Libba Bray

When I first started reading A Great and Terrible Beauty, I admit I had mixed feelings. It felt a little too predictable, a little too juvenile. I didn’t like how whiny and inconsiderate Gemma was; I didn’t like how stereotypical and clique-like the boarding school characters were. I felt at the beginning that I could pretty much guess what was going to happen. I was, however wrong! Libba Bray really surprised me with her creativity and unexpected turns.
The basic gist of the story is this: Through a tragic series of events, sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle has discovered she possesses mysterious powers, namely visions of the future. It is on the cusp of all this that she is sent to England to get an education at a boarding school for girls. After having spent her whole life in India, she finds herself in a whole new world of social rules and requirements. On top of all that, she still has her uncontrollable powers to deal with, as well as the presence of a mysterious young man who keeps telling her she must not use them. Left at a loss by her family’s tragedy, she spends her time trying to unveil the many unanswered questions that go with it.
The most intriguing part of the story to me was the magical realm that Gemma is able to access. I liked the idea that the realm was actually where everyone’s dreams happened or came from, and that everyone could travel there in dreams, they just couldn’t be aware of it or in control like Gemma.
I was also happily surprised by the relationship between Gemma, Ann, Felicity and Pippa. At first, the latter three honestly seemed like pretty two-dimensional characters to me. I thought I could guess how they were going to react, or what they were going to do in situations. But again I was surprised. Each of these characters has something about them that makes them more than what you get at face value – a lot like real life. They all have painful secrets and insecurities. It really made the story relatable.
I also really enjoyed the theme of independence and power that Bray gave to her characters – especially considering how things really were for young girls in the Victorian era. That considered, my only real complaint is some of the things the girls do in the story, real girls in the Victorian era never would’ve gotten away with. (However, perhaps the fact that I’m also reading Tess of the d’Urbervilles right now had an affect on my judgment on this issue, haha.) Although it might’ve been historically inaccurate, points can be given to once again making the girls relatable to a female audience.
Overall my only complaint would probably be that I really wanted to see some more romance between Kartik and Gemma! Bray has a great way of enticing me with just enough Gemma/Kartik scenes to drive me crazy. And now I guess I’ll have to go read Rebel Angels as soon as I can get my hands on it.… (more)