Review Detail

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Gemma has terrifying visions starting on her sixteenth birthday. But the scariest part is where they come true. After her mothers death, Gemma moves from her home in India to a finishing school in England called Spence. There, she makes tentative friendships, discovers a diary of a girl named Mary Dowd, and receives a warning from a mysterious boy to block out her visions.

Despite the warning, Gemma keeps having her visions because she cant control them. It is through one of her visions that she discovers the secret diary of Mary Dowd. She soon learns of a mysterious Order of women, and that she possesses the power to enter the realms. She just doesnt know how powerful she is; she can bring her friends in with her.
Inside the realms, Gemma sees her mothers spirit and learns all about the magic of the realms. Unfortunately, not all is well inside this beautiful place. There is a tracker, a corrupted spirit, seeking a way into Gemmas world.

In this exciting novel, Gemma learns a portion of the history of Spence, about herself and her friends, and that her mother wasnt who she pretended to be. A Great and Terrible Beauty is one of my favorite books for many reasons, but mostly because it is such a thrilling story. There is plenty of action and magic to satisfy anyone, and even a bit of romance too. Libba Bray has woven a fantastic story that will be remembered for a long time. I recommend this to all readers who dream about the existence of another world.