally different part of the world), who will try to tip the balance and take over....

(Edited to add the following 6/04/08) I flipped through the book and found on page 151, Kartik tells Gemma he is going to sea on the HMS Orlando, which leaves Bristol in 6 weeks time, but does not say where it is going to. Also on page 220, he says that as soon as his debt to the gypsies is paid, he will be on his way to Bristol to join the Orlando, but no mention of where it is headed. Page 362 he tells her he's leaving after he takes her to meet with the Rakshana, but no new info on where the destination is. When Gemma goes to America, it doesn't say the name of the ship she is on. I could've sworn that someone said something about going to New York at some earlier part of the story, though. Since it doesn't tell which ship Gemma embarked upon to seek her fortune, all we can do is hope that something plants a seed in the author's mind about continuing Kartik's story where it left off, and somehow he is sprung from his trap to achieve a different destiny if she doesn't already have one in full bloom.

I do understand the fact that people of different stations and races were expected to strictly adhere to 'their own kind', but this is a book, where anything can happen. That is what artistic license and imagination are for. Even with these stipulations, Gemma and Kartik may have possibly been able to get married in India, as Gemma had grown up there and could have been viewed as being one of 'them.' If that wouldn't have worked, then why not in America, the land of the free? Yes, these rules were pretty much the standard no matter what part of the world you lived in during that era, but it wasn't nearly as bad in America as elsewhere, and they could have forged a life together in a brand new, wild and unexplored country where the inhabitants make their own rules.

I will have to go back and look for it in the book, because I don't recall Kartik saying exactly where he planned on going when he told Gemma he was leaving so as not to endanger her after having the dream about his brother, but I do remember him saying the name of the ship was the HMS Orlando. When Gemma's father went back to India, it was on the HMS Victoria. If it was the Orlando headed for America, Gemma most likely made her decision to start her new life in which she had to do the unthinkable (for a woman) and work to supplement her small monthly allowance there, based on that. She could have chose America in the hopes that she would have a better chance of being accepted there while going to university as a liberated woman, which was virtually unheard of back then, and in a way, following in what would have been Kartik's footsteps.

I also was extremely disappointed that Gemma and Kartik didn't at least get to outright TELL each other that they loved each other before their untimely separation. I know that Kartik was being valiant, and ultimately showing his love by sacrificing himself for Gemma, but I, as a few other readers expressed in their reviews, was more expecting Mr. Fowlson to take her place for the reason that he was attached to Miss McCleethy as her Rakshana protector and lover, and by becoming the tree, spending eternity with her.

Maybe--just maybe, it's not REALLY over. Just because the series was entitled the Gemma Doyle Trilogy doesn't mean there can't now be one about Kartik that begins where he switches places with Gemma. There are many ways the story could go on from here--It could tell how love transcends and overcomes all obstacles, and about the tree being purified by his selfless act and no longer needing a human soul to exist, thus releasing him once the land begins to start the process of healing. He could have some sort of dream or revelation while being connected to the tree, telling him his true destiny is to be by Gemma's side as her other half, and protector while she helps the different creatures of the realms learn how to start anew with the shared power they all have now. OR since the trilogy really only talked about the garden, Borderlands, and Winterlands doesn't mean those were the whole of the realms. There could be many other places they never discovered. Someone from another part of that world, who has special powers could run across the tree, and realizing Kartik is trapped inside may find a way to save him from it. Not to mention that there will always be greedy people wanting power over all, whether it be someone who already lives in the realms, or an unwary person from our world who somehow stumbles upon a previously unknown doorway (who says the only one has to be the one the girls found, and not one in another totally different part of the world), who will try to tip the balance and take over....

This was one of my favorite trilogies, Kartik being my favorite aspect of the book... with that I absolutely hated the ending, as much as I know there cannot always be a happy ending, but with all the other sad apsects of the book, I would have hoped for a better ending with Kartik and Gemma. I cannot tell you enough how disapointed and depressed I was when I finished the book.

I loved the first two books of this series. I was extremely disappointed with the ending of this book and the ending for the series as a whole.
This book was also excessively long - especially considering there is a big disappointment waiting for you at the end.

I don't recommend wasting your time reading this one unless you are okay with depressing endings or really want to find out how this series ends.

This is such an epic, moving story I feel it wholeheartedly deserves five stars. But like many other reviewers here, I also really really really wanted a happier ending!

