A Great and Terrible Beauty

I wanted to like this but I felt like half this story was a cheap knockoff of A Little Princess. Girl losses a parent, has to leave India to go to a strict boarding school. The other girls don't like her, she befriends a girl who is unpopular or a “charity case”. I liked the beginning, but once they went back to England I lost all interest. I Googled the ending and I'm glad I didn't waste anymore time on this book. Huge let down

As a reviewer, I think I am coming to realize what genres are really my favorite and which ones are not. I haven't read that much fantasy but even though I did enjoy this book and it was very well written and laid out, the genre just isn't my absolute favorite. When something is so out there and has a small chance of happening in reality, I tend to have a much harder time fully immersing myself in the story. Don't get me wrong, I would recommend this book for any and all fantasy lovers a million times over, just wasn't my favorite genre is all.

The story follows a young girl named Gemma, who is forced to attend a school in England named Spence, after her mother mysteriously commits suicide. We follow her as she navigates this new world and also tries to make sense of her newfound powers and such. The plot was a very unique one, in my opinion, even though I haven't read much fantasy to begin with. I definitely enjoyed getting lost in Gemma's world, where magic is possible and girls are definitely inferior to men. Libba Bray has a great writing style and I could not stop reading this book, even if the fantasy was a little too out there for me.

Further, the characterization was pretty good. I loved that we got to see what Gemma was thinking because her thoughts were often written in the book in italic font. I love that she is this strong-willed, young woman and her strong spirit is one I absolutely admire myself. The other characters weren't as in-depth but we got somewhat of a picture of them and they definitely all changed and developed as the story progressed and I always love to see that growth in books. Of course, Gemma grew the most and she will definitely be one of my favorite heroines forever. I will absolutely, without a doubt be reading the other books in these series. Although I will probably take a break with some other books before that.

I think the school girl me would have devoured and loved this book without a doubt but since I am older now, it doesn't quite have the same affect. But that's what happens when we get older, we change and our priorities also change as a result. I would absolutely say that this was a terrific book and one of the best fantasy YA novels I've ever read. I can't wait to pick up her newer books, since this one is older. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read!

I read this book when it was first published while I was in high school. I remembered loving it before beginning this re-read, but I didn't remember much of the plot. I'm trying to get back into reading more, so I re-read The Hobbit, and now I've re-read A Great and Terrible Beauty, both easy, fun reads. This novel takes place in the late 1890s, and the late 19th century-early 20th century is my favorite period for historical fiction. There's gothic and queer themes here, and I do love girls' boarding school stories.

At the beginning of the story, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle's mother dies, and she leaves India, where she's lived almost all her life, to return to England. Her family is not warm, and they send her to a finishing school, Spence. Gemma takes some time to make friends since they're not very welcoming to newcomers. Most of the girls come from wealthy families and are, well, snobs. Gemma shares her room with Ann, the only scholarship student who, because of her status, is an outcast. Because of certain events, Gemma and Ann soon form a friend group with Felicity and Pippa. These two are the most popular and envied girls of the school, though they have their own issues and problems with family. Each of the girls struggle with their place in life, society, and what everyone expects of them.

“No one asks how I am or what I am doing. They could not care less. We're all looking glasses, we girls, existing only to reflect their images back to them as they'd like to be seen. Hollow vessels of girls to be rinsed of our own ambitions, wants, and opinions, just waiting to be filled with the cool, tepid water of gracious compliance.”

There is another element to this book, however, and that is Gemma's magical power. She begins by having visions and soon enters a magical realm. Most of the story involves this power and what it means for Gemma and her friends.

This is a young adult novel, so the writing is pretty streamlined. There are memorable and distinguished moments, though, both of writing and and plot. I read this book quickly, going to it almost every night, and sometimes during the day. Usually, I read once or twice a week at bedtime, which is why it takes me so long to get through a book. As I said earlier, I'm trying to get back into reading and read more books. Reading A Great and Terrible Beauty made me feel like I could enjoy the act again, not just try to finish a book.

This is a trilogy, and I intend to pick up the sequel, but not right away. I'm the kind of reader that can't read the same thing, even the same genre, back-to-back.

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This book is a nostalgic read for me and will always be one that I love. Gemma is insufferable, but she feels like family. Ann still sucks in every way. And Felicity will always be that bitch to aspire to. I love that most of the fantasy books made nowadays has a main character that is more similar to Felicity than Gemma.

This book..was really great :)
It didn't move into the story too slow or anything(It actually started with her Mom dying...)
Some of the stuff surprised me(like how Mary Dowd was her mother..Whoa..)
And that little girl that was with Gemma's Mom..does anyone think that it could be Caroline? It sounded like her after awhile.
And after I heard that Sarah called herself some special name..I knew she was either the Huntress or Connected to Her. And, I was really surprised when we found out that Circe was Sarah..and that neither Mary nor Sarah had died in that fire. Does that mean Eugenia survived in some way? Like she's trapped in the same way as Amar?
And what was up with Kartik? Really..I knew they were going to have some kinda thing when we met him straight at the beginning. And were those dreams Gemma had of him w/ her real? ‘Cuz they were kinda strange..after she saw him again and he didn't say anything to her.
I was kinda sad about Pippa “dying” but not really. Pippa would've gone with Felicity no matter what(So would Ann..but Two could be halfway matched by one..and maybe thrown off course by one).
The Felicity thing REALLY irked me. I wouldn't have taken her back as a friend. Not. At. All. Actually, I probably would've left Pippa alone after what she did to Ms.Moore(Really..how low could you get to blame your troubles on a teacher? Sheeshh..)
Anyways..it was good. And I'd definitely recommend it to peoplez.

The cover does not express at all what this book is actually about. This is a Victorian boarding school story with a magical twist. It is not lusty, sexy or steamy. Even the title is misleading.

That said, I found the story interesting and an unusual twist on the current options in the supernatural YA category.

I use to be a bit of a snob about young adult books, well not really a snob, I just figured I was to old to be reading “those” types of books and would pass them by. Then I read Twilight and suddenly the genre didn't seem all that bad. Since then some of my favorite reads would be classified as young adult and this one definitely falls into that category! This novel had all the elements I love in a good book, set in and earlier time, involves the occult and with a little bit of raciness that I rather enjoy! This is book #1 of a three book collection and I can't wait to read the next two.