OH, i just saw a giveaway for this book! http://twtaway.com/hberaf

I read the first one. It was good, but not great. I did not read the others as I read people did not like them as well as the first and I thought if I only kind of liked the first one, then I for sure would not like the next two. Unlike Harry Potter (sorry to compare) - I could not totally emerse myself in the fantasy world in the book. Not sure why.

Jillian wrote: "I agree! Horrible ending!!! "

And THAT is why I bought the book the day it came out and STILL haven't read it. I used to read Libba Bray's blog quite frequently (stopped when the book came out, to stay away from spoilers), and I was NOT CONFIDENT that she was a happy-ending kind of person....

I agree Amy - at first i was just thinking of those books as a fun light read and then WHAM-O i'm crying my eyes out and feeling like shit. I didn't even really have the emotional involvement in that book enough to merit that ending, which i guess made it even more contrived. Like "well i don't know what to do with this so let's make everyone who bothered to read this pay"

I agree! Horrible ending!!!

I got really into the series, and forced my way through the last one (which seemed to drag for me), and then i thought the ending was horrible! I was really disappointed in the way the whole series ended.

I also enjoyed the first two books and am having trouble getting through the third. Rebel Angels seems to have been the high-point of the series for me. I keep trying to finish The Sweet Far Thing, but other interesting books keep coming up (The Hunger Games, Skinned, Crashed, City of Glass, etc.). One of these days I WILL finish it; however, I've reserved Catching Fire, Graceling, and The Maze Runner from the library, so I'm not sure I will in the near future!

There are certain elements in the series that I really like, but there is also a rather dark, unsettling undercurrent that rubs me the wrong way.

I'm going to be honest. I really enjoyed A Great and Terrible Beauty, but I was very disappointed by the next two books. I felt that they never truly explained what Gemma is/goes through and how it all started. There was no history or back story. I was really sad because I thought the first book set up the rest of the series so well.

Kellee wrote: "Is A Great and Terrible Beauty appropriate for 7th graders? "

I'd say that yes, this is 7th grade appropriate IMO.

I'll put them on my "To Read" to be determined list :)

Ummmm... my sister read it when she was in maybe 9th or 10th grade, and she thought it was really dark. I think the content is fine (yes?)....... not sure about the Rebel Angels though... There's some crazy I-wanna-get-in-your-pants-so-I'll-drug-you-up times in that book... And some lovely (not!) opium addiction... I haven't read book 3. They're good though! Read them and see what you think!

Is A Great and Terrible Beauty appropriate for 7th graders?

I eventually finished the Sweet Far Thing. IMHO, it's a disappointment for me. The book is huge but full of unnecessary plots that I don't really care for. I think she spent too much time on all those plots and description. Also I just don't like the ending at all. Well, that's just me.

I just finished AGTB! I really enjoyed it. I loved how even though this set as a turn of the century piece, the characters emotions and dilemmas can be related to present day topics. (Acceptance, friendship, right and wrong and questioning societies: standards, rank and beauty.)

I have to wait until my Library gets in Rebel Angels... :P

Amy wrote: "I'm reading the first book right now. So far so good.. I have to put it down yesterday to read City of Glass but now it's back on my reading list. :)"

I am having a hard time getting into City of Glass:(

If you feel like Great and Terrible is slow, just keep in mind that Rebel Angels is AMAZING! One of my top five of all time!

I'm reading the first book right now. So far so good.. I have to put it down yesterday to read City of Glass but now it's back on my reading list. :)

I've been meaning to pick these up... Judging from this the first 2 books are way definitely on my list... I had picked them up a couple of time but wasn't sure if they would be any good... These will definitely be on my next list...

I agree, Jenn. Libba Bray's writing is excellent, and I'm always surprised more people haven't read this one, because it's an amazing series. I tell people about it everywhere the subject turns to YA fiction.

I loved all three books actually. The third book is a lot darker than the others but I think that is a natural progression. Bray does not give her characters easy outs and she writes a tight plot that just winds tighter and tighter. I won't give any spoilers but I really liked the ending and thought it fit the books. I have full comments (with spoiler warning) in my review on why I feel that way and why I liked the book. This series remains one of my all-time favorites.

I loved the first two. I bought the third book the day it came out, but can't even bring myself to START it! I'm too worried that it will end badly. (I'm a scaredy-cat, apparently!) All I want is for Gemma and Kartik to be able to be together, but I have a feeling it won't end up that way....

I'm another person who read the first two and have yet to finish the third. I got almost halfway through and found myself disinterested. I always feel guilty about not finishing a book, but I guess it makes me feel a little better that I was not the only person who had trouble with this one.
I think the problem I had with the third one was that I started to really dislike the characters. They weren't particularly likable in the first two, but by the third I really didn't want to hear about their arguing anymore. It's very hard to read a book when you can't stand the characters anymore.

I had the same problem! I loved the first two, and devoured them in no time at all, but I just couldn't get into the third one. I struggled on, however, only to be ultimately disappointed with the ending - but that's just me, you might enjoy it if you persist!

I read the first two novels - A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels, but can't seem to get past the 150 page mark in The Sweet Far Thing. My experience was that the books started off slow, but around the middle they turned into page turners. I like the story line a lot. I think about the book, but just can't bring myself to finish it. Weird? Probably, but I am wondering if anyone else finished it and whether or not they think it is worth the time to invest in finishing the series. Thanks :o)

I also loved both of those books.

A third book featuring Gemma just came out in December called "The Sweet Far Thing."

I can't wait to read it!

I just finished it, took two days and now I can't wait to read Rebel Angels. It had been one of those last-minute-catch-your-eye buys and I am so happy I did. I loved how visual it was. I could picture the whole book as if I was in it. It had a nice flow to it which made it easy to read and the story was so interesting I could'nt put it down.

I loved it! It took me awhile to get through though as well. I just didnt have time. It got much better at the end. My friends felt like she tried to put too much into the end but I didnt feel that way.

This was a fun read. Took me a little while to get into it but I enjoyed it enough that I picked up the next book in the series REBEL ANGELS