A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)

Reader reviewed by Ash

A Great and Terrible Beauty wasn't one of those books that just went 'Gemma made friends and they found a scarey new realm, but they defeated it together and helped Gemma's mom, and lived happily ever after.' It went into depth. I felt the suspense, the magic in the book. I really liked how the author didn't make all the girls and Gemma's mother get along perfectly for most of the book. They had fights and disagreements throughout the whole book, just like real friends do. I thought it was good of the Celia Rees to let one of the characters die. It showed how dangerous and serious the realm was even without Circees .Overall this was a book worth reading and at points easy to relate to.

Reader reviewed by MissGoodie2Shoes

After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world.

I thought this book was a great read. Its about a girl named Gemma who goes to an a all girls school called Spence Academy in England. There she discovers more about her mothers death with the help of a mysterious friend named Kartik. Overall its a great story and i cant wait for this sequel to come out either. The sequel is called Rebel Angels and it comes out August 23rd. Enjoy

Reader reviewed by Sandra

What can I really say about this book, except WOW? As you can tell, I completely loved this book. Libba Bray was able to capture the essence of a Victorian finishing school while simultaneously speaking of wonders beyond the imagination. I loved the mystery and intrigued which surrounded the east wing of Spence. She also was able to aptly touch on issues such as the gaps between wealth and poverty, which she personified as Felicity and Ann, respectively. Not only did that add another dimension to A Great and Terrible Beauty, but it also showed that Bray was conscious of such problems' existences in the world. All in all, I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone who likes mystery, boarding schools, and a wealth of new and strange creatures. I can't wait for her sequel, Rebel Angels.

Reader reviewed by chickbox

this book is really awesome.it unravels beautifully.
this book is about a girl named gemma who goes to spence academy after her mother is killed by this thing called circe.at spence gemma finds secrets to her mothers past and she uncovers powers she never new she had.
i am so exsited to read the sequal Rebel Angels. i am looking foreword to understand the plot better!

Reader reviewed by linda

Set in the Victorian ages in a finishing school, 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' chronicles the boarding school life of Gemma Doyle. Gemma's dreams of going to London are marred by her mother's suicide and visions that plague her. After finding out more about her visions, her mother's death, and the diary of a mysterious girl named Mary, Gemma and her new friends go into the realms of paradise only to find in the end that it isn't paradise at all. Plagued by the troubles of being beautiful girls during the Victorian era they realize their true power and make the same mistakes as others did in the past forcing one girl to leave forever.

Reprinted here with author's permission.

Reader reviewed by janine

I think this book is a must read. It obsures the line between magic and reality. I thougt it was also wonderfully researched. I felt like I was in Victorian England. I felt the oppression and the need to fit in.

I was very sad when one of the friends died, but sometimes that has to happen to make a book great, and this one truly is. I whole-heartedly enoyed this absolutely though-provoking book.

Reader reviewed by two_sided_freek

Many would agree that a novel that is set in the past isn't always great but this book definitely is good. It has adventure, the supernatural, love friendship, basically a little bit for everyone.

What is exceptional about this book is the main character. She's nothing special, not an exotic beauty, or rich. She's normal, has wishes, gets jealous and basically like a lot of us. She's an outsider to the England ways and just wants to belong.

The story starts with Gemma's mother being murdered while Gemma herself watches it in a vision. From there it progresses to Gemma being sent to England where she joins in a school meant to train girls to become the ultimate wife in the Victorian Era. As the story continues we meet the mysteriously handsome Kartik, and all her soon to be friends. This book sucks you in and you can't help but read it. Whenever you put it down, it tempts you to pick it up again and there is no way to satisfy the need to read more until you finish the series.

Reader reviewed by *lyssa

What would you do if you knew the way to another realm, another world? One in that you can turn the dew into butterflies and make your greatest wishes come true? Where nothing is impossible?

Gemma has the power to go there, through the door of light she alone can conjure. She's what the Order's waited 20 years for, what Circe hunts for.

Miss Moore tells her there are no good or bad decisions. Only different choices. Now Gemma has a choice--should the Order be reinstated after Sarah Rees-Toome's betrayal, or should the magic be left alone?

Read this tale of friendship, darkness, power, and illusion to find out.

Reader reviewed by Amanda D.


At just sixteen years old, Gemma witnesses her mother's murder in India. She is sent to Spence, a boarding school in England. There she becomes friends with Felicity, Ann, and Pippa.

Reader reviewed by Amanda D.


At just sixteen years old, Gemma witnesses her mother's suicide in their home for years-India. By her father and brother she is sent to Spence, a boarding school in England. There she becomes friends with Felicity, Ann, and Pippa. There was a young Indian boy named Kartik that was present when her mother died who knows of her secret. He has followed her there to keep an eye on her and help her figure out what's happening. She learns out her mother's secret and finds she can go to the Realms, a place only members of the Order can go. Something is threatening the Realms and her world. With the help of Kartik, Gemma must found out what it is and fight it.

I absolutely love this book. I love books where the main character is a girl. It has a wonderful plot that keeps the pages turning. Of course, there is also Kartik.