Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray - Restarting May 9th 2018

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Starting with

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

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.

[Colleen]

Thank you Sarah!

[Ashley W]

Anyone still doing this one?

[Noella]

I'll join in soon!

[Ashley W]

I'm just now starting tonight.

[Lia]

I started on the weekend, but put it down to read another buddy read. I'll pick it up again this week.

[Noella]

End chapter 2
I've actually tried starting this book numerous times before and I always end up stuck at chapter 3! definitely started interesting enough. I hope I'll enjoy this book!

[Ashley W]

page 30
(view spoiler)[ I think Gemma is a spoiled brat, plain and simple. I really hope that whatever happened to her mother woke her up a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

page 70
(view spoiler)[ I just lost respect for Ann. She just left Gemma and sold out to be with Pippa and Felicity. I understand that she wanted to be liked, but they were so mean to her and she just went along with it. (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

Ashley wrote: "page 70
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[Yeah.. such a sheep following the herd. I hope she changes throughout the book.
(hide spoiler)]

End chapter 8
(view spoiler)[I don't like that Gemma is going along with the 'initiation' like she has something to prove but I can understand because she doesn't want her school years to be unbearable with those bitches against her! (hide spoiler)]

[Lia]

To end of Chapter 11

(view spoiler)[I like it so far. Couple of annoyances - Halfway through Chapter 9 after the night Gemma was locked in the church, the book goes on to say "The week passes in a numbing routine". Makes me think a week has passed. Then in Chapter 10, when Gemma catches Felicity, she says to her "Is this a request from the girl who locked me in the chapel last night?" Kind of threw me off. Also, the game Blind Man's Buff - I had to actually google it to see if she didn't mean Blind Man's Bluff. It felt wrong. LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

I'm really sorry but I dont know if I can join this anymore.

[Ashley W]

Page 90

Does anyone else think this story is moving very slowly?

[Noella]

Lia wrote: "To end of Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

For me i'm finding the mean girls unbearable. Gemma is making herself to be better than them but it looks like she wants to be in their group!

[Noella]

Ashley wrote: "Page 90

Does anyone else think this story is moving very slowly?"

Yeah it is quite slow...

[Noella]

end chapter 17
(view spoiler)[ Sarah sounded like a mean girl (I guess there's one in every time period). still disliking the bad attitudes of Felicity and her gang. it's painful reading about Ann being scolded this way and that. How can she tolerate this daily abuse?! (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

end chapter 25
(view spoiler)[I'm finding myself annoyed at Gemma. She's such a troublemaker and self absorbed. Kartik and her mother is giving her all these warnings yet all she wants to do is go against them and do things her own way. We're told Gemma Felicity Pippa and Ann are really good friends now but I don't buy it. Do friends doubt each other and be mean to each other constantly? I wouldn't call that a friend. (hide spoiler)]

[Lia]

I agree with your comment about Gemma wanting to be in with them. She is contradictory.

Noella wrote: "Lia wrote: "To end of Chapter 11

[spoilers removed]"

For me i'm finding the mean girls unbearable. Gemma is making herself to be better than them but it looks like she wants to be in their group!"

[Noella]

End chapter 35
(view spoiler)[The girls are really selfish. How could they put the blame on Miss Moore. :( (hide spoiler)]

[Noella]

end chapter 38(view spoiler)[is it cold to feel nothing about Pippa's death? The way Gemma described her : vain selfish and in love with her romantic illusions I agree with but her next bit about how Pippa was brave determined and generous got me shaking my head. Bull, She had none of those traits! (hide spoiler)]
Ending thoughts
(view spoiler)[
The plot was alright and quite engaging but the characters were a huge letdown. There's not one character I like (except maybe Miss Moore but she wasn't main). Main feelings throughout the book were irritation because of the whiny mean girls and their stupid decisions. I don't think I'll be continuing the series! (hide spoiler)]

[Lia]

Noella wrote: "end chapter 38
[spoilers removed]"

I totally agree!

I have now finished. (view spoiler)[ While I liked the idea of it and the setting, I didn't love the characters. I don't feel we got to know them very well. Also, it was very slow paced at times. (hide spoiler)]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 9th of May 2018

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[Lane]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ I thought this would be about time travel but it looks like it's parallel universes. Gemma really needs to learn how to control it! (hide spoiler)]

[Linaria]

Lane wrote: "Chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah stuff is definitely going to go down if she doesn't :P

[Linaria]

Book 2 - Is it wrong that I love Karik so much?

[Linaria]

Book 2 - Also while I like the writing and the attachment I feel to the characters, I'm not sure I'm loving this series =/

[Linaria]

Book 2 - AND THE PLOT TWIST. OMG WHEN YOU GET HERE I NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.

[Linaria]

Book 2 - I do really like the character development that occurred, but I do think the book was like 100 pages too long.

[Linaria]

Book 3 - OK, like can we get a bit more happiness here?

[Linaria]

Book 3 - Also, this book is dragging. Why on earth is it 800 pages. ;_;

[Linaria]

Book 3 - ending (view spoiler)[ I hate this I hate it so much. Kartik was the best character (hide spoiler)]

[Linaria]

Book 3 - ending (view spoiler)[ I still hate Felicity. LOL. I just tried and can't seem to love her. =/ (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Wow you do read fast haha

Chapter One: (view spoiler)[I bet she's gonna regret saying that/those will be her last words, otherwise where's the drama. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter Three: (view spoiler)[HMMMM her brother is infuriating --getting used to this world is a bit hard for me. It was much easier with The Diviners, but we'll see how this goes. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Lane wrote: "
Chapter 12 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Parallel universe? I just thought "ghosts" :D though it would be interesting (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[Okaaay did not see that coming at all. Dayum. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[I am not enjoying this book so much, just like the first one is just ok. The world/setting aren't my favourite, to be honest. Also, all the characters are sooo annoying and whiny and just nope. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[ I like Kartik, though sometimes he's a little annoying haha. I feel like Pippa is not Pippa at all. I'm gonna guess it's the new teacher disguised or something. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Chapter 15: why is this book soooo long lol

[Michelle]

36:
(view spoiler)[I really like Kartik. I feel so bad for how he was treated but also love that Libba Bray isn't scared to bring stuff like this that often gets overlooked of us visible minorities (even in today's society). (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

37: (view spoiler)[Everything from when they go home till this chapter could've been cut and the story would've been fine. Honestly, why is this so loooong? (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Finished Rebel Angels: I wished I had enjoyed this one more but oh well. I'll be taking a break before reading the next book. (Especially cause your non-spoiler comments have me a bit worried haha)