Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray ->Restarting June 22nd, 2024

[Aly]

It's 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma's reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she's been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence's most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Still havent gotten my audio version so I grabbed a physical from the library. Will maybe be slow going depending on how good the book gets lol

Ch. 1-4 (view spoiler)[That's so sad about her mom, especially since she essentially had to watch helpless as she was killed. On that note what the heck is going on? There's so much mystery I can't wait to see whats to come. Everyone treats her pretty horribly but at the same time Gemma was behaving like a spoiled brat in the beginning so we'll see how her character evolves. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapter 1-9 (view spoiler)[
I forgot how insufferable Tom can be. He is only concerned with appearances and is rather sexist. I know this is supposed to be the late 19th century, but that is really no excuse., and it is hard to like him. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Ch. 5-13 (view spoiler)[Still not sure where this story is going. Is Katrik trying some reverse psychology on Gemma by telling her to not have visions. Obviously that's the first thing and most important thing she wants to understand now. Also I don't trust any of the girls at her school. I think her befriending Pippa and Felicity will end badly. Especially the way Felicity snatched the journal away from her. I would have been pissed, then again she never should have showed them smh (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Middle of Ch. 28 (view spoiler)[Well I’m kind of pissed at how dumb Gemma is. They bring magic out of the realm when they know NOTHING. She lied to her mother and now her and these girls have power they shouldn’t not to mention others in the world who’ll be affected by this. And hello, she seriously told these girls everything, and now they have power they never should have had and it’s going to go dark and downhill very fast I just know it. Kind of disappointed by this. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[Well I really didn’t enjoy this like I thought I would. Gemma constantly let me down. I can’t believe the girls went all darkside. I expected it but not for them to actually kill a deer. I mean in the long run everything is kind of Gemma’s fault. She never should have divulged all her secrets to these girls, most of who, were her enemies not long ago. And then to bring them to the realms and allow them to have power like that... I mean how dumb does a person have to be to realize that’s not a good idea. She’s so rebellious is ridiculous. She acts out rashly and honestly I’m shocked things worked out the way they did. Then again they didn’t quite work out so great for Pippa. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

18% (view spoiler)[Ughhhh here we go again, how can Gemma be so naive and just plain stupid smh. Brings the girls back and then divulges to Pip everything about the power and how anyone in the realm can gain the power should they find the temple first. She knows because she even thinks it: That Pip crossed over and if she didn't then she's EVIL. HELLO USE YOUR BRAIN HERE GEMMA! And worse yet of course Felicity and Ann took magic out and are using it without a thought. This is tough to get through cause I'm so frustrated lol. Just glad I have this one on audio so I can fly through a lot quicker. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

78% (view spoiler)[It’s been a long time since I’ve so strongly disliked the heroine in a book. Gah, Gemma is so dumb, dim witted and ignorant she needs some sense smacked into her-PRONTO. She fights with Felicity-who has literally said she wants the power for herself, hell she even slaughtered a deer-and the first thing Gemma does is run right to her and tell her she knows where the temple is. I literally want to scream. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

90% (view spoiler)[Still not pleased with this book. Honestly Gemma is so undeserving of her power it's not funny. And she still likes Simon who basically took her up to that room alone probably to assault her and she's still wanting to please him smh. I'm nine thousand percent sure at this point that I won't be reading the last book, I really just don't care what happens! (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[Yep hated it like I expected. Gemma is just so dumb. She let's herself be manipulated and used. She trusts so blindly and just continues to make mistakes without learning from them. Simon so clearly wanted to do something to her when he gave her the absinthe and brought her upstairs. She brushes it off. Felicity and Ann kill that deer in the last book and continually state how they want power and yet she continues to trust them and bring them to the realms. Nope just nope, I'm done lol. Can't handle Gemma anymore. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapter 10-17 (view spoiler)[
I like how the four main female characters in this book (Gemma, Felicity, Pippa, and Ann) all have very distinct personalities and stories/backgrounds. It makes them more believable and likable. Currently, my favorite characters in this book are Gemma and Felicity, but we shall see if that changes. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 18-26 (view spoiler)[
I am really nervous that the girls are going to start getting bold and want to take the magic out of the realms before they (Gemma) can control it. They each have a dark cloud hanging over their real lives, so I can imagine the temptation is great to use magic.

Also, I want to know more about the Rakshana and what they're all about! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 27-End (view spoiler)[
I actually really enjoyed this book. The book started out exciting, but then it got a little slow in the middle. However, it picked up the pace again, and the ending was good. I knew at some point following Gemma wasn't going to be enough for Ann, Pippa, and Felicity. Also, I honestly can't believe what happened to Pippa!! All these characters' stories are really tragic.

I will be reading the next book soon! (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 1-14 (view spoiler)[
I feel like we are going to be meeting Simon Middleton a lot more in the future. It is just like Tom to be more concerned with image than practicality. I still can't stand his character.

