A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) by Libba Bray (2005)

A gripping and eerie read, this book aimed at tween girls presents a 16 year old struggling with how she should behave versus defining herself as an individual. I really enjoyed this book and had a difficult time putting it down. A bit spooky at times in a somewhat cheesy, but fun way, it made me feel the same jumpiness upon hearing a bump in the night as when I was a young girl reading similarly themed books. In the end it has a good message as we start to see the heroine, Gemma, grow up and transition into an adult. During this book, Gemma evolves from seeing a world that revolves around her to recognizing that she is part of a bigger picture. By the end she no longer sees things in merely black and white, i.e. you support what she wants or are against what she wants, but rather recognizes the complexity and multi-faceted nature of other people and situations. [An aside: This is a lesson in growing up that strangely a lot of the people in our society seem to have missed. Many people from some leading political figures (you know the crew I'm talking about!) to some everyday citizens have a tendency to see only black and white, good vs evil, for vs against. Perhaps they should read this silly little tween novel to learn that most people and situations cannot be summed up so simply. :)]I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I would recommend this to the intended audience of 10-12 year old girls and to women who were avid readers as kids and want to return to the giddiness and excitement of reading an unfolding mystery told by a girl on the edge of womanhood. One passage that I liked that captures a good message of the book:"Forgiveness... I'll hold on to that fragile slice of hope and keep it close, remembering that in each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice. We're each of us our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We've got to forgive ourselves that. I must remember to forgive myself. Because there's an awful lot of gray to work with. No one can live in the light all the time." ( )

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The Gemma Doyle Trilogy is a popular series of books set in the 19th century. A Great and Terrible Beauty, the first book of the series, does a great job of setting the atmosphere for a satisfying historical fantasy tale with modern-day themes of friendship, power and loyalty.

The story revolves around:

Gemma Doyle: A smart and inquisitive young girl who grew up in India. After her mother’s mysterious death, she moves to England and attends Spence Academy.

Ann Bradshaw: Gemma’s first friend at the academy; a meek, unpopular girl who comes from a lower class family. She is attending Spence on a scholarship.

Felicity Worthington: The most popular girl at Spence Academy, thanks to her outgoing and commanding personality. She can be quite cruel, especially towards Gemma and Ann.

Pippa Cross: Widely acknowledged as the most beautiful girl at Spence. She is best friends with Felicity and at the top of the academy hierarchy.

These four girls live in a time where their only future lies in getting a husband instead of creating a life for themselves. Naturally, being the headstrong, determined young ladies they are, that can’t be the only thing in store for them…

Bray does a fantastic job of developing the setting; the dialogue is perfect and really draws you into the world. Both of them, actually.

A Great and Terrible Beauty is more than a historical tale; a major story element is the girls’ journey into the ‘realms’, a beautiful place where anything you imagine can become real. Be it turning raindrops into butterflies or being swept away by a dashing prince- the girls are free from the restrictions in their society that restricts their freedom of choice. And this is where the story’s element of fantasy comes in; the moments in the realms were beautifully written and one of my favorite parts of the book.

Their are a few mysteries and a plot twist or two; the sequels are a must-read if you liked the first book. A Great and Terrible Beauty is simply a little taste of what is yet to come in this, lush, beautifully written series.

Score: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | 82%

✿ Linna
A Great and Terrible beauty - Book Review ( )

An enjoyable read. There are more compelling stories out there; I found the plot fairly mundane. The striking element of this story is the characterization. While other reviewers have found nothing redemptive in the four girls featured, I prefer characters who are real.

Gemma, Ann, Felicity and Pippa are each struggling in their own ways against what the world requires of them as young women. Despite the setting in Victorian England, their problems echoed the problems of girls today -- family obligations, constraint within traditional gender roles, a desire for ownership of your own life, the desire to be recognized and appreciated for what you are, rather than what others want you to be. That, more than the plot, is what drew me into this story and made me want to read more. ( )

An excellently written book! Plot twists, great characters, mystery, and vivid writing bring this page-turner to life. I couldn't put it down! A mixture of Jane Austen and Harry Potter... what a unique and freshly original book! Though it has definite traces of being influenced by the popular "Sabriel" (by Garth Nix), this book is definitely its own story.
Excellent! I am looking forward to reading the sequel. ( )