---WARNING SPOILERS---

I respect Libba Bray for not shying away from an ending that she felt kept the theme of her story intact. However, while self-discovery, idependence and self-ideation are strong themes in this series, I would argue that Gemma's self-discovery didn't have to lead to her being alone in another country.

All three books, and this final installment in particular, are heavy on feminism. I support that ideology but strongly disagree that feminism is exclusive of love, romance, marriage and motherhood. I don't think Libba Bray is trying to say that (she's married and a mother too), but the choices of her characters seem to reflect it. All three girls - Gemma, Felicity, and Ann - end up alone pursuing school/careers (or just interests in Felicity's case since she has plenty of money). Did it need to be like this in order to prove a point that women don't need men in order to be complete? I think we all need other people in order to be complete and thought it was extremely disappointing to see Gemma and Kartik pulled apart in the end. I know they can still communicate through dreams, but it's not the same. Couldn't Gemma have had an adventurous life WITH Kartik? Couldn't she have had everything she wanted with him by her side? I don't agree that they couldn't be together because she was English and he was Indian. People have been having *forbidden* romances since the beginning of time and they could have found a way. While the ending may have been poignant and bittersweet, I think the story could have been just as powerful with a more emotionally satisfying conclusion.

As for Felicity's sexual orientation - some people felt that it was unexpected and completely out of the blue. I have to disagree on that point. I thought there were signs from the beginning of the series, even in some of the first scenes with her in AGTB. And overall the subject fit in well with the theme of self-discovery, adding complexity to Felicity and Pippa's characters while creating greater depth to Felicity's friendship with Gemma. I'm glad to see this subject being explored more in popular lit.

Of all the YA series I've read, this one is the best. I think Libba Bray is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination and I'm just sorry to see the series end. I'd be happy if it went on forever (preferably with Gemma and Kartik in India with their kids visiting the realms whenever they want!!) but I guess all good things must come to an end. I look forward to reading Libba Bray's future novels and just hope she gives us a happier ending next time around. Please Ms. Bray, if you create another Kartik, don't kill him off or turn him into vegetation!!! It just makes us sad!

This is such an epic, moving story I feel it wholeheartedly deserves five stars. But like many other reviewers here, I also really really really wanted a happier ending!

---WARNING SPOILERS---

I respect Libba Bray for not shying away from an ending that she felt kept the theme of her story intact. However, while self-discovery, idependence and self-ideation are strong themes in this series, I would argue that Gemma's self-discovery didn't have to lead to her being alone in another country.

All three books, and this final installment in particular, are heavy on feminism. I support that ideology but strongly disagree that feminism is exclusive of love, romance, marriage and motherhood. While the author never states this, the choices of her characters reflect it. All three girls - Gemma, Felicity, and Ann - end up alone pursuing school/careers (or just interests in Felicity's case since she has plenty of money). Did it need to be like this in order to prove a point that women don't need men in order to be complete? I think we all need other people in order to be complete and we absolutely need love. Not just friendship love, but romantic love. It's a deep drive in all of us and it was disappointing to see Gemma and Kartik pulled apart in the end. Yeah I know they can still communicate through dreams, but it's not the same. Couldn't Gemma have had an adventurous life WITH Kartik? Couldn't she have had everything she wanted with him by her side? I don't buy that they couldn't be together because she was English and he was Indian. People have been having *forbidden* romances since the beginning of time.

While the ending may have been poignant and bittersweet, I think the story could have been just as powerful with a more emotionally satisfying conclusion. Opening yourself to true love takes far more courage and strength of character than living alone and getting a job.

As for Felicity's sexual orientation - some people felt that it was unexpected and completely out of the blue. I have to disagree on that point. I thought there were signs from the beginning of the series, even in some of the first scenes with her in AGTB. And overall the subject fit in well with the theme of self-discovery, adding complexity to Felicity and Pippa's characters while creating greater depth to Felicity's friendship with Gemma. I'm glad to see this subject being explored more in popular lit.

Of all the YA series I've read, this one is the best. I think Libba Bray is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination and I'm just sorry to see the series end. I'd be happy if it went on forever (preferably with Gemma and Kartik in India with their kids visiting the realms whenever they want!!) but I guess all good things must come to an end. I look forward to reading Libba Bray's future novels and just hope she gives us a happier ending next time around. Please Ms. Bray, if you create another Kartik, don't kill him off or turn him into vegetation!!! It just makes us sad!

