A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray follows Gemma Doyle, a young girl who discovers her supernatural powers after her mother's death in colonial India. Sent to a boarding school in England, Gemma forms friendships with fellow students and delves into the mysteries surrounding her visions and magical abilities. The book combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and romance set against the backdrop of Victorian England, exploring themes of power, friendship, and the struggle against societal norms.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing a range of personalities from Gemma's strong-willed nature to Felicity's cruelty and Ann's vulnerability, giving depth to their friendships and conflicts.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is rich and descriptive, utilizing present tense and a first-person perspective that draws readers into Gemma's emotional journey and the atmospheric world.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Gemma Doyle as she navigates her life after her mother's mysterious death, uncovering her magical powers while adjusting to the strict environment of a Victorian boarding school.

Setting:

The setting transitions from colonial India to a Victorian boarding school in England, enriching the story with historical and cultural contexts.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with a slow build that progresses into a faster, more engaging rhythm as mysteries unfold later in the story.

I am staring into the hissing face of a cobra. A surprisingly pink tongue slithers in and out of a cruel mouth while an Indian man whose eyes are the blue of blindness inclines his head toward my moth...

Notes:

The book is set primarily in 1895 Victorian England.

Gemma Doyle is the main character who witnesses her mother's death in India.

The story begins with Gemma having visions that connect to her mother's death.

Gemma is sent to Spence Academy, a boarding school for young ladies in England.

The book explores themes of female friendship, power, and societal expectations.

It's the first book in a trilogy written by Libba Bray.

The characters experience challenges related to their social standings and the constraints of being women in that era.

The narrative combines elements of historical fiction with fantasy and supernatural elements.

The book addresses issues such as mental health, personal insecurities, and the search for identity and agency.

Felicity, one of Gemma's friends, is portrayed as a mean girl but eventually shows depth as the story progresses.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings for A Great and Terrible Beauty include themes of suicide, mental health issues, dark magic, violence, and bullying.

From The Publisher:

The first book in the critically acclaimed New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Gemma Doyle trilogy, the exhilarating and haunting saga from the author of The Diviners series and Going Bovine.

It's 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma's reception there is a chilly one.

To make things worse, she's been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence's most powerful girls-and their foray into the spiritual world-lead to?

"A delicious, elegant gothic."-PW, Starred

"Shivery with both passion and terror."-Kirkus Reviews

"Compulsively readable." -VOYA

A New York Times Bestseller

A Publishers Weekly Bestseller

A Book Sense Bestseller

BBYA (ALA/YALSA Best Book for Young Adults)

Iowa High School Book Award

Garden State Teen Book Award

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award

Ratings (34)

Incredible (8)
Loved It (14)
Liked It (7)
Did Not Like (5)

Reader Stats (65):

Read It (35)
Want To Read (22)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (7)

3 comment(s)

loutup337

Did Not Like

5 days

Fast and fun, got to love some magic. Enjoyed it but was a little slow at times but overall enjoyed it.

StephB

Loved It

3 weeks

The story of Gemma Doyle was at times sad (loss of mother), familiar (new school / making friends) and others enchanting (finding a "land" where anything is possible).

Favorite Quote:

"there are no safe choices ... only different ones"

Certainly the message that "in each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice" and the power of forgiveness are strong ones that resonate to all ages.

funrex232

Did Not Like

7 months

Honestly I'm completely baffled by this book. I didn't really like it. It felt dry and boring. But I could not for the life of me put it down. Something compelled me to keep on reading and I'm fkd if I know what it was.

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About the Author:

Libba Bray is the author of the New York Times bestselling Gemma Doyle Trilogy, which comprises the novels A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing. She has written short stories about everything from Cheap Trick…

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A Great and Terrible Beauty

Libba Bray

Book 1 in the series:Gemma Doyle