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    A Great and Terrible Beauty
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    A Great and Terrible Beauty
    Unavailable
    A Great and Terrible Beauty
    Audiobook11 hours

    A Great and Terrible Beauty

    Written by Libba Bray

    Narrated by Josephine Bailey

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 24, 2004
    ISBN9780807220689
    Unavailable
    A Great and Terrible Beauty
    Author

    Libba Bray

    Libba Bray is the New York Times bestselling author of A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels, both of which have appeared on ALA's Best Books for Young Adults list.

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    Reviews for A Great and Terrible Beauty

    4/5

    3,221 ratings227 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      This one was enjoyable - Teenage girls at a boarding school in the Victorian era. Magic and heartache and all that good stuff. Her friends are kind of awful, but it worked. It was a bit over the top, but I like that. The next on will be on hold for me soon, I hope.
    • 3/5
      Fantasy is definitely not my favorite genre. I blame this entirely on my own lack of ability when it comes to picturing impossible scenarios and imaginary creatures. Still, I enjoyed this book. I liked the four main characters and the boarding school setting. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series or not; I feel like there's definitely more to Ms. Moore's story than we know, and I assume that'll be explored more in the second and third books, which makes me tempted to continue on.
    • 2/5
      The immaturity of the characters wanted me to quit reading many times, but I was reading this for a book group.
      Gemma was raised in India with her parents. She's a teen and desperately wants what she wants when she wants it. And one of the things she wants is to go to London. An argument happens that separates her from her mother and she doesn't get a chance to rectify their argument, because her mother dies. During the even of her mother's tragic end, Gemma had a vision of it while it took place.
      In London at a school for girls, Gemma finds out the truth of her mother.
      Overall, the book is a good read for teen girls. There's a little bit of mystery in it, a little bit of romance. But I'd not recommend this book to any of my adult friends.
    • 3/5
      Fantasy is definitely not my favorite genre. I blame this entirely on my own lack of ability when it comes to picturing impossible scenarios and imaginary creatures. Still, I enjoyed this book. I liked the four main characters and the boarding school setting. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series or not; I feel like there's definitely more to Ms. Moore's story than we know, and I assume that'll be explored more in the second and third books, which makes me tempted to continue on.
    • 3/5
      Fantasy is definitely not my favorite genre. I blame this entirely on my own lack of ability when it comes to picturing impossible scenarios and imaginary creatures. Still, I enjoyed this book. I liked the four main characters and the boarding school setting. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series or not; I feel like there's definitely more to Ms. Moore's story than we know, and I assume that'll be explored more in the second and third books, which makes me tempted to continue on.
    • 5/5
      I loved this series while in high school couldn't put them down.
    • 4/5
      Wow. I loved this so much. I astonished myself by how much I loved it. More soon.
    • 5/5
      "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." Amazon.com-I could not have said it better myself. This book has a Medieval feel to it that I just adore.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
    • 3/5
      Gothic light.
    • 3/5
      I liked the story and am intrigued enough too continue with the series. It is so very open ended that it seems like another book chopped up for the benefit of the publisher (series/trilogies being the rage in YA).
    • 5/5
      The book A Great And Terrible Beauty is a really good book. It is about a girl named Gemma Doyle and her adventures at an all girls school called Spence. Her grandmother sent her to Spence so Gemma could learn to be a proper lady. But strange things start happening, and Gemma has these wierd visions. In my opionion the book was awesome. It captured my interest quickly. In the begining it was a little boring, but then when she starts having her visions it got really interesting. In some parts of the book, when she had her visions, it was really confusing. It was confusing because you wouldn't know when Gemma's visions started and whats happening and it was confusing. All in all it was a great book. -Nicole D.
    • 5/5
      A very interesting beginning to the trilogy that combines mystery, death, romance, adventure, death, and magic in a society which follows strict behavior rules. What a combination! I loved this book and couldn't wait to read the next two.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book! ❤ got pick it up now!!!
    • 4/5
      This book was really well constructed and deserves a lot of credit I’m just not 100% sure if I’m going to continue it was good but it wasn’t my favorite.
    • 3/5
      Fantasy is definitely not my favorite genre. I blame this entirely on my own lack of ability when it comes to picturing impossible scenarios and imaginary creatures. Still, I enjoyed this book. I liked the four main characters and the boarding school setting. I don't know if I'll continue on with the series or not; I feel like there's definitely more to Ms. Moore's story than we know, and I assume that'll be explored more in the second and third books, which makes me tempted to continue on.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good, would recommend.
    • 1/5
      Elitist, over-romanticized, anachronistic crap. Which is too bad, because Bray isn't a bad writer and the story was interesting enough to keep me mostly engaged (I slept through some of it - audio version).
    • 4/5
      I listened to the audiobook of this, and I have to say that this has been the best narration in an audiobook that I have listened to so far. I really enjoyed the story too, but the narrator did such an excellent job of bringing the story to life with all of her voices. It was a perfectly creepy book to listen to while walking kids around trick or treating.
    • 4/5
      Welcome to Spence Academy, where young ladies get refined and shit...among other things. "Other things" being "opening portals to magical worlds" and "fighting evil sorceresses".
    • 5/5
      A seriously enjoyable read; I devoured this and couldn't wait to start in on the second book in the trilogy. It's difficult to find YA books with a likable and capable heroine, strong and varied female characters, and a tolerable love interest/romance that doesn't eat up ridiculous page time.
    • 4/5
      Libba Bray has impressed me once again! A Great and Terrible Beauty takes place in the late 1800's. Gemma Doyle has been sent to the Spence Academy after tragedy befalls her family in India to learn how to become a proper young woman who does as she is told. While at school Gemma becomes intrigued by the supernatural and learns of a secretive group called the Order that has a connection to her mother. I was swept away by this book and couldn't read it fast enough. The ending revealed quite a few interesting details which has me clamoring to check out the next volume from the library! Another excellent series from Libba Bray!
    • 5/5
      A Great and Terrible Beauty is sooo amazing! I absolutely loved this book!
    • 3/5
      I haven't read any YA (Young Adult) fiction for a while, so I was looking forward to reading Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty; the first in her Gemma Doyle series of historical fiction novels.We first meet Gemma in 1895 India, where she suddenly loses her mother in a traumatic market place death although the family decide to tell people she died from cholera. Gemma is subsequently shipped off to Spence boarding school for girls in England which turns out to be quite a culture shock for her.Watching Gemma trying to fit in and steer clear of the 'mean girls' 1895 style was quite amusing, however the novel's plot soon deepens when Gemma begins to ask one of her teachers questions about the mysterious charm her mother gave her on the day she died, and a group called The Order.A Great and Terrible Beauty was a truly YA read, and while I was looking for a dark, gothic boarding school read with a mysterious student cult at it's heart, this wasn't it. Instead this was a gentle coming-of-age tale told with well drawn characters and a touch of humour and longing thrown in. Perfect for the intended YA audience.
    • 2/5
      Technically, I'd give this 2.5 stars. It wasn't that terrible. I wouldn't mind continuing the series at all. Though there were many aspects of the book that I kept on questioning.

