OK, so at first this was a really slow read, but it's the ending that lingers, making you think. Whether you make the physical decision or not, you are making a choice. We see that with Gemma, who must make major decisions about not only her life, but the life of her friends. And the biggest decision of all - will she accept who she is and forgive her mother, a woman she really didn't know at all?

As mentioned in previous reviews, this book takes place in victorian era London, when girls weren't supposed to make choices. Schooling was merely lessons on pleasing and obtaining future husbands. Early in Gemma's life she was sheltered away from this world in India. Until her mother's death leaves her at a proper finishing school in London, where she has always begged her mother to go. After her mother's death, Gemma soon sees why her mother choose to shelter her in India. Now it's up to Gemma to decide whether she can forgive her mother, not only for shetlering her, which is the least of her problems, but also for not truly understanding the woman her brought her into the world. In the end, Gemma and her friends must choose whether society will dictate their end or if they will take a supernatural way out.

THE FOLLOWING WILL SPOIL THE BOOK. I applaud Emma for finding the courage to forgive her mother and am curious to see if she will live up to protecting the realms. I have to say that I about cried when Pippa chose death over marriage to a much older man she didn't love. It's hard for me to fathom not being able to choose my husband for love. When Emma goes back into the realms to rescue Pippa, but finds that Pippa doesn't want rescuing, might heart broke a little. I think all the girls realized that even in a "fantasy world" there are consequences for your choices, and whether you are in the "real" world or a "fantasy world" of realms, by inaction or action, you will have to make a choice, whether society deems it necessary or not.