A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray Review

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Age Group: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Series: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The bottom line: Lush, dark, and thrilling, A Great and Terrible Beauty is a promising start to a wicked, magical trilogy that I couldn't put down--I can't wait for Rebel Angels!

Gemma Doyle is sixteen, and she longs for London, far away from her home in India--she wants a season, friends, a coming out party, to be around peers her age--even though her mother flatly refuses. Locked in a stalemate, tragedy strikes soon after--and Gemma gets her wish. Once at Spence, she uncovers terrifying visions, atrocities performed long before her time, and the secrets to her past.

What I enjoyed:
-Gemma, and her spunky attitude, as well as her fresh, unique voice
-Felicity, and her desire to rise above being simply a woman
-Pippa, the beauty that wants nothing more than true love
-Ann, and her desire to be accepted and part of a group
-Miss Moore
-The slightly claustrophobic Victorian setting, done to perfection and with real style
-The magic of the novel
-Kartik
-The mystery that was wrapped up in the magic
-The powerful prose
-The fast pacing

What I didn't enjoy:
-At times some of the other girls in Gemma's class annoyed me, but it was minor--this book is a real treat, especially for fans of magic and strong heroines!

A Great and Terrible Beauty is a new favorite and I can't wait for its sequels--I'm really looking forward to seeing the characters evolve and their magic grow--a home run for Miss Libba Bray! Bravo! Next on deck: Across the Universe by Beth Revis!

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