      Firstly, Kartik and Gemma barely know each other, yet she feels some sort of reaction o him out of no where. The literal translation of: BAM! PREGNANT.

      Gemma, Felicity, Anna and whoever else I'm missing become friends like...out of no where. Felicity dares Gemma to sneak in the reverend's private wine collection. Gemma does, and leaves it on Felicity's desk as payback. As the story continues, it doesn't seem like the best situation to become best friends out of no where. So what? Gemma finds you with a gypsy, Felicity's in her debt and all. but it should just be left at that. *shrugs*

      Overall, this Gemma chick annoys me so much at times. Especially when her mother told her not to take the magic out of the realms. you find out your mother dies for you in order to protect you, yet you practically throw your self in danger by removing the magic. And she warned you. She warned you Gemma yet you wanted to act stupid. So yeah, you be feeling really crappy. Okay so then she fights with her mother when she finds out she's Mary Dowd, but geez. It's better having your mother secretly being Mary Dowd, realizing her mistakes and trying to protect you then fucking spazzing out like a deranged monkey. but at elast she forgave her so that's good I suppose.

      blah blah blah... irrelevant stuff happens. Pippa dies to stay with her imaginary prince charming in the realms or something. Felicity, Anna and [ is there anymore? ] basically becoming power hungry. NO ONE EVER SAID LIFE WAS EASY.

      And the book ends with Gemma running.

      THE END.
    • 3/5
      I found it a little dull, to be honest. I didn't find the characters sympathetic or believable, and the whole concept seemed slapdash.
    • 3/5
      I was going to gouge my eyes out if I read any more. So many mistakes, a whiny child who gets what she wants and cries about it. Nope, can't do it.
    • 5/5
      Yum! What a treat! Not terribly consistent in its mythology, but a great fun ride of a book!
    • 5/5
      I absolutely love this trilogy. Libba Bray writes a troubled young woman in the Victorian era, who anybody can relate to in some way.
    • 3/5
      I would give this 3.5 if I could. I feel like the whole book was leading up to something big...maybe the next book?