This is such an epic, moving, well-written and brilliantly-conceived story I feel it wholeheartedly deserves five stars. But like many other reviewers here, I also really really really wanted a happier ending!

---WARNING SPOILERS---

I respect Libba Bray for not shying away from an ending that she felt kept the theme of her story intact. However, while self-discovery, idependence and self-ideation are strong themes in this series, I would argue that Gemma's self-discovery didn't have to lead to her being alone in another country.

All three books, and this final installment in particular, are heavy on feminism. I support that ideology but strongly disagree that feminism runs counter to marriage and motherhood. While the author never states that (she's married and a mother as well), the choices of her characters reflect it. All three girls - Gemma, Felicity, and Ann - shun marriage in the end for lives of adventure and independence. Given the types of unions they would have endured during that era, I don't blame them, but Gemma had KARTIK for crying out loud! Couldn't they have gotten married and had plenty of adventures TOGETHER? I really think the perfect ending would have been them traveling to India, getting married, eventually having kids and having family picnics with Asha, Philon and the Gorgon in the garden in the realms. Maybe I'm just a sap, but I think the story could have been just as powerful with a more emotionally satisfying conclusion.

As for Felicity's sexual orientation - some people felt that it was completely out of the blue. I have to disagree on that point. I thought there were signs from the beginning of the series, even in some of the first scenes with her in AGTB. Maybe it wasn't *consciously* planned but there certainly seemed to be plenty of hints (i.e., bringing up sapphists, licking Ann's cheek, conjuring up a naked huntress...). Even Pippa creating the knight and staying with him rather than marrying Mr. Bumble didn't make her relationship with Felicity less plausible, especially considering she grew bored with him and sent him away. Anyway, I thought the subject fit in well with the theme of self-discovery and added complexity to Felicity and Pippa's characters while creating greater depth to Felicity's friendship with Gemma.

Of all the YA lit I've read, this series is by far the best. I think Libba Bray is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination and I'm just sorry to see the series end. I'd be happy if it went on forever (preferably with Gemma and Kartik in India with their kids visiting the realms whenever they want!!) but I guess all good things must come to an end. I look forward to reading Libba Bray's future novels and just hope she gives us a happier ending next time around. Please Ms. Bray, if you have another smokin' hotty like Kartik, don't kill him off or turn him into vegetation!!! It just makes us sad!

The last two books in this trilogy were so disappointing. For someone who had such a promising first book and introduction to a trilogy, I was surprised to find that none of the books seemed to be planned out. It's as if she wrote the books with no decided conclusion in mind. I really hated how it was evident to the reader that it seemed like there was no outline to the trilogy. Also, the journeys into the realms were ridiculously repetitive. I didn't really have a problem with the ending. It had a strong message and it's truthful. however, I did feel that the message was too aggressive and overwhelmed the fictional and literary elements of the storyline. Overall, I thought it was a poorly written book, and basically, a poorly written trilogy -with exceptions to the first book.

I can't believe that after thousands of pages, and three years, the Great and Terrible Beauty Series ends this way. There are some things you trust the author to deliver. Not so here. While the language and imagery is nothing short of poetic, the last five chapters are so steeped in self importance and social commentary that the focus of the story wavers. Also, there is an incredibly sordid end for Miss McCleethy which... necessary? Makes Lord of the Flies look like a cake walk -- and these are little girls. Finally, in case this is news to the author, the vast audience of readers are girls. We want Kartrik and Gemma together. Ann gets what she wants. Even Fee gets what she wants in Victorian England (yeah right) but Kartrik and Gemma...? I feel betrayed.

This finale I thought was going to be spectacular. Yet in the beginning it was very repetitive and I felt no one or anything was progressing forward until about page 500 or so. It frustrated me that so many new people were coming into play and more situations/events were arising and it seemed the book was coming to and end.

I didn't like the ending. I loved the action parts when it did speed up. Once it did get started it was amazing...and then the ending. I just didn't really like anything about it. I was so confused at what Libba Bray was trying to get at with the whole tree at the end...I may have to re-read it a couple times to 'get it'(which is rare for me to do and I don't think should be nessacary). We definately needed more Kartik...I'll end my review at that.

