A Great and Terrible Beauty


by Libba Bray (Author)

Book Cover for A Great and Terrible Beauty

   Book 1   
Pages: 403
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Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she manipulates her way into the treacherous clique. Meanwhile, Gemma’s prophetic visions continue and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control.

Recognition: ALA Teens' Top Ten (2004); Iowa High School Book Award (2007); Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2007)

Gemma Doyle Trilogy Series—Summary and Book Order

Series: Gemma Doyle Trilogy
Reading level: 12+
Books in series: 3
Read in order? Yes
Next release: Finished
Tags: paranormal  fantasy  historical  illness & grief 

 Print series book list

Books in series order

1.   A Great and Terrible Beauty  (2003)
2.   Rebel Angels  (2005)
3.   The Sweet Far Thing  (2007)