A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)
User reviews
25 reviews with 4 stars
106 reviews
Overall rating
4.2
Plot
4.5(106)
Characters
4.1(14)
Writing Style
4.1(14)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Sophisticated
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Stella
A Great and Terrible beauty is the story of a sassy young woman in a society where women are expected to be meek and subservient, who is forced to come to terms with the real reason for her mother's death, and face the disasters that she alone can fix.
Like most good books, this story has an underlying love story that does not overshadow the drama and action of the story line. A bit hard to get into, but picks up and turns into a great read!
A Great and Terrible beauty is the story of a sassy young woman in a society where women are expected to be meek and subservient, who is forced to come to terms with the real reason for her mother's death, and face the disasters that she alone can fix.
Like most good books, this story has an underlying love story that does not overshadow the drama and action of the story line. A bit hard to get into, but picks up and turns into a great read!
Very interesting and mind boggling!
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by garden0fdreams
From begining to start the author kept you guessing about what was really going to happen, thats one of the greatest characteristics a book can have, and just with that, it makes it a great book. The setting,plot and style of the novel is also very attractive.
From begining to start the author kept you guessing about what was really going to happen, thats one of the greatest characteristics a book can have, and just with that, it makes it a great book. The setting,plot and style of the novel is also very attractive.
It sucks you in and won't let go
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Wonk
A Great and Terrible Beauty is a YA book that I was at first hesitant to read, but ultimately glad that I gave into the temptation. It is well written and historically accurate (though I can't claim to be an expert concerning the Victorian era). I appreciate her real characters and especially the studly Kartik. Some aspects, summarized, might seem a bit cliche, but she handles them originally with characters that strain at those bounds. It is historical, but also a fantasy, and should tickle the fancy of lovers of both. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Rebel Angels.
I also appreciate that the author has a livejournal, through which she can communicate with her fans (and they can communicate back).
A Great and Terrible Beauty is a YA book that I was at first hesitant to read, but ultimately glad that I gave into the temptation. It is well written and historically accurate (though I can't claim to be an expert concerning the Victorian era). I appreciate her real characters and especially the studly Kartik. Some aspects, summarized, might seem a bit cliche, but she handles them originally with characters that strain at those bounds. It is historical, but also a fantasy, and should tickle the fancy of lovers of both. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Rebel Angels.
I also appreciate that the author has a livejournal, through which she can communicate with her fans (and they can communicate back).
Enter a new realm
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Ella
Where to begin, where to begin? 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 and really put the reader into the book. I felt the suspense, the anger, 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 (obviously the ending they couldn't). They had fights and disagreements throughout the whole book, just like real friends do. I also, while I wished it didn't have to, 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 (excuse my spelling). Overall this was a book worth reading and at points easy to relate to.
Where to begin, where to begin? 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 and really put the reader into the book. I felt the suspense, the anger, 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 (obviously the ending they couldn't). They had fights and disagreements throughout the whole book, just like real friends do. I also, while I wished it didn't have to, 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 (excuse my spelling). Overall this was a book worth reading and at points easy to relate to.
Mesmerizing
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Alyssa
I truly picked up the book because its cover was interesting. It seemed to be about a great and terrible beauty and set in historical times. I couldn't imagine what could be so terrible about beauty but I guess its one of those things that are good and bad for you, a gift and a curse. I loved the book. It was a great story about a young woman finding herself and holding on to her truth while being thrown into a world qiute unlike her own. I recommend it. It is beautiful literature.
I truly picked up the book because its cover was interesting. It seemed to be about a great and terrible beauty and set in historical times. I couldn't imagine what could be so terrible about beauty but I guess its one of those things that are good and bad for you, a gift and a curse. I loved the book. It was a great story about a young woman finding herself and holding on to her truth while being thrown into a world qiute unlike her own. I recommend it. It is beautiful literature.
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