A Great and Terrible Beauty

The first volume in Libba Bray's magical trilogy, 'A Great and Terrible Beauty,' is a perfect blend of Victorian charm and fantasy fiction. Gemma Doyle is a 16-year-old girl living in uncouth India when every classy young lady is living the high life in cultured England. After a day of fighting with her mother over this discrepancy in the sweltering heat of the Indian streets, Gemma finally has enough and runs off, even though she knows she shouldn't. When she realizes her mistake and tries to find her way back to the safety of her mother's arms, she is pulled into a dark vision. In the vision, the very darkness comes to life and tries to devour her mother, who instead takes her own life. When Gemma returns to her senses, she discovers that her vision wasn't just a product of the dangerous heat coupled with a guilty conscience ? her mother is dead. As her father becomes an alcoholic and her insufferable brother tries to keep up appearances, Gemma finally gets her wish and is shipped off to Spence, the premiere English boarding school, but Gemma would trade anything, even the green coolness and culture of England, to get her mother back and shake off her unsettling visions. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. However, at Spence, Gemma will find all the clues she needs to piece together her mystic heritage, divine the truth about her mother's murder, and discover her great and terrible destiny.

Bray's unique writing style puts readers in the midst of the action and makes them feel that they are right beside Gemma every step of the way. The shocking twists and surprises at every turn will leave readers breathless and the vivid and varied characters will draw them in and captivate their imaginations. Gemma is a worthy heroine, possessing immense power and the strength and will to fight back against her oppressed position as a young girl and bride-in-the-making in a society dominated by men. Bray paints an interesting and fresh portrait of the kind of women who demanded more from their subservient positions and fought for the chance to live their own lives. The mysterious magic juxtaposed against the backdrop of a prim and proper society throws into sharp relief the outstanding characteristics of both, while blending seamlessly together to make a heart-pounding and enchanting beginning to Gemma's long and winding path toward her incredible but dangerous destiny.