The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Title: The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle #3)

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Delacorte Books 2009

Genre: YA

Pages: 848

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: YA; Mount TBR; Semi-Charmed -- trilogy

How I Got It: I own it!

It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father alaudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.The Order—the mysterious group her mother was once part of—is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

Overall I really did like this series. I liked Gemma's growth. I liked the world of the Realms, especially the Winterlands. I loved some of the side characters, Kartik, Brigid, Nightwing, Mother Elena, the Gorgon. I fell into the story just as quickly as Gemma fell into visions. I liked that Tom finally saw his sister for she is. I loved that Gemma didn't end up as a corseted prim beauty.

However, I was left with some issues. *spoilers ahead*

Kartik and Gemma -- The ending left me wanting something different. I don't always need the happily ever after, but this was too bleak and hopeless. And Gemma seemed okay with it! I just couldn't take that.
Felicity -- I never liked her. Even after knowing her secret, I still didn't like her. She has no excuse to treat others as she did. Gemma started to stand up to her, but at that point Felicity had already been given power.
Circe -- So was she bad or good? She seemed to redeem herself in the end, but did she. Gemma gave her the spot on the boat. So does that mean that Gemma can never cross over when she dies? I don't think Circe deserved what Gemma gave her.

I have a few issues with the ending. And I think the third book got a bit convuluted with so many red herrings. But I still really enjoyed this trilogy. I feel like I need to read more of Bray's novels. I've heard some good things.

Gemma Doyle

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Title: Rebel Angels (Gemma Doyle #2)

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Delacorte Books 2006

Genre: YA

Pages: 592

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; YA; Semi-Charmed Challenge -- Trilogy read

How I Got It: I own it!

Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy—spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Lord Denby. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify—visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain.The lure is strong, and soon Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world that Gemma takes them to. To the girls' great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.But all is not well in the realms—or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face-to-face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe—Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task. . . .

I think this was a much stronger book than A Great and Terrible Beauty. We finally see Gemma beginning to grow up and find her own identity. I hated that she bowed to so many others in the first book. Her defiance as the Priestess is awesome. Ann is still annoying as ever and Felicity is still as conceited as ever. I loved seeing the changes in the Realm after the destruction of the Runes. Plus we get to meet some great new characters. The Gorgon was most definitely my favorite. And the mystery of who Circe is pushed the story along at a great pace. My only complaint: I want more Kartik!

Gemma Doyle

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle #1)

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Delacorte Books 2005

Genre: YA

Pages: 403

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Young Adult; Mount TBR; Semi-Charmed Challenge -- Trilogy

How I Got It: I own it!

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?

I am ashamed to say that this book has been on my shelves for almost two years. I wanted to read this trilogy when it was published, but I it somehow kept getting thrown back on the TBR shelf. After the move, I promptly unearthed it and placed it on my immediate TBR shelf.

The first 50 pages, I was so-so. It didn't really strike me as amazing. It didn't grab my attention right away. And I felt that Gemma was a petulant 16-year-old. Thankfully the story started growing on me. I began to be pulled deeper and deeper in the mystery of the Order and the other Realms. I too hated Felicity and Pippa in the beginning. But soon, I became to see their behavior was a result of their deeper insecurities. At the end, I felt for Pippa and Felicity. But I never seemed to get a handle on Ann. Hopefully, the second book gives us more. I loved Miss Moore. We better get to see more of her. I found the twists toward the end to be predictable, but not so obvious as to be annoying. A good read for an afternoon at the pool.

Gemma Doyle