A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Nov 28, 2008 Beth F rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, fantasy, tnbbc-spring-2009, young-adult, victorian

I’ve had bad luck with highly touted YA lately (barfs on Twilight) but was unable to resist this one, probably on account of the cover because corsets and old-fashioned undies fascinate me (even my wedding dress had a corset back). And after the first chapter, I wanted to strangle the main character, Gemma, for being the worst kind of whiny, teenage bitch out there, so I kept thinking, "Oh God, here we go again." I was ready to chalk this one up as another disappointment but then things changed ...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Jessica rated it liked it

Shelves: victorian, young-adult, almost-read, urban-fantasy

I enjoyed this, but it isn't up to the standards of Libba Bray's newer books. I was disturbed by how quickly our heroine joins forces with the mean girls, and the story felt recycled from a Lois Duncan book I read in the 7th grade (Down a Dark Hall, which is fabulous in a retro way!) I am rather sad, as the idea of it was great - a story about supernatural goings on in the Victorian era is totally my bag. But, alas, this was not all it could have been. I might read the others, as I bought the se ...more

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Mar 05, 2009 Ann rated it really liked it

Shelves: magic, london, 19th-century, paranormal, fantasy, forbidden-love, young-adult, female-relationships, england, victorian

If I'd read this book as a teenager, I think I would have been completely obsessed with it. I loved the Victorian Gothic atmosphere, the eerie relationships, the dark magical and supernatural elements. I even enjoyed the cattiness (it reminded me of Gossip Girl with corsets). There were a few gratuitous sexual elements to it, but in many ways it worked with the girls' spirit of rebellion. They are also easily skipped. This is a little bit of a guilty pleasure book for me, but I enjoyed every pag ...more

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Mar 12, 2010 Liz rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 2010-book-list

It was entertaining, but nothing exceptionally good. It was an intriguing concept & a fast read, even though at times, I wondered when it would end. I hate cliff hangers because now I feel like I need to read the rest of the series. Not sure if I really want to or not.

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