The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy; Faire, Magic, Gemma Doyle

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father alaudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds. The Order—the mysterious group her mother was once part of—is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

I was sad to see how Pippa changed, and how she treats the others. I think that Gemma finally understood where her place was. It was hard to see her have her heart broken and at the same time I did enjoy when she realized what she wanted to do. As a trilogy it wasn’t bad but it is not something that I would read again. It is definitely something to get at the library for a quick read. But not something that I would have for my book shelf.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 0440237777

Pages: 848

Series: Gemma Doyle

Volume: 3

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy; Faire, Magic, Gemma Doyle

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy—spending time with her friends in the city, attending balls in fancy gowns with plunging necklines, and dallying with the handsome Lord Denby. Yet amid these distractions, her visions intensify—visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened that only the realms can explain. The lure is strong, and soon Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world that Gemma takes them to. To the girls' great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship. But all is not well in the realms—or out. Kartik is back, desperately insisting to Gemma that she must bind the magic, lest colossal disaster befall her. Gemma is willing to comply, for this would bring her face-to-face with her late mother's greatest friend, now Gemma's foe—Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task. . . .

This was a little different as they where not at school and getting to see the different parts of England. I didn’t like what happened with Ann. And felt very sorry for Felicity how society treated her and her mother. Gemma also seems a little full of herself and the power that she wields, believing that she can save her father from himself with magic. I found the story was still lacking but I did enjoy the intrigue with the peers of society. I will still read the final book in this series, The Sweet Far Things.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 0385733410

Pages: 592

Series: Gemma Doyle

Volume: 2

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy, Gothic Romance; Magic, Angels, Lost Souls

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe has just recently lost her father, leaving her parentless. But when a strange mark appears on her wrist, she realizes she is being branded with much more than her newfound title of orphan. Lia and her twin sister, Alice, are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. Lia hides this discovery from Alice and even her beloved, James, but to escape from the burden this secret bestows she must end the prophecy – before her sister. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents’ deaths, the true meaning of the mark on her wrist, the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her, and the downfall the prophecy could bring.

                                   

This story starts off with the death of Lia’s father. You can see how this is an older world but also slightly different from the one that we live in. The whole prophecy was quite well written, making it a puzzle for the characters to figure out. There is very few male characters in this story but it does not bring it down. Lia is a smart girl who is full of life and realizes that she has a very heavy burden. I thought this was very well written. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Guardian of the Gate.

Publisher: Little, Brown

ISBN: 0316027413

Pages: 368

Series: Prophecy of the Sisters

Volume: 1

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy; Magic, Wonderland, Retelling, Fairy Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Alyss of Wonderland? When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carroll, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly! Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss’ story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

This is the first book in the trilogy of the Looking Glass Wars. It isn’t the Alice and Wonderland that you read as a child. This is a dark story that is what really happened to Alyss Heart. The tale takes from Wonderland to Victorian London and back. There is much adventure and treachery. I found this story to keep me on my toes and I enjoyed it’s every twist and turn. The story sucks you right in and transports you back in time and to Wonderland as well. The writing is brilliantly done. This is one of those books that you won’t be able to put down. I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy, Seeing Redd.

Publisher: Dial

ISBN: 0142409413

Pages: 400

Series: Looking Glass Wars

Volume: 1

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy; Faire, Magic, Gemma Doyle

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: 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?

I don’t read a lot of historical pieces. Its just not really my thing. But I’d been told that the trilogy was very spell binding. I looked forward to the possibilities. The setting of the story was well chosen. It reminded me a little of The Little Princess. The magical aspect to it brought on with a touch of mystery delighted me. But the story seemed a little flat. Adding in the gypsies brought a little spice but it still was slow. I hoped it was just that it was the first book so I will read the next book, Rebel Angels.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 0385732317

Pages: 432

Series: Gemma Doyle

Volume: 1

A Matter of Magic by Patricia C. Wrede

Genre: Fantasy; Magic

Sub Genre: Historical Fantasy; London

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When a stranger offers her a small fortune to break into a traveling magician’s wagon, Kim doesn’t hesitate. Having grown up a waif in the dirty streets of London, Kim isn’t above a bit of breaking-and-entering. A hard life and lean times have schooled her in one lesson: steal from them before they steal from you. But when the magician catches her in the act, Kim thinks she’s done for. Until he suggests she become his apprentice; then the real trouble begins. Kim soon finds herself entangled with murderers, thieves, and cloak-and-dagger politics, all while trying to learn how to become both a proper lady and a magician in her own right. Magic and intrigue go hand in hand in Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward, two fast-paced novels filled with mystery and romance, set against the intricate backdrop of Regency England.

This story is actually a reprint of Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward in one book. First off before I even start about this book I have to say I love the new cover for this book. This story opens with Kim trying to take something from Mairelon. But soon after catching her he desides that she would be perfect for his own uses. Using her street smarts and his magic they make a great team. The story is set in a fanciful Victorian England that takes some of the aspects of reality and fantasy to make an amazing story. I love reading both of these books as I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading it. Both Kim and Mairelon brilliant characters who you can’t help but fall in love with. Patricia’s writing pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there on bated breath.

Publisher: TOR

ISBN: 0765326329

Pages: 448

Series: A Matter of Magic

Volume: 1 & 2