The grand finale in this amazing trilogy!
Beautifully written with an awesome climax involving a clash between the darker creatures of The Realms and the inhabitants of Spence Academy for Young Ladies; `The Sweet Far Thing' is probably the best in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.
An emotional ride; `The Sweet Far Thing' inspires both joy and aching sadness.
There's more than one surprise wrapped up in this intoxicating story. It's truthful and at times, heartbreaking. For this very reason some people may feel unsatisfied with the book - but I found it simply incredible (after I recovered from the shock that the series was over!)
This series is a journey of four young women searching for their place in the world and the magic inside themselves. They suffer the same hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities as the modern teen.
Filled with mystery, romance and all that delicious school girl naughtiness, this is a book not to miss.
A tale that touches the heart, it fails in only one aspect - it leaves you longing for more!
Note: If you haven't read the first two books in this series ('A Great and Terrible Beauty' and 'Rebel Angels') then do so RIGHT NOW! Don't read 'The Sweet Far Thing' first!

I think that Libba Bray did an amazing job with the first two novels in this series A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY and REBEL ANGELS. I am sure that both of those books were probably this long but were trimmed down for the sake of time and progression of story. Unfortunately, this book needed the same kind of editing. I can totally overlook the feminism in these books which wouldn't have been allowed by such young women during this time period but I cannot overlook the repetition. A great deal of the book could have just been left out altogether (okay that's obviously just my opinion) but it is a fact that the same things are stated over and over again.

The second half of the book is literally amazing. The first 400 pages should have been told in less than 200. I think it would have helped the book a lot.

These may seem petty, but the series has just been exemplary and I was disappointed with this ending. Gemma and her friends deserved better!

I think that Libba Bray did an amazing job with the first two novels in this series A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY and REBEL ANGELS. I am sure that both of those books were probably this long but were trimmed down for the sake of time and progression of story. Unfortunately, this book needed the same kind of editing. I can totally overlook the feminism in these books which wouldn't have been allowed by such young women during this time period but I cannot overlook the repetition. A great deal of the book could have just been left out altogether (okay that's obviously just my opinion) but it is a fact that the same things are stated over and over again. Every time the ladies enter the realms someone/something is watching them. Gemma's love interest is brought up too many times. As educated readers, we know that Gemma is pining for him and don't need to be reminded of it all the time.

These may seem petty, but the series has just been exemplary and I was disappointed with this ending. Gemma and her friends deserved better!

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning with "A Great and Terrible Beauty" and "Rebel Angels," and for the most part, I enjoyed this last part of the trilogy as well. I got what I expected in terms of light reading that is mostly plot-driven. It was fun and quite exciting at times. And for this genre of literature, the author has surprisingly moving prose at times.

However, she has a tendancy to tell the reader how they should feel about the situation a little to often. And there were some clichés that would have been better left aside. I'd say what bothered me most about the novel and why I only gave it three stars is the overt feminist and anti-religious messages being sent. I am a feminist, and I don't mind when books are anti-religion, but Ms. Bray is far too blatant about it. The last seventy five pages read somewhat like a Feminist manifesto and it is unrealistic for the time period. There was also (spoiler coming) a scene that seemed to resemble far too closely the eucharist ceremony of the Catholic Church and to make a mockery of it. I think, for young adult literature, this is risky. But then, maybe Ms. Bray doesn't consider this book for young adults.

I've read many fictional, fantasy books because of my sister. Libba Bray has outdone herself by far in this book. After reading twilight, I never thought that i would find another book that would come close to twilight. This book is the one of two other series that I find a 10 on a scale of 1-10. It is by far the best book in the whole Gemma Doyle trilogy...it is filled with the twists that everyone will enjoy. The romance is not overdone, as it is in some books. Gemma is still stuggling with the magic and believing in herself. In additon to all of this, Pippa doesn't seem to have the ability to do what she must, for some reason or other. Kartik also returns, and thus, the plot twist. I Loved IT! I RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE who loves reading fantasy books. I am more of a vampire/werewolf/crime/action kind of bookworm, but The Sweet Far Thing totally surpassed my expectations.

This book got slow and places but it was worth reading. The whole trilogy has many lessons including lessons on trust and friendship. If you haven't read this trilogy yet then you are missing out on some real good books.