Synopsis: 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?
Review: I first read this book about 7 years ago when I was 16ish. I remember I didn't think much of it them, but everyone deserves a second chance.
Sadly I didn't perticulary enjoy A great and Terrible Beauty the second time round either. I seem to say this quite bit with my reviews, (maybe I just really like fast paced books) it took so long to get going! It wasn't until about the last 50 pages that I started to enjoy it. Which normally isn't too bad but this was a 400 page book. The setting up of action just took a little bit too long.
Having said that I didn't like the characters that much either. I found the four main girls far too stuck up and bitchy. That could be why I don't rate the book every much, I know so many girls that that in real life. I don't want to read about them in my world of books as well!
This book had real potential with the plot and had some really nice ideas that I did love. As a believer in not giving up I think I'll read the second in the series just to just if it is any better. Now that the action is all set up and ready to get moving it might be a faster paced.
Sadly I didn't perticulary enjoy A great and Terrible Beauty the second time round either. I seem to say this quite bit with my reviews, (maybe I just really like fast paced books) it took so long to get going! It wasn't until about the last 50 pages that I started to enjoy it. Which normally isn't too bad but this was a 400 page book. The setting up of action just took a little bit too long.
Having said that I didn't like the characters that much either. I found the four main girls far too stuck up and bitchy. That could be why I don't rate the book every much, I know so many girls that that in real life. I don't want to read about them in my world of books as well!
This book had real potential with the plot and had some really nice ideas that I did love. As a believer in not giving up I think I'll read the second in the series just to just if it is any better. Now that the action is all set up and ready to get moving it might be a faster paced.
