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 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.
Rating: 
- a great read.
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 ... Read More
Rating: 
- Don't bother
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.
Rating: - Little great, a lot terrible and nothing beautiful
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Good, but not for kids . . . (a few spoilers here)
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.
- A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTYI 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.
- a great read.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 ... Read More
- Don't botherThis 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.
- Little great, a lot terrible and nothing beautifulIn 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 ... Read More
- Good, but not for kids . . . (a few spoilers here)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.
