Archive for ‘Libba Bray’

May 13th, 2010

Book Recommendation – The Sweet Far Thing

by Holly Dodson
The Sweet Far Thing
By Libba Bray

Blurb: “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 couldn’t put it down. 800 plus pages, be darned!  It was an enthralling read.

Felicity is definitely what made the story for me. She was such a vibrant character and we really got to learn a lot about her in this book. Finally we understand her motivations that had only been hinted at before.
And Poppy warriors scare me. I’ll take the gargoyle from the roof thankyouverymuch.

It’s an enchanting world with issues that cross the boundaries of normal YA literature right into your living room. Clear your calendar. You’ll be reading.  ;)

Next week- Spells by Aprilynne Pike

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May 6th, 2010

Book Recommendation – Rebel Angels

by Holly Dodson
Rebel Angels
By Libba Bray


Snippet of the Blurb on Goodreads: “Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain. . . .”

I really loved this installment of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. The story intensifies, we finally get some answers. The chemistry between Gemma and Kartik is enthralling, and the battle for the realms has reached epic proportions. The magic must be bound before chaos ensues, but the girls don’t know who they can trust.

The pages flew by for me as I read this. I enjoyed the writing and the story. This book was a huge hit for me. There is tension everywhere from the budding romance with Kartik to the race for the realms to passing Ann off as royalty. Then you’ve got Simon who has taken a liking to Gemma and the addictions of her father…scandal is only a breath away.

Definitely a book I’ll recommend. I really enjoy the fantasy twist on a historical setting. Just a warning, this book is much longer than the last, but is definitely worth the time.

I’ve already started the final book in the series The Sweet Far Thing, which is enormous at 819 pages!

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April 28th, 2010

Book Recommendation – A Great and Terrible Beauty

by Holly Dodson
A Great and Terrible Beauty
By Libba Bray
Book Blurb from Libba Bray’s website: “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?”

This is an entrancing story that leads you along like a puppet on a string. For most of the book we’re left wondering- what the heck is going on? Gemma keeps having visions, the strange man in a black cloak keeps appearing, and we have no answers for a long time.

The book sends a good message, that everything you do is a choice. Every choice you make effects your life and those around you. I think it’s awesome when a book can pull a message into the story that way, without being preachy. Libba also does an excellent job letting us into the heads of her characters, sharing their fears and struggles. It really endears the characters to you, and even when they go a little nuts, you’re still pulling for them.

It’s a great book to read for an escape from the norm. I’ve already started the next in the series, Rebel Angels.

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