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Book of the Week #20: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Publication Date: 9th December 2003
When I Read It: October 2009
Synopsis: 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.
Sixteen-year-old Gemma 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 with 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.
Recommended if: You love historical fiction with a twist.
Why I Loved It: Because I love historical fiction, but I also love paranormal, and this book is both mixed together.
My Review: http://cheezyfeetbooks.blogspot.com/2010/09/great-and-terrible-beauty-libba-bray.html
Why It's Book of the Week: Because it's really really old, and I don't think it should be forgotten because it's awesome!
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