Title: The Sweet Far Thing
Series: Gemma Doyle
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Ember
Release Date: 2007
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 819

WrensReads Review:

This was a reread of a reread of a reread et cetera (literally can’t tell you how many times I have put myself through this book). But I knew I needed to read this book again to have it fresh in my mind in order to review it correctly.

When asking my sister (who introduced this series to me in grade school) how I should review this book, she stated that I should just use crying gifs… so here are a few of those:

Libba Bray does not hold back when it comes to your heart. Yes, this book is a really, really long one, but Bray likes her descriptions and her character development. There are so many things going on in this book that are just on the side, but are so important to the characters and why they make the decisions that they make.

I will let you know that some people believe there is some “fat shaming” in this, and I can see where they are coming from, but you also have to see when the book was written and what time period this is in. You also have to understand this is a bunch of girls who are just trying to get the upper hand on each other, and that is an easy stab. And it isn’t anything that is glorified. Libba is very big in the diversity and acceptance community; with that said, that would never be her intent to do that to anyone.

Our three girls Gemma, Felicity and Anne believe they are in the clear. They put Circe in her place and all they have to do is share the magic with some of the creatures and people in The Realms and things will be great.

But what if Gemma doesn’t want to give up the magic? What if Felicity and Anne want the magic to change the path their parents and guardians carved for them to take? What if, putting Circe in her place actually was exactly where she wanted to be? What if changing the path of the magic opened new doors for the Winterlands?

I can’t review this book properly. It breaks my heart every time I read it and it legitimately makes me cry every time. I read this with a friend this time, knowing she would need emotional support, and she got mad at me because I put her through that roller coaster.

This series is so close to my heart. It is the series that made me not just love books but into a reader.

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Title: Rebel Angels
Series: Gemma Doyle
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: 2007
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 548

WrensReads Review:

I need everyone to read this series. It touches on so many topics and it’s just such a pretty tale.

There will be spoilers from the first book, but no spoilers for this current book.

One of the four has passed away from the real world. Felicity, Ann and Gemma are all dealing with the death of their dear friend Pippa in their own ways. Mostly everyone blames Gemma, including Gemma herself, even though no one forced Pippa to eat from the realms.

They have not been back from the realms since. Stage right: Enter Indian boy Katrik who is basically-in-but-not fully in the Rakshana and most definetly has feelings for strong-headed, red-headed, hot-headed Gemma. Back to the point, he tells her that she must go back and bind the magic she let loose in the realms before someone with not-such-great intentions uses it.

So when the girls go back they [this is not a spoiler, it is in the description of the book] are beyond excited to see that Pippa is still there and as beautiful as ever. It is only Gemma, though, that notices the hunger in her eyes when no one else is looking or the strange way she talks about certain topics. Her mother told her that a spirit must cross over or else it will become corrupted… but certainly not their Pippa….

The character growth is a little stagnant, but the learning the background of a character is very active. You learn more about why Felicity has to be in control at all times. You learn more about Ann being absolutely stuck where she is in her social status and how little she can do about it. You see how Pippa feels left out of everything and even less accepted by her dear friend Felicity (you’ll learn more about them in the last book). You see the struggle Katrik has with decision involving his dear club Rakshana and his wanted-beloved Gemma.

I love the idea of this whole magic system. They even hint that other worlds are connect to the realms. So all the creatures that you see in the realms are from different worlds. It kind of reminds me of the place between the world in The Chronicles of Narnia series.

Not to mention Gemma gets attention from a rich suitor of her own..
Side note: People believe that there was an almost-rape in this and I could see how that was gathered. Know there is nothing that triggered (for me at least) and nothing graphic and nothing that actually happened.

And Circe comes to light and it will make your jaw just drop

I love this series so much. I have since I was in grade school. It has helped me through a lot and has enlightened me on my own passion of writing. I say give this a shot, but it isn’t for everyone. If you like time-pieces, undefined magic, school-girl drama, forbidden romance and tragedies… this book is right up your alley.

..and beware you will cry at the end of the trilogy.

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Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Series: Gemma Doyle
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Ember
Release Date: 2005
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 403

WrensReads Review:

This series is one of my favorite. Reviewing it will not do it justice.

Bray creates a world of dreams, wonder and magic. With every thing beautiful, something dark, horrible and nightmarish comes forth. Because what is light without the contracting dark?

Not everything that comes from dreams, wonder and magic is good though. And not everything that is dark, horrible and nightmarish is bad. So what can you trust? The feeling in your gut? The pull towards your deepest desire? Is it truly worth it? Are the dark secrets that lay before you worth the power?

Gemma is going crazy. She saw her mother die, yet she wasn’t in eye shot of her. She sees things.. sees people.. yet is it really crazy if it is actually happening?

She finally gets to go to London to finishing school where she meets three girls that lives will forever be altered by her own. These girls feel as if finishing school is rubbish and that there is more out there for themselves. Which they do indeed find out just what is out there for them.

She is followed by a man, Kartik, who believes her when she says she saw her mother’s death. He tells her not to dig any deeper and to leave things alone.

But how can she when there’s even a 01% chance that she will be able to see her mother again? Who is this creepy, gypsy-like guy anyway and why does he even believe her?

This book is full of magic. I am telling you, it is beautiful. It’s woven so well that at some points you are like, “wait, why can’t this happen to me?”

Bray has a way of getting you to love characters so much that you feel like you actually know the person. Then she may do something horrible to them. That’s when you’ll throw the book across the room, sit for about five seconds, and then run to pick it up and continue reading.

Or you’ll be like me and read the end before you even are past chapter three because you can’t handle anything. I advise against doing that. I’m not a good role model.

This series WILL, and I underline that with all my feeling, break your heart. It will break it so much that you can’t pick it up again and read it until it’s been seven years or more (example: me), but you won’t regret a thing.

I love and hate you Libba Bray.

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