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

Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Mlynowski

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance; Vampires, Magic, Werewolves, Witches

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Life's a beach . . . and then you're undead? In this must-have collection, five of today's hottest writers—Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Claudia Gray (Evernight), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)—tell supernatural tales of vacations gone awry. Lost luggage is only mildly unpleasant compared to bunking with a witch who holds a grudge. And a sunburn might be embarrassing and painful, but it doesn't last as long as a curse. Of course, even in the most hellish of situations, love can thrive. . . . From light and funny to dark and creepy, these stories have something for everyone. You definitely won't want to leave this collection at home!

This anthology of great writers is very well written. Each story is very nicely written. I will not go into each of the stories as they are short but very delightful. The is one of those books that you can’t help but love. Even for being short stories they are complex. All the authors shine in this and I would be interested in seeing more like this. Or even if one of these starts another series.

Publisher: Harper Teen

ISBN: 006168872X

Pages: 288

Series:

Volume:

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

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