A GREAT & TERRIBLE BEAUTY
Book #72
Book Title: A Great & Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: fantasy;YA fiction
# of pages: 403
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best].: A+
Short description/summary of the book: (taken from amazon.com): A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.
My Thoughts: WOW. This is one PRETTY amazing read! So amazing that I just ordered the sequel Rebel Angels! I was not sure if I would like this book, but it was written so beautifully, in the style of a Victorian novel. I think that any woman that loves fantasy will most definitely appreciate this engrossing read.
Currently reading: I just got Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin from the library, so I think I will try reading it next.
X-posted to my book community,
book_it_2006 and a whole lot of other places! ;P
Book Title: A Great & Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: fantasy;YA fiction
# of pages: 403
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best].: A+
Short description/summary of the book: (taken from amazon.com): A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.
My Thoughts: WOW. This is one PRETTY amazing read! So amazing that I just ordered the sequel Rebel Angels! I was not sure if I would like this book, but it was written so beautifully, in the style of a Victorian novel. I think that any woman that loves fantasy will most definitely appreciate this engrossing read.
Currently reading: I just got Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin from the library, so I think I will try reading it next.
X-posted to my book community,
book_it_2006 and a whole lot of other places! ;P 