A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy)
by: Libba Bray
Price: $9.99
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Amazon.com Review:
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mothers death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy. (Ages 12 up) Patty Campbell
Product Description:
It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?
From the Hardcover edition.
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mothers death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy. (Ages 12 up) Patty Campbell
Product Description:
It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- a great and terrible beauty
I would've given the book a higher rating, but the beginning dragged for me.But, once I figured out what was going on I couldn't put it down. Gemma Doyle has grown up thinking she's ordinary until she goes to the Spence Academy and discovers that she has supernatural powers.While the plot is entertaining, the thing that's fascinating to me about the book is the characters. They're all complex and believable.The friendship between Gemma, Felicity, Pippa and Ann is very true to teenage friendships. ... Read More
Rating: 
- And Another Book Read Reviews
Gemma Doyle is a normal sixteen year old living with her parents in India. On the day of her sixteenth birthday she has a horrible vision of her mother being murdered. The worst part is, it comes true. After her mother's death her father moves her to England and sends her to Spence Academy for Girls. Here she learns to be a proper English lady and continues to receive mysterious visions filled with fantastical magic. While at Spence she befriends the beautiful Pippa, fierce Felicity, and timid Ann. Together ... Read More
Rating: - AMAZINGGGGGGGGG --my favorite book ever
A Great and Terrible Beauty is my all time favorite book and reading this (prompted by a school summer reading requirement) was a surprise very much to my liking. It really is a declicious and elegant gothic with beautiful scenery and imagery. The characters are interesting to uncover and learn about and the plot is great!
I read this and it actually gave me some chills along the way--i read the other two after i finished this one.. Believe me, the other 2 are just as great but none can stand up ... Read More
Rating: - Enchanting...
After reading all 3 books (really, the 4th could be considered 2 books!)I can honestly say I am completely in love!
Libba Bray has done an excellent job taking us back to Victorian times where woman are bred to be mothers and housewives thinking of nothing but "England." I enjoy these types of books on their own. But, once you add magic, realms, dreams, betrayal, death, secrets, and LOVE...boy have you got my attention!
These books are an EXCELLENT read, I highly recommend them to ... Read More
Rating: - great writing, dark story
Well-written novel of secret spiritual realms. It seemed to teeter on the occult. The first and second halves of the book seemed very different and had very different feels. I enjoyed the writing, but the story was just too dark for me.
- a great and terrible beautyI would've given the book a higher rating, but the beginning dragged for me.But, once I figured out what was going on I couldn't put it down. Gemma Doyle has grown up thinking she's ordinary until she goes to the Spence Academy and discovers that she has supernatural powers.While the plot is entertaining, the thing that's fascinating to me about the book is the characters. They're all complex and believable.The friendship between Gemma, Felicity, Pippa and Ann is very true to teenage friendships. ... Read More
- And Another Book Read ReviewsGemma Doyle is a normal sixteen year old living with her parents in India. On the day of her sixteenth birthday she has a horrible vision of her mother being murdered. The worst part is, it comes true. After her mother's death her father moves her to England and sends her to Spence Academy for Girls. Here she learns to be a proper English lady and continues to receive mysterious visions filled with fantastical magic. While at Spence she befriends the beautiful Pippa, fierce Felicity, and timid Ann. Together ... Read More
- AMAZINGGGGGGGGG --my favorite book everA Great and Terrible Beauty is my all time favorite book and reading this (prompted by a school summer reading requirement) was a surprise very much to my liking. It really is a declicious and elegant gothic with beautiful scenery and imagery. The characters are interesting to uncover and learn about and the plot is great!
I read this and it actually gave me some chills along the way--i read the other two after i finished this one.. Believe me, the other 2 are just as great but none can stand up ... Read More
- Enchanting...After reading all 3 books (really, the 4th could be considered 2 books!)I can honestly say I am completely in love!
Libba Bray has done an excellent job taking us back to Victorian times where woman are bred to be mothers and housewives thinking of nothing but "England." I enjoy these types of books on their own. But, once you add magic, realms, dreams, betrayal, death, secrets, and LOVE...boy have you got my attention!
These books are an EXCELLENT read, I highly recommend them to ... Read More
- great writing, dark storyWell-written novel of secret spiritual realms. It seemed to teeter on the occult. The first and second halves of the book seemed very different and had very different feels. I enjoyed the writing, but the story was just too dark for me.