Also, I don't trust Pippa. Gemma has a gut feeling about her, and is constantly questioning if she can stay without becoming corrupted, and yet she would rather just squash those feelings and pretend like everything is okay?! Things are obviously definitely not going to be okay! Not looking forward to watching Pippa's humanity decay... (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 15-26 (view spoiler)[
I honestly can't stand Felicity or Ann. I doubt they would even still be friends if Gemma hadn't discovered the realms. Also, Ann is wouldn't have even been friends with them if it wasn't for Gemma. They just aren't good friends to one another.

Anyway, I am trying to decide if I am leaning towards Gemma with Simon or Gemma with Kartik. I think I prefer the latter. Kartik is more exciting and mysterious/intriguing. Although, I feel bad because Simon seems like a nice guy. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 27-38 (view spoiler)[
Gemma having to rescue her father from the opium den was really heartbreaking. She wanted to cure him so badly, but not even magic can fix him. I am sad that she had to be put in that position. Lucky that she has Kartik to help her.

Also, I love the progress they have made in the realms. I really like reading about the girls searching for the Temple and meeting new enemies. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 39-End (view spoiler)[
I find Gemma to be a great character. I think she has really evolved in this book, and I like her more than A Great and Terrible Beauty. She has matured a lot and become more complex through all she has endured. Definitely a respectable female heroine.

Ending things with Simon Middleton was kind of bittersweet. I like Gemma with Kartik more, but Simon was a nice guy and would have provided a whole different future for Gemma. However, I'm not sad about what she chose. She needs to find someone who accepts her for who she is not who he/she thinks she is or should be.

4.5/5 stars (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Prologue - Chapter 19 (view spoiler)[
Chapter 6 - I don't see why Gemma would think that she killed Circe. There was never any actual death, she just trapped her in the realms. Also, good to see that Tom is still an obnoxious character.

Chapter 10 - Pippa is really creeping me out. I don't trust her at all. Hopefully she is telling the truth about wanting to cross over with Gemma's help, but I'm not sure.

Chapter 16 - The Centaurs and the Shape-shifters do not seem like very kind creatures. I know Gemma promised Philon a share of the magic, but will they use it for nefarious purposes? (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 20-34 (view spoiler)[
Chapter 26 - I love Gemma and Kartik so much! I want them to be able to be together! I thought that after Kartik left the Rakshana they would be able to get together, but it hasn't happened yet. And now he is planning to sail away on a ship :(

Chapter 30 - I wish Gemma wasn't desperate enough to go see Circe again. Not only that, but she gave her some magic! Circe is clearly going to trick Gemma and be able to escape…

Chapter 33 - It seemed liked a rash decision to just go into the Winterlands without any preparation. It was like the girls went into the realms, learned that they must search there, and just went ahead. I am not sure that was the smartest decision. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

Chapters 35-52 (view spoiler)[
Chapter 35 - I understand where Ann is coming from, but I can't believe she is just going to give up. I also don't understand why she would end her time at school early. Even if she accepted her role as a governess, then why couldn't she at least finish out the school year?

Chapter 39 - I understand that Kartik is in McCleethy's debt, but that still sucks. Why can't he and Gemma just be together?! :(

Chapter 43 - Ann's cousin's children are awful! I feel really bad that this is the life she has resigned herself too. I am hoping with Gemma's help and her magic they can fix Ann's future.

Chapter 49 - Yay, I am glad that Ann was succeeded in her audition with Charlie Smalls and now gets to go to rehearsals. It appears her desperation helped her find some inner strength. Being willing to sing on the street since she was late to audition was very uncharacteristic of her. She has consistently been one of my least liked characters, but I liked her in this chapter. I'm glad that things might work out for her now. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 53-75 (view spoiler)[
Chapter 54 - I wish Felicity wasn't so blinded by her love for Pippa. While Gemma has made mistakes, she is trying to fix everything, but Felicity just believes what Pip has told her. As usual Ann and Felicity are not very good friends to Gemma.

Chapter 63 - Good to see McCleethy doesn't waver and continues to be blinded by her devotion to the Order. She is at least consistent. However, I hate how she won't even consider what Gemma is telling her about Eugenia being the traitor.

Chapter 67 - It is really sad to see Pippa like this, but I guess this has been building for a while. The others just didn't want to see or believe it. We never really knew Pippa that well before she died, so maybe she was always very selfish and self-centered.

Chapter 69 - This is so sad :( I like how this is resolving, but I wanted Gemma and Kartik together so badly!

Rating: 4.5/5 (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

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RESTARTING JUNE 22ND, 2024

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[Laura]

I'll be back to read this one

[Gwen]

Beginning thoughts (view spoiler)[ Gemma acted like such a brat to her mom, but it's still terrible that she had to watch her death (hide spoiler)]

[Gwen]

Chapter 10ish (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad that Gemma stood up for Ann, but I find it hard to believe that she can then turn around and befriend the girls who were bullying Ann (hide spoiler)]

[Gwen]

Halfway or so (view spoiler)[ It's so hard to know who to trust! Gemma just blindly believes everyone even though someone is obviously lying (hide spoiler)]

[Gwen]

Finished (view spoiler)[ A tragic ending for poor Pippa, but even more sadly, I doubt Gemma has learned anything from her terrible experiences (hide spoiler)]