Customer Reviews
Very good 
2008-06-09
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.
Wonderful! 2008-06-08
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.
First Person Present tense? 
2008-06-06
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.
A great and beautiful book 2008-05-22
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!
What a "Great and Not Terrible Book"!! 2008-05-09
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!!!
I would give this book 10 stars if possible! 2008-07-22
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.
Can't wait to get the next book... 2008-07-18
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!
A Great Beauty 2008-07-03
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!
Pretty good book 2008-06-24
(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.
Captivating 2008-06-16
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!
