Book Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
I just re-read this book again, which is something that I don't normally do - which tells you how much I enjoyed it.
To give you an idea of what the book is about: It is primarily set in Victorian England, with a couple flashbacks of India. The bulk of the story takes place at a boarding school with the main character, Gemma, and her friends, Pippa, Felicity, and Ann. They begin to explore a mystery that surrounds their school. Gemma is special, she has visions; these visions and powers create a lot of fun and adventures for the girls, but may not be entirely what they seem.
I would say this book is for the older teen set, but many of any age would find it enjoyable. It is not magic like Harry Potter, but I would call it more ethereal with some magical elements. A little bit of fantasy set in a believable historical setting. I love the imagery that the author paints and the characters that she creates. It is a quick read and very enjoyable.
Also, I love the cover of this book in particular, but of the whole series in general! I had to have all of them in hardcover!
Libba Bray also has written books two Rebel Angels (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy Book #2) - Libba Bray and three The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, Book 3) - Libba Bray in this series. You can visit her website or blog for additional information about the books. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?
Or, if you loved the book, check out this virtual tour of Spence Academy!
Series: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
This review is of a book from my personal collection and is based solely on my reading pleasure. Review originally posted at The Maiden's Court on May 6, 2009.