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A Great and Terrible Beauty (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy) | 
 enlarge | Author: Libba Bray
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Category: Book
List Price: $9.99
Buy Used: $3.32
You Save: $6.67 (67%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  290 reviews
Sales Rank: 1413
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0385732317
EAN: 9780385732314
ASIN: 0385732317
Publication Date: March 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read -> Recycle -> Reuse!
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| Editorial Reviews:
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. (Ages 12 up) -Patty Campbell
Product Description
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?
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
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?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 285 more reviews...
 I would give this book 10 stars if possible! July 22, 2008
At first I wasn't expecting much, I thought this book was going to be one of those books about the proper boring girls...but I was sadly mistaken. From India to London to the realms and back; not only is sixteen year old Gemma far from boring, she's not perfect, and she does whatever it takes to fix things, thats what I think makes her so interesting. And not to mention the ability to see the future.
One of my favorite things of the book is that it's realistic fiction with a magical flare! You can feel eerie, suspenseful, mysterious part of the book but then turn the page and feel engulfed in the beauty of Gemma's magic.
After I finished "A Great and Terrible Beauty" I was so excited to hear that there is a sequel...and then a third book too!!
Happy Reading.
Can't wait to get the next book... July 18, 2008
Libba Bray has captured my attention! I began this book on the front porch with my coffee and found I couldn't put it down. A Great and Terrible Beauty is not what I expected at all...the supernatural element and the twists and turns of the story kept me reading. Gemma is a young boarding school student who stumbles quite by accident into a mystery that will change the course of her life. She learns truths about her mother and the mysterious existence of the Order. Her descriptions of the other "realms" she "travels" to, create this beautiful visual in your head. Things do and become what you least expect. All this excitement is encapsulated by the stifling Victorian pressure on girls by society as well as their corsets. I highly recommend this book for high school students and anyone interested in this time period sprinkled with mysticism--it's a great read, quickly paced and easy to settle into...best part? No test!
 A Great Beauty July 3, 2008
I was very reluctant to pick up this book. I don't usually like parnormal, mildly scary stuff, but this summer has been a milestone in my reading life. Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. It was inspiring, addictiong, and got me (finally!) to pick up Twilight. I loved this book. I spent all day reading it, I wouldn't leave if I could. Just a few qualms....
Qualm Number 1: The lack of romance. Kartik is a nice guy Gemma, why can't you see that? Even though he is a little odd at times and keeps changing his opinions of her, he is engrossing to read about. Gemma dreams of him, but secretly is a coward. Sigh. Oh, Kartik.
Qualm Number 2: I comment about this more in my review of Rebel Angels, but it is apparant to me that everyone is using Gemma. They all hug her when she gives them access to the realms, and shun her when she doesn't. I find Felicity, Ann, and Pippa annoying and mean. YOu can't become friends overnight. There is a little work there.
Qualmm Number 3: I don't like how they blamed the diary on Miss Moore, and no one but Gemma really cared that much. She was a nice lady, although I kinda think she's Circe. I really have no clue though.
Qualm Number 4: How violent they are. At the end they mutilate the deer with no reward, and I felt sick. How horrible. That was not needed, as there was no outcome. And there is a lot of blood through the book if you didn't notice.
I liked how Virginia Doyle was Mary Dowd. Intresting twist. I actually didn't see that coming.
I disagree with those people who say some of the references were not needed. I am sure later in the trilogy they will play a part.
I wish I could make this longer, but I can't. So please read it, ok? oyu won't regret it, and for all it's bad moments, it has twice as many beautiful, shining moments. Thanks Libba Bray for a great summer read!
Pretty good book June 24, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
(daughter of user)
Well, after finishing the Twilight series, I was at a loss for what to read next. One of my best friends suggested the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. Now, after reading Twilight, nothing I used to think was great even compares, but this book comes close. However, I don't see the whole reader's attraction to Kartik thing. I didn't like him much, he didn't stand out for me, but maybe he wasn't supposed to. I guess I'll have to read the next book to decide on my opinion of him. I also found Gemma to be a good character. She started out really immature and bratty, but grew up a bit over time, as she gained responsibility for the realms. All in all, a pretty good book.
Captivating June 16, 2008
This was a great and addicting novel. I love the Victorian type fictional novels with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. I loved it so much I read the other two and loved them. I highly recommend this book. It's a breath of fresh air!
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