a great and terrible beauty

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 blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they 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. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the «others» and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

(hentet fra Goodreads)

A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray
Gemma Doyle #1
Antall sider: 403
Utgitt: 2003

Min mening om boka:
Nok ei veldig bra bok jeg har lest i det siste! The Victorian Era er en tid jeg liker godt å lese om - pene kjoler, korsetter, gentlemen og tea parties. Når man så blander det med god fantasy så blir det perfekt! Jeg elsket å lese om turene til The Realms (det var så bra beskrevet) og om de forskjellige personlighetene til Gemma, Pippa, Ann og Felicity – særlig Felicity var artig å lese om. I tillegg var det mange tvister i plottet og slutten gjorde meg veldig trist… Den førte til at jeg har lyst til å lese Rebel Angels så fort som mulig!

Karakter:
♥♥♥♥ 1/2 av fem hjerter