Review Detail

Reader reviewed by linda

Set in the Victorian ages in a finishing school, 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' chronicles the boarding school life of Gemma Doyle. Gemma's dreams of going to London are marred by her mother's suicide and visions that plague her. After finding out more about her visions, her mother's death, and the diary of a mysterious girl named Mary, Gemma and her new friends go into the realms of paradise only to find in the end that it isn't paradise at all. Plagued by the troubles of being beautiful girls during the Victorian era they realize their true power and make the same mistakes as others did in the past forcing one girl to leave forever.

Reprinted here with author's permission.